Democracy has become a facade. The media is a production of our politicians. The members of the security forces are bullied and attacked. Freedom of expression is no longer a given. Peace has become a pipedream. Our paradise has been cursed.
Over the past week I have had mixed emotions over the political unrest in my beloved country and I am certain I am not the only one who is frustrated and tired of the political chaos in the Maldives. It is as if we have learned nothing from 30 years of authoritarian rule.
Let me begin with the lead actor in this political drama – Mohamed Nasheed. He announced his resignation to the national media but the next day he claimed that he resigned at gun-point.
“There were guns all around me and they told me they wouldn’t hesitate to use them if I didn’t resign.” – Mohamed Nasheed
Nasheed’s statement that he was forced to resign at gunpoint stoked the political fires and greatly increased the emotional response to his overthrow, plunging the country into further violence and chaos. It also helped to publicise his ‘undemocratic, unjust overthrow’ around the world through the international media. A few days later he admitted that he was not literally at gunpoint, claiming he had used the term metaphorically. Last week Nasheed stated that the security forces were unable to shoot at the public protesters prior to his overthrow only because he refused to give them the key to the ‘gun’ storage – an attempt to create further animosity towards the security forces. I honestly don’t believe a single word that comes out of his mouth anymore. Yes, clearly he was forced to resign but my view is that his departure was inevitable.
None of us know the truth of what exactly happened on the day Nasheed resigned, and I suspect we will not know until a full and independent investigation is carried out. Yet we all choose to pick a side of the story. We only hear what Nasheed, President Waheed or other politicians say, and none of them are telling the truth in its entirety, with the exception of Umar Naseer and Reeko Moosa – two political personalities who are incapable of controlling their militant tongues and who are both obsessed with Gayyoom in their own ways.
Over the past three years Nasheed’s popularity has been dwindling and I doubt he would have had a chance in the 2013 elections until a few weeks ago. Fortunately for Nasheed, his forced resignation has actually increased his popularity and he is milking this opportunity to mobilise support for himself. What saddens me is that Nasheed and his party, MDP, are doing this at the expense of public order, public institutions and everything good about our country. They are undermining the very democratic principles that they think they are fighting for by bullying and threatening anyone that opposes them.
I understand MDP supporters and their MP’s are frustrated, but their anger has turned to militancy and a blatant disregard for anyone with a view different to their own. This country belongs to us all and the Parliament is a forum for debate and discussion by members elected by all of us. The blocking of the Parliament by MDP MP’s and the disrespect shown has, in my opinion, damaged our democracy because they have set a precedent here. The picture below shows the scuffles that took place inside the Parliament building on the on 1st March 2012. MDP MP’s hijacked the Parliament and blocked the President and the Speaker of the Parliament from entering.
Pure class shown by MDP MP’s – one has a bin on his head and another is sitting on top of the Speaker’s bench.
You can call President Waheed ‘Baghee’ or ‘Puppet’, but having read his international profile, namely his humanitarian work around the global and the crucial role he played in our own democratic process, I do believe he is a more capable candidate for the Presidency. Nasheed is a great activist and he can run a rally and organise fantastic protests, but he does not know how to run a country. I don’t know whether President Waheed was responsible for the orchestration of the overthrow of Nasheed but his international profile speaks volumes. However, I do question his inability to answer many questions raised about the events of the overthrow. As the second in command of the country I expect him to be politically aware, so no doubt he would have known how Nasheed’s overthrow unfolded.
Currently Nasheed is doing a fantastic job in ensuring the Western media follows his one-sided story. I fail to understand why the Western media continues to glorify Nasheed’s profile and confuses his role and responsibilities as a nation’s leader with that of being an advocate for good causes. Mark Lynas, Paul Roberts and many of Nasheed’s aides are reporting on the Maldives but their views are biased and fail to give any contextual analysis of the political reality of the Maldives. In one sense their bias is understandable as they work for Nasheed, but what I cannot accept and find disgraceful is that they fail to see or report their own biases; calling themselves reporters or advisors to the Maldives and telling half-truths to the international media.
I wonder how Western countries would react if their elected leader ordered the army to take hold of the Supreme Court, ordered the arrest of several opponents, and then arrested a senior judge and kept him detained for over 2 weeks despite continuous protests. Anywhere else in this world this would be considered outrageous, authoritarian and unconstitutional, and there would be international calls for their immediate resignation. There were calls for Bill Clinton’s resignation over a lie about an extramarital affair!
