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MDP to disrupt opening of Parliament today
Ismail Rifau, Political Correspondent
Male', Maldives 23rd February 2006 (www.olhuala.com) – President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom will open Parliament for the year 2006 this morning in the face of threats by the Maldivian Democratic Party to disrupt proceedings and ‘demonstrate peacefully’ both inside and outside the Majilis Building. Over the past few days, various MDP officials have described how MDP MPs will jeer the President during his speech and how ‘thousands of MDP activists will join the demonstration as on January 24th.’
Few believe that the MDP garnered more than a couple of hundred protestors in January’s ‘demonstration,’ universally dismissed as an abject failure. The subsequent attempt at a demonstration last Sunday was nearly as embarrassing and the fanfare the Party has laid out for today’s attempt has scared off some leading officials: shadow cabinet members Maria Didi and Waheed Hassan abruptly left the country last night.
Drawing on past experience, the MDP have also called a public rally for tonight; many believe this will provide a platform for regrouping after another less than successful escapade. The opening of Parliament is a welcome break for a party currently embroiled in vicious intercene warfare. More trouble between the current leader Ibrahim Ismail Ibra who is barely hanging on to ‘power’ and chairman Mohamed Nasheed Annie is expected in the announced MDP national council meeting scheduled for the 28th of this month.
Observers argue that the long list of perceived failures by the MDP have made the public disinterested. Mohamed Luthufee, a resident of Male’ said: “I observed both the violent episodes of August 2004 and August 2005. I even went to have a look at their January event. But I’m not bothering again; I heard that [last] Sunday’s demostration did not draw any crowd whatsoever. Frankly people are bored and have better things to do.”
To prevent another debacle, Annie has demanded that MDP MPs act as they have promised in internal talks: something they have failed to do time and again, according to Annie. Some MDP MPs have apparently signed declarations to Annie, pledging to act to disrupt proceedings today.
Says Luthufee: “I expect all of them to chicken out and then come up with some excuse saying their statements had been misinterpreted. The same thing happened after they invited people to bring along children in January. They will try to pass it by as a success whatever happens. I suppose they are just immature as a political party and don’t know it is beneficial to sometimes admit it when you lose.
“On the other hand, if the MPs do manage to carry out their threats, they will in fact lose face with the public.”
Analysts say that the MDP is fast becoming labelled as an obstructive and negative group. While President Gayoom yesterday pardoned two MDP members sentenced for offences against the state and criminal defamation, the MDP has made no reciprocal moves and has been left apparently caught on the back foot. Luthufee says: “People are hoping for a goodwill gesture from the MDP but realists only expect more negativity and controversy from a party which has failed to come up with one single positive move.”
The MDP have made the issue of appointed members of the Majilis the main talking point but some of their top officials have so far not committed to the cause: shadow ministers Maria Didi and Ibrahim Zaki. These two were members of the previous Special Majilis which drew up the present constitution which provides for the appointed members. The departure of Didi to Malaysia late last night is thought to be related.
Zaki meanwhile has stated his intention to join today’s demonstration but has again failed to clarify why he felt that the Majilis and Special Majilis should include members appointed by the President.
Click to read full story
Ismail Rifau, Political Correspondent
Male', Maldives 23rd February 2006 (www.olhuala.com) – President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom will open Parliament for the year 2006 this morning in the face of threats by the Maldivian Democratic Party to disrupt proceedings and ‘demonstrate peacefully’ both inside and outside the Majilis Building. Over the past few days, various MDP officials have described how MDP MPs will jeer the President during his speech and how ‘thousands of MDP activists will join the demonstration as on January 24th.’Few believe that the MDP garnered more than a couple of hundred protestors in January’s ‘demonstration,’ universally dismissed as an abject failure. The subsequent attempt at a demonstration last Sunday was nearly as embarrassing and the fanfare the Party has laid out for today’s attempt has scared off some leading officials: shadow cabinet members Maria Didi and Waheed Hassan abruptly left the country last night.
Drawing on past experience, the MDP have also called a public rally for tonight; many believe this will provide a platform for regrouping after another less than successful escapade. The opening of Parliament is a welcome break for a party currently embroiled in vicious intercene warfare. More trouble between the current leader Ibrahim Ismail Ibra who is barely hanging on to ‘power’ and chairman Mohamed Nasheed Annie is expected in the announced MDP national council meeting scheduled for the 28th of this month.
Observers argue that the long list of perceived failures by the MDP have made the public disinterested. Mohamed Luthufee, a resident of Male’ said: “I observed both the violent episodes of August 2004 and August 2005. I even went to have a look at their January event. But I’m not bothering again; I heard that [last] Sunday’s demostration did not draw any crowd whatsoever. Frankly people are bored and have better things to do.”
To prevent another debacle, Annie has demanded that MDP MPs act as they have promised in internal talks: something they have failed to do time and again, according to Annie. Some MDP MPs have apparently signed declarations to Annie, pledging to act to disrupt proceedings today.
Says Luthufee: “I expect all of them to chicken out and then come up with some excuse saying their statements had been misinterpreted. The same thing happened after they invited people to bring along children in January. They will try to pass it by as a success whatever happens. I suppose they are just immature as a political party and don’t know it is beneficial to sometimes admit it when you lose.
“On the other hand, if the MPs do manage to carry out their threats, they will in fact lose face with the public.”
Analysts say that the MDP is fast becoming labelled as an obstructive and negative group. While President Gayoom yesterday pardoned two MDP members sentenced for offences against the state and criminal defamation, the MDP has made no reciprocal moves and has been left apparently caught on the back foot. Luthufee says: “People are hoping for a goodwill gesture from the MDP but realists only expect more negativity and controversy from a party which has failed to come up with one single positive move.”
The MDP have made the issue of appointed members of the Majilis the main talking point but some of their top officials have so far not committed to the cause: shadow ministers Maria Didi and Ibrahim Zaki. These two were members of the previous Special Majilis which drew up the present constitution which provides for the appointed members. The departure of Didi to Malaysia late last night is thought to be related.
Zaki meanwhile has stated his intention to join today’s demonstration but has again failed to clarify why he felt that the Majilis and Special Majilis should include members appointed by the President.
Click to read full story