Partial Journey

What is the role of the Majlis again?

2009-01-19T12:29:00.000+05:00

I wonder what the real intention of these majlis members are. Some of them are heavily arguing that the courts can't overrule a Majlis decision while others are arguing that parliamentary elections be held on date.

In my opinion, we are seeing campaigning to the extreme. Members in Majlis are so comfortable with their rhetoric that it has become difficult for the public to differentiate between sincerity and deceit.

Now Ibra is saying that we have to decide what to do with the supreme court as supreme court has ruled against them. Well is not the supreme court tasked with interpreting the laws of the country? If the majlis is given the power to make laws and interpret them, where is the check and balance in the system? It will be as stupid as the case of the majlis determining their own salary.

All I see on TV now is campaigning for their next seat. I am saddened that there are so few who are faithful to the public.

What do you think? Should we clean up the Majlis or just let it be

Aussie James McGrath targeted in Maldives poll

2008-10-28T18:31:00.001+05:00

THE first free election in the history of the Maldives might or might not topple Asia's longest-serving dictator, but it has already thrust Australian political strategist James McGrath back into the spotlight, a position he finds less than comfortable.

"For somebody who really likes to avoid attention and work behind the scenes, I suppose I've been having a pretty bad run," McGrath said by telephone yesterday after becoming the personal target of a withering publicity campaign launched by Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Just before the start of Thursday's presidential voting, Gayoom, who won six previous five-year terms thanks to electoral rules that made him the only candidate, portrayed the 34-year-old Queenslander as a corrupt - and corrupting - outsider, masterminding the main opposition campaign.

A barrage of press conferences, briefings and even cartoons released by the President's team called McGrath a malicious and highly paid outsider and said he was a Christian missionary, trying to undermine the country's Muslim faith.

Democracy campaigners are now concerned that McGrath, who has been working in the Maldives for 12 weeks as an unpaid adviser to former political prisoner turned presidential candidate Mohamed Nasheed, may be deported before a final run-off election on October 29, and they have appointed minders to ensure there are no physical attacks on the Australian.

It is not the first unhappy exposure to public attention for McGrath, who shares the belief of his mentor and fellow conservative Lynton Crosby that political advisers are effective only when they "fly below the radar".

After starting his political career working for the South Australian Liberal government in 2001, McGrath travelled to Britain on a working holiday visa a year later and worked his way up in Conservative machine politics to become the chief political adviser to new London Mayor Boris Johnson in May.

But his days of invisibility ended just a month later, when Johnson sacked him for saying in a private meeting that Londoners of Caribbean descent were free to leave if they did not like Johnson's administration.

Johnson rejected claims that McGrath's comment was racist, but said he still had to go because Johnson did not want his administration to be tainted by such accusations.

After four weeks' holiday, McGrath went on what was supposed to be a 10-day assignment in the Maldives as "an interesting political experience" to keep him busy while he pondered his future.

The British Conservative Party used a government grant to fund his airfare and hotel costs for nine days as a show of support for the new opposition party, the Maldives Democratic Party, and when that time expired, the local party asked him to stay on.

Travelling by boat and small planes to about a third of the nation's 21 groups of islands, McGrath taught MDP campaigners and party leaders how to canvass and develop strategy.

"I found it quite humbling to be attending meetings with party leaders and realising I was the only one in the room who hadn't been beaten or arrested or exiled or tortured for my beliefs," McGrath said.

"When my colleagues start comparing scars and counting their broken bones, there's not much I can say to join in."

Street protests and foreign government pressure prompted Gayoom, 71, to allow multiple-candidate elections for president.

McGrath said the "passion that ordinary people are showing over being allowed to actually vote for an opposition candidate for the first time has been really exciting. From a total population of about 300,000, the MDP has got 30,000 members. You don't get that sort of commitment in Australian or British politics".

During his 30 years in power, Gayoom used top-end tourism to help make the Maldives the richest country in South Asia. It has an average annual income of $7620, but poverty is still widespread and the MDP has campaigned for better health services, housing and transport, cheaper food and action against drugs.

As the MDP's campaign gathered pace, the ruling party turned its fire on McGrath, claiming he was trying to spread Christianity and had been promised he could have his own island if he helped Nasheed become president.

