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Maumoon Gayyoom's Myths: A desperate dictator dreams on

By Mariyam Mohamed - Monday, 23rd August 2004

Desperate and disillusioned, Gayyoom, aided by his army and his propaganda machines, is still struggling to cling on to his beloved myths. But even close friends are laughing behind the senile dictator's back.

Myth 1: The reform movement is really a group plotting to overthrow the government.

There have been waves of dissent throughout Gayyoom's rule. The problem is Gayyoom is happy to run a dictatorship but wants to be seen as a liberal, progressive, democratic leader. In the early 1990s he called on the people to "come out of the shell" and create a free press. But as soon as the new magazines came out and started to criticise his government, the dictator closed them down. This time around he called for people to openly discuss reform and naturally some of them took him at his word. But when Gayyoom had a taste of what people really thought of him and his government, he couldn't handle it.

People have had enough of Gayyoom, his nepotism, his utter disregard for human rights and democratic values, and, most important of all, his hypocrisy. And, they are making this known to him in any way they can.

Myth 2: The armed forces were patient and acted in the way it did because the demonstrators were turning violent and didn't give them any other option.

The protest was a peaceful protest. The only violent elements were a handful of Gayyoom supporters who tried to provoke fights and disrupt the demonstration. It has now emerged that both the stabbing and the fire were carried out by Gayyoom supporters or the NSS itself.

Gayyoom ordered his troops to break up the demonstration in any way they could because people were openly calling for the resignation of his cabinet and, indeed, himself. No dictator can bear to hear such things, and naturally he acted in the only way he knows: terrorising the people into submission.

Myth 3: The protesters consisted of a relatively few people and did not reflect the views of the majority of the population.

This is a good one! If only a few people were involved why bother sending in 1000 troops, armed with teargas and batons, and armed vehicles, declare a state of emergency, arrest hundreds of people, and slap a curfew on the capital?

The truth is there were thousands of protesters. Many of them were not members of the MDP or any other opposition group, but ordinary people who wanted to show Gayyoom that they did not support him.

When the pro-Gayyoom group tried to break up the demonstration by calling on people to join them, they couldn't gather more than 50 or so supporters, while the reformists had several thousands in their camp.

This must have been a particularly stinging blow to Gayyoom's already deflating ego.

The government can no longer collect a decently sized crowd to sing its praises, but Gayyoom's media continue to drone on that there are only a few people in this country who want change.

Myth 4: The progress made by the country is due to Gayyoom's vision.

What a load of bollocks. The two main interventions which are now bringing in most of the foreign income were former president Ibrahim Nasir's ideas, namely mechanising fishing dhoni's and starting up the tourism industry.

In fact everything from Male's land reclamation to health, education, and airport building were inherited from previous leaders.

Gayyoom was lucky to come in when he did and bask in the glory of Nasir's developmental initiatives.

Redemption:

Unless Gayyoom wants to be remembered as the despot who squeezed the Maldives out of its entire wealth, who terrorised them into submission, who is the most backward leader of his time, he might want to consider the following:

1) Release unconditionally all illegally held detainees and prisoners of conscience.

2) Apologise in public to all the torment he has caused to the Maldives people.

3) Release the full version of the commission report on the death of Hassan Eevan Naseem and other inmates.

4) Bring everyone implicated in the atrocity to justice.

5) Invite a United Nations team to oversee a peaceful transition of power.

6) Resign immediately!