The 'Word' Cup is over; Wake up everyone! :: Maldives News :: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial

The 'Word' Cup is over; Wake up everyone!

By Editor in Chief, A. S. I. Moosa (Sappe'), 11th July 2006

Despite being very insignificant and small in the football world, like most nations it is our national game as well. Maldivians glue themselves to the TV and watch every game of the World Cup (locally pronounced WORD CUP), no matter what time they are played. The teams they support vary from Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France, Germany and England, perhaps in this very order.

But, this world cup, will b e remembered for something else as well. Since the murder of Evan Naseem and his friends in jail in September 2003, there has been mounting pressure on Golhaabo to resign and pave the way for a democratic government. Since then, the dictator has reportedly not had a good night's sleep, worrying over what people might get up to the next day. However, over the last month, during WORD CUP fever as we call it, most Maldivians took a breather, time off from everything and enjoyed the beautiful game, which of course meant that the dictator had it easy over this period.

In fact, like never before, Golhaabo put large video screens around the capital and in some larger inhabited islands, to ensure that people forget about everything, especially his ruthless dictatorship, and get marred in football. However, many reformists used this time to reorganise and plan more activities to address the existing issues, such as the release of political prisoners and to plan the upcoming referendum on the type of government for the Maldives. MDP in fact, postponed their planned Extraordinary General Meeting because they knew that members could not concentrate on anything much during this period, except the world cup drama.

Well, now that the world cup is over, we all must take a good look at what tasks lay ahead. Ever since the announcement of the so called 'Sweeping Reform' agenda over 2 years ago, Golhaabo continued to influence the outcome of the reform process by intimidating members of the parliament, especially his own appointed members in the constitutional assembly. Nevertheless, the public has been closely monitoring and pressuring their MPs to do the right thing for once and not to sell their souls to salvage an aging dictator. This pressure is believed to be the main reason why the house voted to hold a public referendum to decide the type of government for the Maldives, despite the fact that, Golhaabo had ordered all his members in the assembly, that constitutes an absolute majority, to vote for a Presidential System rather than a Parliamentary System, the later is the preferred choice of most reformists, especially the Maldivian Democratic Party, the only party that are represented in the parliament. It is important to note hear that the parliament was not elected through multiparty elections, as Golhaabo did not allow parties until June 2005, which was after constitutional assembly and parliamentary elections were held in 2004 and January 2005 respectively.

Reformists have in fact already begun their campaigns to free political detainees, by launching a poster campaign calling for their immediate release. The Chairperson of MDP has also called for 'Direct Action' to release members of the party, held in detention against the law. Detention of these members is politically motivated as far as legal experts are concerned. In addition to that, MDP is planning several actions and rallies over the coming days to increase pressure on Golhaabo to stop interfering with the reform process, release political prisoners and end arbitrary arrests.

For many, there will be a feeling of anticlimax now that the WORD CUP is over, especially after all the drama and disappointments of the game this year. However, it is vital that we lift ourselves up and finish the game at home soon by kicking Golhaabo out of office.

Yes, we have all had a breather, but it is time to reenergise and begin the work of removing the aging dictator once and for all.

Finally, let us remember the great words of the Dalai Lama, "Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us."