It’s not a new constitution – Special Majlis Members

27 September 2007
Report: Soodh

Some members of the Citizen Special Majlis have stated that the Drafting Committee of the Special Majlis is revising or amending the present constitution and is not drafting a brand new constitution.

They said this in response to questions asked by Velidhoo News regarding the statement made by Acting Attorney General and Information Minister Mohamed Nasheed in his personal internet blog. Nasheed in his blog has stated that the constitution under revision is a new constitution. He further states that persons who be not be eligible to compete for the Presidency would be those who has completed two terms in office as President under the constitution that is being revised.

Member of the Special Majlis for Alif Dhaal Atoll says Drafting Committee is revising the constitution and according some political expert opinion any change or revision to the constitution would mean that the constitution is a new one. He also says that considering the past experiences there is no reason why what has happened in the past cannot be considered under the amended constitution. Member Ilyas further said in 1998 after the enactment of terrorism laws, He himself was charged by the state under the terrorism law for something that happened before the law came in to effect and even that time in order to prevent these types of thing happening, he had pointed out that even under divine laws people were not charged for things they had done before the law was revealed.

Member of the Special Majlis for Haa Alif Atoll Ahmed Sameer says that in 2004 President wrote to Special Majlis asking them to revise or amend the present constitution in force and that he had not asked Special Majlis to draft a new constitution. He further said that the statement of Naheed in his blog does not carry any weight and that the statement only reflects the government’s wishes.

Member of the Special Majlis for Thaa Atoll Riyaz Rasheed says that this present constitution is being revised and that under the amended constitution President Maumoon and President Nasir should have the right to compete for the presidency.

Nasheeed in his internet blog states that, even though the drafting committee has amended the chapter concerning the presidency to the effect that any body who has completed two terms in office as president would not be eligible to compete for presidency, he is of the opinion that Maumoon and Nasir who has had two five year terms in office as president, would be eligible compete for presidency under the amended or revised constitution. Nasheed writes that revised constitution will be a new constitution that is drafted to reflect the principles of democratic form of governance, creates separation of powers, facilitates multi party elections, envisages a fully elected and more representative parliament and creates an independent judiciary and that this constitution would come into force once the constitution is promogulated and as such he see no reason Nasir and Maumoon cannot compete for presidency.
Husnu Al Suood, famous lawyer, says that opinion expressed by Nasheed is not wrong. However he points out that there have instances in the past where the law has applied on past activities.

VELIDHOO COMMUNITY