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Hon. Ibrahim Ismail, a serious challenger to Mr. Gayoom

MDP, 29th Sept. 2004 - www.maldiviandemocraticparty.org

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Councillor and Member of the Special Majlis, Hon. Ibrahim Ismail, reportedly met his wife in Dhoonidhoo interrogation centre on 28th September 2004, the 47th day of his incarceration in solitary confinement. Hon. Ismail is physically disabled (poliomyelitis) and doctors fear that he might not be able to use his already handicapped physique.

Hon. Ibrahim Ismail was taken in after the brutal break-up of the pro-democracy rally in Male on 12th and 13th of August 2004. Human Rights groups including the Maldive Governments own Human Rights Commission and international bodies as Amnesty International have detailed the inhuman methods and ways of the regime in the Maldives not only after the crack down and the subsequent mass arrests on 13th August 2004, but through out Mr. Gayooms reign in power.

Pro-Democracy Leader

Hon. Ibrahim Ismail, popularly and lovingly known as Ibra , is a leading figure in the pro-democracy reform movement. His high intellectual capacity, ability to think on the feet and superb oratory skills have galvanised him to be one of the most popular of MDP leadership. Ibra, in his early 40's, especially in the past few years has emerged to be one who can seriously not only challenge Mr. Gayoom, but also the second generation that Mr. Gayoom is grooming from his family.

Ibra is a co-founder of the Maldivian Democratic Party. When MDP initially requested for registration in 2001, Mr. Ibrahim Ismail was one very active member of the group. He vehemently argued that the issue of the registration of MDP is not a constitutional issue. It's an administrative task.

This is one stipulation that the party have always maintained. The party also further believes that legislation for a registration process is also available in the present Maldivian legal framework.

Legal Relevance: "Majlis did not enact a law"

Article 27 of the Constitution of the Maldives clearly says so, and Law 26/82, (Act for registration of Clubs, Association and Parties - please note 26/82, since then has been amended to remove the word "Party"), gives a clear guidelines on how to establish a party. The Government in their defence maintains that it was the Parliament that stopped the formation of Maldivian Democratic Party. Rebutting this argument, in many forums and meetings Ibra have eloquently argued saying,

"Firstly, the parliament cannot override the Constitution, and therefore even if the Parliament did obstruct the formation of the Maldivian Democratic Party that would be construed highly un-constitutional. Secondly, if one reads the minutes of the debate of that day (i.e. when the Parliament debated the issue of political parties) it will be clear that the Parliament was highly misled and it did not pass any law banning the formation of the Maldivian Democratic Party."

Promoting Political Pluralism

Ibra believes that a starting point for any meaningful reform programme will have to be the establishment of political parties. Constitutional amendments will have to follow from there onwards. "Amending the Constitution is a highly volatile political activity", has been an Ibra line, now almost having prophetic connotations.

Ibra, responding to a journalist said, "If we were to attempt such an activity [constitutional reforms] without the proper framework, safeguards and the security of a political party, we feel that as in the past we are bound to fail."

Nevertheless, believing that he has to make the most out of any window of opportunity for reform Ibra contested May 2004, elections for Special Majlis for constitutional amendments.

Ibra with his wide experience and almost scientific understanding of the Male electoral, gained by managing numerous successful election campaigns in the suppressed and fearful conditions of Maldive politics, handsomely won the first seat for Male'.

Soon after his election, on 29 th June 2004, Hon. Ibrahim Ismail, in collaboration with the Oriental Academic Center , organized the first public forum on political reform. The event was historic in many ways and mainly indicated the extent of support for political pluralism and separation of powers.

Standing up to regime intimidation

The government responded to the meeting by cautioning Hon. Ibrahim Ismail, the organizer of the meeting. On 4 th July 2004, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs wrote to Hon. Ibrahim Ismail stating that "… the Chair conducting the debates advice all speakers not to deviate from the topic. It is also requested from the Chair to prevent any action on the part of participants that can go against the spirit of this important debate."

On 5th July 2004 the government allowed for a second meeting. This second meeting was attended by most of the leading reformists with more than 900 of their supporters. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Ibrahim Ismail.