Presidential spokesman Mohamed Hussein Shareef claimed McGrath had "links to a movement to change the Maldives into a multi-religious society".

McGrath described the claims as worrying.

"They held three press conferences in 36 hours to say all this stuff and it was all rubbish, but it could be damaging, especially the Christian missionary stuff. This is a very conservative and very Muslim society, and people don't want to hear that some foreigner is running around trying to introduce another religion."

Thursday's first round of voting gave the President 40.6per cent of the vote and Nasheed 25.1per cent. Four other opposition candidates were eliminated from the final run-off.

The President's backers argued that he was already within striking distance of a majority after the first poll, but the MDP said almost 60per cent of the voters had opted for change.

Nasheed claimed all four eliminated candidates had pledged to support him in the run-off.

"Until then, I will just be trying to keep working and not get kicked out of the country," McGrath said

Original Article: The Australian

Aljazeera 101 on Maldives presidential elections

2008-10-24T23:25:00.000+05:00

Here is yesterday's Al-jazeera's programme on Maldives.

I hope Journalists at home learn something from this. What they are doing today is just acting as postmen, forwarding what they hear to the other side and vice versa. I wish they would start asking about the real issues ahead.

Part I

Part II

Anni, Dr.Waheed, Gasim, Dr.Hassan, Adhaalath, Ibra, what a team!!

2008-10-11T23:33:00.001+05:00

Finally they came together, and not a second too soon. I really aplaud Gasim and Adhaalath for joining the MDP team. I believe that we have a team of real patriots, who have put aside their ambitions for the benefit of the country and its people.

I wonder what Maumoon would be saying now. I suspect his negative campaigning would reach new heights. Get ready people for the likes of Mavota Shareef, Mundhu, Shafiu and Hoarafushi Saleem. I believe Maumoon will release these people into the public. These are his ultra-loyal, qualified-at-nothing, but authorised-in-everything bunch. When these people open their mouth so much filth comes out that even the person covering his ears would faint from the smell. I wonder which one of these four would you vote for the best liar. In my opinion its Hoarafushi Saleem.

Anyway, I hope the people would think a lot more this time before voting for Maumoon. He is running out of cards and he is running out of friends. Everyone is jumping ship. And it will be difficult for him to discredit Anni this time around, weather it be on his religion, experience or qualifications. Everyone who really matters is with the MDP today. They are walking hand in hand to rid this country of its corruption, and clean it up for the next generation. I urge everyone to help clean up this country.

Saafu dhivehiraaje, Minivan dhivehiraaje

The comment Ibra refused to publish

2008-10-08T10:20:00.002+05:00

The following is my comment for ibra's post The Bitter Darkness of The Void which he refused to publish.

-------------------------------------

Dear Ibra,

You are not supposed to campaign after 6pm, obey the laws.

People are really working hard trying to make this election a free and fair one, and at the same time trying to get as many people registered to vote. Don't belittle their efforts for your own selfish gain.

Ibra, I support you and your work. I've also learnt a lot about you during the past few weeks; from your single minded responses that have tried to hinder a collective process to your choice of VP who is apparently not ready to face the public.

Please stop your legal mumbo jumbos and your rhetoric. I think it will have no effect on your campaign at this point in time.

And on your 'poor brain' and 'poor intellect', I pray that Allah(swt) enhances your intellect and shows you the right path, and protect you from the hypocrites. I remember that you often quote Ayah no 18 of Surah Baqarah, "They are deaf, dumb and blind, so they return not (to the right path)".

Simple reason why I cannot support Dr. Hassan Saeed

2008-10-08T06:50:00.003+05:00

The following is an excerpt from the book "Freedom of religion, apostasy and Islam" by Prof. Abdhulla Saeed and Dr. Hassan Saeed

"The law of apostasy had become one of the non-negotiable aspects of Islamic law, much like the prescribed punishment (hudud) specified in the Quran for theft or fornication. However, those punishments at least have Quranic support, whereas the punishment of apostasy does not, as this book argues. It is largely based on a number of isolated traditions of the Prophet (hadith ahad) or their interpretations."

I object to their work and I object to their demeaning words regarding the Quran and the Sunnah

...................................................

The following Hadith is narrated by Imam Bukhari (no 6922)

Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever changes his religion, put him to death.”

