Editorial -Dictator's 999 Call "give me loads of money I might give my people democracy" :: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial
Dictator's 999 Call to the World "if you want democracy in Maldives give me loads of money"

By A. S. I. Moosa (Sappe'), 19 Sept. 2005

As usual, listening to Gayyoom's UN speech was unentertaining and very upsetting to say the least. Every time he makes a speech, especially the United Nations, he comes up with a bit or trick which never works and makes him the laughing stock of the assembly. Last time round it was his reminder of the time left for him to speak and this time the idea of the '999' emergency call.

However, on a more serious note, he begged the world to differ the promoting of Maldives from Least Developed country category (LDC) to a developing country. The final confirmation of the promotion to a Developing County in fact came days before tsunami hit the Maldives but it was on the cards for many many years and Gayyoom tried his best to resist it by lobby around the world claiming that the parameters chosen for the promotion was unfair because he was going to loose out on the many preferential treatments give to LDC's by the world bank and other international organization as well as foreign donor countries.

The purpose of classification of countries in this manner is to ensure that countries are offered the opportunity to stand on its own feet and develop a self reliant economy which can provide for its own people. Of course, Gayyoom is not bothered about that as long as as he has ample funds to spend on himself and pass around his elite friends, who work hard to sustain his illegitimate rule.

Gayyoom is shamelessly using the tsunami disaster to increase his wealth. He said that he has not been able to attend to the needs of those who lost their livelihoods as a result of the tsunami. We all know that the homeless and the needy remain that way. However, if you think hard about it, the real reason for that is because Gayyoom is unwilling to make it a priority and he continues to waste the little money we have in order to finance his lavish lifestyle. For example, the shopping trips to Singapore and to finance his ever enlarging bureaucratic government machinery. There are needless numbers of ministries and unusually high-paid individuals, whose given task is to promote and maintain this dictator in power. And, more to the UN trip, sources have confirmed that Gayyoom's delegation was in excess of 17 personnel including his own family. The estimated cost of this trip UN will exceed US$ 300,000 according to experts. The point is, at a time of dire need and economic downfall, does he really need to spend that kind of money to deliver a speech at the UN assembly? Could he not have send just a special envoy to deliver the speech? After all, more than half the participants were not the heads of the government. That money could have come in handy for the victims of the tsunami.

Bottom line is that Gayyoom is only concerned about his own survival. Maldives economy is undoubtedly in trouble and the problem is not getting solved because of the amount of waste by Gayyoom to fund his propaganda campaigns and to bribe his cronies. Gayyoom perhaps did not take notes of speeches of world powers like the PM of Great Britain. He maybe the President of Maldives but he no longer has the powers to abuse and mistreat us.

"For the first time at this Summit we are agreed that states do not have the right to do what they will within their own borders, but that we, in the name of humanity, have a common duty to protect people where their own governments will not." said Tony Blair. Similar statements were echoed by leaders of other democracies like President Bush of the United States. "The work of democracy is larger than holding a fair election; it requires building the institutions that sustain freedom. Democracy takes different forms in different cultures, yet all free societies have certain things in common. Democratic nations uphold the rule of law, impose limits on the power of the state, treat women and minorities as full citizens. Democratic nations protect private property, free speech and religious expression. Democratic nations grow in strength because they reward and respect the creative gifts of their people. And democratic nations contribute to peace and stability because they seek national greatness in the achievements of their citizens, not the conquest of their neighbors." said George W Bush in his speech to the UN assembly.

From this, we can be certain of one thing. The world will not turn a blind eye to the oppression that we Maldivians are being subjected to. We want all freedom to be able to fend for ourselves. We don't want to be kidnapped from our homes in the middle of the night at gun point. We don't want to be banished or locked up in jails whilst we are completely innocent. We don't want to be begging people to feed our children. We don't want to worship and fear an absolute dictator like Gayyoom. We want him to face justice and spend the rest of his life in jail. We want to be free.