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Male’, Maldives, 2nd February 2006 (www.olhuala.com) – The Maldivian Democratic Party yesterday signalled its intention to disregard all laws and regulations of the Maldives by declaring that it was unwilling to pay the Mrf 50,000 it was fined for its failed assembly on January 24th. This was revealed in statements published on its mouthpiece websites which claimed the party’s position had been communicated to the Registrar of Political Parties.

The MDP’s assembly contravened the Law of Political Parties, the Penal Code (Sections 46-60) and the Act of the Rights of the Child.

The refusal is a sign of the party becoming increasingly militant and aggressive as support dwindles, coffers dry up and its dream of seizing power evaporates. The Commissioner was also berated for his insistence on upholding the law, which the MDP sees as an ‘insult to the party’s dignity’.

In the statement the MDP make a token reference to Article 26 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of assembly under existing laws. The Law of Political Parties states that political assemblies could not be held in open public places and presents examples of such places. In a crude and amateurish attempt at trying to twist the letter of the law, the statement tries to treat the venues stated as examples as an exhaustive list.

Further, it fails to address the party’s calls for the involvement of children which appeared in its formal propaganda documents produced for the assembly. These have been well documented and therefore safe from the MDP media agents’ normal practice of retrospective editing.

The refusal is seen almost universally as the MDP’s ‘latest attempt at trying to get away with breaking the law’ and further developments are eagerly awaited by many. The Commissioner is believed to have a number of different actions to chose from, including the deregistration of the party.

It is also worth considering the financial straits the party is reported to be currently in. Insiders reveal that this may have more to do with the attempt to escape the fine than with any matter of principle or law. It is most likely only a stalling tactic as the party faithful do the rounds, with begging bowls, to benefactors one more time.

The MDP has systematically tried to ride roughshod over the country’s constitution, laws and regulations. Upon the imposition of punitive measures, the party typically resorts to dubious comments claiming ‘persecution’ and ‘repression’ with the hope of gaining international sympathy.

Increasingly, all comments and statements are geared towards an international audience (presented in English) while the MDP’s local membership are left unaware of the party’s position.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 02, 2006 at 7:19 AM.