Law on Privileges for Ex-Presidents Runs into Stormy Weather

The bill on Immunity and Privileges for Ex-Presidents, presented to the People’s Majlis by Meemu Atoll Member Aneesa has come for severe criticism from MPs. Most members who spoke on the bill appear to believe it was designed to give excessive privileges to a particular person. Such a view is at least partially justified considering that former president Ibrahim Nasir has lived for 30 years without any such privileges and no one appeared to be concerned about that.

One clause in the bill came for particularly harsh treatment –clause 2(b) that proposed to designate a ‘senior most state dignitary’ based on the number of years served as president. Members said this was a thinly veiled attempt to designate Maumoon to that position, because with his 30 years of service there was no possibility of anyone ever outdoing him. Other members thought designating an ex-president as the senior most dignitary infringed on the privileges of the incumbent president.

Members also criticized the proposal to give a house to each ex-president. Instead they proposed to give a living allowance and to allot a plot of land for those who did not own a house.
On the question of allotting staff for research, some members felt the government must not foot the bill for personal research, while research commissioned by the government could be paid. Similarly the number of personal staff could be reduced from 10 to 5 they suggested.

Most members also rejected the idea of paying to ex-presidents the same salary as incumbent presidents. Following this, the sponsor of the bill Aneesa downgraded the salary to three quarters of an incumbent president’s salary. On the question of providing security too, members felt that ex-presidents do not require the same level of security as incumbents.
The open-budget holiday package proposed in the bill was also severely criticized. Instead, members suggested a limited budget of $12,000 to $15,000 for the purpose.

The Majlis debate on the bill is still continuing and is likely to go to a committee. In the meanwhile President Nasheed has by decree sanctioned temporary immunity and privileges to former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Maumoon’s Legacy

"Mohammed Nasheed, known locally as Anni, defeated the dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to become the Islands' first democratically elected president for 30 years." (Sunday Island, Colombo, November 2, 2008). Does this opening sentence from a newspaper article on the Maldives presidential election sum up how outsiders see President Gayoom's 30-year legacy?

Was this really Maldives' first democratic election? Surprisingly, President Gayoom's own pronouncements indicate that he himself believed there was no democracy in the Maldives till this election. For example, when an Al Jazeera journalist asked him last month why it took him so long to introduce democracy he replied, "… you must...er...recognize the fact that at that time we were a very poor under developed country. We didn't have even food for our people. And we didn't have any sort of education. And our health were...services were very very low indeed. So people were not ready for any modern form of democracy. I have been able to achieve great progress both socially and economically during the past thirty years. So now we are ready, we are ready for democratic reform so that's why four years ago I introduced this new agenda of reform."

So in Gayoom's words Maldivians were not ready for democracy before 2004. But were they ready for lack of democracy? Was Naifaru Dhohokko ready for being arrested for simply wishing he wanted to see another day? Was Gogo Latheef ready to be jailed for criticizing the government in the Majlis? Were Mohamed Saeed Moosa Wajdee and Ahmed Fayaz Hassan ready for being sentenced for writing critical articles?

During Gayoom's tenure, the Maldives developed into a premier tourist destination. Per-capita GDP rose from less than $300 to over $4000 dollars. The question is, how successful was the government in bringing the benefits of economic development to the common man?

When Gayoom came to power there were 4 government schools in Male. In the islands only one Atoll Education Center was in operation and another was under construction. When he leaves office, there are more than 300 schools. However there are concerns about lack of quality and discipline.

When Gayoom took office in 1978, Maldives was one of the most law abiding and crime free countries in the world. He leaves a society in which drugs and crime are rampant.

Finally how effective and efficient is the government administration that Gayoom nurtured for 30 years and handed over to Nasheed?

Learning from History

By Farooq Mohamed Hassan

They say history repeats itself. I hope it doesn't. Even as I write this short article, I know people are queuing up to take Maumoon to court. More than 30 years ago, the then President Ibrahim Nasir had to banish Maumoon for using religion to incite violence against the state, and of course his government.

What has transpired in the past 10 days or so following the presidential election results of October 2008 may seem trivial, but portentous in reality. First, the attempt to delay the announcement of the election results, then a court order for the President-elect to appear in court, followed by a wave of promotions, contract signings, handshakes, and oh yes! – the Bill Ms. Aneesa submitted to the Majlis. This carefully orchestrated melodrama showcased Maumoon's true egocentric character more than anything else. I for one, thought that as soon as the election dust settles, Maumoon's babbling would fade away and his erratic behavior would also grind to a halt. But they didn't.

