Boycotting the Israel and the Maldives Political ties

The recent saga going on to boycott Israel and the Maldives diplomatic ties is a serious blow to the democracy and international relationship. Some politicians are rejecting the intentions by the current government to strengthen diplomatic ties with Israel. The government’s decision to strengthen the political ties with Israel became the fuel for the ongoing political war between the ruling party and the opposition. Some parliamentarians and opposition activists have even vowed to oust the government on allegations of undermining the Islamic principles of the state. Of course both the Palestinians and Israelis have engorged in a war to gain secure statehood for both sides. Israelis on their part have infringed the international law by rejecting to hand over the occupied land. Palestinians on the other hand are fighting their way by ensuing terrifying acts, such as suicide bomb attacks against ordinary Israelis.

The harsh reality of the plight of the people of both sides is indisputable, that the ordinary lives are seriously affected by this war. As such, we cannot demonize the ordinary people of both Palestinians and Israelis. In fact the vast majority of Palestinians and Israelis want peace and some of the IDF; soldiers, who fought in the recent fighting’s, were the first people to publicize the heinous acts carried out against Palestinians. Moreover a large number of Israeli human rights activists protested against these acts and several academics also took their side. So the well learned Maldivian parliamentarians should seek knowledge before revolting a public uproar against a country and her people. The majority of people in Israel are peace loving and wants to end this war through a two state solution. Hence our people need to unite with the people of Israel and open up our country to them so that we can work together to achieve peace. I see a bright future for world peace through such diplomatic ties. Israelis have lost trust in most Arab states due to lack of democracy in most of these states. If we as a budding democracy can bring them to negotiation tables on the sunny side of Maldives with our Muslim brothers and international community, who knows Maldives may be the historic place where the fruits of peace ripen. We also need to look at how Prophet Mohamed (Peace be Up on Him) showed patience towards stubborn and brutal people. When he was attacked in Thoif and when he got the power to crush the whole city of Thoif he chose to give them a chance. This is the Muslims way of treating brutal and fierce people.

We can never achieve peace by demonizing a people and alienating them. In every nation the majority of people love peace and solidarity. We should not look at diplomatic relations from a single point of view. How many peace loving Israelis would love to enjoy a peaceful and quite holiday in the Maldives? There are many things we all can learn from sharing and caring. After all the real ties are between the people of nations, not with the politicians.

Where does all the dollars go?

The leakage of foreign currency from the country has never been addressed till now. The major sectors in the country employ foreign labor who take away much of the tourism dollar earned. The high leakage from the tourism sector itself worsens the staggering situation. A large percentage of the tourism dollar goes to the travel agents, while importing all major essentials including fruits, vegetables and meat for the tourist resorts also adds on to this. Moreover the large number of expatriates employed in resorts also adds on to this. Sadly there are also so many laborers employed, who can be easily replaced by Maldivians. The businessmen are more worried about the immediate profit they gain from employing cheap labor, rather than the long-term impacts of this on the country’s economy.
Another booming industry in the country is the construction industry which too employs foreign cheap labor. While this group of manual labor doesn’t cost much to the loss of foreign money, the heaviest burden is put on by professionals such as doctors, engineers, nurses, teachers, accountants etc.
As I have some experience from the education sector and lot of my friends work in this sector, I would share some of my thoughts. From my days of schooling till now the strangest thing in the Maldivian education system is the “disease” called “tuition” or in other words private tuition. It’s such an irony that even the most intelligent and capable students are either required to undergo private tuition or forced to do so by parents who want their children to do the very best. I believe the tuition culture was a creation from our beloved foreign teachers. Even though a large proportion of these teachers are genuine and working hard to enhance their students’ performance some teachers never make enough effort in their daily routine school teaching. Instead they priorities their tuitions and spend so much time on private tuitions they neglect their classroom teaching. The immense amount of money paid on tuitions is leaked out from the economy and hence will elevate the dollar shortage problems. Moreover these teachers are paid more allowances than local Maldivians doing the same jobs. My suggestion is that all teachers be paid on a packaged basis, which could be revised every 3 years. For instance based on the current situation all foreign secondary teachers can be given a package of ten thousand rufiyaa. Similarly higher secondary teachers can be given 12 thousand and principals can be given 15 thousand. Since there is no way to stop the tuition business of foreign teachers this kind of package pay will lessen the burden on the dwindling economy of the country. A similar package can be given to doctors and nurses and other professionals as well.
Foreign laborers also take on manual jobs which are considered dirty by locals such as garbage collection from households. In my opinion this can also be regulated if a proper municipal waste collection be setup. It will be worth investing a high amount to ensure that on a long run this dollar is not leaked out. For instance a company can do collection at certain times of the day. Male’ can be divided to small regions and collection can be set up. Also special collection vehicles can be designed instead of Lorries or pickups as they are too large to move around some small streets.
Every little effort is worth in a big crisis, like this.