Let me make two things clear to anyone reading this:
1- The Maldives is a Muslim country and religion has been used as a tool by both political sides on various occasions. When Nasheed says President Waheed and allies are empowering radical religious groups, do not be fooled. That is just one of the cards played to create polarisation and gain Western media attention, when in reality MDP themselves formed an alliance with the religious groups when they came to power. Yes, we do have a problem with religious extremism, but that is not the issue at the heart of this political unrest.
2- Not every critic of Nasheed’s leadership and his party is a remnant of the past regime; not every remnant of the past regime is an opponent; and not every opponent is a bad advisor.
Few good things have come out of this whole political mess, but I was pleased to see the further empowerment of Maldivian women through this process, namely the MDP women’s peaceful protests. Any event or activity that empowers Maldivian women is a step forward and it was nice to see women take part in the democratic process, regardless of what side they were on. Women from all parties are clearly making their voices heard and when and if this political madness calms down I hope this spirit continues among Maldivian women. I was also pleased to see youth groups calling for peace through social media and organised events. Most importantly, I hope Nasheed’s overthrow sends a strong message to everyone that this country belongs to us all and that it will never be ruled by taking the law into one’s own hands. It is time we base our democracy on progressive policies instead of personalities.
Nascent, our democracy maybe, but I take comfort in the fact that we are all still fighting for democratic ideals. I just hope we don’t destroy our beautiful country in the process.
Enjoyable read.
Best phrase: “two political personalities who are incapable of controlling their militant tongues and who are both obsessed with Gayyoom in their own ways” – I couldn’t agree more
Love your blog, Cheers to a wider spectrum of articles
This is a very biased article and its very one sided. What about the pledges that MDP brought to this country through their manifesto! To name a few transport system, universal health care, closing doors for drugs by rehabilitation, adopting a taxation program to bring the cost down of good … schools to one session.. housing … development of the regions like addu, old age benifits, single mothers were taken care were examples which they improved in just 3 years!!
And you cant say even compare whaeed with nasheed. Lies, Manipulation more reflects to Waheed! Even a small boy would know he does not have any support no grass root level within his party! Mustafa luthfee was the man behind him. You can go on and on but I think we should go for an election and see how the general public thinks. You can’t measure the things that we got in the last 3 years not even come close.
I wonder if certain people ever lived in the Maldives prior to 2008. Plans, targets and road maps is not new to the Maldives. Yes, we didn’t call it a manifesto, or a Pledge, but we had loads of them. And don’t be fooled with fancy names, universal health care, taxation to bring down food costs, age old benefits … they were all down the pipeline and ready to be introduced when Nasheed came in. The day he claimed he had introduced Age old benefits to the Maldives was the day people began to realise how DECEPTIVE he truly was. It is further deception and gross corruption to give him the credit of things, he had no idea of. We have been in an authoritarian rule for 30 years. We WONT wait for another 30 to throw away our President!
Jane, (some content deleted as it is offensive)
I kinda regret to think that Nasheed was trying to help people like you!
You are truly blind or either you don’t wanna see the change he brought!
Its a real shame to see that the 30 years old ideas has still not vanished among us.
Dont you worry,while we are still alive we wont let people like you destroy this Democracy,we have brought!
The article is not about what reforms Nasheed introduced during the past three years but more about the current situation and on how Nasheed has been dealing with the current situation.
Since you have mentioned his reforms I will write an analysis of what I think of his reforms, in the future. Some of the reforms he introduced are good but the success of these reforms are yet to be measured and analysed. You have to bear in mind that just because he introduced series of reforms it does not mean that they were necessarily successful or effective.
On this particular article I compared Waheed with Nasheed based on my own personal view of who would be a better leader as an individual. Frankly, they both dissapoint me in different ways.
I agree, election is needed to decide what the people really want. But that is not at the expense of public security and peace.
Thanks.
Cannot agree more. The best article I have seen so far about current political situation. well written and very fact based.
i love how u analyse our situation so well. eye opener really.
You are being politely biased
Yes I have an opinion and it is understandable that it can appear biased if my criticism is towards what you support. If I am being too critical of one group or person it is only because I want people to listen to each others criticisms and analyse what they can do to address the issues raised here. I have praised politicians where they deserved it and criticised politicians where they deserved it.
