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Bushry Column

Barlamaanee or Riyaasee?

By Mohamed Bushry, 13 August 2007 Bushry Column Archive

People often ask me why I have stopped writing. I tell them that I have not stopped writing but rather I took a break from it. Writing has mostly been a hobby that I have enjoyed, without any pay. So it has to take a backseat when it comes to earning a living. Even though I'm still unable to write regularly I thought I should pen a few lines just to tell the readers what a pathetic little dictator our so-called President is.

The other day, as I came out of the mosque, after Asr prayer, a friend of mine asked me which side I would take in the upcoming referendum to decide the system of government for the country. I said that even if Maumoon tells me that the world is round I would contest him to prove otherwise. It's not because I'm stubborn. But it's because I simply don't trust the man and I would have to prove beyond any doubt to ascertain the truth of what the man says. From past experience we can safely say that the best approach forward is to believe the opposite of what Gayyoom says.

If he supports a Presidential system then there must surely be something drastically bad about it. Gayyoom doesn't have even a shred of sincerity about him. He thinks that Maldives is his property and that we citizens are all his slaves. Not only slaves, he probably believes that we are all gullible idiots.

The other day a small team of DRP volunteers visited my apartment to promote their beloved Presidential system. I asked them whether they were blind to the disintegration of our society and the total collapse of the fabric of Islam in our country. A whole generation has been lost to narcotic drugs and anti-religious propaganda. Why are some well intending Maldivians blind to the fact that we will never achieve anything good under this dictatorial regime? Under pressure from the international community and from the pressures of a more aware public, the government of Gayyoom has softened its dictatorial grip on power, but the man is still plotting to conquer our minds by hook or by crook. I plead to all my country men not to support Gayyoom and to say "yes" to a Parliamentary system of government in the upcoming referendum.

Parliamentary (or Barlamaanee) system is the only way to avoid corrupt businessmen from becoming the president of this country. Under a Presidential system they can always become President by pumping millions into a one-off referendum. But to become a leader in a Parliamentary system, one has start building his political career from the grassroots and it will take time. This is the reason why political parties such as IDP and Adhaalath Party are taking Gayyoom's side in the upcoming referendum. Just like Gayyoom, the only chance for IDP and Adhaalath, and even for individuals such as Buruma Gasim and Ilyas Ibrahim, is through a Presidential system.

This is our best chance to dislodge Gayyoom from his manic grip on power.

Say "yes" to Barlamaanee and say "no" to a Presidential system.

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