There is an oft repeated cliché that politics is a strange thing, that it makes strange bedfellows and that it is necessarily dirty. What we have seen in the Maldivian power circles certainly bear testimony to that.
When we started the Reform Movement in 2004, there were many of us who were echoing the same principles, steadfastly promoting democracy, sometimes zealous to the extent that it was displaying religious fervour.
Right from the start, I had advocated that the only way to make long lasting changes was through legal frameworks. However, my colleagues in the movement often mocked at me and claimed that even the constitution could not be revised without first removing Qayyoom from power. I claimed that it wasn’t just Qayyoom, but it was really the system in place which was at fault, and that even if I was the President with that system in place, I would be corrupted pretty soon. My strongest critic and adversary in this tug-of-war was my brother-in-arms, staunch defender of Democracy, Anni.
Later, after Munawwar became MDP President, his first utterance was that it was impossible to revise the constitution without first removing Qayyoom from office. Both of them have been proven wrong.
It was with some amusement that a couple of days ago, I listened to Anni at some rally when he said “it is not necessarily Qayyoom who is at fault. It is the system.”
We have come a long way since 2004. Reformers have dropped at the wayside, and we have seen the exodus of Qasim planted “reformists” within MDP drawn to the proverbial drop of honey in the Jumhooree Party. Yameen played a couple of scenes in the unfolding drama with a “reform cap” for a while before he went back into the folds of The Regime. After tonight’s “debate” on the media, Qasim is most probably having a long hard think, and my guess is he will slowly start gravitating towards the honey pot where the drop of honey originally came from.
That leaves MDP and Liberal Party. What will MDP do? Will it join the foray, and try to oust Qasim by joining forces with Qayyoom? I sincerely, fervently, hope not. If that happens, a part of me will die from within. Then it will be Liberal Party and me alone.
I know, even as you read this, MDP fans will think I have gone crazy. But, friends, I think the political agenda and grabbing power is becoming increasingly more important to MDP by the day. I see signs of it in the Majlis.
The litmus test will be in the Majlis tomorrow. Remember how we in the Reform Movement have lamented about why the Elections Commission should be independent and free from political maneuvering? Will MDP hold steadfast to this essential principle in democracy? Or will MDP yield to political deal making, and vote to let Qayyoom take control of the Elections Commission? If they vote for a combination of DRP, MDP, MSDP, PP and one other, then it means that they have made an unholy alliance with People’s Alliance and DRP. The newest Alliance on the scene will then be MDP – DRP – PA Alliance.
Why do I think this? For a simple reason. Why is Anni suddenly avoiding the issue of challenging Qayyoom’s candidacy in the Supreme Court and saying he would like to see Qayyoom in the contest? I become very disconcerted when this kind of about turn occurs. It is a sixth sense gut feeling that I have.
What does MDP stand to gain by this kind of arrangement? Simple again. Qayyoom’s candidacy will be unchallenged in the Elections Commission, and so will Anni’s. You scratch my back and I will scratch yours.
All this is conjecture. I REALLY HOPE, THAT FOR ONCE, I AM WRONG. I really do, and I pray to Allah that I will be proved wrong.
If not, I will be walking away from Majlis tomorrow with a feeling of déjà vu. And all I can say to Anni will be “et tu Brutus?”
why are you wasting your time attacking each other?
ReplyDeleteif you are right i take back my words.
if you are wrong i repeat what i said first.
After all the 'about turns' Anni has done so far, can you really say that you're surprised at how things are going?
ReplyDeleteCorrect. I strongly agree with the part where u have said that MDP was wrong in a lot of things. They made too many mistakes; and a lot of bad assumptions.
ReplyDeleteFrom the first day some of us have been pointing that out. Anni some times simply does not want to listen to these. That is sad, and a lot of false assumptions is made without doing a reality check.
As for the debate of last night, I guess you and Hassan did good. One thing which was clear is neither Maumoon or Gasim would want to have another one of these debates ever.
Muna:
ReplyDeleteI am not attacking anyone. Simply stating the facts as I see them, and engaging in a bit of extrapolation.
