:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Gayoom's constitutional reform address; can the man be trusted?

Wednesday, 09 June 2004

Commander in Chief, General Gayyoom will tonight address the nation and the world through webcast about his constitutional reform ideas sharing meeting which is to be held tonight at Male' time 20:50 [16:50 GMT].

The meeting will be held in Islamic Centre in Male', to which all cabinet members and parliamentarians as well as the general public are invited. The speech will also be webcased on www.dhivehinet.net.mv as well President's Office website at www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv.

Calls for a more democratic approach to governance has resulted in Gayyoom wanting to reform the constitution and amend it without laying down the basic steps to show that he actually means well and is genuinely willing to let loose his tight grip on power.

DO would like to note that all reformist ideas are stopped from reaching the people around the country by Gayyoom's illegal and unlawful instructions to the internet service providers in Maldives to block the sites, which is the only medium where people could express their views and idea, without the fear of being thrown into jail. People are harassed and detained when they try to discuss the material published in these websites and try to distribute them to their family and friends.

Reliable sources in the Maldives confirm that Gayyoom will announce the following key points to reform the current constitution:

1. Separation of the powers, The Legislature, The Executive and The Judiciary
2. Allowing freedom of association and the formation of political parties
3. Propose 2 four-year Presidential terms

The pundits say that this is a public relations stunt suggested by the Gayyoom's private PR firm, Hills and Knowlton of UK. It is expected that he will get these reforms rejected by the Special Majlis (Upper House of Parliament) and then can blame them for not wanting reform, which will end up in a statement such as people are not ready for reform despite my suggestions.

Some one who in 17 years amended the last constitution to give him enormous executive powers cannot be entrusted with the ominous task of deciding the future of the Maldives, that of this generation and those to come. What is most astonishing is he is relentlessly trying to shut down the works of reformists. And, this is why we cannot hold him to his word.

He is now listing out the number of computers in the islands and most probably there will be a licensing procedure for use of computers; he probably does not know that many read mail and browse the net through the new hi-tech mobile phone
Maldives is one of the few countries where a photocopy machine has to be registered; he has no idea that the new deskjets and laserjets can print faster than photocopy machines
He is still arresting people for no reason and for expressing their views
Evaan Naseem's mother is again put under house arrest this morning for apparently visiting Minister Abdulla Kamaaluddeen, the Minister of Fisheries to pay respect for the recent death in the family during which she accused the NSS of killing her son; who else can she accuse? They did kill her son and no one can deny that? Gayyoom really should be more humane in what he does. On top of this. Evaan's brother is in detention being interrogated on suspicion of attempting to assassinate the Dear Leader Gayyoom to take revenge for his brother's brutal death and for treating his mother with disrespect
The internet websites which discuss reform and democratic principles as well as report the true facts about what goes in the Maldives are even today banned in the Maldives, which is unconstitutional whichever way you interpret the laws in the Maldives

Gayyoom cannot be entrusted with the welfare of the people of Maldives. If he is a man of integrity, which is an insult to mankind, he should resign and let the people of Maldives decide their future rather than impose it on them.