mdp not democratic
MDP Is not DemocraticThe Maldivian Democratic Party claims to be the most democratic organisation in the Maldives. Its Chairman Mohamed Nasheed (Annie) has repeatedly stated that all activities carried out by the MDP have been approved democratically.
‘If this is the case, why don’t all the members of the party have the right to vote, to elect the Party’s leader?’ asks Abdulla Haseen, an MDP member from Lhaviyani Atoll Hinnavaru Island. Surprising as it may sound this is how the MDP ‘hardliners’ have decided for themselves, how they should conduct the leadership election. Only those who have the right to attend the congress will elect the Party’s leader.
Last week saw a democratic and successful leadership election take place in the UK. David Cameron was elected Leader of the Conservative Party. All the members of the party had the right to vote. The MDP members in Male’ and the atolls were outraged and disgusted to find out that they have been denied their democratic right to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice. They have to sit and watch other ‘more privileged’ members cast votes on their ‘behalf’. MDP members are calling for the Governing Council (Walee Committee) to change election rules without delay.
Leadership candidate Ibrahim (Ibura) Ismail (MP for Male’) has also expressed his concern over this issue. Mr Ismail demanded that the entire membership of the MDP must be able to cast their all-important vote; this statement has caused his approval ratings among MDP members to reach its highest levels within the past three months.
Hence it is widely believed that Mr Ismail has a real chance of beating Mohamed Waheed Hassan Maniku, if the ‘common MDP member’ gets a chance to vote. Sources within the Walee Committee inform olhuala.com that Waheed has secured the support of the most influential, key players within the Committee, and that it was highly unlikely that the Committee will overturn its decision.
Several observers such as Haveeru Daily of Male’ have commented on the MDP Walee Committee’s decision to deny common members the right to vote. ‘It would be hard to convince the Maldivian population that, the MDP stands for democracy if the party does not adhere to democratic values and morals during its internal elections’ concluded Haveeru in yesterday’s edition (Dhivehi article, page 2).
We at olhuala.com believe that the MDP Walee Committee believes that ‘some members are more equal than others’ much like the beliefs of the animal leadership in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, which states that ‘some animals are more equal than others’.