In this case, my extrapolation proved to be correct. The MDRPA Alliance has been formed. Elections Commission is no longer independent. Two candidates, Qayyoom and Anni will be alternatively running to the third candidate, Qasim in the tug of war between them, and the three of them will collectively decide the fate of all other candidates.
Ibra, You need to talk with Hassan and look into the possibilities of forming an partnership. This is the next logical move.
ReplyDeleteI think what MDP has done is excellent. They see the whole picture while some people concentrate on what is apparent. Power is not for one. But for all to share. For the people to share. Kudos to MDP for their bold move.
ReplyDeletei read your article and waited without comment till the majlis session was over today. You are right again. sadly this is happening. hope that the others wake up in time. I think very soon Qasim will make a deal with qayyoom and hence from then it will be back to the old politics where Qayyoom controls everything and leave the rest at his mercy. When will people learn
ReplyDeleteI beleive you are the one who understand Maldives politics better then others in the field. but you must also face the reality. only few can understand what you are saying. most of us just beleive whats most appealing to hear..sad but true.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous (in support of MDP turnaround):
ReplyDeleteAh! when Anni decides to join Qayyoom it's seeing the wider picture and power sharing. But when Ibra talks to Cabinet Ministers in the Majlis to work out a solution, he has "betrayed the movement by dealing with Qayyoom"!
I am sure you claim to be reformer. This nation can only be reformed when reformers let go of double standards.
You think this is "power sharing"? Just wait until Qayyoom gets Qasim on his knees and he has three votes on the EC against MDP's 2.
Perhaps it was MDP's insistence that the constitution cannot be revised with Gayoom in the seat that pushed Gayoom forward with it?
ReplyDeleteFirst it was with dread i read your article and found u to be spot on. People are showing true colors and desperation.
ReplyDeleteSecondly congratulations on a very strong showing at the "debates" last night. You and Dr.Hassan led the group by far.
In support of another comment by someone I also urge you to try and come into a coalition with Dr. Hassan. This would be a real power punch then.
Goodluck and hope to see stay steadfast and dedicated to your principles as you have done so far!
Ibra, now that the election commission is in place, I think you have answered the question in your first paragraph
ReplyDelete" that politics is a strange thing, that it makes strange bedfellows and that it is necessarily dirty. What we have seen in the Maldivian power circles certainly bear testimony to that."
Enough said on that.
By the way, well done on last night Q & A session. I agree with what was already said here before - you and Dr.Hassan Saeed were by far the best.
Is it not a folly of the Special Majlis? We should have some faith in humanity, but not too much (Gulag, Auschwitz, and on.) Perhaps the interim election commission chapter could have been formulated so that room for known independents or more credible people like Muizz (Prosecutor General) be given instead of political party nominations? (Sorry I haven't followed the circumstances under which this chapter was drafted or passed. So I might be wrong here.)
ReplyDeleteAs for last night I thought Hassan Saeed won, but you almost beat him. Congrats.
Dear Ibra,
ReplyDeleteYou are spot on this regard. I think people who give good thought about what his happening in the Maldives political arena knows what is going on in MDP.
I knew at the end of the day this is what will happen. From the beginning of the reform movement in 2003 Anni has been and will be power hungry. Even as the chairperson of MDP what Anni was doing was building his own political career. He was promoting his own agenda which was detrimental to MDP as a political party at that time. Due to this many have criticise Anni’s role as a Chairperson of MDP. But to kill these accusations, those days, Anni was saying he is not a political person and he will not contest for a political seat.
Ibra you should know these very well. Even though you have not publicly said this we know this was the main reason you had to resign as the president of MDP and from the party later. I am surprised even after resigning from MDP or even now you has never talk about these difficulties you faced in MDP.
Even MDP’s primary was held before new constitution was rectified so that no person could block Anni for contesting MDP’s primaries. Anni did this by using power of MDP’s chairperson. More than MDP’s chairperson’s responsibilities, Anni was involved in the political side of MDP. Because of this Anni did not carry his responsibilities as the chairperson of MDP to acceptable level.
From the begging this man called Anni has been targeting to be the president of Maldives. On his agenda, he wants to be the president of Maldives one way or the other. So don’t be surprise to see him doing any thing to get into the top job. Anni will even cut his one leg by his own hands to be the president of Maldives.
