Maldives Foreign Policy :: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial

Gayyoom's so called Foreign Policy destroyed the hopes and aspirations of the people of Addu Atoll

A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe'), Dhivehi Observer, 25 April 2005

Addu Atoll is a very strategically located group of island with the second largest population concentration in the Maldives which is just over 30,000 representing more than 10% of the total population.

Addu people are sometimes classed as English Maldivians based on the interaction the people of Addu had with the British who worked and lived in the British RAF Naval Base in Gan Island, which is the largest plot of wasted land in the country now because Gayyoom does not want the people of Addu to prosper.

Addu people worked in Gan in different jobs and had prosperous livelihoods. From 1956 - 1976, Addu was even more prosperous and livelier than Male' itself. Thousands of people from other parts of the country went to Addu to find work and to get treated in the Military Hospital run by the Brits. Many believe that the most important legacy left by the Brits in Addu Atoll is the building of Gan and the creation of work ethics in the minds of the people.

After the Brits left Maldives, there were several parties interested in leasing the well developed Gan Island for different purposes and not merely for military use only. However, Gayyoom had a habit of rejecting any such project, starting from the rejection of leasing the island to Russia as a supply and refueling base for its Indian Ocean Fleet. This was in 1978 and Gayyoom led this mission as the Transport Minister. Once Gayyoom came to power later that year, he had full control over what happens to Maldives and hence rejected even better proposals such as rejecting the offer from the Scimitar Oil Refinery Cooperation in his first presidential term. His excuse of non-alignment policy and regional stability is completely baseless because in reality, Maldives could never be a threat for any regional powers like India. Gayyoom appeased India and uses that to remain in power by creating the image that he works in the interest of regional stability but real truth is that he does not want the people of Addu to prosper and become affluent and economically self dependent. Dictators remain in power by making the public totally dependable on the state for even the most basic things. If a large population like Addu becomes affluent, then there will be repercussions for Gayyoom as they will demand social change and more accountability and can mount an opposition against him. This is the sole reason why Gayyoom stopped Addu from prospering to make her people poor and destitute.

The Maldives tourism industry has a great deal to thank the Addu people. Those who were made redundant after the Brits left Gan, went to Male' and began working in the tourism industry, initially as workers but some of them and their off-springs have now become stakeholders of the industry. The work ethics of Addu people is a key factor in the development of the tourism industry in the Maldives.

Right now, Gayyoom hates Addu people and is making life as difficult as it can be for them. There are no local industries in Addu. The Vilingilli Resort project and Airport upgrade project are both pending Gayyoom's blessing. The fish caught in Addu is being wasted because government companies cannot purchase them all.

The situation of Addu is quite literally desperate. Taxi drivers don't even make 5 dollars per day. More than 40% of the youth are addicted to drugs causing heavy distress to family and relatives. The small tea shops don't make even 10 dollars a day. Gan island with its infrastructure is used as a picnic base for Atoll Ministry staff and that of the Airports Authority as well as State Trading Organisation (STO). There are no jobs in Addu and unemployment is a major cause for concern but Gayyoom appear not to give a monkeys about any of these issues because he believes that at the end of the day, when the people are so destitute, a visit to Addu and a Godly speech will make them once again be his slaves but the truth is Addu people and the people of Maldivian at large, will never be enslaved ever again.

Voices of dissent is rising ever higher in the Maldives and nowhere as loud as in Male' and Addu representing nearly 50% of the population. The longest Gayyoom can stay in power is until 2008 but in that referendum or election (if constitution is changed) he will be rejected by the people of Maldives. The silent majority will not return such a brutal dictator to power ever again. Other Maldivian leaders need to be mindful of these issues especially those heading the top level ranks of the Police and the Army. You have to think of your own future and we the people of Maldives are not interested in retaliation and revenge. We want reconciliation and prosperity. The cause of all our grievances and pain is Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom and no one else is to be blamed. Only Gayyoom needs to go so that freed from the tyranny of poverty, ignorance and fear we could all live together in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect.