mdpdelayingreform
Ibra hijacks Special Majlis Administrative Committee meeting
Moonisa Easa, Political Analyst
Moonisa Easa, Political Analyst
Male’, Maldives, 31st January 2006 (olhuala.com) – Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) gate crashed a meeting of the Special Majlis Administrative Committee as a gang of MDP activists gathered outside the Majilis Building to intimidate members of the committee, last night.
Ibra, who is not a member of the committee, and was attending as an observer, took the floor in defiance of procedural rules and the Chair’s protestations when deliberations started going against the MDP’s party line.
The rules clearly state that, while MPs may sit as observers at meetings of the elected committees, they may not partake in discussions and may not vote.
The committee has a slight MDP majority. Yet, Ibra felt the need to interrupt and contribute his wisdom. Ms Aneesa Ahmed, presiding, asked Mr Ismail several times to refrain from interrupting the session. The Chair was however intimidated into giving ground in direct contravention of written rules. Some of the MPs present felt the Chair was culpable by being too lax.
Ali Faiz (Special Majilis Member for Baa Atoll), a disgruntled MDP backbencher told olhuala.com: “I don’t think [Ibra's] blatant disregard for written procedure reflects well on the party [the MDP]. I believe this to be one of the root causes of our support dwindling so sharply. I also feel that Aneesaa and uncle [Faiz is the nephew of Speaker Ibrahim] should take a firmer stance in the future".
High-ranking MDP officials met earlier in the afternoon at the MDP's Gloryge Headquarters, to plan last night’s actions. By 8:30pm a group of twenty to thirty, vocal MDP activists had arrived on the scene. Group leaders were continuously on their mobile phones, urging more supporters to come to the scene – now a common sight at any MDP orchestrated ‘protest’ scene. The crowd went on to demand the expulsion of all cabinet members as well as all members selected by the President, from both the Parliament and the Special Majilis, although the Maldivian constitution clearly states that these members should be included in both houses.
“I don’t know what the MDP is playing at. Do they think any individual or political party is above the constitution of the Maldives? The present constitution was not written by President Maumoon [Abdul Gayoom], or any individual. It was put together by a constitutional assembly. So I don’t know what the fuss is about. President is compelled by the constitution to appoint these members to the two chambers, the MDP should know this. They are just trying to delay the reform process by playing on non issues” Yoosuf Thamfeez a Male’ resident who had arrived on the scene told olhuala.com.
Two MDP Special Majlis Members had proposed to include a bill demanding the exclusion of the so-called "president's members" from the constitutional assembly citing 'extraordinary circumstances.' However, this has been defeated because of a petition, signed by 61 Special MPs, which argued that no 'extraordinary circumstances' existed that validated the hearing of such a bill. The present constitution, the petition said, has not been shown to be deficient and therefore there was no reason it should not be adhered to.
By 10.30pm the crowd at the eastern gate used by MPs had swelled to about a hundred, and MDP 'observers' who had attended the meeting including Ibra, waited in the compund of the Majlis Building under the umbrella. As DRP MPs came and went they were verbally abused. It was notable that the crowd included notorious figures such as Jazeel who is the personal 'minder' of Fareed, the MDP's resident religious extremist. Others included people with multiple convictions for drug abuse and petty thievery.
The crowd finally cleared at 10.50pm when the MDP members who also included Mariya Ahmed Didi, Mohamed Shihab, Jesus Afeef, Kaanal Nasheed and Ahmed Shafeeq, decided to leave the premises although the meeting was still in progress. Observers noted that the vociferous crowd left with various MDP members, deep in consultation.
Click to read full story