The following Hadith is narrated by Imam Bukhari (6484) and Imam muslim Muslim (1676)

‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “It is not permissible to shed the blood of a Muslim who bears witness that there is no god except Allaah and that I am the Messenger of Allaah, except in one of three cases: a soul for a soul (i.e., in the case of murder); a previously-married person who commits zina; and one who leaves his religion and separates from the main body of the Muslims.”

Surah An-Nisa, Ayah no 80 reveals

"He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad (saw)), has indeed obeyed Allâh, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad (saw)) as a watcher over them"

And in Sahih Bukhari

Narrated Abu Hurairah: Allah's Messenger (saw) said "All my followers will enter paradise except those who refuse". They said, "O Allah's Messenger! Who will refuse?" He said, "Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me is the one who refuses (to enter it)."

My Comment: How do we obey our messenger? By obeying his statements and his actions. Where do we learn these statements and actions? From the Hadith which were collected by the scholars. And which is the most authentic book on Hadith? It is unanimously agreed that Bukhari's work is the most authentic of all hadith literature put together. Therefore it has been traditionally agreed upon among all the Sunni Islamic scholars that each and every Hadith in this book is without doubt, authentic and can be used to decide matters of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) concerning religious obligations, Haraam and Halal actions etc, by taking evidence from this book.

To have an own belief is one thing, but to cast doubt in people's mind regarding Islamic rulings, I cannot accept that. It is reckless, and opens up to fitnah and innovations in religion. I strongly object to the Saeed brother's attempt to weaken our religion.

Now here is a question for you. Who do you think would want to prove that apostasy does not deserve the punishment prescribed in Islam? Who do you think would benefit from it? Not the existing Muslims, not the Christians, Jews or Buddhists; they are not Muslims yet. And why is Hassan Saeed so eager to prove it?

Remember when Maumoon was so eager to prove that this was a new constitution and not an old one? What was the reason for it? The reason was that Maumoon was the sole benefactor.

Blast from the past part 1

2008-09-21T08:45:00.001+05:00

The following article was originally published in October 2005

To many Maldivians Gasim Ibrahim was a hero during the turbulent days of the fight to establish a multi party system. Gasim Ibrahim led the walkout from the Majlis. It was Gasim Ibrahim who gave the important interviews and press briefings.

And finally last year when almost the whole of Male' had gathered at the Republic Square it was to Gasim that they turned to sort out everything. Ultimately Gasim was imprisoned and charged. It was apparently the Tsunami that saved Gasim's scalp and the President dropped the charges against him.

That day Gasim was the biggest traitor but now today he is a hero to the Government. He stood at the side of the President when he announced the appointment of Gasim as the new Finance Minister.

My question as a freedom loving Maldivian is should Gasim have accepted any portfolio in this Government? Is Gasim, the freedom loving or democratic person he claims to be?

In my opinion the answer is No. Gasim has turned traitor to the very cause he supported - MDP. The Chairperson and other of his former colleagues languish in jail while Gasim is being chauffer driven in his new Ministerial car.

Maldives finance minister Gasim Ibrahim waits alone on stage at the first Dhivehi Rayithunge party meeting held in Maamigili island social centre on Alifu (south Ari) atoll. Source: www.maldivesculture.com

Gasim has sold out to Gayoom. He is not interested in MDP or any freedom or democracy. For Gayoom it may be a coup that he has managed to prize Gasim away from the MDP. This certainly was a blow to MDP as Gasim's financial assistance would be cut.

Many Maldivians were surprised at this nomination of Gasim as the Finance Minister. The most important factor of course is Economics. Gasim has one of the biggest International Loans in The Maldives. He has loans from the banks in the Maldives. He is also now in charge of the Fiscal Policies of The Maldives. How can such conflicting interests serve the good of Maldivians?

Gayoom should have never appointed such a person to such a post where he can influence the whole economy of the country to his own advantage. Being successful in running a few resorts does not mean that you can run and plan the economy of a country.

On the other hand, if we think properly we should not be surprised at Gasim's appointment. We should not forget who Buruma Gasim is? It would be more proper for us to call him Enderimage Gasim. Gasim became rich because Gayoom and Iliyas Ibrahim made him rich. He is their man and will always be their man.

He did not probably join MDP to further democracy or freedom. He probably joined MDP so that he can control the MDP. Unfortunately for him Anni may have been wise to this fact and Gasim did not get the power he wanted in the MDP so he went back to where he originally came from; Enderimaage.

