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Government Intimidation Resumes

By Special Correspondent, Monday 5th July 2004

The pro-democracy meeting held on at Social centre was a direct response for Gayyoom's call for open debate on constitutional reform. The organizer which includes many MDP supporter's clearly stated the purpose of the meeting and strongly emphasized the need to address issues on hand and not to deviate from the topic. It would defeat the very purpose of the meeting if participants went against the spirit of this important national debate.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, in a letter signed by the Deputy Minister, addressed the above issue in a letter to MDP Council Member, Honourable Ibrahim Ismail, one of the organizers of the meeting. An official translation of the letter is attached. While the Ministry must be thanked for its professed support for the cooperation, these are few concerns that come to mind.

The Ministry should have stated the fact that organizers did indeed stress the need for orderly conduct of the meeting, the organizers are responsible citizens and the Ministry's recognition of this would have been a source of encouragement

We should also understand that this type of open debate on political issues is a new experience for Maldivians. Many hardliners – including very powerful people in government – are set against such concepts as political pluralism and liberal democracy. We feel sure that they will use different methods to disrupt debate and end open political discourse. We call upon the Ministry not to succumb to such sentiments.

The government must firmly ensure that the people are permitted to exercise their freedom of expression without hindrance. If someone does breach the law (even in a legitimate meeting) then the perpetrators should be brought to justice. The organizers and those involved in the peaceful exercise of their right should not be penalized or harassed. In the spirit of the letter, we call upon the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of Maldives to facilitate the conduct the political debate and to ensure that the freedom of expression is not curtailed on spurious excuses.

Translation of the Letter

{Maldives National Emblem}

Ministry of Home Affairs
Male'
Dhivehirajje'

Number {unable to read the text}

Mr. Ibrahim Ismail,
With greetings and respect, we wish to inform you of the following matter.

We have received, your letter written in reference to the proposed debate that you have undertaken to hold at Ghiyasudeen School on July 5, 2004, as a response to express your support for the call {for reform} by the President on June 9, 2004. We wish to thank you for it.

After receiving this letter, I gave a call to Mr. Ahmed Nazim of G. Kenereege, in order to express a view regarding the proposed debate. Upon my request, he came to this office and met me.

I wanted to meet one of your representatives in order to express this Ministry's expectations with regard to the convening of the proposed meeting, and also to state that this Ministry intends to provide whatever assistance possible. Having said that, it is requested that the Chair conducting the debates advice all speakers not to deviate from the topic. It is also requested from the Chair to prevent any action on the part of participants that can go against the spirit of this important debate.

Hence, I take this opportunity to inform you that I thankfully note the fact that upon the expression of my requests, Mr. Ahmed Nazim had given his support and cooperation.

Respectfully,

17 Jumadiloolaa, 1425
4 July 2004

(Signed)
Abdull Azeez Yoosuf
Deputy Minister

Copy of the Original Letter