:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Tourism of Freedom?

EDITORIAL by A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe')

We have been accused of harming the tourism industry in our attempt to bring about change to this government. Those who raise this issue need to look into the fact of the matter, which is of principle.

The people of Maldives are being deprived of basic human rights. The world must be told the truth about the brutality of this despotic regime. Why do we have to hide behind the palm trees when people are being beaten to death on the beach?
There are different ways of fighting a freedom war, this is one way. We have tried to pressure the government into reforms in several ways and so far this has proven to be the most effective way.

Personally, I believe that it is the international community that can pressure this government into adhering to humane standards in governance. We can no longer stay put.

We are trying to formulate and run a political party as well, but this government does not want that to happen. We are not attacking the tourism industry; in fact, we are not attacking any industry. Our focus is to tell the truth and let external pressure on the government bring about sensible change.

The question here is of principle. If the government cared about the people, they should be the one to respect and rule the country according to the constitution. If Maumoon can convert the country to a Sultanate, demolish the constitution and rule with a sword, we will shut up. As it is, we have no choice but to raise our concern and those who are pointing out this relationship between tourism and average people's livelihood are the main beneficiaries of the industry. My views on this have been laid out in the article on my website - http://www.ilovemaldives.com.

There is a price to pay by all of us. I sincerely believe that the suffrage of our people is too higher a price to pay just to tolerate a regime that has lost touch with its people.

What are we to make of those brutal acts committed against our own brothers and sisters? We cannot forget about all that. The local media does not cover these stories. In the last incident, the country was brought under a state of emergency, just to give the regime some breathing space and re-organise.

I believe that if the world is told about the crystal clear lagoons and beaches, we should also tell them about how our dictator allows our people to be so vehemently and brutally murdered. We should be ashamed of inviting international guests into our country by misinforming them about the state of our country. We should be ashamed when the government put on a pretty clothe on the wounds that it created on the chest of the country and displays it to the world for money. We have to say NO at some point, whatever the cost!
This argument that our fight for our freedom is harming the economy is unsubstantiated, there are no indications yet and it is still early days to make this judgement. According to the tourism ministry statistics, the number of tourists who visited Maldives increased by 16.3% from 2002 to 2003. Also, the number of tourist arrivals in December 2003 was 7.7% more than that in December 2002. [see ‘Tourist Arrivals to Maldives in 2003 increased by 16.3 percent’ , Haveeru Tuesday, 15th January 2004].

One of the prominent tour operator in Maldives said " As a tour operator in the Maldives, I would say that the international medias attention on Maldives and the work of the dissidents is helping boost the tourism arrival. It is backed by evidence. Maldives is now on BBC, Time, Telegraph. This is helping us!

This regime will not receive the respect that it wants from the international forum and our attempt to expose them will continue until the desired effect surfaces.

The people are suffering anyway. In the history of Maldives, tourism industry has been around for a mere 30 years, we have been a nation for well over 2000 years. Let us not forget that.

Accusing the people who are raising concerns about the way this regime has terrorised, mistreated us and even killed some of our people, are all power hungry is wrong and disrespectful. I say to the people who accuse us “Look at the sacrifices such people are making and read a little bit more about them before concluding and passing judgments.”

On a personal note, I am being called a traitor by this regime and its followers for speaking the truth? Did I lie on BBC? I can categorically prove in a court of law that my statement is 100% true and that I had not broken the law by condemning this government. Please read the Amnesty International Report http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA290022003

I have made it very clear what my intentions are. I want this government to be replaced by a legitimate government that rules for the people by the people. I want this government to respect and uphold the constitution of the country. I want this government to put the interest of our people first rather than increase their power grip and bank balances. I want Maumoon to realise that times have changed, that we are no longer afraid of him, that we no longer respect him or even accept his position as head of state. I want Maumoon to realise that it is time for CHANGE and that whether he wants it or not, CHANGE is inevitable and we are here for the long run.