Maldives ready with roadmap towards a full-fledged democracy

By P. Krishnaswamy

The incumbent Maldivian President Dr. Waheed Hassan's consultant and a retired Malaysian career diplomat of Sri Lankan origin, Dr. Ananda Kumarasiri, who accompanied the island-nation's Vice President designate Mohamed Waheed Deen to Colombo on his short visit to hand over a message from his President to President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the Sunday Observer in an interview that the visit was to reiterate the deep understanding and close relationship between the two countries. Former President Mohamed Nasheed stepped down voluntarily and there is no truth in reports that he was ousted in a military coup, Dr. Kumarasiri said. He expressed confidence that a full-fledged democracy will be restored in the country under the rule of President Waheed and the roadmap towards that end has already been laid.

Excerpts of the interview:

Question: As consultant to President Dr. Waheed Hassen you have accompanied Vice President designate Mohamed Waheed Deen who delivered a message to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Can you tell us the salient aspects of the message?

Answer: The idea was to express President Dr. Waheed's appreciation for the very deep understanding and reiteration of the close relationship between the two countries for many centuries. We face the same problems as Sri Lanka due to external interferences. Our President has solicited the appreciation of President Rajapaksa to the consultative process which is already in process for consensus building among the different political parties in the Maldives.

The roadmap for taking the Maldives towards the goal of a full-fledged democracy has already been laid down and this process has been endorsed by all political parties other than former President Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). The doors are open for them to take part in the process.

Q: President Rajapaksa has expressed his desire that your decisions should not be influenced by external pressures. Do you believe that you can take decisions uninfluenced by external pressures?

A: I can understand why President Rajapaksa has stated that. These big countries try to impose their will on small countries while they are unable to resolve their own internal problems of a bigger magnitude.

They do so not for safeguarding democracy but for geopolitical and economic interests. Former President Nasheed and the pressure groups want snap elections to be held soon. Some want it held immediately, others within six months and so on. But categorically citing constitutional provisions, President Waheed has stated that elections can be held only in November 2013 and there is no possible way of circumventing it.

But he has already set in motion the consultative process for reaching an overall consensus. Such a consensus may also require constitutional amendments to overcome the problems in holding elections before the date as specified in the constitution. Constitutional amendments may also become necessary in other areas, including the endemic problem of power separation between the executive, judiciary and the legislative.

One of the goals of the roadmap is to have a very clear definition of power separation. President Waheed has set the consultative process in motion and the ultimate goal is reaching a national consensus, through discussions and negotiations, rather than taking recourse to street demonstrations, destruction of State properties and intimidation.

Only the people will ultimately suffer due to destruction of properties and lives. President Waheed wants the culture of violence removed completely. He has appointed a government of technocrats who are capable in their own lines.

They are not supposed to function as politicians but instead, they have to do everything in the national interest and deliver the goods through their proposals, projects or whatever. Political parties can go ahead with their kind of politics. In a truly democratic sense he has not appointed anyone to the Cabinet portfolios from his party. He is very transparent, very accountable and is a man of integrity.

He was a running partner of former President Nasheed and the constitution very clearly says that if the President is incapacitated or resigns the Vice President automatically becomes the President. There is nothing illegitimate or unconstitutional about President Waheed becoming the next President. The Chief Justice administered the Oath. So there is nothing for these interest groups to complain or try to exert pressure.

President Waheed is very appreciative of the fact that President Rajapaksa and the other government leaders said that a country should be able to have relations and economic exchanges and diversify other activities as it wants to and should not be dependent on some countries. It is the right of a nation.

Sri Lanka is our closest neighbour with centuries old relations. There is a considerable number of Sri Lankans in the Maldives and similarly there are Maldivians in Sri Lanka. So we look forward to spread out the tourist industry and enhance economic and trade relations. We are also looking into possibilities of doing so with other countries in the region.

Q: Former President Mohamed Nasheed was elected democratically after three decades of dictatorial rule in the Maldives. Some sections of the media and some countries say that he was ousted in a military coup. Do you deny that?

A: His resignation was voluntary and it is very clear from video recordings that are now available. His own doings led to his voluntary resignation, including the arrest of a Judge of the Criminal Court and other atrocious acts which turned the public wrath against him. Later, heeding requests of his party men who had lost their positions and economic footing, he took recourse to violent protests demanding snap polls.

There was no duress whatsoever on him , he wrote the resignation letter in his own handwriting and handed it over in front of the TV and the public. It was initially found that he had spent monies to the tune of some Rs. 17 billion for projects of his own design and appointing people to them. The amount is believed to be Rs.23 billion now. Under such financial straits, the Maldives cannot even think about snap polls.

Q: In the context of the fact that the Maldives was under dictatorial rule for over three decades and the democratically elected President no longer in office, some sections of the international community have expressed concerns over the recent political developments and the remote possibilities of restoration of democracy. Are you confident that democracy will be restored in the Maldives?

A: I am very confident because already there is a commitment of transparency, a commitment for separation of power among the judiciary, executive and the legislative. This is very much in line with the political philosophy of President Waheed. A national unity government representing all political parties has been formed. The consultative process for reaching a national consensus is already in progress. This process will also encompass constitutional amendments and the type of governance suitable to the Maldives. A very holistic approach is under way for cohesion in the country. Everything is indicative of the restoration of full-fledged democracy in the country.

Q: The Maldives is a tourist paradise deriving its revenue mainly from tourism. How far has the current political turbulence affected the industry?

A: Fortunately, there was no major disruption of the tourist industry. Tourists are continuing to come. But at the initial stages when people and countries did not know what was happening, there were minor hiccups. Instigated by some elements who wanted to take advantage out the situation, some travel agency in England had issued travel advisories. One or two chartered flights were cancelled because the tourists wanted to be on the cautious side. But now the situation is back to normal and the tourists are coming as before. President Waheed has de-escalated the situation.