Provinces are essential for good governance

The creation of provinces by the newly elected government turned futile due to the anticipated resistance from the Opposition. There is the talk of government expenditure and increase in government spending due to the larger number of political appointees. However a large proportion of these appointees were the councilors anticipated to bring a local level of governance by electing them through a local election. The intention of local level governance was based on good governance principles of empowerment of locals to participate in the decisions that affect their lives.
The form of decentralization the government is advocating is called “devolution” where sub national units of governments or provincial level governments are created and strengthened financially and legally to manage a designated province. This is the very first of a long phase of good governance. The aim of this strategy is to create more open, responsive and effective local governance, resulting in a representational system of local Island level decision making. By making provisions for local island communities and provincial level of governance the local islanders can effectively manage their own affairs. Additionally closer contact between central and local authorities can also be achieved, enhancing effective systems of local governance enabling local people’s needs and aspirations to be heard where by making the government interventions more socially accepted.
Sadly the Parliament has a majority of very young but charismatic members with very little experience on governance and local livelihoods. Some of them are just fresh graduates and many others have not had good education and hence cannot comprehend the importance of this. President Nasheed’s efforts are immense to advocate on these issues, however the opposition twists and turns the story. We need provinces as providing all services to the highest standards are neither feasible nor financially sound at island or atoll level. As a matter of fact the population would be too small to provide any services on a user pay basis. Another argument from the opposition is that there will be issues of resource allocation as most of the fishery resources are common to all Maldivians regardless of the island or atoll. I believe that this is not an issue if we look at the broad context of provinces. If all land and water is state property it will all be equal to all citizens. The opposition however is confusing federalism and decentralized governance. Federalism as created in some countries like Australia is totally different from decentralized governance. In Australia the Commonwealth was created by states to run their international and other affairs and hence this system and the model of provinces we follow for good governance is totally different.
We need a parliament of highly efficient and experienced professionals unlike those who babble and waffle as the saying goes “empty vessels make more noise”.

Can we cut down government spending by reducing pay to civil servants

The decision to cut down the government spending by reducing the pay for civil servants has come as a shocking wave throughout the country. The instance the finance ministry decided to increase pay for government staff at the beginning of the year was the silence before the storm. While the whole world was facing an economic down turn the Civil Service Commission (CSC), revised the salary scale of the civil servants and urged the government to take action. The decision to increase the salary also came as a commitment of the current government during their campaigns.
The increase in pay also was influenced by the sudden increase in the pay of parliamentarians of the country. Due to the compounding effect of several factors the pay for civil servants was increased. This then lead to an increase in prices of the daily essentials, especially the rent. Increase in rent lead to the increase in the price of all the goods. While the prices of all goods and services have soared and inflation keeps rising, the government decides to cut down the pay of civil servants. This will further widen the gap between the rich and poor and lead to a financial disaster. Without taking any measures to cut down the costs of the daily essentials the government should not have taken this decision. Abolition of import duties of daily essentials also had not changed the price of these goods and the prices of vegetables and fruits are as high as countries like Australia. Additionally the rent paid by the poor islanders working so hard is leaking out of the economy as most land owners from Male’ has moved out of the country to live in livable cities like Colombo, Trivendrum and KL. Sadly the price of a two bed room apartment in Male is as high as that of prices in Singapore and Malaysia. However only those fortunate enough to hold a land in Male or are rich enough can fulfill this dream. This leakage is compounded with the widening of the gap between the rich and poor and hence the government needs to address these issues before reducing the pay of the civil servants. Even with post graduate education, there is no way to make ends meet in the current situation. The working hours for civil servants also makes it impossible to do any part time adding to the burden of bearing extra costs.
I strongly urge the government to consider these issues and I strongly feel people from other islands working in the civil service to go on a strike. We all should remain at home till we are served justice. There is no way for us to pay a rent more than our salary and survive this economic down turn. Since all properties rented are based on a legally binding agreement, the housing ministry should set up a committee of lawyers who can stamp these agreements based on a monetary scale set by government authorites. If the rental prices are not regulated the economic leakage will be so high that the country will fall in to a deeper economic recession.

the root cause of the socio-economic problems in the country are mainly due to the uncontrolled rental charges while by law most of the land and are state property.

