Big Friday could be Liberation Day :: Maldives News :: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial

Big Friday could be Liberation Day

By Editor in Chief, A. S. I. Moosa (Sappe'), 23 October 2006

Throughout history, struggles for democracy and justice have never been easy. For many, it has taken years and cost thousands if not millions of lives before they realise their dreams. However, in the case of Maldives, the recent organised movement led by a handful of human rights activists in the aftermath of the brutal killings of inmates in Maafushi Jail in 2003, much has been achieved in just a few years. Gayyoom's 'Secret Dictatorship' is no longer a secret. It is classed amongst the most oppressive and despised regimes in the world today. With the help of modern information technology, such and the internet, the vast majority of the Maldivian people have been empowered to breakaway from fear and intimidation and rise up to liberate the nation and to install a democratic government.

After years of oppression and torture, the public at large are now awake and determined to demand and protect their basic rights and civil liberties. If everything goes to plan, in less than 3 weeks, on 10th of November, thousands of Maldivians from outer islands will converge on the capital Male' to pressure their respective members of the parliament to accelerate the constitution reform process that is being deliberately held back by Gayyoom and his cronies.

Despite mounting criticism and proven guilt in cases of murder and torture of innocent men and women, mismanagement of public funds, endemic corruption and injustices, even today Gayyoom has no shame to babble on with his rhetoric. "I want to bring democracy and justice to the Maldives by my 'sweeping reform' agenda and the road map. Despite being head of the judiciary, I have never interfered with its proceedings and now I want to separate it, but those who are to takeover power do not want separation of the judiciary, only me and my party can preside over a democratic and just Maldives," he said in a meeting with his cronies last week. Nothing could be further from the truth and beyond any shadow of a doubt these lies prove that the bastards is a megalomaniac. Little does he know that he could have brought these reforms and made Maldives a democracy two decades ago? However, what is interesting is that he has in fact admitted that some other people are going to be in power next, and not him. He now knows that he has no more power except that of the guns, which he is unable to use against the people now because of international attention on the Maldives.

For 25 years, prior to the incidents of September 2003, he had a completely hassle free ride. No one dared question him on any matter, and he had absolute power to do anything he wanted with anyone, anytime. During those dark years, thousands of Maldivians had been tortured and dozens killed for expressing voices of dissent and criticizing his regime. Yet today, he is saying that he can bring about democratic reform and built a just society in our country. Any logical and sane person could read his face and understand the hypocrisy and deviousness of the game he is playing. How can we entrust him with anything anymore when he has done nothing but destroy our livelihoods, undermine our basic human rights from the day he came to power through the covert coup in 1978.

Our nation and its people have been held hostage for almost three decades by a brutal regime headed by this murderous dictator. He has attained a habit of using state resources illegally to protect his regime and to undermine our constitution, the very symbol of our nationhood. Thanks to a great many courageous Maldivians, we are now in a position to take the last stride in the path of our struggle for democracy. Given the current circumstances, international support for our movement as well as the level of public awareness, there is no doubt that the Maldivian people can make 10th November 2006 the 'liberation day' of our beloved nation: Liberation from the shackles of poverty, ignorance and fear.