Philanthropy as a political exchange capital in Maldives

Politicians often involve in exchanges to enhance their power and influence over the people. Often the visionary and skillful politicians calculate the return of their exchanges with their clients or constituents and innovate ways of maximizing their returns. However such exchanges become corrupt practices and often undermines the rights of people and the democratic values. In a society like Maldives where democracy is at the fledgling stage, politicians use political exchange in alarming corrupt manners- often making it detrimental to the democratic values. For instance the basic rights granted under the constitution such as rights to safe drinking water and sewerage also has become a means of political exchange. Several parliamentarians attend ribbon cutting ceremonies of projects for safe drinking water, sewerage or road construction. The naive public were given the impression that this services given to them on their tax money is a big favor, which in turn begs for a return of favor in the form of votes in the next elections.

Philanthropy used by rich and powerful as an altruist duty has become a favorite political exchange capital for Maldivian parliamentarians. The extent of giving and providing to constituents in the name of philanthropy is so engraved within the system people have begun to portray politicians as messiahs or saviors. The image of politicians, especially legislators has completely transformed in to that of the Good Samaritan. The naive people continue to believe the responsibility of a legislator is to provide them financial support for their basic needs including medicals and food. This naivety of people is used to garner public support in return for the philanthropy.

The mass media of Maldives was recently flooded with the news of a well-known charismatic parliamentarian giving medical equipment to the health center of his constituency. He was also praised in the media for giving a financial allowance to all newborns in the constituency and providing welfare support for all his constituents. Another famous parliamentarian provided staple foods to his constituents for the fasting month of Ramadan. These are clearly forms of political exchange capitals provided to gain political returns. This form of political exchange is perfectly legitimized and publicly accepted. Some people even began believing it is their legal right to demand such favors from their representative in parliament. Ironically in a country which follows Islam, where bribes are prohibited - such practices becoming acceptable is alarming. In any functioning democratic society such political exchanges will be considered bribes or corrupt deals. If the issue is deeply analysed in a sociological context, the politician expects vote from his constituents in return for such favors. Any learned human can judge this as abuse of power to influence votes in the upcoming elections. In other words it binds the constituents to an invisible contract, of returning favor in the next election. Hence the politicians use political exchange capital of philanthropy skilfully to buy the votes in the upcoming elections.

Philanthropy as a political exchange capital undermines the basic tenets of democracy. It increases dependency of people and hence impedes their freedom and independence to make proper decisions. It also enslaves and entraps people in a social quagmire. Urgent actions must be taken to stop abuse of democracy by such political exchange of capitals. The dependent, naive and vulnerable people must be made aware that such practices are against the religion as they are bribed to return a political favor. The legislators of the country needs to learn their roles and responsibility embedded within the constitution. For becoming a fully democratic society people must be empowered to become independent of rich and powerful politicians. However in western democracies also political exchange capitals are used in manners detrimental to society. For instance different lobby groups influence legislators to pass bills by funding their political campaigns. Nonetheless a paradigm shift is required to enjoy the people power enshrined in democratic governance. 

Maldives judiciary and coup of 2012

The judiciary has its evil in the way it was formed in 2008 to compliment with the Green Constitution. The Judicial Service Commission at that time also was hijacked by the bench of interim Supreme Court. Furthermore they undermined the constitution by self reorganizing to become the permanent bench. Some from the bar and MDP activists immediately recognized the evil deeds of the then chief Justice and activists of MDP immediately went on strike and locked the Supreme Court. Even then, the current government which was in opposition at the time were sympathising with the bench. The ramifications of this lead to formation of a bench in a haste in an extra session of the Majilis. The bench formed was mainly of judges with strong sharia background with not much academic exposure to common laws practiced in most civilized democratic countries. In addition judge’s appointments had questionable integrity related issues. This was confirmed and well proven by the then JSC member Ms. Velizinee.

