:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Vote of NO CONFIDENCE for the President!

A-Z, Male', 23rd Sept. 2004

Following the peaceful demonstration of reformists in mass at the Republican Square on 12th and 13th of August 2004, calling for greater democracy and demanding the release of political prisoners and calling for the resignation of the President, his cabinet and senior NSS officials, the President abused the powers vested in him under Article 144 of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives to declare a state of Emergency falsely claiming acts of violence as his justification. The Article 144 reads:

"Where the President has determined that the security of the Maldives or part thereof is threatened by war or foreign aggression or civil unrest, the President shall have the right to issue a Proclamation of Emergency."

The constitution clearly stipulates that the President has the right to proclaim the state of Emergency, however only under the extreme situations when the country is threatened by either (1) war, or (2) foreign aggression, or (3) civil unrest. It is evident that the basis for Presidents declaration of state of Emergency was not on the first 2 situations, which leaves only "civil unrest" as the prevailing condition.

Notwithstanding the fact that the demonstration was extremely peaceful, it is unmistakable that the President himself viciously implanted elements of violence using paid militia to the dismay of the peaceful crowd. It is certain that this was done to destroy the morale of the reformists and to crush the movement, which was calling for demanding democratic reform.

It is well-known that after the events of the 19th and 20th September 2003, the growing number of pro reformists demonstrating their desires in public under extremely difficult conditions and the relentless work of dissidents abroad have been an immense worry to the President and his allies. There could be no argument that the President took the events of 12th and 13^th August 2004 to his advantage exclusively to eliminate the reformists and to derail the reform process.

Under no circumstance the President can establish that the events of the 12th and 13th August was a civil unrest which threatened the security of the country. The barbaric reaction of the President has also been described by the European Union as "a disproportionate reaction to a largely peaceful demonstration". Despite the requests and pressure from the public and the international community, the President’s declaration of the state of Emergency and his reluctance to repeal it for more than a month, clearly determines his malicious intentions.

It is simply unacceptable that the President can continue the state of Emergency in the country, assume all the power of the constitution, detain and torture whoever he desires, deprive the people of fundamental rights and casually depart the country to Saudi Arabia.

This man has no affection for the people of the country. If it was genuine justifications for the proclamation of the state of Emergency and if he had the slightest of care or love for the country and the people he would have surely not departed the country, in this grave situation.

It is worrying that, despite the President having repeatedly disregarded the Constitution of the country to protect his personal interests, the members under oath of the Citizen's Majlis (Parliament) has not performed their duties to protect the Constitution of the country and the rights of the Maldivian citizens. It is time that the Majlis call for a vote of No Confidence on the President. If the members cannot perform their duties in accordance with the constitution and in the interests of the people who elected them, then they must resign immediately.

It is time for change. It is time for a more affluent Maldives. It is time for democracy. "Future does not belong to fear. It belongs to Freedom!" John F Kerry.