If a person is renting a house build on state property the state have the authority to regulate the rental charges for that property. Hence enacting a proper proeprty law for the country is highly essential as people from islands other than Male are given an unfair disadvantage on the expense of others.

Guilty until proven Innocent!

Ever since the DRPA hogged up the majority of the parliament in the recent election, the government has been faced with the saga of their power hunger. The powerful majority for Kaaminee clan and the loyalists of Thasmeen has yet again proven that the local island communities were mesmerized by their sihuru, fanditha and haahooras. Speaking in common sense the bogus of throwing money to powerful loyalists of former regime in their strong holds such as in Raa Atoll has yet again shown the public cannot exercise their rights.
Since the DRPA members and loyalists are innocent until proven guilty, while the ruling party members are guilty until proven innocent, the separation of powers in the country is put in to an even greater test now. While the judiciary seeks for supremacy over others by over ruling any criticisms, the DRPA majority parliament also has fallen in love with a supremacist dictatorial authority. They are in a false belief that the executive can be made their puppet by using the power of impeachment. However the infant new government has immense challenges to overcome this saga of supremacy played by DRPA parliamentarians.
The current game plan used by DRPA parliamentarians to conceal the inconvenient truths of the former regimes corruption allegations comes by the code name “guilty until proven innocent”. The convenient solution to the inconvenient truth of corruption allegations used by DRPA members in the hopes of escaping the charges is not beyond commonsense. Some members run on a wild goose chase such as demonizing the president on allegations regarding the sipping of some Shiraz during an interview with an Indian reporter. Others carry on questioning the genuineness of Presidential Commission for investigating corruption allegations as well as Anti Corruption Commission and Auditor General. These game tactics has made the media to move away from the real problem we need to resolve, the corruption allegations by auditor general on former regime. It is undeniable that the former regime has embezzled state funds and their nepotism and despotism has transformed some loyalists in to business tycoons. The proof needed to charge these tyrants may never be uncovered as long as they keep using the money and power and tyranny. Meanwhile a bunch of lawyers claiming to be honest citizens has joined hand in hand with these tyrants. This will cause immense losses to the country and to the future generations.
Sadly some parliamentarians claiming to be honest and loyal to the nation and the people are found to be loyal to only Golhabo. I wonder when these people will come to see the reality and help our future generations to inherit a free and fair nation. Sadly money speaks for most of these parliamentarians and some young and hopeful future politicians are putting their career at stake by being loyal to only Golhabo. They still have the high hopes of bringing the Kaaminee clan to power to enjoy the tyranny of the past. The current DRPA parliamentarians are now putting their political careers in to a great test by being loyal to tyrant, ruthless Golhaa. Lack of visionary in rising to their seats and for future will put a dead end to their political career. If only they could understand the wave of change and the reality that today’s generation will be replaced by a younger generation with the aspirations and dreams for a free and fair nation, they should act in favor of the people.

The realpolitik and “Back me! Or I will sack you”

