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.

Time to say sorry

The expresident of Maldives should be acknowledged for his wise decision to hand over pwer to the democratically elected president. However it is his duty as a peace loving man to respect the constitution and election results. Additionally he had no choice as the people clearly showed they need a change.
However he should publicly say sorry to all citizens of Maldives before leaving the post. For all the pain and grief caused to the people and families due to the unlawful shooting in Maafushi Jail. For all the political prisoners and the way they were treated you should say sorry. For all the money stolen by your friends and cronies and those which you gave them for free on the expense of us, you should say sorry. For not doing enough to bridge the gap between rich and poor you should say sorry.
I really wish the expresident say sorry for every crime and and every atrocity which happenend in his regin whether its intentional or unintentional. Dear expresident if you do so people will forgive you and if people forgive you ALLAH almighty will forgive you. It will also help you to rest in peace and live happiliy ever after. You should make your last speech as a president to ask forgiveness from people and to get the love and respect from the people.