Majlis elects the disgraced to lead it

Yesterday saw another blow to the country’s democratisation effort. Crooks from the former regime have taken control of the legislative branch of government.

Many questions hang over Abdulla Shahid’s head. A man tainted by serious allegations of corruption, he was dismissed as Gayoom’s Executive Secretary in the 2005 reshuffle. He managed to rehabilitate himself in a short period of time and remoulded his image within DRP as a respectable statesman. He is to be congratulated for this achievement. But still, the people have a pretty good idea of what he had been up to while in office.

It’s best not to dwell too much on the new Deputy Speaker Nazim. The auditor-general’s reports speak for themselves. Nazim is currently under investigation and it is likely that the courts will eventually find him guilty of embezzlement.

Yet it is these two gentlemen who hold the leadership positions of the Majlis.

This situation is a stark contrast to that taking place in the British Parliament now. The scandal where MPs were revealed to have claimed dubious expenses from public funds for things like a duck pond has claimed eleven casualties already. These members have announced that they will not contest the next election. Most notably the Speaker himself had to go after drawing criticism for trying to cover-up the cases.

Even the slightest whiff of corruption is not tolerated in one country while the guilty are rewarded in the other.

Gayoom's son adopts lessons learnt from yesterday's opposition

Its been quite interesting observing Ghassan Maumoon using the courts to try and declare the election for the Thimarafushi constituency he lost to be null and void.  

His lawyers have assembled witness statements, photographic and video evidence, and the support of NGO Transparency Maldives to try and make their case.  This is exactly the same tedious process that the opposition to Gayoom used to weaken his footing.  Unfortunately back then the courts were firmly under the control of the presidency.  Despite this they worked hard to document election fraud and human rights abuses.  This was done both by MDP and the NGO Maldivian Detainee Network.

Their trailblazing efforts must have inspired Ghassan and his legal team.  

The Presidential Commission should be allowed to get on with its job

The Presidential Commission established to investigate corruption has come under much flack. The argument is that independent institutions exist whose mandate overlaps with it, and also that proper procedures exist within the government anyway.

The fact of the matter is that several audit reports have been produced that show the most appalling instances of abuse of public funds. In any other country the culprits would be forced to resign immediately.  Or if they are out of office, as they are in this country, kill themselves in shame.

In Maldives we appear to excuse their actions. It is to be expected from the obnoxious Gayoomists.  Instead we criticise the president and his government for the way in which he seeks to take action.  Its far worse than buying several thousands of dollars worth of designer nappies and having them shipped over here.

The police, the prosecutor-general and the Anti-Corruption Commission have failed to bring the crooks to book.  The Presidential Commission, with high-level backing, is about to do just that.  We should allow them to get on with their task.

One step forward, two steps back

The country made a positive change by voting out Gayoom last October.  The reform movement emerged successful after a bitter four-year long struggle.

Now, however, impatient with the speed of changes after just six months the people have emphatically voted Gayoom and Yameen back in through the Majlis election.  One can understand why voters are frustrated, but surely they shouldn’t have gone with a political family that did so much bad over thirty years.

Clearly memories are short.  The corruption, drug trafficking and human rights abuses have been forgotten. Instead people are reacting unfavourably towards promises of housing, transportation and essential services. 

Perhaps change is uncomfortable.  After being lied to for so long, they would rather have the old liars who they know how to read instead of a new batch.

That the Maldivian public has voted for Gayoom and Yameen just six months after giving them the boot is a terrible, terrible thing.  There is no way of spinning it.

Those who want to see successful economic and social reforms in this country will just have to work harder than they have ever done before.  

Mission

We gathered in the Republican Square on August 12th/13th to raise our voices against oppression.  The spirit of that day lives on as we enter these new and challenging times.