Con Artists

I hope that the readers of my blog will forgive me for the long silence. Many have actually called me, asking whether I have stopped writing. For those who read regularly, I must tell you that the past week and a half have been a bit of a crisis for me on the personal and family front. Now that things have settled a bit by the Grace of Allah, here we are.

This Post is dedicated to those who can see through con artists for who they are, and are not deluded by their efforts.

confidence game
–noun
any swindle in which the swindler, after gaining the confidence of the victim, robs the victim by cheating at a gambling game, appropriating funds entrusted for investment, or the like.
Also called, British, confidence trick.

Origin: 1855–60, Americanism

Confidence games, or tricks as they are more popularly known, are as old as human civilization, I suppose. My limited experience in the political and power play arenas have certainly exposed me to many of these.

I did a bit of research into the practice of confidence games, and found that for con artists to succeed in their attempts, the fundamentally crucial thing is to gain the confidence and trust of the intended victims. That is, the victims must be coaxed into a frame of mind whereby they completely trust the con artist, and actually believe that the artist is acting in the best interest of the victims, and that the artist has totally altruistic motives and have nothing to gain personally.

In politics, the con artists have to do this on a mass scale. To achieve this, the most commonly used tools are “national interest”, feigned outrage at actions of opponents. Since the adoption of the new constitution, “legal voids” have become versatile tools for con artists.

It amuses me, sometimes, to just watch the antics. During the passing of the Transitional Chapter of the Constitution, I was a lone voice in the Special Majlis when I repeatedly claimed that the ridiculous dates being proposed for elections would not be achievable, and that we should allow more time for the elections. At the time, I was ridiculed by many and accused of working towards my own personal gain. Later on, when legislation was passed regarding Presidential Elections, the entire election was rushed with the argument that there would be a “legal void” if President was not elected by 10 October. The Liberal Party went to the High Court to get the relevant article in the legislation stricken down. The High Court rejected our Party's claim. Later, when the election went “over the date” and was scheduled for 28 October, Husnu Suood and a group of lawyers went to the High Court to have the election called off. This time the High Court ruled it was OK to go past the “deadline” and there would be no void.

In matters of elections, we see MDP, DRP and PA coming together, but they pretend they are adversaries. Leading figures in DRP such as Aneesa and Nasheed have emerged out of the woodworks again, and are claiming national disaster if Parliamentary elections are not held by 15 February. From the MDP, President Nasheed is questioning the validity of the Parliament now, and Mariya Didi is screaming for blood over the issue. Nazim and Yaameen from PA are in the thick of it with MDP and DRP.

For a short time again, MDRPA alliance will be formed, just as it was formed for the Presidential Elections, selecting Elections Commission and the Supreme Court. The whole idea, of course is to eliminate all other political parties and figures from the scene first, and then fight it out among themselves. I say, void my foot, again.

The reality is this. MDP and President Nasheed are making so many blunders that the public are going off them rapidly, and it is in their interest to have the elections quickly before the honeymoon period is over and the situation becomes unsalvageable. DRP has to move quickly before the public and DRP supporters realize that Qayyoom is gone for good, and the real disintegration of DRP starts happening in earnest. PA, of course, wants to make the best of the chaotic situation before the dust settles. Just as Anni’s win in the first round of Presidential Elections depended on the public being convinced that Qayyoom might win, an MDP win in the Parliamentary Elections also depend on the public being conned into believing that DRP may win, and President Nasheed maybe impeached, and therefore, Qayyoom may come back. These con arguments will not be sellable by about April/ May, which will sweep the rug from under MDP, DRP and PA.

It amuses me when Nasheed from DRP talks about constitutional violations when he was in the thick of it to the last minute when Qayyoom violated the Constitution everyday. As for Mariya, she was with Qayyoom and now with President Nasheed when the constitution was being, is being, violated everyday. President Nasheed? I don’t believe he even knows there IS a constitution. So why this sudden yearning for the Constitution?

Majlis has gone into recess. Strike one for the people.