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"The unforgotten Wounds of jail mates proved
our administration was never serious about Maldivians".

Many Maldivians now sense that our government has been bought and paid for, by powerful interests with deep pockets. These powered groups sense that our government's priorities are being dictated by something other than the public interest.

The administrations leaders in the Capitals have deliberately and shamelessly built a money-for-influence machine unlike anything our democracy has ever endured. Many of our peace loving Maldivians have spoken out about this administrations culture of corruption over the past months and years. But today our nation loving Maldivians moved a giant step forward, with a single voice, the demand for sweeping reform.

I stood for a Democratic state legislator in 1998 and for a legitimate election in 2003, demanding the honesty and accountability in a state where the administration’s officials have defrauded the public and infected everything from the budget to the voting process with cronyism and corruption? Now you may understand, what I received in return?

They too know that this fight will not end today, and this demand will not go away. Every single nation loving Maldivian will be pressing for this reform legislation and everyone from the Maldives with a sense of respect challengers running against incumbent administration and will be carrying the flame of change. Today Maldivians across the country are united on the way forward. But as we head into the next election year, there is one thing you should remember. This legislation won't change anything for those elected leaders who have already demonstrated that they will break the law in their quest for money and power. Many in the administration's leaders has already pleaded guilty to bribery with soft loans, others has been indicted for money laundering, and still more for investigations.

Now in the Maldives the need for a honest and higher standard for all of our elected leaders is must. But when it comes to the administration that has already broken the law, we need to clean the house. The administration claims of progress, is treated as ridiculous by Maldivians. “The Maldivians are very worried now, “The administration will get even more threatening as the end appears.” So, let us think of live and let live.

And so let's do it together. Indeed, twenty seven and more years of “nation-building” has left Maldives a festering wound, with primitive typical Arabian warlords still dominant, an isolate the capital with no control of the Island life, no national infrastructure and a once-again booming brown sugar trade the country's only economic dark spot for many and the lack of Human rights and human life and respect..

After our dramatic, initial stab in 12-13 after Sept 19th. that tored apart, the administration has shown no willingness to do the heavy lifting that would be required to make the country once again the functioning nation it was before. Rather, as with the rest of its policies, a token effort has merely been a cover for conning the Maldivian public and the International community into believing that the administration is effectively pursuing a war on terrorism which is I hope now understood.

But it is good that many Maldivians now sense that our government’s educated staff has been bought and paid for by powerful interests groups with deep pockets. They sense that our government's priorities are being dictated by something other than the public interest.

The Maldivian people ought to know that a multi-party system is practiced in most democracies of the world, both small and large. And if the MDP comes to power and they try abusing their position, having multiple parties (legitimate) will prevent it, because there will be an opposition. There will be an opposing  voice in the parliament to check and balance the actions of the ruling party. This is the civilized way of opposing, without resorting to ‘deadly consequences’. There would be good and bad in everything. The real problem appears now is, due to the reason people who have ruled this country have deprived the people in their rights, education and in political awareness, etc.

I think I have told you that a second and/or a third party is very essential. My concern is like many others if there are enough people available who would be sincere in their services and aware of our situation. I think there are not many but many who want a change and does not know about democracy? That does not mean that we should give up the fight. To have the party system is very important, but with educated people and people ready to work for the people, is what is essential.

Why people establish a party is to benefit the people, because it must be the will of the people that shall be the authority of any government. Nonviolence is what I believe, but presently the way things move does not seem that change could be smooth, due to the attitude of the administration and the rest who obstruct. I am very concerned about it a due to these reasons. I just want to see like many an end to violence soon, as to what may happen.

Let’s get back to the party system as much is to be known. I think a leader or a member of a party will have some say over the matters and can convince some members. It is the responsibility of all individuals, whether they are party members or not, to ensure that violence is prevented. There should be compromise, people should accommodate the ideas of others, and we should all strive for a peaceful and democratic Maldives.

Like I said, awareness plays a large role and the only way to deal with such situations would be to see, to hear and to understand the people’s needs, of whom you serve. You must get personally involved by observing and speaking of shared experiences; by listening to them, which cannot be easy for a leader when it comes to people who have been deprived for centuries! We must think not only for ourselves as parents, but for our children’s children, too. We will soon need to find land elsewhere for our and their survival too. So what lies behind and before us are little matters when compared with what lies in front and within us now. We need to make the right move NOW!

If MDP is committed to serve the people, then it must play a huge role when political parties start to functioning truly in Maldives. I believe any party or organization must be for the people. The educated lot must take a big responsibility in sharing our lives as we are all heading to one destination in everyway. To tackle this, the people must join in, and the more they join, the more benefit the people will have.

I wish that these party's will play a huge role in reaching the people, letting them know the agenda of the party and offer concrete solutions for our problems. This consideration ought to be given to any whom it concerns. Many might be willing, or may say, they are now willing to take a stand for causes such as free speech, etc. But my question is how many could really stand for the cause in nonviolence which is normally known as tough or difficult. We all must know that all of us set an example for each other, like the children who look upon us, parents) as a mirror in life. So, all of us have large responsibilities when it comes to the shaping of a proper society which has been deprived for ages. Giving human kindness has a surprising number of requirements.

It surely has been a long, and a challenging struggle, but I feel that we Maldivians will gradually gain the upper hand if we give room for truth to our actions Insha Allah!. Nothing should be taken personal but as a good example, which leaves the best impression for all. Together, Maldives can do better, never looking back, never stopping, until we win and establish our dream, a democracy.

Make no mistake, I am following my own course with the approval given, convinced that, it will eventually lead me somewhere useful.

I believe it's time to move our Maldives in a new direction. I believe it is time to set a new course for Maldives. Because a stronger Maldives begins at our homes in Male’ and in the Island communities; let us talk about our plans to create jobs, to secure our rights, lower costs of education, enable health care costs for every Maldivian, and to make Maldives safer and more secure.

Instead of talking about our rights, health, respect, education and the economy; have we ever heard more than anger and insults from Kingdoms and regimes for over 2800 years? Let me tell you why. It is because the responsible people could not talk about the real issues that they faced or that are facing the Maldivians.

For the past 16yrs, I have been attacked for my patriotism and my fitness to serve as commander in chief. Hah! This is my answer. I'm not going to have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have, and by those who have misled the nation into a dictatorship. They will not and cannot talk about their political record because it is a record of complete failure.

Let me tell you what I think makes someone unfit for duty. Misleading the nation into a police state, without respecting Human rights  and our youth disabled with drugs makes a person unfit to lead any nation. Doing nothing while this nation loses thousands of jobs, loses overseas currency and allows the people to stagnate thus creating even more poverty and hatred, makes a person unfit to lead any nation. Letting more than 45% of Maldivians go without health care, makes a person unfit to lead this nation. It is not going to change because you cannot get mangoes from a breadfruit tree!
 
As the year 2006 begins, I am reaching out in every way as a supporter for democracy. This will be the year when cronyism, incompetence, and corruption have a collision, which will be a hard blow for those who have misled our people. I am addressing the people who support reform and who understand, that people can stand behind and support candidates who take strong stands on issues such as the recent southern violence, and who give powerful voice to our values.
O Allah! place a light in the hearts of all Maldivian people, in their tongue, in their hearing, in their seeing, below and above, right and left, ahead and behind, and within and make the light greater to all Maldivians and protect the Maldives from the evil trails of the false Christ.

I SHALL NOT DEFEND THE GUILTY TO VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF THE INNOCENT.

23.01.06
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