Due to these reasons, which we have testified in the past, I don’t expect Anni can bring any reform or change to this country. I see lot of Maumoon Abdull Gayyoom sitting inside Anni’s body. In other words Anni is another ‘Gulhaabo’ in making. Same as Maumoon Anni has rarely respected internal regulations of MDP.
Ibra I totally agree with you on this regard. I will not be a very popular person after criticising a hero in many people’s mind and heart. I know many people will disagree with me. Especially people from MDP ‘s grass root level. I don’t know how Anni has become a hero in the minds and hearts of grass root level. Maybe these people don’t have the mental capacity to see the broader picture. Or maybe Anni ‘s PR team is doing a good job. All Credits goes to Minivan Daily which is now own by Kanareege’ faction.
Time has told us what kind of person is Anni and what kind of party has MDP become in Anni’s leadership. So time will tell us what benefit, can this power hungry deal, which MDP has made, will bring us.
Cheers
Rasheed Ibrahim
Dear Ibra,
ReplyDeleteAh, Did i just hit a nerve there? I think there is a huge misunderstanding here. Let me explain. I am a semi fan of yours (will that make you happy?). I see only u and Anni among the candidates who can bring what you and many others are calling "reforms" many want (we have to settle with what we have got ..unfortunately.. *sigh*). Though it is like this, hiding behind the name of "liberal" does not make one a true liberal. I am not a reformer and i don't claim to be one. I am a simple citizen born in the Maldives ( a country i love dearly / am not sure if i can call myself a Maldivian anymore according to the "reformed" constitution which you have a hand in "reforming" ). But one thing i know of me is that i am a radical liberal. I fit in to the extremes of the left. ;)And i am proud of it.
Anni will never side with Maumoon. If you deny this fact, you are being blind and muttering mere rhetoric.
Your party lost it. It is a failure. MDP has always won and keep winning and they are showing to us, the observers and independents, that they are a political party that is to stay and they know how to play it wisely.
I have been following and am still actively involved in saying how i feel about the evolving political landscape , the happenings and debates that are taking place, from the very beginning of all this. yes, from the very beginning indeed. i have noticed that i have an influence. A big influence and i know it. And i know that it works too. ;) In other words i am a confident person who knows what i am talking about, who understands what democracy is all about, who understands what the responsibilities are of a nation as a whole in a democracy and most importantly, i know that i am not a double faced coward(its true i am hiding behind the veil of anonymity but it gives me immense pleasure in knowing that i make my point loud and clear and so far everyone have been hearing it and acting on many... If me being anonymous is working for the common good of the people of Maldives so be it.)
Ibra,
I did watch the question and answer session last night. I think you did very well. Most importantly, i saw that Anni was in charge of the whole thing. He laid the foundation and others just followed it. Unaware of it though. You came close in doing that but not close enough for me.
It is no secret that Qasim will bow in the end. The whole landscape will change again when that happens. I hope that it happens sooner rather than late so that things settle down a bit early. At least for now.
peace bro.. peace..
ah ..and almost forgot..
Change we can and change we shall
rIbra you were late in exposing the reasons that you left the MDP. You should have voiced out in papers and interviews about why you had to leave MDP. As far as I know at that time your answers were brief, like you have said it was that you had different views with anni. You never elaborate it like in your blog then. May be you didnt want a confrontation with Anni.
ReplyDeleteI think people were not that aware and was not able to foresee what you had seen. It is still the same, Anni is only known as a rebellion to Government, people don't care what he says or his policies are. Its just the name "ANNI" which in the peoples mind is the one who challenges Maumoon. After all oppression of thirty years must have made people's mind shrink to not to have faith in the policies put forward but rather to have the faith on the person who challenges the regime verbally on the road.
I know you and Dr Hassan saeeds policies are sound and more realistic and better then what MDP, DRP or Republicans are offering but what's the point when even educated people can't weigh the benefit and costs of policies put forward to them and what do you expect from the unfortunate islanders who had been deprived form good education.
