Having realised that it is getting near impossible to conduct the affairs of the government in view of various restrictions in the present Constitution, President Nasheed is veering round to the view that a mid term election will be necessary to amend some articles of the constitution.
In his speech on the inauguration of independence day celebrations of 26th July, President Nasheed made many valid points that indicated his thinking on the future course to be taken in view of the political impasse created by the opposition with their majority.
When the parliament session was suspended on 2nd August to enable the MDP and the opposition to continue the talks to find a solution, the Speaker Abdulla Shahid called on all the members of the parliament to work in a spirit of compromise and cooperation. Cooperation and Compromise should have been the key and both are missing in Maldives now.
There is no doubt that the opposition could have been more accommodative. One commentator went to the extent of calling the opposition as a bunch of “assorted kleptocrats, dodgy businessmen and friends of ex president Gayoom.” While this may not apply to all the opposition members (some are really good ), there is some truth in this comment. There are many “entrenched” Gayoom’s men in all branches of the government who are suspected to be creating problems for the new government.
It must have become clear now to President Nasheed that without the backing of his parliament, the civil servants and the judiciary, he will not be able to implement his ambitious agenda and his promises to the people.
The President’s member in the judicial commission in an interview to the media said that in the present judiciary, a quarter of the bench possesses criminal records and many others have only primary school level education. Yet the Judicial service Commission with entrenched Gayoom’s men has reappointed 160 of the judges a few days ago.
The irony of it is that Article 285 of the Constitution provides a deadline of August 7, 2010 for reappointment of judges after which only Article 154 a and b would apply. Under the latter article, a judge can be removed for incompetence or gross misconduct only if passed by a two third majority of the members of the Majlis present and voting.
Bills relating to Human rights commission, Judicial commission and Civil service commission are all pending in the parliament and will have to be passed before 7th of August, the deadline provided under the transitory arrangements given in the Constitution. The Majlis is still seized with the bills.
To go back to the President’s speech on 26th July, he said
It is a greater national duty for him to free the country from the suspicions in the hearts of the people that bribery and corruption have taken roots in the legislature and the judiciary.
Officials connected to a previous regime continue to remain in the executive, courts and other institutions. ( this is his problem though initially he was optimistic that they would mend their ways)
For a long term solution to the current political impasse, it is essential to strengthen the constitution and as a long term solution, there is a need to amend some articles of the constitution.
He is ready to give way for any election required in order to bring in the amendments.
Two days earlier, on the day Abdulla Yaameen, the opposition leader was released, there was a very valuable advice in the press and this needs to be quoted. “ There is no alternative to talks as an immediate measure on strengthening institutions of horizontal accountability such as Anti corruption commission, the Audit Office and the Judiciary for the long haul. The comment ended with the words “Get prepared for painful compromises in the short term.”
This is the dilemma President Nasheed is facing. He is a young President of integrity and in a hurry. At the same time he has to sustain and get the young democracy take deep roots to ensure that authoritarianism never returns.
Will he be able to go for compromises? This is what he was trying in the last few days in getting his party meet the leaders of opposition in three rounds of talks.
The first session took place on 26th of July. The ruling party was represented by its chairperson Mariya Ahmed Did, Moosa Maniku, leader of the parliamentary group and another Ibrahim Mohamed Sole. The opposition was represented by Thasmeen Ali, leader of DRP and a successor to Gayoom in the party, Abdulla Yaameen, Gayoom’s half brother and leader of PA ( he was just released on 24th), Qasim Ibrahim, leader of Jhumhoree party ( also arrested earlier) and Dr. Hassan Saeed, leader of DQP.
While the MDP wanted endorsement of the entire cabinet, the opposition group wanted many things including non interference in independent commissions ( since they are already influenced by them), - but the most crucial one was that they would agree to amendments provided mid term elections are held soon after that. Since they are in a majority in the parliament they would demand re-election for the president only.