The realpolitik which we are facing is not merely a coincidence but based on circumstances faced by the infant democracy fruiting in the Maldives. Recent sacking of the AG and Communications Minister were part of this. The truth is that no executive can exercise his responsibilities without the backing of his ministers. So there is no reason to criticize president for the expulsion of them from the cabinet. There is a twisting and turning of every good deed done by the hopeful new president and apparently every step he makes is heavily criticized by the opposition. The separation of powers has gone to the extent that public service is separated from the elected executive and the executive is being treated as an alien in the democratic regime. Rule of law is becoming a joke as the staggering allegations of corruption by the ousted dictatorial regime keeps denying every speculation and sweeping their white collar crimes under the carpet. The president is enduring the fate of a canary in a coal mine due to the push and pull from both sides of the political realm. His own party is pushing him forward for justice to prevail against the former regime politicians. Meanwhile the opposition is frying him and daring him to take any action. The biggest stunt so far is the denial of the legitimacy of the presidential commission. It’s a bit skeptic for him to do it independent of the other powers of the democracy. However the need for it is undeniable given the inadequacy of the system to deal with corruption allegations of former regime.
It is an undeniable truth and also an inconvenient truth, that Golhabo and his family and friends embezzled state money and funds for their own wealth and to make their own coffers fat. Walk around the capital and there is no need to go much deeper to prove this. The high rise buildings and the wealth of the former regime is not something which has come out of the assets of the nepotistic allies of Golhabo. The most agonizing and bogus thing about the former regimes manipulators is the ridicule they make of themselves by convincing the public that former regime ministers like Zaky should be put on trial for corruption. However the public never understands that they are accepting their crime as they are willing to go on trial if Zaky is given the same fate. They are in false belief that this could intimidate the justice. From my understanding it clearly indicates these so called honest, humble, and kind hearted politicians are completely accepting their crime by justifying the need to put people like Zaky on trial.
It is also not surprising that the, newly elected parliamentarians starting a wild goose chase by bringing bills such as halving the paycheck which they adored and made legitimate all by themselves. I myself was agonized as this bill was put forward by one of the MPs whom I have great respect. It could have been more worth if they all start doing their job without trying to make a big “haa-hoo” and try to understand the realpolitik. Of course they do get an unreasonably high pay while most people including me are paying through the nose to make ends meet. Sadly most of them do nothing but babbling in a room where the remaining half of them just warm their seats.
The separation of powers is the main issue of the current Parliament, and their main agenda is to put the president from the frying pan in to the fire. All in all the parliamentarians have yet again fooled the public, by giving a blind eye to the gist of the matter. It seems the parliament is the stage for political contests among the politicians, amusing the people as in a cock fight. I just wonder whether any MP has ever assigned representatives in their constituencies and publicized their agenda and their principles and their plan for serving the constituents and the nation. Dear MPs, you get paid heaps of money not just to keep your ass down inside the parliament and sell your vote to the highest bidders. You have bigger roles inside and outside the four walls of it. Reach out to us and be answerable to us. Back us now coz in the next election we will sack you.

The Unsung Heroes

The recent parliamentary election was the most highly contested in the history of the Country. Some constituencies had as many as ten or more candidates represented by different parties and independents’ as well. This was never seen in prior elections. Usually 2 or 3 candidates will contest along with their dummy’s, used to disaggregate votes. During this election patriotism was shown by many islanders and they took this opportunity to voice their constituency’s aspirations and dreams. Many were in fact so patriotic that they preferred the candidates who were born and raised in their constituency. Some believed that it will help future generations of their constituencies to become more aware and active in politics. This election also became a turning point for longest serving MPs and the public has yet again shown the rhythm of change echoing the nation.
However influence has again infiltrated in to the thick democratic plasma and got in the way of democracy. Lot of influential figures was still able to overpower some genuine, patriotic and charismatic young contestants. In some of the constituencies, rich and powerful hogged the seats, making the patriotic and genuine candidates disheartened. However one thing we need to keep in mind is that in the “democracy” we enjoyed for the past 30 years the elections have always been bigotry, where loyalists of the regime and rich people hogged up the whole political arena. This still lingers on in our society, even though we have embraced the true democracy. Some candidates who won the seats were alleged for corruption and yet swept away a large majority and won their seats. This shows our public being blindfolded by a group of influential people in the society for financial gain from such candidates. Some candidates who won the seats have hardly put their feet on the soils of their constituencies and others who claim to belong to them have never seen the sunrise on their constituencies. We may be highly educated, rich and influential and belong to a strong political party, but understanding the aspirations and dreams of local communities is not something one can earn by just visiting their constituency once in a blue moon. Many educated people in the society fail to understand the pain and grievances of our local islanders. When we visit an island we see our islanders behind a white washed wall. It is simply not enough to understand them in such a way. Yet money had spoken during this election, whatever the means how it has infiltrated the free and fair curtain is unclear.

