Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom; the Hypocrite of the Millenium

Editorial
Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom; the Hypocrite of the Millennium

A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe’), Dhivehi Observer, 04 April 2005

Gayyoom embodies all the characteristics of a true hypocrite. He never delivers on his promises, says one thing and does the complete opposite.

He was amongst the few graduates in Maldives at the time and significantly he was revered as an Islamic Scholar back in 1978. This was enough to convince the largely uneducated public at the time that he would be a good president. Nevertheless, he broke the law from day one. According to senior officials in government at the time, Gayyoom and his associates bribed several members of the parliament to get elected in the secret presidential ballot of 1978. Once nominated by the parliament, the referendum was a sure thing because Maldivians were pleased to see an Islamic Scholar presiding over their affairs, which they thought would be bring equality, prosperity, affluence and social justice. To the contrary, his reign was going to be anything but.

In fact Gayyoom’s reign began illegitimately. He personally admitted that he himself and his clans were in possession of weapons at the time he took the oath of office. He alleged that this was a precautionary measure to ensure that the transition of power goes without complications. Nevertheless, being in possession of weapons in against the law in Maldives and hence, he should have been tried for those crimes and impeached. Yet, when he made this statement in the parliament itself, he was already too powerful and no one had the guts to challenge him.

Maldivian people are relaxed and obedient by nature. They don’t have a habit of getting involved in politics and easily trust and respect their superiors. There is ample evidence in Maldivian history that all Maldivian rulers to date have been autocratic rulers and concentrated most of their time and effort on prolonging their reign. Education and social opportunities have always been the right of the elite whilst the average man has to suffer in silence and appreciate the little favours extended to him by the ruler.

Gayyoom has enjoyed being the most powerful man in the country for over quarter of a century. His rule cannot be defined as anything but ‘absolute dictatorship’. From 1978 – 1997, he played around with the Constitution (1968) and when the final version was adopted, it gave him “sweeping” powers, as head of state, government, army and police as well as head of judiciary. For 26 years, he was the Finance Minister and Defence Minister as well.

Gayyoom was able to conduct his illicit operations and rob the nation of its wealth in broad daylight because no one dared to challenge him or criticise him. The consequence of such an action was certain imprisonment, torture and utter destruction. He has complete control of the media and suspended basic rights such as freedom expression, association and assembly from the moment he came to power. He is still in full control of both houses of the parliament, the legislative and constitutional assembly. As head of judiciary, he has been able to protect his family members and friends from prosecution regardless of the crimes they commit whilst innocent people have spent years in prison, sometimes without charge or a trial.

Perhaps the most powerful tool that he has is the sustenance of the culture of fear and intimidation. As head of Police and the Military for 26 years, he has been able to create an ethos amongst the staff that his protection is the most important aspect of their service to the country. Arbitrary arrest of political dissidents and free thinkers are common which is almost always followed by solitary confinement and torture. This technique has deterred many from standing up against his rule.

Gayyoom is also the Supreme Religious Leader which has allowed him to block all other Islamic Scholars from preaching and educating the public. He has flouted some very basic Sharia laws but no one is allowed to utter a word against him.

Today, the people of Maldives are aware of his misdemeanours more than ever before. After the shootings of September 2003, several Maldivians have risen to the challenge both inside and outside of the country. He is now exposed to the international community like never before. In an attempt to avert his downfall, within the first year of the first ever organised opposition to his rule, he promised “sweeping constitutional reform” and continues to try and convince the people of Maldives and the international community that he really is on course to change the fate of Maldives and introduce pluralistic democracy. Ironically, what he has failed to do is back those words and empty promises by real action and change on the ground. In 21^st century, he is trying to convince the common man that he can introduce political reform with complete control on media and communication and with the use of his military muscle and the good old torture techniques. He is also forgetting that “similar sweeping reform” promises have been made by him on several occasions before but have never materialised. He proposes them and then rejects them after a few months, which is why he can be classed as the “Hypocrite of the Millennium.

Change in Maldives will only come from within. It is absurd and beyond human comprehension to believe that someone who has deliberately undermined the existing constitution of the country will amend and adhere to a constitution which will make is much more powerless. It is common sense that Gayyoom is not man enough to introduce “Sweeping Democratic Reform” to Maldives. His aim is to pass on the reign of power to his family. Ultimately, People Power will prevail and bring peace and prosperity to our small nation.