Major litmus test of judiciary came with the coup of 2012. The bench in particular was faced with a major test of integrity and of serving justice. The complacency shown by whole bench in the events before, during and after the coup really showed their partial nature and their romance with the old dictatorial regime elements. The grassroots ran havoc on streets with no sense or awareness of rule of law. Grassroots were blamed for several attacks on law enforcement infrastructure, while their agony and pain was overlooked. Also the grassroots with no sense of rule of law were lead in to a nostalgic dilemma by not providing guidance and legality of toppling of government. Instead the Chief Justice’s immediate action was to sworn in the incumbent vice president who was a major player of the coup. This response immediately legitimized the actions of uniformed bodies before, during and after the coup event. It also gave coup perpetrators and sympathizers powers which lead to more repercussions. Till this day the elements of uniformed bodies guilty of several crimes committed on day of coup, remains immune to justice. For the grassroots and the watchful minds a clear fraternity between the judiciary and coup perpetrators was obvious.

In essence the coup of 2012 became the saviour of the judiciary which was faced with heavy criticism, during the silence before the storm of coup. Soon after the coup the judiciary started enjoying their honeymoon, with overwhelming immunity and impunity. Their romance with dictatorial elements who perpetrated the coup, and coup sympathisers and collaborators continued leading to erosion of rule of law and justice. Justice in the country became a joke even to the layman. Any coup collaborators or sympathisers were proven innocent before going in to courts. Anyone who is against coup will be guilty before s/he appears in court.  Day by day grassroots became aware of the romancing of judiciary with a particular political party. The public lost their trust in the whole judiciary. This was compounded by the dictatorial nature of judicial watch dog which from day one was a puppet of the bench.

In 2013, the election became a war of coup perpetrators and their allies and the rest of the public. In a first round the public showed a relentless overwhelming support for coup antagonists, the MDP. Fear began looming within the bench and their allies enjoying the sweet honey moon. MDP became more vocal on reforming judiciary and gained overwhelming support.  The looming fear with in judiciary and bench became more obvious when they intervened to an internationally acclaimed transparent electoral process ongoing. Their allies in law enforcement and government by then cooked up a blatant litany of a report regarding elections. This became the catalyst for them to annul the elections jeopardising the hopes of coup antagonists. The grassroots later found the fallacies of this report which was heavily criticized by the Election Commission. This also provided the coup perpetrators and their allies to utilize all available resources to turn the election in their favour. They had just one focus on mind, which was winning the election by hook or crook. They pledged to deliver everything under the sky to a deprived public. In addition the uniformed bodies were politicised to a great extent. Some long serving loyal and capable officers were sacked or made voluntarily redundant. The election was won by the judiciary and the bench as it turned in their favour. In reality the election gave judiciary with the immunity they have been dreaming since beginning. Their immunity and impunity lead to a judicial dictatorship.

MDP garnered further support and strength from grass roots and kept their spirits alive by being consistent with their pledge to reform judiciary. Fear lurking within the bench again awakened.  Fear of MDP wining Maldives Majilis and the bench getting dissolved was not far from reality. Fear of bench lead to utilize new tactics by becoming the jury, the judge and the plaintiff in a case which even the layman and grass roots understands as injustice. Finally the verdict to jail president of the Elections Commission was given by the bench. The verdict was a clear abrogation of the Green Constitution. The bench once again laid down a path to remain immune.  

I believe the fraternity of coup perpetrators and collaborators with the bench and judiciary at large is the root cause of the mutilation of the fledgling democracy of the Maldives. The irony is the silence of the bar and lawyers, posing the grass roots in to a dilemma. Additionally the international community keeps giving a blind eye to the whole scenario. However the spring is not far as the grassroots day by day become aware of social justice and democracy. The reactions and actions of bench and JSC further convince the grassroots of their unjust and corrupt behaviours. One’s actions become a blessing for others in disguise. The response of the bench may garner further support to MDP. Their slogan to reform judiciary keeps gaining more support.