I salute the unsung heroes of this election who had come forth with selfless, patriotic and genuine concerns to improve the life of local islanders. You may have lost this time, yet you have shown to your constituents that, young charismatic, patriotic and selfless, leaders have grown among them and you will always be considered an aspiration for the younger generations of your constituencies. Live with them and be with them and show your genuineness and selfless, patriotism to your fellow citizens. Someday they will stand up for you and will realize that true heroes are among them.

Credibility of opposition

The audit reports from various institutions governed by former regime shows corruption being the major setback during the time the regime upheld power. The untold stories and the publicly known secrets show that the allegations were in fact true. However the DRP candidates for the Parliament keep on denying these facts and blaming the current government. The really sad thing is that a lot of people still are not well aware of this. I believe that most DRP candidates have lost their credibility due to the leadership which during its reign in the country was nepotistic and despot.
Whenever a long ruling regime falls, it takes lot of time and courage and wisdom to return back and gain the public’s trust. For instance the failed BJP government of neighboring India is enough proof that this is the case. If we look at the public approval of much such failed leadership it will show the real truth behind this. For instance the opposition in Australia and USA are far below the approval rate of the ruling parties. People like Nasheed (AKA Kutti), were able to realize this as they are better informed than most of the DRP candidates. The candidates who are showing overwhelming support to Golhabo will lose their credibility even more with their current campaign strategies, whereby using Anti-campaigning strategies. The easiest way to gain trust is to face the public and admit that the DRP rule had problems and also a total reformation on the helm of the party is critical. No political party has succeeded with a long ruled dictator leading the party. There is a wind of change around the globe, not only in politics but in everything from the way people live to their thinking. The psychology of young emerging youth is to move with change and this is the current pattern of thinking, not only in Maldives but around the whole world.
The well learned and skilled leaders in the DRP are slowly moving away unless they are bound to the party due to some unresolved and inescapable obligations. Like the President said it is far easier to maneuver and manipulate the DRP loyalists as they are on a wishes cycle which started from DRP itself. The long list of such people can be counted starting from one of the loudest former vocals of DRP, Mr Imad Solih. I believe the current opposition lacks vigor and wisdom as well as credibility to oppose the current government successfully. The personal attacks from both sides are cracking the foundation of democracy. Let alone DRP, leaders such as Mr Umar, and Dr Hassan as well as Mr Gasim is lacking the necessary tools to fully exercise their opposition in a democratic and convincing manner to the public. Eventhough I try not to be biased to anyone in this article, I believe that MDP has shown over time and again and again, the political resilience, through skill full political tactics. The way MDP has come to power within the grips of a dictator is enough to write a PhD in Politics and Democracy.

Life at the backdrop of Theemuge

I felt sad and shocked and dismayed when I saw the Audit Report of the FORMER Presidential Palace. It was disgusting to find out the lavish life style of Golhabo and his family. Well tears flowed from my eyes, and lot of memories flashed back. I remembered how I walked across the Shabnamee Goalhi next to the Palace. I was a child then, but was doing hard labor everyday, carrying loads of shopping on my shoulders across the small street. Back then I never knew I had any rights. I never felt how lavish my president and his family were living as I walk along this street starving and tired.
I was a malnourished skinny slave driven boy working like a donkey for some Male’ resident. I had to do all the chores of the house but was only given a place to sleep and adulterated food. But I was trying to get something which was my goddamn human right as a citizen of the Country. I was trying to get education. Alas! I just got tears in my eyes today. I never cried back then, as I thought my country was poor, like me and my family back in the island. But now my eyes are flowing with tears as I know while I was walking across that street everyday with heavy loads on my shoulders and starving, my president and his family and his friends unfairly took away my rights. Where was your sense of faith and human dignity and the kind heartedness in you then? This boy who desperately walked on the next street to your palace was starving yet had a dream to serve his nation and is proud to be doing it now. But what were you doing to his nation and his family and his society! You were ripping and looting it off with your family and friends. What has your regime given to him! Dear Mr Ex president, today I cried, and I’m happy you cannot make me cry anymore. Can you imagine my sufferings, yet you lived this lavish posh life on the backdrop of the slavery I have to undergo because you cannot even provide any education in my island. Where was my human rights, where was my dignity! Where were my rights as a child! It’s a shame that you still claim you’re the humble and kind leader. You have brainwashed us for too long. But the proofs are coming now and we will not get stung any more from your den. Today is the day I bury the respect I had for the whole of your family and your friends and your regime. Will you still say there is no proof! Will you still say that you don’t mind to be trialed in the International Court of Justice? Where is the Justice for this boy and many others like him? Who will pay for their sufferings? What was their fault other than being born to an island and a country you were ruling ruthlessly? I have no answers, but there is a day for you to answer all this. Can you say to GOD on the Day of Judgment that there is no proof of any atrocities done by you, like your saying to us now?