Ibra my advice is since your predictions are accurate, you better bring it on your blog early (early in the sense a week before) so that the readers of the blog can create a buzz to change the situation by questioning relevant parties of their view on the matter.
Looks like Ibra was right! MDP voted with DRP and elected a commission which is controled by DRP. Are these signs that Anni and Maumoon are in partnership! Yes some would say!
ReplyDeleteDear Ibra,
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of yours since day one. The only way to bring down this regime is for you, Dr. Hassan and Anni to form a coalition. I dont know if this is possible or not. But from an outsiders point of view, I'd say it is possible. What say you?
Re the debate, Hassan and you did the best jobs. Gasim was the looser. Gayoom did have a few good points too. But he went against the agreement by replying to other candidates remarks. The moderator just kept silent. Gayoom tried to control everyone by saying that nobody should talk of the past, while he talked of his past and his achievements. He looked nervous and uncomfortable. But it was a good event.
Good luck and a blessed Ramadan to you!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteDear Ibra,
ReplyDeleteI am still waiting to see TVM Siyaasathu program episode on which you appeared, on youtube. I feel sad to see that your campaign team is pretty slow. Maybe this is why you have very less videos compared to other candidates, in this presidential election, on the net.
I hope all your campaign team will pull their socks and make things happen. Ibra, I realy believe in you. I believe you can deliver. You can beat every one in this presidential race. But you need to reach more audience and give your message which is understandable to Normal person of this country. Please don’t let us down.
Ahmed Sidey
salaam and salute to Ibra, i'd been watching ur speeches for quiet sometime. but seen the Q&A session it made all the differences, for Maldivians are in need of two things 1. get rid of Maumoonizm(30y of dictatorship) 2.reform the system. but unfortunately to achieve these we got a long rock road. One thing for sure "Maumoon will playing many of the nasty cards at his disposal, to challenge his dirty tricks and him public awareness is the only options left, to do that u and all on the neutral grounds need to get united, nothing is impossible is my belief but only if u try hard enough, the question is are u willing to sacrifice for the sake of "dhivehi rayithun" good luck may Allah bless ur cause.
ReplyDeleteDear Ibra,
ReplyDeleteI am not surprise to see these kind of U turns by MDP when the party is run by Kanareege’ faction. Anni came to MDP to help himself to get the presidency of Maldives. So far he has used MDP to achieve it.
From the beginning when MDP was drafting MDP’s ‘Asaasee Gavaidh’ Anni deliberately and carefully engineered the regulations so that there will be a conflict between the mandates of MDP’s president and MDP’s chairperson. This accusation is supported by the fact that no presidents of MDP have been able to run MDP other than a puppet person of Anni like Ibrahim Hussain Zaki.
There are striking similarities between Maumoon Abdull Gayyoom and Mohamed Nasheed (Anni). See for instance MDP have nominated Saabe’, who is a brother in law of Anni to election commission. Ahmed Naszim Sattar a brother of Anni is promoting Anni by the use of Minivan Daily. MDP’s chairperson Mariya Ahmed Didi is a relative of Mohamed Nasheed (Anni). Anni have tried to bring his aunt Dr. Aminath Jameel to be his running mate. MDP is a very much a family business now. Very often Anni has bypassed the necessary procedure in the regulations of MDP.
In short Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) has all the qualities to be a dictator. After all the hard work of bringing change should Maldives bring another person who has dictators’ qualities? I don’t care what a white person from UK comes to Maldives and say in front of MDP’s podium my belief is very much different.
Many people view after ratifying the new constitution and having a multi party election is the end of the reform process. But for me, this is where the beginning of the reform starts. Maybe ground work has been laid now. But this is where actual works starts.
Ibra this is exactly why Maldives need you and your party. We need your party to be a strong opposition party. An opposition party which is based on principles which are acceptable to general Maldivians. We need an opposition party which breeds and grooms young educated politicians like you, who won’t run and join the business tycoon’s party. We need politicians like you, in the opposition, who wont criticise the budget to the last minute in the Majlish, but in the end vote for the budget, which is very much detrimental to Maldives economy, simply because the budget is presented by a person who spends money on them. We need presidential candidates who won’t say that tourism industry of Maldives is running well, while around 6 people control the whole industry, simply because his family owns few resorts.
