:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

What has Gayyoom got to do with the constitution? Why should it matter what he wants? He does not have the power to amend the constitution, or does he?

Editorial by A.S.I. Moosa (Sappe’) 23^rd June 2004

Translation in Dhivehi

Constitution of the Republic of Maldives – Article 92
The power to make and amend the Constitution of the Maldives shall be vested in the People’s Special Majlis.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It does not state that the power to make and amend the Constitution of the Maldives shall be vested in the President of the Republic of Maldives or Al Usthaaz Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, does it?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is time for constitutional amendments in the Maldives. But, why are “we” asked to write to Gayyoom with our suggestions? What gives him the power to even request for that? Why can’t we write to the people who have the constitutional power to amend it, the Members of the Special Majlis (Upper House of the Parliament)? According to the Constitution, the power is clearly vested in them.

In less than 7 years after adopting Gayyoom’s ‘heavenly’ constitution, ‘world’s most democratic constitution’, as claimed by the man himself, we are witnessing another of Gayyoom’s games to manipulate the people of Maldives and the world at large. The only difference this time is that the world is watching his moves. For what it’s worth, DO is continuously updating the world media with each and every move he is making.

Gayyoom’s brother, Hameed is threatening his staff, practically all the heads of the Atolls and the islands (Katheebs), that unless they get people to write to the President asking not to introduce the party system, they will loose their jobs. He does not stop at that, but goes as far as threatening them with long prison sentences and suspending them. He goes public and asks people to reject the very amendments his elder brother Gayyoom proposed in his speech on the 9^th of June 2004, including pluralistic democracy and separation of powers. Let us repeat once again that according to the above article 92 of the Constitution of the Maldives, it is not up to the President to introduce the party system or any other amendment, but it is the responsibility of the Members of the Special Majlis. Hameed wants people to believe that OPPOSITION means violence and division. Should he not be thrown in jail for rejecting the reforms proposed by his mighty brother, Gayyoom, the longest serving ‘illegitimate’ Head of State in Asia? He took his first oath in 1978 whilst carrying a gun (he claimed he did), which annuls his oath and makes his rule illegitimate from the very beginning. Paradoxically though, he is still ruling a country when he should be behind bars for committing treason on a daily basis.

Yameen, Gayyoom’s other half-brother, goes a step further and even threatens the MPs, Atoll Chiefs as well as Island Chiefs with imprisonment and torture. He proudly claims that “we the Kaaminee clan owns this country and there is nothing anyone can do about it – we have the power to do whatever we want!”

Is it not unconstitutional to let a man who has undermined the existing constitution to be in charge of amending it? What is the use of a Constitution, when the government does not adhere to it and constantly abrogates it?

Why is Gayyoom, through his brother Hameed in particular, trying so hard to elect Seena Zahir, the Justice Minister, who is an appointed Member of Parliament, to be the Speaker of the Special Majlis and Dr. Shaugee, another appointed member to be the Deputy Speaker? One of the longest serving Member of the Parliament informed DO that Cabinet Ministers have called him requesting to support and vote for these government candidates. “I told them outright that I will vote for Qasim Ibrahim” he informed DO. This is unprecedented in the Maldives and perhaps a wake up call for Gayyoom.

DO understands, that Gayyoom pays regular visits to this site www.dhivehiobserver.com, which is unlawfully banned by him. We can therefore guarantee that, if not from others, he should be able to read about these illicit activities of his own brothers from this website. DO is proud to claim that all its articles are emailed to info@po.gov.mv (the official email of the Office of the President of the Maldives) as soon as it is published on the website to ensure that Gayyoom gets the chance to review and act on it. So, there is absolutely no way that he is not aware of the abuse of power by his brothers and his cronies.

Is it not a little scary that Dr. Shaheed has already told the world (BBC World Asia Today 10^th June 2004) that any amendment to the constitution “will” be safeguarded by a public referendum? This is because Gayyoom said that he thinks that it would be a good idea? Does this mean or imply that his words or thoughts constitute as LAW?

We now hear that the roundtable discussions on Television Maldives about constitutional reform, is staged under close supervision of Dr. Shaheed, Chief Spokesman and Dr. Saeed, the young Attorney General of Maldives.

What game is Gayyoom playing, does anyone really know? DO’s view is that whatever game he is playing, the outcome is certain. He has awakened the mass, the people of Maldives, and this time round he is bound to loose. His days are numbered and he knows that very well.