Editorial - What can the new cabinet do if Gayyoom is not willing to change the Maldives? :: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial
What can a new cabinet do if Gayyoom is not willing to change?

By A. S. I. Moosa (Sappe'), 19th July 2005

Gayyoom has said good bye to some of his oldest friends who have together enjoyed the riches of Maldives without any consideration for the fate of the people of Maldives. People like his brother Hameed and his best friend Fathuhulla Jameel have been living like Kings because they knew that nor matter what they did, their jobs were secure and they thought that Gayyoom could not survive without them.

Gayyoom believes that by appointing a new cabinet he can make the people forget about the illegitimacy of his government and the tyranny that he had subjected people for the past 27 years. Most pundits believe that no matter what he comes up with now, genuine or not, people will not accept it nor will he ever win back the love and admiration of the people because for far too many years he has turned a blind eye to the needs of the people and kept on living like an Arab King.

Gayyoom's failures in government are numerous but the most startling failure is his inability to provide the very basic services for the people. Good education, good health facilities and most importantly the freedom to live as a "Maldivian" and not as his "Slaves". Even today, there are hundreds of inhabited island without proper schools or adequate health facilities. People of these small islands are left to fend for themselves and a visit by Gayyoom or one of his top officials is the only time they can beg for some service, which in most instances are ignored.

People of Maldives are absolutely fed up with this regime for failing to address their needs. Running the country like a Kingdom headed by a self proclaimed Wise Lord. Today, no one will argue that Gayyoom has to take the responsibility for the destruction of the hopes and aspirations of a generation of Maldives who are marred in drugs and in despair.

In recent months, Gayyoom has been trying very hard to win back the hearts and minds of the people. He allowed (when he wanted) political parties to operate in the Maldives but on his own terms. However, even now he has complete control over media and the press. There are still several prisoners of conscience behind bars and many are being arrested at will even now. Yet, he wants people to believe that he is really going to reform the country despite all these shortcomings which are in effect the basis for a free society. If the Ruler can arrest people at will without any regard to the law then that society can never be called a free society. If the Ruler can control the flow of information in the society, then his propaganda can play a destructive role in moulding the minds of the people, especially those whom he purposely left uneducated and ignorant.

To all those who joined the government as new ministers, there is just one word of advice. Be true to yourself and to your nation and history will judge you kindly. Your main purpose is to serve the nation and not any one person. If you face obstacles in doing your duties and if you cannot remove those, then call it a day and save your integrity and do not let yourself be counted amongst criminals, who will no doubt one day be brought to justice.