:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

The Infant Dhivehi Democracy

By Aishath Zaina, 12^th August 2004

Proud we should be. Last night marks over a week of public gathering at the Tetrapod Monument area in the eastern corner of capital island Male’. It is truly astonishing to observe the number of people gathering the area and the diversity of the backgrounds of people keep on increasing by the day. If there are marked and outstanding attributes of these gatherings, it can only be the extreme peacefulness and sheer determination of people to obtain what is legally and rightfully theirs. These gatherings are so extraordinarily peaceful, the Maldivians now have grounds to claim that it is they, and not the Japanese, who are the real architect of peaceful demonstration.

These gathering are continuing despite the fact that the Government has repeatedly announced that such gatherings amount to an illegal act and therefore is banned by Law. However, people seem to know better. They believe the Article 26: Freedom of assembly in the present constitution guarantees them this right. Moreover, they also believe that in accordance with the Article 31: Voidance of Laws inconsistent with fundamental rights ensures that no memo, circular, notice or the like can take precedence over the stipulated fundamental rights of the people. Also the majority of the people are unconvinced of the government’s proposition that these gatherings are instigating fear or disturbance among the public. Can anyone in their right frame of mind, including the people of outer islands believe that a newborn baby has somehow not only managed to break the world record of 100m sprint but also is the real head of Al-Qaeda who keeps Bin Laden under his thumb?

To such a calm situation, a few paid hooligan paateys are unleashed with an ultra motive to disrupt and undermine the cause of reform. The question is not at all who is behind these paateys but how wise a strategy is this for Gayyoom. Can Gayyoom convince the local and international community that he was ‘simply unaware’ that his younger brother Yameen is guaranteeing his neighbourhood thugs immunity from Law and financial rewards for carrying out his greedy deeds? What an imaginative thought this provides Gayyoom to amuse himself. Isn’t it amazing that Gayyoom still don’t seem to realize that one main cause of his downfall is his sick relatives?

Now it is high time to comprehend that oppression too will act as a motivating factor beyond a period of time.