Gayyoom Vs Saeed about Political Parties :: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial
Attorney General advises Gayyoom that the Maldives constitution does not prohibit political parties

A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe'), Dhivehi Observer, 06th May 2005

Gayyoom is the one and only person behind the restriction of political freedom in Maldives. Since taking power in 1978, all his policies have been designed to maintain and strengthen his autocratic rule with which the country has seen nothing but cosmetic changes and developments.

The influx of foreign investments and development of tourism industry has seen Maldives maintain a good economic growth over the last 25 years but when assessed closely, the vast majority of the people of Maldives are still deprived from a decent and affluent life whilst Gayyoom and his family along with his cronies have been enjoying what can only be described as 'millionaire lifestyles'. When they or a family member falls ill, they can afford to fly off to Singapore or Europe and get world class medical services, when their children reach school age, they can go abroad to the top schools in the world and when they commit crimes, Gayyoom protects them from prosecution. Their homes are high rise buildings or a classic mansion whilst most Maldivians live in appalling conditions with more tens of people sharing a small house. Gayyoom and the likes live such an affluent life and make more money in a month than an average Maldivian makes in a lifetime. The disparity could not be more startling than this and yet, Gayyoom wants to project himself as the Father of Reform in Maldives and claims that he has built an affluent nation, the envy of the region.

In the past 27 years, much has changed but Gayyoom has refrained from relinquishing any of the powers he had, most importantly the power to influence the justice system. As head of judiciary, he is able to get away with any crime, the biggest of it all being treason as a result of undermining the country's constitution. Up until last year, he was the Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence, the police and the armed forces operation under one umbrella, the National Security Service and Defence, he was also the Governor of the Bank of Maldives. In short, his will is law in Maldives.

On 4^th May, Gayyoom announced that he was going refer the matter of registering political parties in the Maldives to the parliament for reconsideration. The parliament had rejected it in 2001 when Maldivian Democratic Party filed for registration which many legal experts believe undermined the constitution. A day later, an announcement by Attorney General Dr. Saeed said that the current constitution does not prohibit the formation of political parties in the country. This further affirms Gayyoom's total disrespect and disregard for the constitution of the Maldives.

Maldives is a republic and has a constitution so there is no need for Gayyoom to decide on whether constitutional rights are to be granted its full recognition or not and implemented as such. There is no need for him to interpret the constitution when and how he feels like. He cannot DECIDE which clauses are to be implemented and when. In doing so, he is committing a grave crime and if there was a constitutional court in Maldives, he could easily be charged and convicted of high treason.
Gayyoom is saying that he has DECIDED to refer the matter (of forming and registering political parties) to the parliament but his lawyer, the Attorney General has explicitly said that there is no need for it and that the current constitution has provisions for the formation of political parties.

Maldivian people are now left in a dilemma. Who should they believe a lawyer who has academic credentials beyond Gayyoom's imagination or a dictator who has a horrible habit of undermining the constitution?