To the people who support this government he is a hero. A hero who has come back. However, to all the people who love freedom and democracy he is a turncoat and a hypocrite. Gasim should now always remember that he has lost the faith and support of a lot of Maldivians by his association with Gayoom's regime. Money alone cannot buy loyalty. Only time will tell whether Gasim has made the right move for himself.

Abraham Lincoln said “you can fool all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time"

Original Source: Gasim Ibrahim - Hero or Hypocrite?

A brief history of time

2008-09-20T12:43:00.000+05:00

I really don't understand how some of us forget our history. It wasn't really that long ago that this whole thing started. It was right in front of us. Right in our lifetime. I would not call it even history as history has a bad reputation of being the manipulated results of the elites. What I am imploring you is to recall your short-term memory.

Where were you five years ago and where are you now. Are the powerfuls so influential that they can even brainwash our minds? Why do we take people just on their face value. Do we not know that anyone can say anything at any time? It is called the freewill. We do not have the power to drill into a persons mind but we do have the power to analyse, to use our critical thinking and to employ our conscience.

Like I said before anybody can say anything at anytime. Why does one tag such a significance to what people say. It is what someone is that is of any importance. As Ralf Waldo Emerson said

"Who you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying"

Look at the people who are pleading for our support right now. Recall their past. Where were they yesterday. What were they doing when they had all the cards and we had non. Were they fighting for our rights even then? Did they even say one word on our defence? Or were they looking into cashing on the opportunities that was opened up to then at that time? How would you define their lives as you know it.

"Only a life lived for others is worth living" - Albert Einstein

Getting on board

2008-09-19T13:26:00.000+05:00

The hot topic right now is the new 'MDP Ithihaadhu'. In my opinion Dr. Waheed has make a smart move when he joined the MDP as their running mate. In addition to brushing up his profile by showing himself as a humble being, this move renews an old dynamic within the opposition. Its the excitement that at the beginning. At that that time everyone who was opposed to the current regime was with MDP. Everyone who wanted to change the status quo was with MDP.

But today, its a messy scene we are witnessing with the opposition. Anyone who thinks he can capitalize on Gayoom's failure is contending in this election. Anyone with influence, anyone with money.

I think the opposition can gain more footing if they stick together. But why can't they. Reality is we can only have one president. It will either be Anni, Ibra Gasim or Hassan Saeed. It can't be all four of them. If they are genuinely interested in cleaning up the corruption which have eaten into the fabric of our society, I don't think any one of them would ever want the current regime to retake the government. So why can't they work together? Why cannot they form a coalition?

I think right now Hassan and Ibra's chances have decreased dramatically in this race. I think it will either be Gasim or Anni that would have a strong chance of taking up any real fight against DRP. I urge Ibra and Hassan to join a coalition. With their current position, all they will do is create division within the opposition. Their principles and manifestos are similar to any other opposition party. They emphasis or creating the rule of law or getting rid of the autocracy and nepotism within the government.

To Ibra I want to say that I support you whole heartedly and I think you are the best candidate among them all. You have a good record in the parliament and in MDP. However everyone doesn't agree with me and it seems now that you cannot get a majority vote compared with the rest of the candidates. I think you can do a better job to the country right now if you join a coalition. You will be heard better and you would have a better chance of creating a rule of law.

To Hassan, if you are genuine, I urge you to work with the rest of the opposition. If you are just manipulating the public like Maumoon did during his presidency, I pray that you get exposed before this whole thing is over

Who is Dr. Waheed?

2008-09-17T21:41:00.002+05:00

Just kidding. Anni has chosen the 'adequately' well know Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan as his running mate. Dr. Waheed has quite an impressive CV, he has worked in the Maldivian parliament as well as several UN organisations.

However, I cannot categorically endorse him. I have to admit I do have some problems with him. For one thing, Dr. Waheed has a tendency to disappear. He just drops in when the cake is served and is never there when the going gets tough. To me it seems as if he think that we are obliged to offer him the presidency. He seem too thirsty for the top job, even impatient. I know what you are thinking, but i consider President Maumoon as an anomaly.

