Thursday, October 2, 2008

Supreme Court Okays Gayoom candidacy



"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." –Alice in Wonderland



In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court this afternoon determined that the Election Commission's decision to accept Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's candidacy was constitutionally valid. The apex court gave this verdict while dismissing a case filed against the Commission by Social Liberal Party.


While delivering the verdict Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed said that in drafting Article 107 (Haa) of the Constitution the People's Special Majlis had not intended in spirit to bar those who had earlier served two terms. Incidentally Justice Saeed's declaration is in harmony with the statement DRP Zaeem Gayoom made on the issue at a party rally in Kalaafaanu School on January 18.


"People's Special Majlis has passed certain provisions in connection with my candidacy for the presidency…," Gayoom told his supporters, "In fact it was DRP members who proposed and voted for what was passed by the Special Majlis. No other party member voted for it. This shows what was passed was what DRP wanted. And it allows me to stand for the coming election as was your decision…"



This statement is however sharply out of tune with the 5th point of President Gayoom's (9 June 2004) reform agenda, which proposes "to limit the number of terms anyone can hold the office of president to two terms of five years."


In its law suit Social Liberal Party had argued that Gayoom's candidacy violated Article 107 of the Constitution, on the grounds that he has already served more than the 2 terms stipulated in the Article. But lawyers on behalf of the Election Commission and Gayoom responded saying the country has adopted a new Constitution, under which Gayoom can contest two more terms.


SLP lawyers had argued at length on the intention of the Article in limiting the terms of any president to two, saying that if Gayoom is allowed to run another two terms, the whole purpose of the painstaking reform process was in vain.


The decision of the Supreme Court is final on this matter. SLP leader ibra has in the meanwhile issued a statement saying he respected the Court's decision, even though he is not in agreement with it.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think that we would ever be lucky to have independent commissions or a Supreme Court in our country.

So let's just satisfy ourselves with the false beleif that we have an independent supreme court.

Dhen la la la.

Anonymous said...

"to limit the number of terms anyone can hold the office of president to two terms of five years." It can be assumed from this statement that what he means is that it will apply to people who come after he relinquish power regardless of the reason for him doing so. Because he is above the ....

Anonymous said...

This means once our president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom's second term (as people say he'll surly come to power after rigging the vote) under this constitution, draws to an end, he'll again ask the parliament to make a Brand New constitution which will again quote "MI gaanoonu asaasee gedhashun 10 aharu...." And so Lo Behold just like that he'll again get 10 years to rule the Maldives(since he wouldn't have had ruled under the Brand New constitution).
The DRP members in the Majlis, Supreme Court and not to mention vote rigging will be readily there to aid him in his dream to stay in power until his natural death.

Wow how DEMOCRATIC!

Maumoon has indeed brought true dimocracy and true reform to our beloved Maldives through the aa gaanoonu asaasee. Or has he just created the illusion of reform and democracy to keep the international media at bay?

Anonymous said...

One has to respect decisions made by Supreme Court. The statement in the law is made so that one person would not "hog" the president's seat till the day he dies, as opposed to monarchies. It would've been better if the current president realised it, but seems he still wants to prove something for himself? Maybe if he wins he might try to better our lives before he goes to rest in peace!!

Anonymous said...

Maumoon cannot elect himself this time. it is clear. but this shows something very interesting. Without any doubt, the citizans of maldives are seeing the dictatorship of maumoon. ie. all the people under him are following his words. EVEN THE GUARDS ASSIGNED TO CANDIDATES ARE SPIES. THEY GO BACK TO MAUMOON TO DELIVER THE SECRETS.

Anonymous said...

Abdhulla Saeed hails from a very respected Meedhoo family. But the sad truth is that he has mental problem because his parents are related to each other. Such close marriages happen in Addu. Scientifically it has be proven that children born to such marriages have some mental problems. I guess the author of this blog is an excellant example. These people manifest some sort of strange behaviour.

Qayoom knows the stupidity of Mr. Saeed so he has decided to use this fellow. Mujthaz is the real chief justice. Mr. Saeed eheree bodu gohadaa hahdhaafa.

Once this period is over he would be thrown out and be replaced by the likes of Kutti Nasheed.

Anonymous said...

Thereis no reason to cry on spilt milk due to ourown foolishness. The judges are ok, they are honourable, but they cant do a thing against the wishes of Gayoom who controls everything from top to bottom. I think the battle of reform is all lost and out country cannot be saved from Gayoom's tyranny and opprsssion.Just try to feel ok, as long as we get our ration of food and other essentials to sustain our miserable and unhappy life.

