Worst Dictator in Maldives Ever :: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial
Dictator Or Not?

A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe'), Dhivehi Observer, 09 April 2005

The illicit government of Maldives is run by Gayyoom with maximum control over all affair of it. The ministerial portfolios of Gayyoom's nepotistic government have no powers whatsoever over their affair and everything has to be approved by the Dictator himself, including the agenda of meetings, down to the very fine details such as which verse of Quran should be recited in meetings.

Nepotism is rampant in Maldives and with Gayyoom being in power for more than 26 years now; he has mastered that art and leads the world in this category. He does not know how to abide by the laws of the land and pretends to be a philosopher king when in effect he is running a police state.

Gayyoom's brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and classmates are appointed to ministerial, chairmanships and as members of the parliament. Dissent against him has not been easy. In fact, it is seen as suicide because Gayyoom cannot tolerate criticism and destroys such people and movements. However, scientific advances have meant that he now has no control over the one thing that kept him in power over the last quarters of a century destroying the hopes and aspirations and the lives of a who generation of Maldivians. Internet has certainly come to the rescue of the destitute Maldivians by loosening the grip Gayyoom has on information flow for over quarter of a century. Gayyoom is no longer in control and although he blocks dissident website like Dhivehi Observer, he knows that everyone with internet access reads the material published on this and other similar sites.

To this day, he can't bring himself to believe that he is a full fledged Dictator who rules his people with fear and intimidation. It is not just the Maldivian dissidents who have labelled him as a dictator. The international media, human rights organisations and foreign governments have criticised him for his oppressive rule and human rights abuses and refers to him as an autocratic dictator, who runs a police state with an iron fist.

Time has come again for Gayyoom think hard and assess this more carefully if he wants to leave any legacy behind. This and future generations will not forgive him for what he has and continues to do and there is absolutely no chance of him being referred to in Maldives history as anything but a brutal dictator. In fact, he is the most brutal dictator Maldives have ever had. Gayyoom will be the last dictator Maldives will ever have.

Gayyoom, should ask himself the following questions:

Do I rule Maldives in accordance with the constitution?
Do I interfere with the proceedings of the parliament?
Do I have family members in my cabinet?
Do I obstruct elections and influence their results?
Do I object to press and free media?
Do I hate opposition and any kind of criticism of my government?
Do I interfere with the judiciary?
Do I arrest, detain, torture and kill people indiscriminately?
Do I live a lavish lifestyle when many Maldivians are living in poverty?
DO I lie to my people?

If he can answer NO to even one of the above questions, then he is not a dictator and there is no need for him to resign.

Gayyoom should be sensible and most importantly, human. People of Maldives resent him and are longing to live in a prosperous and just society that can only be established when Gayyoom is deposed.

Hopefully Gayyoom will not die soon. He should live to witness the day when Maldives becomes one of the most prosperous and well of nations in the world, not just South Asia. He should live to witness the reality of what social justice can bring to a small nation like ours, which is blessed with several natural resources and economic opportunities that he purposely did not exploit.