In the third session held on 2nd August, the MDP in turn wanted ten points of theirs to be considered first.
President Nasheed had already hinted that he is prepared to hold mid term elections if the opposition agrees to amend the constitution and reelect parliament too.
The British High Commissioner to Maldives in his courtesy call on the President said on 29th that as a long term solution, the constitution will have to be amended to rectify elements that led to the current political crisis. An UN mission led by Tamrat Samuel heading the department of Political Affairs visited Maldives for two days on 31st July and 1st August and met the leaders of the main political parties, NGOs and government officials and discussed the current situation.
The Special Adviser to President Nasheed, Zaki is said to be in India, perhaps to discuss the current political impasse.
The best way would be for making the amendments, including extension of the transition arrangements and go for fresh elections that should necessarily include the parliament too. This is a costly affair but appears inevitable unless there is a change of mind in the opposition ranks.
Some say that President Nasheed should have gone in for a “Truth & Reconciliation” Commission as was done in South Africa. But it is too late now.
Source: http://www.eurasiareview.com
Showing posts with label Political Deadlock 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Political Deadlock 2010. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Politics spark trouble in paradise
Luxury holiday destination Maldives embraced Western-style multi-party democracy in 2008 amid high hopes for rapid reforms, but two years later the usually peaceful paradise is in deep trouble.
The country's first free presidential vote has led to political deadlock and a constitutional crisis, threatening instability at a time when rich foreign tourists are once again flocking to its stunning atolls and white beaches.
The Maldives was hit hard by the global economic downturn, leading to a public finance crisis for newly elected president Mohamed Nasheed, 43, who was a political prisoner under the former regime.
He took office in 2008 promising privatisation, an end to corruption and economic prosperity, but now finds himself locked in a power struggle with the parliament.
The economy contracted by four percent last year and forced him to seek a 92.5-million-dollar bailout from the IMF.
"He came to power raising expectations to unrealistic levels," a Western diplomat in Colombo said. "He finds himself a victim of his own rhetoric. He will have to fight hard to retain his hold on power."
Nasheed's cabinet resigned en masse on June 29 saying it could not carry out its work because the opposition-controlled parliament was blocking every initiative.
Since then, Nasheed has reappointed the ministers, but the parliament is refusing to ratify them. Meanwhile, police have arrested several opposition lawmakers, further antagonising Nasheed's adversaries.
"The bottom line is Nasheed should go," joint opposition spokesman Mohamed Shareef said in an interview with AFP in Colombo this week.
The seeds of today's impasse go back to the 2009 parliamentary election when the People's Party (DRP) led by the man Nasheed beat for the presidency, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, won a majority.
Although it gained control of the legislature, the DRP fell short of a two-thirds majority it would need to impeach the president. At the same time, Nasheed cannot dismiss the assembly until it completes its full five-year term.
The result has been total deadlock.
"There are glitches in the constitution that allow a simple majority in parliament to obstruct the core functions of the executive, such as raising taxes and providing subsidies," the president's spokesman Mohamed Zuhair said.
The squabbling has now hit the streets. Daily protest marches are reported from the highly congested capital Male in a throw-back to 2003, when violent pro-democracy demonstrations first erupted.
In a worrying development for the Maldives -- which depends economically on a steady influx of wealthy tourists -- both the US and Britain warned their nationals this week to be wary of demonstrations in the capital.
US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake travelled to Male on Thursday for a day of talks with the government, as well as opposition figures, as Washington attempts to resolve the deadlock.
The Maldives has a highly strategic airport in the southern island of Gan, which is just 450 miles (735 kilometres) north of the US military base of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Gan was a staging post for Britain during World War II. Male has always resisted foreign pressure, especially during the height of the Cold War, to allow any military presence at Gan, which is now an international airport.
The Maldives was a British protectorate till 1965. An Islamic sultan ruled the country till 1968, when the country adopted a one-party presidential system. Gayoom became president 10 years later.
