Not 3 years since work for democracy began – Opposition Alliance

24 December 2007
Report: Soodh


Although the Government claims that it had been only about 3 years since work has began to bring Democracy to Maldives, it had, in fact been several years since some people were trying to bring democracy to Maldives, two top official of the Allied Opposition has said.

In an interview given to Miadhu Daily last night, Dr. Hassan Saeed said that some talks by the government and some foreign parties do not make sense. He said that it had been a long time since some people started reform activities. He highlighted the days when Sangu and Hukuru news paper were published and even before the formation of MDP. But since the people were afraid, there was no proper arrangement for this, said Dr. Hassan Saeed.

Ibrahim Ismail MP as well as the leader of MDLP said that he himself started working to bring Democracy to Maldives in mid 1980. But he said that Democracy does not come suddenly when we wake up for a new day.

“The things which I say now, I saw them written by my uncle Mandhu Abdullah Waheed written in “Aabaaru” “Ibra said.

Dr. Hassan said that this is time to accelerate reform as Maldivians are now very much developed by means of Education, Economy and communication and we are aware of what is happening in the world.

“When we cut a tree, at once it does not fall. It has to be hit several times. So with a lot of hard work from a lot of people; we have come to this stage with a lot of effort from a lot of people. These include people put in jail for drawing cartoons in news papers. There are people jailed for expressing of their view” Dr. Hassan said. He said that film stars like Yoosay were put in Jail for playing dramas about this and some of those dramas were banned.

“Many incidents are there such as how Anni was expelled from Majlis when he was elected, attack given to Addu Atoll MP Shareef, how Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik was elected for Male’ Member and how he had to live later and also how Boodu fenvalhugey Musthafa had to resign from the government due to some disputes...”

“Democracy is built on institutions. One essential institution is an independent Judiciary, Independent Elections commissioner, looking for corruption, not using Police for wrong purpose…etc” Dr. Hassan said.

He further said that we cannot go into a Democracy unless by making these institutions independent. He said that although the current government says modern democracy, they do not want to bring these changes although they could be brought even now.

“When I was in the government and even after resignation, I have told them how they could do it even now. But they do not want to do it. Even if we say modern democracy without those institutions, there would be no result from that” Hassan said.

“We can get a democracy as seen in the foreign countries, when our thinking and awareness are shaped that way. It will take time for that. But, people’s thinking will change only when we start a democracy. This is the weakest point in Maumoon’s ruling. He thinks that after doing a lot of things, a democracy will be brought” said Ibra.