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Special Majlis Members (Parliament) Walks out of the first session in protest

Dhivehi Observer, 19th July 2004

23 MPs stormed out of the Parliament and protested demanding the constitution of the Maldives to be upheld

The MPs walked from the Parliament house and demanded to meet with the President

MPs were there for more than 40 minutes before they were let in - it even rained and they got soaked

Public entering the meeting of the Majlis earlier today

Large crowds gathered outside the Presidents' Office but NSS showed heavy handedness and dispersed the crowd - Protesting members told them not to resort to disorder and to be calm

Public marched near the Parliament House calling for President Gayyoom and his brother Hameed's immediate resignation

Qasim Ibrahim leading the way in todays' protest staged by 24 Parliament Members in defiance to uphold the constitution of the Maldives

Qasim Ibrahim and Ibrahim Ismail amongst the crowd

Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, Parliament Member amongst the crowd in today unprecedented protest

Eye witnesses say that over 3000 people gathered around the area and supported the MPs for their courage and determination

Qasim Ibrahim and other MPs requesting the public to show restraint and let democracy take its course peacefully

Confirmed reports are coming from the capital Male' that 23 members of the Parliament has walked out of its first session in protest of the illicit conducts of the Chairman of this session Abdulla Hameed.

This is the first meeting of the Special Majlis that is supposed to carry out the constitutional amendments proposed by President Gayyoom on 9th July 2004.

The main item on today's agenda was the election of a Speaker (President) for the Special Majlis of the Parliament. According to Article 133 of the constitution, all elections must be carried out by a secret ballot and hence some members requested for the election to be by a secret ballot. However, even after detailed explanation of the issue to the temporary Speaker of the session, Abdulla Hameed, he refused to allow that on the basis of that it was not the traditionally done thing. He said that the election will be by 'raising of hand'. Furthermore, he did not allow any more names or discussions to be proposed apart from the two initial names, which were Mr. Ahmed Zahir, the Justice Minister, who is an President Appointed Member and Qasim Ibrahim, Member for Ari Atoll South.

According to one Member who walked out, this was a deliberate attempt to undermine the constitution by the General Speaker of the Majlis, who is President Gayyoom's brother.

It is reported that 24 Members walked out in protest and marched to the Presidents' Office and demanded to meet the President. This happened around 10:00 am Male' time and whilst they were still there, it started raining and they were all allowed in after 40 minutes according to eye witnesses, after they were soaking wet. Reports are coming in that crowd has begun to gather around the area but National Security Service (NSS) has cordoned off the area.

Some of the members who walked out include one of the longest service member of the parliament, Mr. Mohamed Shihab, Nominee for Speaker of the Special Majlis Qasim Ibrahim, Mr. Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim Ari Atoll South Member, Ibrahim Hussain Zaki former cabinet Minister, Ahmed Shafeeq Male' members Ibrahim Ismail and Ahmed Athif, Baa Atoll Member Ali Faiz, Addu Atoll Member Dr. Munawaru, Dr. Hussain Rasheed, Mohamed Naseem Laamu Atoll Member, Thaa Atoll Member Afeef, Haa Dhaal Member Ahmed Adil, and many more. (A complete list of the members will be published shortly).

Reports say that out of the 108 members, 100 members attended the session today. The session is now in a break and the Chairman of this session had decided to take a vote even after the protest and go ahead with electing a Speaker to the Special Majlis. However, Hameed's son, Hamdhoon Hameed, who is an Appointed Member of the President, told the Majlis that it was not fair to conduct the election whilst such a large proportion had walked out. He was supported by another members.

Latest reports say that crown is getting bigger but the NSS has cordoned off the area completely. Furthermore President Gayyoom is refusing to meet with all the MPs but wants to speak with an representative from amongst the protesting MPs.

The meeting has now been postponed. President Gayyoom promised the members that he will allow a secret ballot.

One of the MPs said "This was the greatest moment of my life, after 20 years in the parliament I finally feel like I am doing something!".

The protesting MPs told the gathering crown to keep calm and not to be restraint. The crowd dispersed shortly and did not resort to any disorder.

Today will go down as the "day" real democracy was born in the Maldives.