Anonymous said...

We will never have freedom and independence as long as dictaror gayoom is in control. I think we have lost every thing because of the greed of our reform and political leadrs for power. If they have become united and became one strong opposition we could have easily removed gayoom and his coronies forever. Now better to say goodbye to reform, justice and good governance. You can enjoy these freedoms in dreams only.

Anonymous said...

I think Anni has messed everything and has given more strength to gayoom. this isa lot hatched from last year when he met Aneesa and sold our struggle for petty gains. With selfish people like Anni and Gasim, dictarors will become more powreful and hopes of the people for a democratic life will fade diminish. Good bye to reform.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone answer my question,please. If Maumoon fools all the reformers and wins (I mean rigs) this election who will the Maldivian citizens hold responsible for that. I think this is a question for which we should have an answer even before the results of the election are declared.
-Doubtful No. 1-

Anonymous said...

I also have a question if Maumoon wins who should the Maldivians take as the reformers. Will it be Maumoon himself, the political parties, the people.

Anonymous said...

I have yet to find a fellow foxier than Maumoon

Anonymous said...

I think Maldivians should forget about the religion of Islam, democracy, justice and equality. Instead we should have Maumoonism, Maunocracy, Maunostice and Maunequality. When all this is blended with DRPsm it will be the best system in the world which nobody has ever heard of and no one will ever hear of. Only problem with this system will be that people will be taken to such great heights that the people will never be able to come down. They will be lost in the heights of space and no one will ever hear of them.

Anonymous said...

This could have been even a greater landmark ruling had the decision gone the other way. At a time when political history is being made, almost on a daily basis, that ruling would have been the mother of all. Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed - the man who brought Gayoom's presidency to an end in 2008. I would boldly declare that Abdullah Saeed would be considered a hero of similar stature of Mohamed Thakurufaanu for generations to come.

Anonymous said...

Waheed, why are you in a political post (deputy minister) for so long when you do not agree with the government and its policies. This is hypocrisy at its best.
[Site editor’s note: As a policy I do not answer personal questions on this blog. The postings speak for themselves. Readers can judge if the blog is against anyone’s or any organization’s policies.]

Anonymous said...

To the comments made by the following (October 2, 2008 10:32 PM, and October 2, 2008 10:37 PM), I have a simple question, which I hope they will be kind enough to ask. Why do you blame Anni and Gasim for everything that goes against your wish. Why were you guys not in their boots. If you guys had that courage and vision ANNI and Gasim had, they would have been living a peaceful life, away from politics. Who stopped you guys from leading the reform movement? ANNI and Gaim are there, where they are, fighting for you and for your country, simply because cowards like you had no courage or guts to come forward and lead the people. Like Dr Hassan, Dr Shaheed and Jameel, you guys are just pure opportunists trying to blame others for your failures, and trying to take credit for what you did not do, or had no courage to do.

Anonymous said...

Yesterday was another sad day. Mundhu said Gayoom scored 5 goals when Chief Justice issued verdict Gayoom's candidacy is valid dismissing cases filed by SLP and Adhalath challenging Gayoom's eligibility. We know this will happen. Independent judiciary and commissions are just a name. Gayoom will control. Even if the judges wanted to disqualify, they don't have a choice. Gasim and Sp Majlis have been forced by Gayoom to write the Constitutionin his favour. There were 29 President's members and 20 ministers commanded by Gayoom. In that case, what can we do? Our oppositions did not have the wisdom and will to remove Gayoom constitutionally. Now Gayoom is new, born again with the new Constitution, so he is eligible to serve 2 terms just like any other new Maldivians. We had the best lawyers in the cabinet and in Majlis. We thought they had the courage to give their legal opinion against Gayoom, that he has served 30 years (6 terms) and it is totally against the letters and spirit of the reform agenda, the referendum, and constitution. But none of this happened. So serves it right.

Anonymous said...

Dr. Waheed, why are you so jealous and angry with Gayoom. Can't you still see there is no one who can beat Gayoom. He is so smart and capable. Women and girls are even more fond of him. As an independent blog, you should try to be more impartial. Your liking Gasim or Anni is something different. But make your comments more impartial. But we cappreciate and enjoy your blog. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Dear Waheed, What I am eternally grateful for in Justice Saeed's decision is that the fastest growing religion in the world has been spared the indignity of the loss of one of its members. I mean what will those statistics look like if not for the Chief Justice's ruling?