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March 27 Personal Diary on BlogI have written my 100th post on shihablive last night. It is kind of a coincidence that the post is on my thoughts of Anni, who is running in the MDP primaries for a possible presidential election under the "new" version of the current constitution of the Maldives. I am saying that it is a coincidence because I have always been critical of the tactics seen to be used by Anni; but grateful to him for the catalyst he was in bringing about reform to the government. I have not decided on who I am to support in the upcoming presidential election, if it would happen under the revised constitution. I am repeatedly saing "if it will" because we have a constituent assembly that have broken promises on multiple occassions and very apt at dragging their feet to create advantages for their party agendas.
In my opinion what Anni has proposed is what the people of this country need and what they want. This does not necessarily mean that I am jumping to a conclusion that he will deliver it. We have to analyze and see it. My point, is that while everyone of the presidential hopefuls are coming up with their own manifestos, I feel that Anni has proposed the people's manifesto. It is up to the people to decide who they will entrust with that manifesto.
It would have been so much better, if MDP came up with a manifesto and then had its primaries to decide who can best deliver that manifesto. I am writing this as a personal dairy note because so many people are concerned that I have supported Anni. I don't understand why!
I will continue to use MSN Space as a personal diary, so that my friends will have answers to the questions they want to ask of me. September 05 A School Bus Service: Now
Day before yesterday, I was at Thaajuddeen School to attend my daughter's Parent Teacher Meeting. After the meeting, I brought her to the ferry terminal and called her mother to fetch her from the Villingili ferry terminal. September 02 Mob Rule and the Fear FactorJustice Jameel when he resigned this government said that he was leaving because there was no justice in this country. Shaheed said that he did not want to give himself up to the mob. Hassan Saeed said that it was impossible to go foward. Or something like that.
Today the Speaker of the Maldivian Parliament is in court for assault. Another MP appointed to Parliament by the President is in court for having spoken derogratory remarks at an opposition MP. [As if these were the firt time!]
I cannot help thinking how true the new Maldives ex-cabinet ministers were! This county is going to be in the hands of rogues and the mob in no time. Wow! Good Morning Democracy and the Rule of the Mob! Fighting Breaks out in ParliamentToday is a historic day for Maldives. A friend just told me that fighting has broken out between rival factions in the Special Majlis or the Upper House of Parliament. Haveeru also reported that the meeting was adjourned as it was not possible to proceed with the meeting. This is the Parliament that was hurt and upset over remarks made by the then Foreign Minister Dr. Shaheed about them. They believe they are divine and are not capable of any wrongdoing. It is a day of celebration. We have matured and bloomed into a full democracy. Long Live the Divine People's Majlis of the Republic of Maldives. Related Links: Haveeru | Aafathis September 01 Maldives ... living a Lie!Maldives ... the Sunny Side of life: Maldives has been branded the "Sunny Side of Life" for visitors from affluent countries. The visitors can enjoy the white sandy beaches, pristine clear blue lagoons, the refreshing breeze of fresh air and complete peace and serenity in this country; that is if you are prepared to pay for the package. The degree of a taste of heaven depends on how much you are willing to pay. A taste of paradise is a reality for those who can afford it. Yet there are only a handful of people in the country where this paradise exist, who can afford the same. The majority who live in the periphery are told that they have the blessing of Allah the Almighty. That they are fortunate to have the blessing of the Creator. And finally the other day, the President told us that we have to be proud of to be Maldivian. The result of this type of conditioning is that we as Maldivians have become accustomed to living a lie. And the biggest lie of all is going to be continued again shortly in the constitutional amendments that is going to happen shortly (it can take a few more years if the MPs do not find someone who can buy them for millions of dollars each!). The lie is: that all Maldivians are and must be Muslims. What this practically means is that you must believe in Islam. The clause was put in the Constitution when the Maldivians were subservient to a Monarch; rather subjects of a King. Maldives ... living a Lie: As a nation of people conditioned to lead a life that is pegged to a set of lies; the so called "reform process" that has been plagueing the country for nearly seven years now has also chosen to follow the conditioning. The pillars of the reform process have told that they will give up their lives to protect and safeguard the lie. Almost all political leaders and political parties have personally pledged to fight to keep the lie as the pillar of the new Constution; if it can be called new. It is not a surprise that new things forged by old minds and old allies will only protect the lies that have brought them riches and prosperity, wouldn't they? The truth is that the so called "opposition reformists" claim that they will not accept any formula for the future of Maldives that has Maumoon in its inception, design or implementation. They don't understand that some Maldivians have minds of their own; free from the clutches of those who were our masters and want to continue to be. What they are saying is true! But the semantics is wrong. The future of Maldives can belong to the people only if the formula of reform will not have "the former Masters of the People" in the inception, design and implementation of the reform formula. August 28 Caucuses: Disintegration or Consolidation?New Maldives was the exciting story of a young group of Minister's in President Gayoom's cabinet who believed in the latent potential of the creative minds and the inherent nature of the people of our country to excel and reach new heights, and to find new solutions to the challenges facing the country. (Sorry, if the semantics is off-beat.)
