:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Opinion
Protesting is not an act of treason; it's a means of delivering a message.

Y.N - Hithadoo island, 28 November 2004

Many people who took part in the demonstrations of Black Friday might be feeling afraid, guilty and ashamed for taking part in the gathering. Afraid of getting arrested, guilty for breaking the law and ashamed for being part of a disgraceful attempt to overthrow their own 'democratically elected' government. Gayyoom's media has done a great deal of work to make people think that what protestors did that day was simply unlawful, even sinful and immoral. It were very quick to remind people that people should respect their leaders (Verinnah Kiyamantherivun).

In the eyes of our leaders, whoever finds the guts to criticize or oppose them, is an enemy of the state, an adversary and a traitor; and traitors are not welcome and must be crushed. No one should question the government. Whatever it does is always right. It is never wrong, in fact they are incapable of doing anything wrong. They belong to an elite group of supremacy and dominion. Denouncing them makes you a non-believer. This is the ideology of the leaders of Maldives.

In Ukraine, there are massive demonstrations going on against the government. It has been happening for more than a week now. The demonstrations are generally calm, however they are protesting against their government. For seven days they have been chanting opposition slogans.

It is being reported that even some top ranking police officers are on the protestors' side. They say that what people want is their top priority. Does that make them traitors or criminals? Why isn't the government of Ukraine declaring a state of emergency? Why don't they use their military to disperse the crowd? Why aren't they arresting the opposition leaders who are leading the protests? Why does our government find it so hard to accept that protesting against them is an act of treason? Perhaps our leaders doesn't care what people want or need as long as they can have their job and live their lavish lifestyle.

There is going to be parliamentary elections in Maldives on 31 December. It is quite possible the government will try to manipulate the election results in their favour. In case of such a situation, I think people should remember that we are in a democratic society and in democratic societies protesting is allowed. I think people should also know that our future is in our hands and if we work together we can make a change. We must never forget that protesting against our government does not make us traitors, in fact that is the way we can show them that what they are doing is not right and we don't like it. That is how people do it in other parts of the world.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/11/26/ukraine/index.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/11/27/ukraine/index.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/ukraine/story/0,15569,1360496,00.html