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Readers Comments : MDP is an Obstacle to Democracy By Abdullah Saif, Gn.Fuahmulak
Is there even one thing that MDP and its goons have done for democracy in the Maldives? The answer is a resounding NO! Not Even One Thing!
Then who brought the party system? The answer is President Gayoom. Dr Munwwar and Zaki are on record in parliament for voting to block the introduction of parties in 2001. Dr Munawwar as Attorney General gave a formal opinion saying that political parties were unconstitutional.
Nasheed or Anni, too had nothing to do with introducing parties. In fact, long before Nasheed returned to Male on 30 April, President Gayoom had ordered his Attorney General to review the former Legal Opinion and find a shortcut to introducing political parties. The letters between the Attorney-General and the President dating to early March 2005 are proof that Anni had no influence on the process of introducing parties.
On the contrary, MDP are a threat to democracy in the Maldives. That is why Nasheed had to be imprisoned early on 2nd June so that the parliament could vote without disruption by MDP on the President’s proposal to introduce a party system. Nasheed wants to become a martyr, a hero, a revolutionary like his idol, Castro, rather than bring democracy to the Maldives. That is why Nasheed chose the anniversary of Castro’s attack on the Moncada barracks as the date for his first ultimatum to the government in July. Since then, Anni has been busy giving ultimatum after ultimatum, which no one can take seriously.
Once again, MDP are becoming a threat to democracy in the Maldives. Let Anni go to the streets on 19 or 20 January. He will find that there are enough good men in this country that will more than match him.
As Edmund Burke said, the only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing. Anni, you will find that a few good men like Hassan Saeed can destroy the radicals in the MDP and fling them into the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean! In case you didn’t know Anni, that is the deepest depth possible in this world!
When Anni and his goons hit the streets they will find that they have chosen the wrong turf. Nobody wants revolution. Like the Bolivians who finally squealed on Che Guevara, the MDP street gangs will be gathered an imprisoned if they commit acts of violence. As opiated hooligans, they can do nothing but attack the police or torch buildings.
There are genuine liberal democrats in the government who are busy delivering a democratic reform agenda. The New Maldives is only the tip of it. Add to them Ayesha, Zahiya, Shougee, Maai, Jaleel, Hilmy, and Deen—you have a powerful lobby for democracy in the Cabinet—people who are neither corrupt nor tyrannical. And, still President Gayoom remains the only truly national leader. He is too big for MDP to chop him down. And MDP are too small to admit their impotence.
All the reforms have been led and fashioned by the Government. Munawwar and Mariya had ten years to revise the penal code—but failed to do that. In fact, during their time, the people lost the right to full legal representation; it was during their time that confessions acquired illegally were used to prosecute cases; Naushad Waheed, Ahmed Didi, Fathimath Nisreen, Ismail Zaki, Ismail Sodig and Ibrahim Luthufee were all tried and convicted by Munawar-Mariya duo! And you think they can reform?!
What Nasheed will be demonstrating by calling for civil disruptions is not his authority, but his lack of it, his losing grip on reality, and his irresistible slide into self-destruction. It will also demonstrate quite clearly that MDP are not serious about reform, but more eager to win their resorts and riches.
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