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Given the critical phase of political development the Maldives is currently undergoing, it is our duty to be fully advised of the record and merits of those "foreign experts" we are too quick to employ. Olhuala.com has taken the time to do some research and we are thoroughly astonished by what has come up.


The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has invited the former Seychelles President (and associate of military coup-maker France Albert René), The Right Honourable James Mancham as an observer to its Congress. This is a disturbing development for Maldivians who value stability, freedom and their religious beliefs: Mr. Mancham is, according to many sources, a failed politician reviled in the Seychelles, a brutal despot and a Christian evangelist.

A fervent Christian himself, Mancham often uses the word 'Crusade' to define his policies and his years in opposition have been marked by a steadfast alliance with the Roman Catholic Church.

According to the US State Department, during James Mancham's time as president of Seychelles, all top government posts were held by whites, a small minority of the population of the Seychelles. He also has a long history of good relations and support of South Africa's apartheid regime and its members.

The State Department provides a number of further insights into Mancham's barbaric rule.


On human rights:

"The President, whose party dominated the legislature, continued to wield power virtually unchecked. Security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained citizens. The Government failed to investigate or punish those involved in the violations of citizens' human rights."

On the military junta:

"The security forces, including about 400 Army personnel, a National Guard of undisclosed confidential size, and the armed "Police Mobile Unit" of 95 officers, had close ties to the ruling party."

On the separation of powers:

"The President dominates the country through a pervasive system of political patronage and control over government jobs, contracts, and resources. The judiciary is subject to executive interference."

"There was no regular system of independent monitoring of prisons."

On press freedom:

"Freedom of speech and press is constrained by the legal ease with which journalists can be penalized for alleged libel through civil law suits. Certain subjects, such as high-level corruption, remain largely taboo.

"The Ministry of Information publishes the only local daily newspaper, The Nation, which presents the news with a government bias and does not publish independent viewpoints on political matters."

In November 1981, a group of mercenaries funded by the then exiled Mancham attempted to overthrow the René government but failed when they were detected at the airport and repelled.
Mancham's popularity even back in the Seychelles is questionable: In the 1998 presidential elections, he gained a paltry 13.8% of the vote, finishing in third place (out of three). Politically rejected by the people, he and his Democratic Party did not contest the 2001 elections, choosing instead to make blanket criticisms of the popular René government. In 2002, the SDP only gained 3.1% of the popular vote.

Mancham however, has had his successes. Being from a country that is 98% Christian (Roman Catholic 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%), after his political life ended in failure, he has pursued an evangelical career, targeting Muslims in the Seychelles and the region as being "in need of enlightenment".

One of his biggest allies is Bishop Felix Paul, the former Roman Catholic bishop of the Seychelles, who has said he watches blue movies and has tried cultivating marijuana.

Mancham is also spokesman for Reverend Sun Myung Moon's "Now is God's Time" Christian proselytising project. Speaking in September 2005 on the work to spread Christianity Mancham said, "We are hoping to be in every nation of the world, as a way of changing the global conversation about how nations work together beyond the traditional channels."

Several observers have questioned the MDP’s decision to invite Mancham, to their congress. Is it the intention of the MDP to assist Mancham’s evangelical activities in the Maldives (a radio station operating from the Seychelles known as FIBA radio, has been linked with the MDP, as known MDP officials have aired their political propaganda on this channel. The channel is primarily involved in spreading the Christian faith to the Maldives) ? Or is it their intention to adopt Mancham’s harsh methods of governance?

These are serious questions the general public would like to know the answers to. Olhuala.com’s research goes on.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 at 9:35 AM.