mobstoattackmembers
Mobs ready to disrupt Special Majilis again as MDP works to stall reform process
Ismail Rifau, Political Correspondent
Male', Maldives 19th February 2006 (www.olhuala.com) – The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) plan to harass members of the Special Majilis as they arrive for the first session of the Majilis for three months. The decision to raise a mob, which may turn violent, was taken at meetings yesterday in a café’ at the ‘Alimas Yoobeel Carnival', and at G. Fus last night.
In a decision which further undermines current MDP leader Ibrahim Ismail Ibra’s authority, vice president Ibrahim Zaki and the shadow cabinet agreed to the disruption of the Majilis sessions unless the MDP’s demands are met unconditionally by the President of the Majilis. Among these is the demand that all non-elected members which the present constitution prescribes, be removed immediately.
The Majilis has not met for three weeks in the wake of threats made to Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) members in the Majilis. This included those made by MDP-led mobs gathered outside the parliament house when the Majilis was in session – exactly the scenario that the MDP has planned for today.
In the intervening period, the Majilis Secretary General has implemented several steps to ensure members’ security, including prohibiting ‘loitering’ on the streets in the immediate vicinity of the Majilis Building and making admission to the viewing gallery conditional on the production of a valid photo identity document.
The MDP have a minority in the constitutional assembly even if the non-elected members are not taken into account. They have thus resorted to ‘other means’ to effect delays to the amendment of the constitution. A reading of the official minutes of the 68th session on 22nd January, the last session of the Majilis before the temporary adjournment due to threats to members, illustrates the MDP’s main tactic: that of systematically interrupting members’ statements.
The Majilis is currently considering “principles and features to be included in amending the Constitution” and taking the floor was President’s member Aishath Azima Shukoor who had in fact begun her statement in the previous session. She was systematically interrupted by MDP members protesting “nizaamaa behey nuquthaa” or a point of order. With Majilis rules stipulating that any member who claims a point of order should be given the floor immediately, the MDP members then went on for several minutes at a time on topics which, on each occasion, the chair dismissed as irrelevant to a point of order.
The interruptions which amount to blocking of a member’s contribution and even harassment, were to such an extent that within the two-and-a-half hour (150 minutes) session, Shukoor was able to speak for only eight (8) minutes.
The main perpetrators of this cynical scheme to delay the reform process are MDP Special Majilis members Ahmed Shafeeq, Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim and Moosa Manik Reeko who is also a member of the MDP shadow cabinet. It should also be noted that not one DRP member raised a point of order, and that this tactic is not peculiar to the 68th session but has been practised by the MDP ever since the Majilis was convened.
The MDP claim that because the DRP have a majority in the Majilis, any delays can only be attributed to them. However, this tactic which has been periodically evident all over the world, practised by immature, intransigent minority parties, has been used by the MDP because their interest in constitutional reform is limited, and their main focus is on gaining immediate power, preferably under the present constitution.
Click to read full story
Ismail Rifau, Political Correspondent
Male', Maldives 19th February 2006 (www.olhuala.com) – The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) plan to harass members of the Special Majilis as they arrive for the first session of the Majilis for three months. The decision to raise a mob, which may turn violent, was taken at meetings yesterday in a café’ at the ‘Alimas Yoobeel Carnival', and at G. Fus last night.In a decision which further undermines current MDP leader Ibrahim Ismail Ibra’s authority, vice president Ibrahim Zaki and the shadow cabinet agreed to the disruption of the Majilis sessions unless the MDP’s demands are met unconditionally by the President of the Majilis. Among these is the demand that all non-elected members which the present constitution prescribes, be removed immediately.
The Majilis has not met for three weeks in the wake of threats made to Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) members in the Majilis. This included those made by MDP-led mobs gathered outside the parliament house when the Majilis was in session – exactly the scenario that the MDP has planned for today.
In the intervening period, the Majilis Secretary General has implemented several steps to ensure members’ security, including prohibiting ‘loitering’ on the streets in the immediate vicinity of the Majilis Building and making admission to the viewing gallery conditional on the production of a valid photo identity document.
The MDP have a minority in the constitutional assembly even if the non-elected members are not taken into account. They have thus resorted to ‘other means’ to effect delays to the amendment of the constitution. A reading of the official minutes of the 68th session on 22nd January, the last session of the Majilis before the temporary adjournment due to threats to members, illustrates the MDP’s main tactic: that of systematically interrupting members’ statements.
The Majilis is currently considering “principles and features to be included in amending the Constitution” and taking the floor was President’s member Aishath Azima Shukoor who had in fact begun her statement in the previous session. She was systematically interrupted by MDP members protesting “nizaamaa behey nuquthaa” or a point of order. With Majilis rules stipulating that any member who claims a point of order should be given the floor immediately, the MDP members then went on for several minutes at a time on topics which, on each occasion, the chair dismissed as irrelevant to a point of order.
The interruptions which amount to blocking of a member’s contribution and even harassment, were to such an extent that within the two-and-a-half hour (150 minutes) session, Shukoor was able to speak for only eight (8) minutes.
The main perpetrators of this cynical scheme to delay the reform process are MDP Special Majilis members Ahmed Shafeeq, Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim and Moosa Manik Reeko who is also a member of the MDP shadow cabinet. It should also be noted that not one DRP member raised a point of order, and that this tactic is not peculiar to the 68th session but has been practised by the MDP ever since the Majilis was convened.
The MDP claim that because the DRP have a majority in the Majilis, any delays can only be attributed to them. However, this tactic which has been periodically evident all over the world, practised by immature, intransigent minority parties, has been used by the MDP because their interest in constitutional reform is limited, and their main focus is on gaining immediate power, preferably under the present constitution.
Click to read full story