tic..tic...tic..

I was unable to upload my entries from my location. Here are few entries I wrote during that time..
This is an entry I wrote on 05/17/06 . I will be uploading regularly from now on. For those of you who emailed me about the blog; I was unable to upload but will continue to bring out my views of maldives life and politics...

.. Well let’s see where we are right now. President of MDP Ibra has quit his post. It seems that he has some differences between chairperson Anni regarding issues of how to tackle the current government- through mass protests or through diplomacy.
I am of the firm belief that diplomacy will not prevail within the current atmosphere. I will try to make my point here. diplomacy is a deal.. Not necessarily a democratic resolution. In the current context obviously the government has the upper hand, hence they will dictate the deal. The democratic ideal of the government is so far gone that no amount of diplomacy will fix it. Unless of course all the high ranking immoral officials resign and we rewrite our vague constitution (again). Which is not going to happen...
I think Anni is trying to create a situation where the pressure of the people will eventually prevail. Like that happened in Nepal. However Maldives is different from Nepal, for one thing Maldivians still hold on to the ancient belief of class system. Secondly there is an ingrained fear of the security force, which has been systematically entrenched within the psyche of the citizens. I think Anni is trying to continually bring the people on to the street until the gatherings become a cat and mouse game, between the security forces and the people. I see a long process before Anni and MDP can jolt the long held fear of the people of this country. By then it might be too late, presidential election is to take place in 2008 and I wonder if this is enough time for the people of this country to break free from the past. Contrary to MDP's rhetoric, if an election was held today Maumoon's party will win easily. It is not that MDP does not have grassroots support, they do have a huge support base. However the current government already has money, influence, and force to tilt the sentiments in any direction they want. Maumoon has already started his campaigned by commencing the Atoll chiefs gathering in the capital male'. You can already start to see the headlines "The President says Atoll development has always been a top priority of the Government", "The President and the First Lady open the Kudakudhinge Hiyaa alternative care home in Villingili. The President calls on parents and guardians to nurture children with love, care and affection and to teach them good manners and social values", "The President urges parents and guardians to reaffirm their resolve to nurturing children in a loving and caring atmosphere", "The President calls on Atoll Chiefs to deliver services to residents in all Atolls under an equal and harmonised policy mechanism. ". You will start to see an influx of these in the coming months...
I think MDP is running out of time.... fast.