The extraordinary story came to a climax with the resignation of Dr. Hassan Saeed and Uz. Jameel from the cabinet followed calculatedly on the 19th day following the resignations that rocked the nation. However there were no vibrations to follow; except ofcourse an epilogue in Dr. Shaheed's calcualted resignation. Nineteen is a blessed way of starting things for some people!
Yet some would consider that the New Maldives is a silo created by the President to withstand the challenge to his leadership from the MDP. The other breakaway faction is yet another silo. Though not so evident, that there are other silos built around the old guard who call the real shots from behind the screen savers; some within the files and ranks of the central establishment.
In addition to the party silos, the President has also succeeded in forming a hypnotic coalition with less important opponents including the Adaalath who (on state television) called him a murderer and a dictator. This in itself is a silo created by the President to face the challenge to his leadership by the opposition MDP.
MDP had the opportunity to form a working relationship and build silos to defragment the leadership of the President, with these same parties and factions. Why was it not done? Why was it not possible? Was it a failure of leadership, tactic or strategy?
A nation - as a people, look for leadership. Leadership is a function that has wisdom and create confidence. Such leadership provide people with a beacon to follow. Who is the leader of our opposition? Is it the Chaiperson or the President? Will he take the helm should the silos of the President wither, or handover to someone else in waiting? Who is he?
I couldn't help wondering whether the caucuses that we see in the DRP as a strategy of consolidation, against the more widely held perception of disintegration. As an independent observer of the politics around us, I couldn't help wondering!
August 27 How civilized are Maldivians as a People?This morning I got onto the eight ten ferry from Villingili to Male'. Villingili is a satellite island of Male', eight minutes by ferry from the capital mainland. As I boarded the ferry I had to walk down the walkway in between the two rows of benches; one to each side of the dhoni.
It is common practise that when passengers board the ferry they sit on the aisle side of the bench. The beches are kept in rows with hardly enough space in between for someone to move into the window side of the bench if someone is sitting on the aisle side. However, those boarding the ferry first are so focused on the ease of getting down the ferry as it touches the terminal, that they prefer to sit on the aisle. Some people who board the ferry later prefer to stand somewhere to avoid inconveniencing those sitting on the aisle side of benches, even when there is space in between people sitting on the benches.
I took up the subject with another friend of mine who boarded the ferry with me this morning. Both of us were sitting in the last row of benches. Half the ferry was empty then, but the aisle seats were full on all rows. My friend recalled that when he visited the US for a tour of twenty one days this year what struck him most was how concerned people were about NOT inconveniencing others; aware of their existence in relation to others. This he said was not a part of our culture.
We never thought that our actions or inactions could inconvenience others. That sense of respect was non-existent in our society. We thought: was it a fault of the education system, or that we were simply not a civilized society yet.
In my opinion, recent manifestations of our society show that we are tribal in nature. August 26 The Aftermath of 8/18 ReferendumThe incidents unfolding after the 8/18 Referendum are scary:
HRC says it was a fair deal: Haveeru
Whose responsibility was the referendum? : Haveeru
MDP lists Fraud Complaints: by Ajay Makan
House in Isdhoo completely demolished: by Adam Haleem
House in Huraa torched following threats: by Mohamed Ibrahim
There were 32,000 corrupt votes: by Mohamed Ashraf
Was the referendum rigged? :by Inaya Shareef
New Maldives replaced: by Ajay Makan
Historic Referendum across Maldives: by Hilath Rasheed
God only knows the truth! August 24 Will this madness STOP!Revenge at any cost
The party did not order it
They did not condemn it; not yet
Women and children
Meant to burn in hell; cos
They supported the wrong party
What is this freedom
The liberty to choose
Freedom of thought and expression
Is it a right of just some
Human Rights Commission
Will retreat for the weekend
Before they will make a statement; if they will
Will there be a motion
In parliament; to register
The dismay of the parliamentarians
Guadians of civil liberties of the People
I guess some people are evil
So evil that any association can
Justify taking lives to ensure a lesson!
Related links: Haveeru English | Haveeru Dhivehi August 23 Another opportunity to serve!This morning in a brief meeting of the broadcast "Content Adjudication Committee" of the Ministry of Information and Arts, I was asked by my colleagues in the committee to be the Chair of the Committee. I have accepted the invitation and the Ministry of Information has announced my appointment to the post of Chairman of the Content Adjudication Committee. The committee comprises of nine persons selected in their individual capacity from various sectors of society.
I am very glad to have the opportunity to serve in a committee of this stature and to be able to contribute to national development in monitoring of compliance to the licence given to the first generation of private broadcasters in the Maldives. The committee will also give me an additional opportunity to interact with high intellects from various fields and broaden my horizon of understanding of our society. Alhamduli-Allah!
The committee meets once every two months.
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