Intentions, sincerity and actions

My last Post (“About Turns”) seems to have sparked a lot of comments. The surprising thing I noted in these comments is that initially there was some apprehension and some disbelief about what I said was likely to happen, but at some stage, justifications for MDP’s actions regarding the elections commission have emerged.

I am sorry that I have not been able to answer some of the issues raised by visitors to the blog. I am currently out of Male’, in an area of the country where the internet is not readily accessible. It is not that I do not want to answer, but I have just not been able to. It is a rather hectic schedule on one of these campaign trips! Having to do it during Ramazan makes it more difficult.

Let me attempt to clarify the issue of the Elections Commission as I see it. I think it is time to call a spade a spade.

The constitution defines the Elections Commission as an Independent institution. It is defined as such because it is supposed to execute the law without fear, favour or prejudice. One essential cornerstone for democracy to prevail is having free and fair elections. This is only possible with the Elections Commission setup as an Independent institution.

The MDP has been a leading voice up until now, criticizing Qayyoom because he was manipulating the elections process. But now it looks like it is alright for Qayyoom to manipulate the process as long as he shares the manipulation with MDP. The bottom line is, MDP has sought to join Qayyoom and the DRP in blocking certain actions of the Elections Commission which may block their candidacies (both Qayyoom’s and Anni’s). This notion is further strengthened by what Legal Reform Minister Nasheed said in Majlis today. He is now claiming that challenging the candidacy of anyone in the Supreme Court is only up to the Elections Commission. Now that DRP and MDP has made the deal to control the Elections Commission, the well disguised Nasheed who love this nation so much, and is so patriotic and apolitical is now starting to prostitute his “profession” by implying that public interest challenging in the Supreme Court may not be possible, and he is seeking to once again close the doors of the Supreme Court to anyone except MDP and DRP on the issue of elections. He thinks he is being very crafty, and that he is closing all doors to challenge election processes and outcomes via a piece of legislation. But I assure you, he still has me to deal with.

Those who argue that it is alright for MDP to engage in this treacherous behaviour argue that my proposal was worse because it gave 2 seats to the JP. This is a mistake. If you looked at all three proposals which were put forward, you will see that it is only my proposal which had any logical basis. My proposal allowed the nominees from all five parties fielding presidential candidates a seat on the EC. A sure fire check and balance within the commission itself.

What is most worrying for me is the fact that Anni and MDP have finally publicly acknowledged that they will:
Manipulate institutions to pull decisions in their favour,
Try to fool the public to justify their actions,
Attempt to twist and turn laws and their interpretations to gain and propagate power.

In a nutshell, are not these the very things that we have criticized Qayyoom for, and that we are fighting against? MDP fans, do you now see why I had to leave the MDP and why I can’t become the running mate of Anni?

The other day, Mariya said in the Majlis that Fuad Thowfeeq was not representing MDP. Two days later Afeef is saying in a Press Conference that Fuad represents MDP. Now they are trying to create an innuendo that I was behind whatever leaflets are floating around. The Plot thickens! I will tell you this. If and when I want to say something to the public, I will do so quite openly. On my own, or the Liberal Party’s, letterhead. Not on MDP’s letterhead. I have nothing to fear, and nothing to lose. Even on this very issue, I was the first person to predict MDP’s actions, on my personal blog. So why should I float cowardly pamphlets on the streets in the dead of the night?

Let us acknowledge a few facts. Anyone who seeks to gain favourable decisions from an “Independent” Commission by placing his or her own people within it, and by making deals with the devil to achieve it can never even think democracy. History is rife with people who have seemingly carried the public torch, projected themselves as “people’s heroes” and then went on to become absolute dictators. They do it by creating undying loyalty until they control public institutions and then they become institutions by themselves.

Power games. The blood of Evan Naseem had still not dried from the killers’ hands when Afeef, Mariya, Ibu, Shihab and other “reformists” voted Qayyoom into another term of office. History doesn’t lie.

Chairman Mao, Adolf Hitler, Stalin, Jamal Abdul Nasir, Saddam Hussain, Muammar Qadhafi. There is no denying history.