Maldives News - 10 things I want - Dhivehi Observer

Readers' Opinion
Ten things I want Most to happen in Maldives

29 April 2005

1. Show Majlis meetings on TV by which a considerable majority of the population can view rather than writing it on internet from which only a minority of the people can view. This will create enormous awareness among the huge politically uninterested public on how the political decision affect their lives.

2. Remove the unelected appointees of the president to the People's Majlis and People's Special Majlis (16 in total) as well as the cabinet ministers from the Special Majlis responsible for the amendment of the constitution.

3. Freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful gathering should not only be allowed but also promoted by the government.

4. People's Majlis should open the opportunity for different law firms in the country and if necessary from out side to come up with a Law on journalism and media as a while. A vote in the Majlis will pass the Law on best proposal with the amendments which will come after considering the views of the members.

5. Dissolve the current Human Rights Commission of the Maldives and create a new one with members appointed by a vote of members of the people's Majlis.

6. Create permanent independent investigative bodies to wipe out torture, mistreatment, corruption and drug related business, corruption and crimes in the NSS, police and customs service. To make it an independent body the members should be elected by a vote of the People's Majlis NOT appointed by the Executive. This body should emphasize their investigation on finding the root causes of the problems especially by finding how much the management and heads of these ministries and departments contribute to the problems.

7. Train police officers in zone areas around the country; deploy them to islands mostly affected by the drug abuse. Strengthen the control of drug smuggling to Maafushi jail and DRC in Himafushi.

8. Remove the two heads of NNCB Hadheeja and Razeena and appoint new ones, anyone can come to this decision by evaluating the underachievement of these two heads.

9. Hire professional rehabilitation management personals from abroad as there aren't enough professional people in this field in Maldives. It is also important to expand the education of counselling and rehabilitation.

10. Stop the illicit manipulation of law in giving double standards when people commit crimes. Give full sentencing to drug dealers.