vote rigged
Ibra rigged the vote: MunavvarBy: Ismail Rifau, Political Correspondent
Male',8th January, (olhuala.com) - The fallout from Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) National Congress in December 2005 shows no sign of ending amid fresh allegations of vote-rigging. The accusations against party leader Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) was made this week by MDP National Councillor Mohamed Munavvar at a meeting with core MDP activists from Gaafu Alif and Gaafu Dhaalu Atolls.
The allegations center on the voting for party leader which was won by Ibra securing 183 votes to closest challenger Mohamed Waheed Hassan's 125 votes in the final round of voting. Eligible voters are representatives of their 'cells' in the atolls and in Male'.
According to the MDP's constitution, a cell can be formed with a minimum of 100 members and no member can belong to more than one cell. A representative from each cell is able to cast one vote at the national congress.
Eyebrows were raised at the congress when 31 'delegates' turned up from the island of Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo alone. The island has a population of less than 6,500 with over 40% below voting age. The ruling Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) also claims a significant level of support in Thinadhoo.
Munavvar told the activists: "A number of those attending the congress claimed to be representatives of cells, but 52 of them did not bring with them the signed lists of cell members as is required in the rules. When pressed, they said time constraints and logistical difficulties meant that the lists had been delayed."
At the time, it was claimed that these 52 delegates were mainly supporters of Ibra. The organizing committee went to chairperson Mohamed Nasheed (Annie) in an attempt to resolve the issue. Annie is reported to have ruled that the delegates be allowed to vote on their word of honour.
However Munavvar claims: "Many of us did not accept Annie to be an impartial judge. He had pledged his support to Ibra's camp from the start and therefore we were justifiably outraged at his decree. There was no consultation; they just went ahead as if Annie's word was divine judgment.
"Furthermore, almost three weeks after the congress, the lists still have not turned up! They [Ibra's camp] are attempting to act like this never occurred and they are also buying people off to keep them quiet. Ibra had rigged the vote to suit him: he got these people into the congress through dirty tricks. And they were not even eligible to vote: where are the 5,000 MDP members they are supposed to represent?"
Munavvar publicly rejected an offer of a place in Ibra's first 'shadow' cabinet. He was also conspicuously absent from the closing stages of the congress. He is said to be considering an effort to launch a new political party, that could possibly divide the MDP right down the middle as most moderates including Waheed and a large section of the southern support are expected to switch their allegiance to Munavvar.
In fact Munavvar's new party may end up with a bigger membership than the currently faltering MDP.
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