Now 72, Gayoom was Asia's longest serving leader when he stepped down in 2008 to make way for Nasheed. He is accused of rights violations but is also credited with turning the Maldives into an upmarket tourist paradise.
Anti-Gayoom riots in 2003 accelerated the pro-democracy movement that swept Nasheed, a former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, to power in 2008.
Nasheed has since raised his profile abroad with a series of stunts aimed at attracting attention to global warming and its impact on his low-lying archipelago.
In October, Nasheed and his ministers donned scuba gear to hold an underwater cabinet meeting to highlight the threat posed by rising sea levels.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com
The country's first free presidential vote has led to political deadlock and a constitutional crisis, threatening instability at a time when rich foreign tourists are once again flocking to its stunning atolls and white beaches.
The Maldives was hit hard by the global economic downturn, leading to a public finance crisis for newly elected president Mohamed Nasheed, 43, who was a political prisoner under the former regime.
He took office in 2008 promising privatisation, an end to corruption and economic prosperity, but now finds himself locked in a power struggle with the parliament.
The economy contracted by four percent last year and forced him to seek a 92.5-million-dollar bailout from the IMF.
"He came to power raising expectations to unrealistic levels," a Western diplomat in Colombo said. "He finds himself a victim of his own rhetoric. He will have to fight hard to retain his hold on power."
Nasheed's cabinet resigned en masse on June 29 saying it could not carry out its work because the opposition-controlled parliament was blocking every initiative.
Since then, Nasheed has reappointed the ministers, but the parliament is refusing to ratify them. Meanwhile, police have arrested several opposition lawmakers, further antagonising Nasheed's adversaries.
"The bottom line is Nasheed should go," joint opposition spokesman Mohamed Shareef said in an interview with AFP in Colombo this week.
The seeds of today's impasse go back to the 2009 parliamentary election when the People's Party (DRP) led by the man Nasheed beat for the presidency, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, won a majority.
Although it gained control of the legislature, the DRP fell short of a two-thirds majority it would need to impeach the president. At the same time, Nasheed cannot dismiss the assembly until it completes its full five-year term.
The result has been total deadlock.
"There are glitches in the constitution that allow a simple majority in parliament to obstruct the core functions of the executive, such as raising taxes and providing subsidies," the president's spokesman Mohamed Zuhair said.
The squabbling has now hit the streets. Daily protest marches are reported from the highly congested capital Male in a throw-back to 2003, when violent pro-democracy demonstrations first erupted.
In a worrying development for the Maldives -- which depends economically on a steady influx of wealthy tourists -- both the US and Britain warned their nationals this week to be wary of demonstrations in the capital.
US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake travelled to Male on Thursday for a day of talks with the government, as well as opposition figures, as Washington attempts to resolve the deadlock.
The Maldives has a highly strategic airport in the southern island of Gan, which is just 450 miles (735 kilometres) north of the US military base of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Gan was a staging post for Britain during World War II. Male has always resisted foreign pressure, especially during the height of the Cold War, to allow any military presence at Gan, which is now an international airport.
The Maldives was a British protectorate till 1965. An Islamic sultan ruled the country till 1968, when the country adopted a one-party presidential system. Gayoom became president 10 years later.
Now 72, Gayoom was Asia's longest serving leader when he stepped down in 2008 to make way for Nasheed. He is accused of rights violations but is also credited with turning the Maldives into an upmarket tourist paradise.
Anti-Gayoom riots in 2003 accelerated the pro-democracy movement that swept Nasheed, a former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, to power in 2008.
Nasheed has since raised his profile abroad with a series of stunts aimed at attracting attention to global warming and its impact on his low-lying archipelago.
