Rigging the referendum is a blessing in disguise :: Maldives News :: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial

Rigging the referendum is a blessing in disguise

By Ahmed Moosa, Editor-in-chief, 29 August 2007

There is absolutely no doubt that the public referendum held in the Maldives on 18th August to decide on the system of government was heavily rigged by the regime of the longest serving dictator in Asia.

However, at this point in time, how the Maldives Dictator managed to rig the votes and produce the result he wanted is, as far as I am concerned, completely immaterial. What matters is the implications that will follow in the coming weeks and months.

Most political figures that I have spoken with over the last week unanimously agree with me, that on hindsight, this whole rigging saga has been very much a blessing in disguise for the Maldives reform movement per se. I believe that although it would have been a wonderful achievement for the MDP to win the referendum, the outcome has been a huge wake up call for the party and the movement as a whole.

Many amongst us momentarily forgot just what kind of a criminal mind we were dealing with. We forgot that we were dealing with a hardcore dictator who has had almost 30 years of experience in rigging elections, be it the last 6 presidential referendums or the parliamentary elections held since he took office 'criminally' in 1978^[1]. We failed to consider the deep-rooted level of corruption in Maldives Dictator's regime and the extensive criminal planning by his thugs to rig and distort public opinion and mandates.

Consider the scenario in which the 'Parliamentary System' is chosen overwhelmingly by the public, which would have been seen as a no confidence vote on the Dictator. Consider the scenario, where voting had been carried out in accordance with rules and regulations and no rigging was observed. Had that been the case, the aging Dictator would have claimed that he had always held free and fair elections in the Maldives from the time he came to power and that this was ample proof of that. In claiming so, he would be able to appease the international community and be able to rig votes in other elections, such as the inevitable multiparty parliamentary elections or failing that, the 2008 Presidential Referendum. He could easily rig them and claim that it was free and fair and provide the example of this referendum.

Therefore, whichever way one looks at the outcome of this referendum, the fact that he had rigged this referendum has given us reformists the opportunity to stress our case that it is impossible to hold a free and fair election in the Maldives as long as Gayyoom remains in power, protected by his cronies.

At the same time, we should also celebrate our successes. It is absolutely right to feel confident about the activities and campaigns of our movement. Whatever that has been achieved in the last 3 years has been achieved by the hard and courageous efforts of the Maldivian people, who overwhelmingly are in favour of establishing a true democratic government in the country and rid the nation of corruption and lawlessness. The fact that more than 58,000 people voted for a Parliamentary system is ample proof that there is hope for the future; that despite the bribes and kickbacks, despite the threats and intimidation, there are true sons and daughters of the Maldives who are no longer willing to be slaves to this abhorrent and cruel Dictator.

What is crucial for the reform movement now is that we move forward. We should not let Gayoom dictate to us as to what happens next. What the Dictator would love is for the reformists to get embroiled in a long drawn out battle objecting about the results of the referendum. He could then gleefully point out to the international community that the delays in the reform process are by the MDP and not by himself. By rigging the referendum he may have won a small battle. But he definitely shall not win the war.

Today, the international community needs no further proof. If they are genuinely interested in helping the people of Maldives by replacing the current dictatorial regime with a democratic government, they must do everything to ensure that facilities and mechanisms are in place to safeguard and ensure that any future election in the Maldives is conducted freely and fairly, without prejudice and undue influence from the current regime. That is the only way to ensure that Maldives becomes a member of free democratic nations that values the rights of its people and works for their prosperity.

[1] Dictator Gayyoom admitted himself that he was in possession of illegal firearms at the time of taking his first oath of office in November 1978. He confessed to this adding that his action may have been illegal but he was prepared to do whatever it takes to take the oath and take over power. Along with him several of his close associates were also armed that day.

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