Surprised? No. What else can one expect from a man who for the past 30 years led a government in which the rhetoric and stagecraft of planning often took the place of real planning, other than acting like the stereotypical old-fashioned godfather that he once used to be, and continue to play his old pranks, repeating his fork-tongued pledges, giving promotions to his cronies and signing huge and lucrative contracts that he would never be able to implement?

But mind you, all this is not going to be without a price. Aware and mindful of the growing public resentment over Maumoon's arrogance in the face of defeat, MDP leadership appeared to have finally decided that it cannot shy away from its responsibility and simply sit and do nothing. Last Friday night, MDP's Chairperson, Ms. Maria Ahmed Didi 'fired' what appeared to be the first 'warning shot' over Maumoon's head. It was a reminder that his every move is being watched carefully. Speaking to the huge audience gathered at the artificial beach area to mark the MDP-Iththihaadhu's election victory, Ms. Maria was sharp and blunt. She delivered a strong and powerful message to the out-going president. She warned Maumoon not to take advantage of the goodwill and patience of the victors. She also warned him that the victors are fully aware of the motives behind his irresponsible and unjustifiable behavior and actions, and that the victors are not unmindful of those actions.

Observing these events from Xiamen, PRC, it appears to me that Maumoon is pathetically out of touch with reality. How else can you explain his irrational behavior?

I just wonder would it not be better for Maumoon to devise a sound and effective exit strategy: stop displaying his disdain and arrogance towards the victors, show a bit of good-will, and cooperate more fully with the incoming government. Unfortunately, in spite of the olive branch Mr. Nasheed has extended to Maumoon, he seems reluctant to take it. Former President Ibrahim Nasir offered him several such olive branches before he took action against Maumoon. Maumoon seems not to have learned any lesson. Unlike president Nasir and president Maumoon, president Nasheed would have no control or influence over the affairs of the judiciary and the Majlis. And so, Maumoon must understand that what is at stake for him this time around is indeed much higher.

Finally, whatever Maumoon or his sympathizers may think of what appears in the print media, one thing is certain: History will be harsh in its judgments of Maumoon and his administration. What Maumoon and his supporters should concern themselves about is not so much to find out whether history repeats itself but to learn from history before it is too late.

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." –George Santayana

[Faarooq Mohamed Hassan is a former shadow cabinet member of MDP and is also the Deputy Director General of the Environment Research Center.]

What this election is all about

By anonymous visitor to blog

We analyze politics at the same level as kids. And I am surprised that even the so called intellectuals do not fully grasp the picture. As much as some like it to be, the issue in the election is not about Maumoon. It is not even about the election of a president. This election is all about bringing a much desired correction to the system. We are in the process of adjusting to a new equilibrium.

And what is it, you may ask?

The world has changed rapidly in the last 10 years with new technology, internet, mobile phones, cable TV, cheap travel in a tsunami of globalization. We are now part of the global culture, for which we are making the adjustment. This requires a serious upgrade of the political system - you don't do it by blaming Maumoon. In fact Maumoon is not even a factor here.

We are witnessing a global change that demands an equivalent change to our attitudes and lifestyles. Out with the tried, tested and failed methods; and in with the values and aspirations of Generation X.

This is not a time to be nostalgic about past people such as Amin Didi and Nasir. They are also not without their share of blame in maintaining our present feudal power structure.

Power is not about right or wrong. It is about sustainability of the current system, which has been in Maldives for centuries.

Now with globalization and with new rules, even Maldives is forced to change. No one can hold it back.

Question is who is best to lead this. None of the candidates have proven credentials to do this. Who is talking about new technology and new ways of doing things?

Even USA and Europe are changing and adjusting to the new reality. But our learned PhD people are talking of copying their systems which they themselves are questioning now.

Our present situation demands a good statesman who is able to articulate the values and aspirations of our new generation. That is the future.

The future cannot be determined by the values of the middle-aged people, because they are just as clueless as kids.

[Note: This article was submitted by an anonymous visitor to this blog, and so the contents are his/her intellectual property. This blog will consider for publication articles that are constructive, avoid obscene language and do not needlessly launch personal attacks on individuals or communities. Authors of controversial articles are requested to identify themselves.]