Terrorism taking its roots in to our soil

The news of the capture of a group of armed Maldivians near the Pakistan- Afghan border was shocking and I was dismayed by this news. It reminded me of a boy who was sponsored by a certain group believed to be the “DOT” who went to study in Pakistan. Sadly after 2 years the family was informed that he died as a martyr. By eaves dropping these neighbors of mine I came to know that the boy was actually taken to a battle field in Afghanistan and was recruited by the DOT gang. The poor parents of this boy were naïve in believing the DOTs who had a cruel intention of recruiting such boys and getting heaps of money from the fundamentalist Islamic terrorists harboring in Afghanistan. The sad thing was this incidence was never even reported to police as the family was brainwashed that their child died as a martyr and they should be happy. I spoke about this incidence to some of my friends who know the boy. However we came to a conclusion that if the family was not willing to inform this incidence to police, we cannot help them at all.
This is the tragedy faced by many poor islanders, who are naïve and unaware of the atrocities of the DOTs. Hence I think it’s time that our police establish a counter terrorism unit and bring these criminals to justice. I believe it’s a form of slavery and the most heinous crime one can make by taking away the children of the poor families, promising to provide them with better education. It is also high time that we stop educating our children from the fundamentalist Madhrasas in Pakistan. I’m sure the education they get is nothing but abuse of Islam and brain washing to take part in their version of “Jihaadh” which true Muslims never believe.
The stand taken by our Islamic Affairs Ministry on this issue was very straightforward and they are totally against this kind of Jihaadh. Our well learned Mnister Dr Majeed said there is nothing in Islam which encourages you to go to these places and fight by the name of Jihaadh. He stressed that caring about the family and embracing your responsibilities to the nation is a much more worthwhile Jihaadh than taking part in this terrorist activities.
Hence our public and our society must be educated on the cunning atrocities of DOTs and their heinous crimes against the human rights.

carbon neutral dream

"Carbon Neutral" has been buzzing in the Maldives, ever since the “age of the stupid" premiere. The government has recently employed an envoy for climate change and also inaugurated a council to advise the president on climate change issues. Instead of the tail wagging the dog, the dog has started wagging the tail with regard to climate change issues. After all climate change is a global issue which needs to be addressed at a local level as well. The inauguration of this council is a way forward as most of the world leaders have taken climate change advisors on board.

The council indeed has a wide array of professionals who are experts on the issues of climate change and sustainable development. I would like to see this council starting to plan our development so that our communities and their livelihoods become more resilient and resistant in the face of climate change. When I visited the islands impacted by coastal erosion and flooding due to swells, the most striking thing was the poor design of infrastructure in the islands and the poor planning. This is something which needs immediate attention as we are experiencing more and more unprecedented weather extremes. To help build better residential homes which can cope with such frequent and unprecedented events we need to provide incentives to the local community to build their homes in a more resilient manner. Just having a building code will not suffice as the costs involved is a far too bigger burden for ordinary islanders. Hence better loan schemes for home building and subsidies on certain building materials can help the island communities to be better prepared. Meanwhile to combat water and food shortages as well as other major social impacts on local communities due to the weather extremes, we need to carry out social impact assessments. We also need to allocate funds to combat disasters and need to review our preparedness.

The recent water shortage in the islands is just an alarm bell from this ticking clock. It shows that we have an uncertain future and how much we need to do for future. Becoming carbon neutral without addressing these issues would be a green wash. The local communities need to build a resilient and resistant livelihood before we begin a cleaner development approach. Perhaps this could be the beginning for us.

I wish we begin with a better legal framework and incentives based approach to address climate change issues and its impacts, before we move to a carbon neutral scheme.