Thanks for reading the post.
I agree most of this but i think you don’t understand that our country is different from rest of the world and i don’t think there is any other country where the whole judiciary is in favor of someone (or some people?). Im not just saying this, i do think an agree if there is logic in it, clearly you can see this from their actions if you take a moment to think just as you have stated both sides of the story. But the route to clean the place was wrong, maybe Nasheed and MDP learned it.
I do think that Judge should never be allowed to practice and probably he is corrupt to the core. That is just my opinion. But that does not give me or anyone the right to arrest him unlawfully. Nasheed is not above the law. If the President of the country does not uphold the Constitution who else would? I agree with you that the judiciary needed cleaning but Nasheed took the wrong path on this one. I don’t even have to look at both sides to decide that this decision was fundamentally wrong. Thanks.
This is the most sensible article about the Maldivian politics that I’ve read. Hats off to you.
And yeah, like Imthischal has said, I couldn’t agree more to that phrase. Well said!
very true..i am so proud of you right now…your best so far!!
so true..and so proud of you right now..and this is your best so far..
very unbiased and neutral article. keep it up!
U think i care abt this nation?
XXXXX please?
please! >.<
I can agree more with Mariyam’s comment than the whole of your article. In average, the start of your paragraphs gives me hope for some unbiased information, but the rest disappoints me. Better luck next time in being politely unbiased.
The truth will grate those who lives so much immersed in one side of the story that it blocks out the rest. You try to find justifications even when your side is clearly in the wrong. Oh the Police was stressed. Oh the MDP supporters didnt have any other way to show their dissatisfaction! But somewhere in their minds they know right and wrong, its just blocked out. I’m sure there will always be factions in the society, but we need to find a way for people to accept the other’s right to disagree and live with it. I’m very disappointed with the leaders of the country right now. I wish in our road to democracy we had created heroes that future generations can admire and look up to…
Could not agree more. Thanks.
@Edhimariyambu, Keep doing what you’re doing, Man i’ll always read and share your articles as long as you keep writing this type of unbiased and fact based articles, really a great job.
Wooow!!! its one of the best articles iv read so far.. your perspective and the way you have given us a thought to think about is a real eye opener.. you are right!! its not a nation of few people its everyones nation and we shouldnt let them ruin this place… so i say the same!! ” I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK”
Loved it! Great job. Relief to know that not everyone in this country has gone crazy. Thank you.
a neutral and balanced article. good work.
very true, and very well written
Just a reminder to all readers that I will delete or edit comments with offensive language. Thanks.
I don’t want this country ‘BACK’
I don’t want to look ‘BACK’
Back was when there was a military dictatorship, it was when Maldives first started crawling towards democracy. Yes, there was corruption and you do have valid points here.
However, I want Maldives to go forward, maybe not through the route it’s taking on. Even then, you have expressed your opinions well. And that, we all appreciate
How a Muslim Citizen can compare Nasheed with anyone? Dear Brother & Sisters!, In his 3 years rule as head of a Muslim State, I havn’t hard even once he uttering a Salaath to our beloved Prophet(S.A.W)! Yet alone, he tries to challenge Islam, break jokes over our Prophet (S.A.W). But still you all praise him and support him by all means. If we are true believers, we can’t be sided with a person of this nature as our head of state! If we do, then we are no different than him and there will be a day we all will have to be answerable! Think wise, comment wise and fear Allah!
Thanks for reading the post. You don’t know what his beliefs are, you don’t know what he prays for, so please don’t pretend to know what Nasheed’s beliefs are. I’m afraid you have no moral authority to judge other people’s faith. Religion has nothing to do with him being a capable leader.
I respect your religious beliefs but please try to live and get along with people of various levels of religous faith. Yes, we will be answerable to Allah but not to you or any human being.
One of the best articles I have read regarding the recent events in this country. I totally applaud your objectivity and logic. Wish more people did listen reason and justice…
Regarding your comment on writing an article on Nasheed’s reforms, I am looking forward to it, since though most of Nasheed’s pledges may have been with sincerity, in the long run I see most of them unsustainable and not properly planned.
Thanks
Nicely summed up. One of the most reasonable pieces I’ve read regarding the current situation.
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