Mr. Ibrahim Ismail, lot of people’s hope is on your shoulder. Please do your best against all the odds. I am sure one day god will bless the works done with good intensions.
Thanks
Bass
Ibra,
ReplyDeleteBe real. Would MDP vote for package with just one candidate supporting their interests or a package with TWO candidates supporting them. I guess the answer is pretty straightforward. This has nothing to do with aligining with Maumoon but protecting their own interests. You should have put forward a package they could not resist.
Anonymous (on elections commission):
ReplyDeleteI think you have lost the plot altogether! If you think that it is alright for MDP to have a high and favourable stake in the Elections Commission to manipulate decisions in their favour, why have we been complaining and whining when Qayyoom used his puppets to control it in the last thirty years? Get real, Anonymous. Anybody who seeks to control the EC doesn't have any intention of bringing any democracy to the country, be it Qayyoom or Anni or Ibra. I don't think you and I speak the same language. Replacing one dictator by another was never my intention to get involved in this process. Getting power any which way you can? I am at a total loss to digest this sentiment of yours.
Ibra,
ReplyDeleteNo matter what, MDP will have a single seat in the EC. Supporting the DRP candidates only made it better for them. Now they will get the support of DRP. Thats a good decision. You give to gain. I dont see anything wrong. Everybody is trying to control these institution. Isnt that the whole idea? Dont you want your party to control the Majlis too? Isnt this the way to fast forward real reform? Common you are playing politics here!
Ibra,
ReplyDeleteAre you, or anybody from your party behind the fake MDP press release?
Dear Ibra,
ReplyDeleteYou have lost my vote. It has been reported that you are against the bridge project between Male-Hulhule. The reason you give is 100 million dollars being spent here is unfair. But if you do a little more research you may know that this project is actually not going to be funded from our budget. Its going to be a foreign investment. Up till this minute I was going to vote for you and this report has changed my mind. You are no different than Anni. What ever the government says, you want to be against it. Doesnt matter even if its good or bad. No research, no need to find the facts, you dont care how much benefit it may bring to the one third of Maldivian population. You just talk against it.
Apparently he dont have time to answer our questions.
ReplyDeletedear rashyd (on bridge)
ReplyDeleteif u decided not to vote ibra just because of this, u wud not have voted him anyway.
the president said he will TRY get foreign funding for this. hence concern shud definitely be raised.
he also said he already has the plans. on the contrary HDFC/Urban Development was on local TV abt 10 days back and announced that they going to appoint a consultant beginning of next year to survay the channel and then only tender for drawings, costing and execution. so how on earth does he have the drawings. either the president o the guy who came on tv was lying.
Anonym : Ibra is currently touring Laamu Atoll to garner strength for the upcoming election. I believe he would respond this or any other comment when he gets the opportunity to do so.
ReplyDeleteMy vote is for Ibra and I am a hardcore fan of Ibra. I am sure he is not a coward to face and answer comments on his own blog.
HFI = Hardcore Fan of Ibra
C'mon Ibra. MDP hasn't taken over the Election Commission nor has any other party (2 DRP aligned, 2 MDP aligned, 1 JP aligned). It is not about controlling. But every party (including yours) would feel that people aligned with them are the "real" reformists. So getting more of them into the commission is a mission of every party. Your package gives more seats to people aligned with JP and so does JPs nominations. It is you who said that plutocracy is the most dangerous political situation looming on us. I believe so too and getting more of JP into the commission will be adding to that fear.
ReplyDeleteI wish to add this note of my support to the broadmindedness in the presidential Q&A you showed with regard to the issues of urbanization and population consolidation.