In October, Nasheed and his ministers donned scuba gear to hold an underwater cabinet meeting to highlight the threat posed by rising sea levels.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com
Thursday, July 22, 2010
U.S., U.K. Issues Advisories Against Travel To Maldives Capital
The United States and the U.K. issued Wednesday travel advisories to their respective citizens, warning them against traveling to Male, the capital of the Maldives, in view of the violent street protests triggered by a political crisis.
Since last month, a bitter power struggle between President Mohamed 'Anni' Nasheed and the opposition parties is on in the Indian Ocean archipelago-nation. Last week, more than nine police officers and six civilians were injured in several street demonstrations in Male.
In separate warnings issued online, Britain and the U.S. noted that demonstrations in Male could spiral out of control and warned visitors to avoid large political gatherings and state buildings.
"The demonstrations have not targeted foreigners, and there have not been any demonstrations in the resort islands or outside of Male," the U.S. embassy in Colombo added.
Maldives, an upmarket tourism destination, is famous for its beaches and turquoise waters and most tourist resorts are located outside capital Male. Most of the tourists travel straight from the island's airport to their resorts without going to the capital.
Meanwhile, the U.S., which has been urging the Maldives to accept offers of international mediation to resolve the political deadlock, called on President Nasheed and opposition parties to sort out their differences and work towards serving the needs of the Maldivians.
"I am sorry to see the absence of understanding between the government and the opposition parties," Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake told reporters in Colombo ahead of his Thursday's one-day visit to the nation of 314,000 Sunni Muslims.
Blake said Wednesday his visit was aimed at continuing the dialogue between the warring parties, and to try to narrow down their differences.
"If I can narrow the disputes, I will be happy to do so, to help de-fuse the situation," said Blake who was also the ambassador for Sri Lanka and concurrently the Maldives, prior to his present appointment last May.
Blake's visit closely follows that of U.S. Ambassador Patricia Butenis and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, who travelled to the Maldives in recent weeks for separate meetings to defuse the crisis there.
In 1988, Maldives shot into prominence, when a group of LTTE supporters wrested control of the island from President Abdul Gayoum. At the request of the U.S., Indian paratroopers were airlifted there who crushed the revolt.
Source: http://www.rttnews.com
Since last month, a bitter power struggle between President Mohamed 'Anni' Nasheed and the opposition parties is on in the Indian Ocean archipelago-nation. Last week, more than nine police officers and six civilians were injured in several street demonstrations in Male.
In separate warnings issued online, Britain and the U.S. noted that demonstrations in Male could spiral out of control and warned visitors to avoid large political gatherings and state buildings.
"The demonstrations have not targeted foreigners, and there have not been any demonstrations in the resort islands or outside of Male," the U.S. embassy in Colombo added.
Maldives, an upmarket tourism destination, is famous for its beaches and turquoise waters and most tourist resorts are located outside capital Male. Most of the tourists travel straight from the island's airport to their resorts without going to the capital.
Meanwhile, the U.S., which has been urging the Maldives to accept offers of international mediation to resolve the political deadlock, called on President Nasheed and opposition parties to sort out their differences and work towards serving the needs of the Maldivians.
"I am sorry to see the absence of understanding between the government and the opposition parties," Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake told reporters in Colombo ahead of his Thursday's one-day visit to the nation of 314,000 Sunni Muslims.
Blake said Wednesday his visit was aimed at continuing the dialogue between the warring parties, and to try to narrow down their differences.
"If I can narrow the disputes, I will be happy to do so, to help de-fuse the situation," said Blake who was also the ambassador for Sri Lanka and concurrently the Maldives, prior to his present appointment last May.
Blake's visit closely follows that of U.S. Ambassador Patricia Butenis and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, who travelled to the Maldives in recent weeks for separate meetings to defuse the crisis there.
In 1988, Maldives shot into prominence, when a group of LTTE supporters wrested control of the island from President Abdul Gayoum. At the request of the U.S., Indian paratroopers were airlifted there who crushed the revolt.
Source: http://www.rttnews.com
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