Ex-Attorney General Dr. Hassain Saeed has announced ex-foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed as his running mate. Dr. Shaheed is one of three ministers who resigned last year who had then formed the 'New Maldives' opposition movement. The third of the trio was ex-Justice Minister Jameel.
It is interesting that Dr. Hassan has selected Dr. Shaheed as his running mate. Frankly I did not think he had any other choice apart from the third of the trio, ex-Minister Jameel. Perhaps Hasssan Saeed could have chosen someone else but I would imagine that he is much in debt to his fellow schemers that this set-up must have been agreed by the three from the beginning.
So let me take a look at Dr. Shaheed. This is someone who was hell bent on proving that the current government was sincere in its endeavour to bring genuine reform to the country.
"It is absolutely wrong, absolutely wrong, to accuse the government of failing to deliver on reform promises" - Dr Shaheed, BBC Asia Today programme, 2 June 2006
Then he was even claiming that the reform process was going so well that the European Union requested that the reform process be slowed down.
"Furthermore some of them even commented on the fast speed it [the reform agenda] is taking place in the Maldives. Some of them even advised us to manage the process… that is to slow down the reform process, and not to take it so fast so that everyone can digest it. So there is no room for anyone to complain about the delay of reform agenda, I am very sad that in this Maldives a political party is being active in the name of reform to protect the interest of a selected few instead of joining the road to democracy." - Dr Shaheed
In short the only executive experience Dr. Shaheed had was as the mouthpiece of the current government, he was the spin doctor as so eloquently phrased by the opposition. The new 'New Maldives' is the same old 'New Maldives'. The only one missing is Nasheed who is still in the government.
In my view Dr. Hassan made a big mistake by appointing Shaheed. As said in the post Shaheed has been involved in too many dirty talks and dirty games (gas) to be trusted by most people. If Hassan appointed someone like Solaah Shihaab , Hassan would have gained a lot of support. Then again I don't think Solaah Shihaab would even have agreed to be a running mate. It's unfortunate for Dr. Hassan, but I wish him all the best..
ReplyDeleteNot just Dr. Shaheed, Hassan Saeed and Justice Jameel is also in the same boat. Question is what is Nasheed still doing inside the government.
ReplyDeleteHehe, check this article on Haveeru
ReplyDeletehttp://www.haveeru.com.mv/index.php?page=details&id=73322&cat=search
It was Dr. Shaheed who said that Dr. Hassan will be announcing his running mate. Does this party not have anyone else