Hon. Ibrahim Ismail, with his western education and high intellectual capacity, perhaps understands the possible fault lines of Maldivian society more than any of the regime leaders or minders. Hon. Ibrahim Ismail has argued vehemently for an all inclusive reform programmed and many a times have encouraged the religious right to take part in the process. Through, the democracy forums chaired by Hon. Ibrahim Ismail, Sheik Fareed was clearly able to emerge as representing the islamists in Maldive society.

Sheik Fareed's participation in the reform program was a serious issue of concern to Mr. Gayoom. Fareed was getting at him in his own language.

In response to a group displaying a banner calling for Gayoom's resignation in a meeting chaired by Hon. Ibrahim Ismail, on the 8 th July 2004 the government banned Hon. Ibrahim Ismail from conducting any public meetings. Hon. Ibrahim Ismail became a victim of a stream of verbal abuse and nuisance all instigated by the regime minders.

Show of Hands, unconstitutional

On 19th July 2004, the government convened the first session of the Special Majlis. During the run up to this meeting both sides heavily lobbied for their candidate as the speaker of the Majlis. When Mr. Gayoom was aware that his own ministers we willing to vote for the MDP candidates, in an attempt to intimidate the MP's the government decided to call for an open vote in electing the Speaker of the Special Majlis.

Hon. Ibrahim Ismail was one of the leaders of the Twenty-four MP's who walked out of the first meeting in protest of the temporary Speaker's decision to conduct the meeting in violation of the constitution. The dispute arose when the temporary Speaker Mr. Abdullah Hameed unilaterally decided to elect the Speaker through a show of hands and not through secret ballot as required by Article 133 of the constitution. Hon Ibrahim Ismail argued that, "given the high level of fear of government reprisal, even a remotely free and fair election could only be held through a secret ballot." Mr. Hameed insisted he conduct the elections according to 'traditions'. Hon. Ibrahim Ismail responded saying that, "the ‘traditional' way would be for the Special Majlis to rubberstamp the wishes of the President irrespective of what the constitution specifies."

Hon Ibrahim Ismail with the 23 members walked over to the nearby office of the President and quietly insisted that the Special Majlis be conducted in accordance with the constitution and the wishes of the members. The President assured them that it would be done but did not guarantee that there would be a free and fair election. The President also requested the twenty-four members to advise the crowd that had gathered around the President's Office and Parliament to disperse.

Respected Public Leadership

The crowd of 5000 strong that had gathered near the Presidents Office was looking for Hon. Ibrahim Ismail for leadership. It was Ibra, who addressed the crowd and requested them to peacefully disperse. It was Ibra's request that the public willingly granted.

The following day on the 20 th July 2004, Hon. Ibrahim Ismail with 22 other pro-reformists MP's filed law suits against the Speaker of the Majlis for attempting to breaking the rules of the Constitution.

Since then Mr. Gayoom, aware of the arithmetic of where the reform program will lead him, in earnest went in to reverse gear. His courts refused to see into the case filed by the MP's and continued to delay in convening the Special Majlis.

When the public started converging on the Northern Esplanade of Male' with Hon. Ibrahim Ismail, on 8 the August 2004, the government banned all such gatherings and the police cordoned off the whole area. The government also started spreading rumours of a round of mass arrests and accelerated the level of intimidation especially directed at Hon. Ibrahim Ismail. On the 10th August 2004 the government in fact started arresting. The first to be taken were journalists and photographers, and then activists. The initial reasoning for the demonstration of 12th and 13th August were to call upon the release of political detainees and prisoners. The main thrust of the demonstrators was their disgust against human rights abuse in the country. The demonstrations were largely peaceful and Hon. Ibrahim Ismail was last seen addressing the 12,000 strong crowds gathered at the Republican Square in Male'.

MDP is extremely concerned about the condition of Hon. Ibrahim Ismail and all other detainees incarcerated in connection to the demonstration. The party calls upon the government to come to its senses and release all the detainees.

MDP further calls upon the National Association for the Disabled in the Maldives, of which Ibra is a founding member.

Blast from the past
Reforms Debates ; Spot the reformists, most of who are in solitary confinement now