Now, even with all these red flags, Dr. Waheed is a great choice. In comparison to Republican party's Gasim Ibrahim, I think Anni wins hands down when choosing a running mate. For a similar article on Republican Party check here.

Dr. Waheed is a Phd holder since 1987, actually the first Maldivian to do so. He has worked in the public service as well as in an elected office. He has international experience of more than 10 years at the executive level that few Maldivians can boast of.

I think by contending as a running mate, Dr. Waheed would be able to build his support base more effectively. He can perhaps get a break from the public who accuse him of being obsessed with the presidency.

I believe that he is genuinely qualified for such a leadership post and I think he would be able to contribute well to the country.

Who is Ali Sawad?

2008-09-15T23:41:00.000+05:00

The running mate of the Republican party a Mr. Ali Sawad who nobody has heard of before is ready for his next job, the vice presidency of the country. The Republican party has given a fancy introduction of him. Lets see... gold medal winner, three undergraduate degrees, a master degree in human rights and an almost completed Phd. wow!. Is he trying out for a teaching assistant job in the University? This is the position of the second most powerful post in the country, and one which is exclusively a public service job.

Well enough of my sarcasm. I just believe that one needs to have experience in public service before one would be qualified to take up such huge responsibilities... responsibilities towards the public. All I have seen by most of these contenders are recklessness and greed. Suddenly everyone with money and influence has realising that all is up for grabs once again.

Maldives the country which is still best for business in South Asia is at the mercy of the powerful and the elite once again.

The Reformed Dr. Shaheed

2008-09-14T23:04:00.000+05:00

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.

Rare and amazing images of tornadoes

2008-09-14T09:15:00.000+05:00

I know this is off topic but I just want to take a few minutes break from politics. Lets get away from these squabbles for a second and observer these incredible images of tornadoes around the world.

A tightly wound tornado funnel twists through open prairie in Manitoba, Canada. Tornadoes are pillars of rapidly rotating air that develop in tall, dense cumuliform clouds that are associated with thunderstorms and bad weather.

A rare, mother ship cloud formation hovers over Childress, Texas. Tornado-chasers there covered seven hours and 150 miles (241 kilometers) tracking the supercell thunderstorm that produced this cloud formation. Supercell thunderstorms are known to spawn tornadoes with winds exceeding 200 mph (322 kph).A rare, mother ship cloud formation hovers over Childress, Texas. Tornado-chasers there covered seven hours and 150 miles (241 kilometers) tracking the supercell thunderstorm that produced this cloud formation. Supercell thunderstorms are known to spawn tornadoes with winds exceeding 200 mph (322 kph).

Masses of dark clouds and a crack of lightning over a prairie in the Midwest set the stage for tornadoes. Tornadoes frequently occur in conjunction with spring and summer thunderstorms, but they can spin off abruptly, at any time of year, in any condition.

A slender twister spins under storm-streaked skies in the U.S. In addition to typical land twisters, tornadoes may form over desert (dust devils), forest fires or volcanoes (firewhirls), or oceans (waterspouts).

An impending tornado darkens skies over the Colorado plains. Most tornadoes are 400 to 500 feet (122 to 152 meters) wide, travel four or five miles (six to eight kilometers) and last just a few minutes.

Heavy clouds hang low over a homestead in the Midwest, foretelling a possible tornado. Tornadoes form when the updrafts of air that supply storms with warm, humid air become a vortex, or high-speed whirlwind.

Source: National Geographic

This is Sparta

2008-09-12T23:33:00.000+05:00

Feel like yelling at someone?

Big Chief

2008-09-12T00:21:00.000+05:00

Whoa! Apparently Gasim performed with flying colors in his TVM interview. I was watching the Jumhoore Gulhun meeting last night and I noticed several speakers praising Gasim's 'wonderful' handling of 'siyasath' program. Am I the only one who thinks that he was in a mess? The questions were so damaging that Gasim tried his utmost to prevent the interviewer from even phrasing them.
To be honest, Im no fan of the interviewer, his questioning methods were unprofessional, probably being orchestrated by the DRP PR group. How else does he get all these letters and documents which were supposed to be held confidentially in government departments.
Anyway back to Gasim. Poor guy has so many skeletons in his closet that he couldn't say two sentences that did not contradict each other.
Anyway I hope Gasim does more interviews, he is ever so entertaining. Watch out Reeko Ibrahim Manik