ReplyDelete- I know your policies broadly are liberal egalitarian policies. But I don't know how much you are informed by Berlinian value pluralism and the good things left in communitarian critiques. But, for sure, you showed you care about different values and people's way of life. I wish to add to the point you made in the debate: Sudden developments and industrial activities can shatter meaningful lives for many people, especially the elderly among us. Everyone's highest-order interest seems to be living a meaningful life. Their ways of live, environment, cultural activities, all add to this meaning. Sudden changes can be alienating and frustrating. When we say people migrate to Male, India or Sri Lanka, a crucial question we need to ask is how happy they are, especially the elderly. How happy is your old father and mother who just migrated to Male? We might forget about how much meaningful their life is to them in the face hi-tech television, cars, paved roads, "good" food, and so on. I know for sure how my father feels in Male. Their life in many islands usually centre around simple, calm, and friendly environments, among old friendship circles, and other "silly" activities, story-telling, 'dhufaa thabah', and so on. Of course none of these means we should not develop urban centres. The point is we must be extremely cautious in population consolidation policies.
I think it would be a mistake to be too sure that meaningful lives would come with sudden developments.
I think you showed that awareness.
For me songs like 'ey zamaanaa vaguthu dhiyaee' bring such feelings of alienation in such sudden changes and different surroundings and ways of life.
Thank you.
Ibra,
ReplyDeleteThere is no way you can get a two third majority without DRP. How do you get the votes, can you please explain? Or do you prefer a deadlock? This is a really stupid argument. MDP has two candidates and DRP has two in the EC. So what is wrong with this deal? Common! Thats a win win for both sides.
this is no longer about going against maumoon, this is about correcting everything at fault here. you couldn't just turn away facts that you know, overrule your beliefs in either ibra or anni. You consider what's good in both of them. Though in this case, ibra's procedure is preferable if not the only possible way in which we can get this place running the way we want it. I advise you to think about it, think about why ibra has chosen his policies, and why it is incomparable to that of anni's. i'm sure you'll see the point, if not read this article again. It's not too difficult to understand. those of who are attached to a particular candidate, but dislike his policies, must let go and decide what's right for the country. Because Ibra can assure you that he's doing what's right for everybody.
ReplyDeleteIt is understandable that people who put reform in front of their desire to make the country right supported the more active and anti-maumoonist candidates until just recently, when it was agreed that maumoon is not the only change we need in the country, and that the system itself was at fault. These people, then SHOULD have realized that it was what ibra was doing all along and that there was absolutely no flaws in the way he is carrying on his campaign - not against maumoon - but FOR the people, and the country. Because....why'd you think maumoon is what he is today? Its THE SYSTEM. And what would you expect to happen to another president if the system remained?? Yes, it could be that maumoon is just like that....but do we want to take any chances? NO! THAT IS WHY, WE NEED TO THINK LOGICALLY. Lets leave out any personal grudges against the candidates and do what's right for the country!
Dude!!.... Do some campaigning...
ReplyDeleteYou are the best candidate...
Yet we see you less than the other candidates...
Ibra, I fell compelled to write after reading the comment by Rashyd.
ReplyDeleteIbra, I think you owe it to people like Rashyd to explain in a bit more detail that no "foreign investment' is going to be without its cost. Which foreign company is going to invest in building a bridge for free? NONE. They will expect the bridge to give them return for their investment and how? By charging toll from the people who use it?
Perhaps you need to explain your opposition to this bridge a bit more detail..as a lot of people like Rashyd do not seem to understand what the cost of "foreign investment" will be to us Maldivian!
Yes Rasheed, do you think building a bridge is the only thing we need to do? Its actually the last thing on our minds. A president is not elected so that he could build a bridge. no. There are far more important things they need to take care of. Why do we want reform in the first place? its so that we could lead a better life. I am sure that mr. Ibra doesn't go against it. There are far more things that need to be considered. and...suppose we do not get foreign investment....you don't really know the cost of even a mere 900 sq. ft do you? You see, Mr.Ibra just thinks that its not the right time to build one just yet. He will, however consider the option, when all the necessary work is done, for which i'm sure would cost a fortune. Surely, i wouldn't know what ibra thinks of this, but it is understandable why ibra would turn down the proposition to build a bridge from male'-hulhumale' right now. Our status is really bad here and i believe that Mr.Ibra has to deal with more fundamental and important things.
ReplyDeleteI think no one is innocent. All are corrupt. Most of them are trying to take Maldivians for a ride! My friends be sensible and don't simply cast your vote without thinking.
ReplyDeleteYou have predicted correctly with DRP PA allaince..
ReplyDeleteyou are cool