The Dream

Years ago, when I was a University student, I had the opportunity to witness democracy in action. I was impressed with what I saw and experienced. Until I arrived in Australia, I had READ about democracy and the rule of law. Even at a theoretical level, I had been taken with the notion of people writing laws for themselves, and then following it, and not be subject to the whim and fancy of a “ruler”. In Australia, I saw it happening. I saw the wishes of the people being impacted at the highest level of government. I saw the Prime Minister being challenged in Parliament and ultimately being ousted. There weren’t any demonstrations or protests or confrontations with the riot police. The people’s will was exercised through democratic institutions. I saw a powerful Senator from the ruling Party being put on the spot because he used a few stamps from his public office to post some letters in his campaign. I saw the Prime Minister being hammered in Parliament everyday by the Opposition leader, but when the Gulf War came, both of them together passed a unanimous resolution in Parliament for Australia’s involvement in the Gulf War. A beautiful case of national interest transcending political lines and divisions. The next day, they were both yelling at each other, and calling each other names in Parliament.

I saw a vote of no confidence passed on a Premier in New South Wales by his own Party based on a report by an Anti-Corruption Commissioner which the Premier himself appointed, but couldn’t dismiss. I saw senior Police Officers charged for violent behaviour against prisoners. Any custodial death was viewed as a national concern and public inquiries were initiated for such occurrences.

I wanted the same process in my country. Is it too much to ask for? Why can’t I dream for it? I started dreaming. I started planning. I started building my resolve. Because I knew it wouldn’t be easy to make it happen in my country. For many reasons. This was way back in 1988.

When I came back to the Maldives, I embarked on my crusade. There were mighty few who believed in what I was preaching then. Only like minded souls such as Anni, GoGo Latheef, Kalhuhuraage Latheef, my late Uncle, Mandhu Mohamed Waheed, my own father, Ismail Naseer, Thaa Member Afeef, Vashafaru Adam AbdulRahman, Ali Hashim (Lintel), Mahamood Raazee and a handful of others talked the same language. For the 20 years I spent in the Civil Service, I was branded as a radical and rebel, someone to be looked at with suspicion because given half a chance, this fellow might upset the apple cart.

We made various attempts at forwarding the Cause. Sangu (weekly), electing Abdulla Kamaluddeen and Mujuthaba to Majlis in 1994, electing Anni to Majlis in 1999. Every effort was successfully thwarted by the regime. If I ever did anything which I regret in my life, it was working in Abdulla Kamaluddin’s campaign in 1994. The only way I can describe what he did is to say that he cuckolded Male’ people.

After Anni was kicked out of Parliament, I realized that we needed more like minded people in Parliament, greater public engagement and international involvement to realize my Dream for my country. So I started preparing myself for that day by working 18 hours a day to save some money so that when the time came and I totally immersed myself in the process, my family could still survive. Just as well I did that. Otherwise I could not have continued the way I have. All my savings are spent now, I am broke, but, Oh! I am just that close to achieving my goal! At least we now have a very good chance of getting there.

While I was working my butt off in preparation for the day, I was also hoping that more and more “educated” people would come and join the fight. But here I was mistaken. Most (NOT all) of the “educated” people of this country have been either aiding and abetting the regime, or watching on the sidelines to see which way the cat would jump, or passing smart ass comments at our efforts at the coffee tables. It has been the “rowdy”, uneducated, lower class “masses” who have sacrificed their time and what little they had left to achieve this Dream. I hail them, every one of them, as the true heroes and heroines who made it happen.

Earning a degree does not necessarily make one an educated person. An educated person, with or without a degree, can distinguish right from wrong. S/he is able to make informed decisions. S/he is able to look beyond hir (his or her) own self and assess the needs of the wider community and make the right judgment to do what is necessary. S/he is able to take a stand, and stick to it, based on what s/he sees as right.

The biggest disappointments are people like Minister Nasheed, who knows all the right words and phrases to utter, but lacks the inner strength to stand up for what he knows is right. Good people like Zahiya Zareer, who, for some unfathomable reason, has succumbed to the status quo, and is actively promoting a regime which will throw this country to the dogs. People like Aishath Mohamed Didi who has thrown away the rights of children and women she has taken oath to protect, to help drag on the injustices against them, by propping up a regime which has systematically ignored crimes against women and children…I wonder to what end? Spineless opportunists like Jihad, who, as MMA Governor, lamented to Majlis members about the state of the economy and bad government policy and actions, and then takes up the post as Minister for Finance and lies to the people on state media to propagate the farce. I name these people because I have worked with them, listened to their views and frustrations, discussed the state of affairs with them. Either they were lying to me then, or they were lying to the public now. When the sons and daughters of a nation, who enjoyed the best opportunities she could afford, at the expense of her other children, turn around and kick her in the back, where will the nation run for cover and protection? If that is not treason, what then is treason?

It is with these thoughts, and a tinge of sadness that I write this Post as we go into the final 16 hours of a process which will tell us whether my Dream will be realized. Or will it be crushed to be served as dessert for a bunch of opportunists who have raped, and will continue to rape this country?

Many Maldivians who want to put Qayyoom back in power justify their decision on the grounds that Anni is not “presidential material” or they are voting to prevent Christianity from taking root in this country. Others claim that “lawlessness” will descend if Anni is elected. These are simply justifications that they present, not really to others, but more to themselves, because deep within themselves they know that Anni will be a better President than Qayyoom any day, that Christianity has taken root in the Maldives under Qayyoom’s watch and this country has not seen a higher degree of lawlessness and a complete disregard for law as has been seen in the last 25 years. Never in the history of this country has the Justice system been so corrupt and impotent as in the last 20 years. Never has the public wealth been raped and abused as in the last 20 years. Maldivian citizens have not been killed and tortured in a systematic fashion in any other era. Territorial integrity of the country has been compromised under Qayyoom’s rule. Sovereignity has been effectively compromised. The country has become a haven for drug abusers and drug traffickers. Prostitution is at an all time high. The country is broke and on the verge of economic collapse. The hard earned savings by civil servants and ordinary people have been put at great risk. And yet these people delude themselves and say “…but I don’t like Anni”.

Wakeup, Maldives. This vote is not about what you like or do not like. You are not in a restaurant, presented with a menu to select what you “like”. We are fighting for the survival of this nation, your nation, your children’s nation. This vote is not about Anni and his looks or capabilities or habits. This is our last chance to turn the country around towards sanity.

It would be fair to say that for the last four years, I have thought reform, I have breathed reform, I have lived reform. All this to realize that Dream I had, I have. I feel a sense of tiredness now. Almost a feeling that my work has been done. I have given it my best shot. I have done what I can. It is now up to my people to realize this Dream for the country.

I have my differences with Anni. But I have even more differences, much more fundamental differences, with Qayyoom. Anni as President will give us the opportunity to establish a democratic system of governance. Qayyoom as President will close all doors for a half decent system of government.
My choice is clear. There really is no choice. On the 28th of October 2008, Maldivians will be presented with Hobson’s choice for electing a President. Should I vote for Anni? Or should I vote for Anni?

After much deliberation, I have decided firmly to vote for Anni.

Oh! Allah! May Thee not turn away from us. May not our efforts and aspirations be in vain. Please deliver us from injustice and cruelty. Please be with us in our hour of need. Protect us, please, Our Lord. Thou art Great and Wise. Praise be to Thee.