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Special Report
Gayyoom's agenda hard at work

Mariyam Mohamed, Male', 13^th October 2004

DO's credibility has once again risen high once again today after Gayyoom's illicit operations in which he sealed the fate of the Constitution of the Maldives by electing Abbas Ibrahim as the Speaker of the Special Majlis. This was predicted by the reformists and documented in DO long ago; the last mention was on 11th October as follows:

Local News - 10th October 2004

Abbas Ibrahim will be elected Speaker of the Constitutional Assembly tomorrow

Reliable sources have confirmed that Gayyoom has ordered all the MPs to elect his brother-in-law and former cabinet minister Abbas Ibrahim to the powerful post of the Speaker of the Special (Constitutional) Majlis. In a Dhivehi article in DO on 5th October, this matter was discussed in detail. Gayyoom wants to amend the constitution to meet his requirements and he is used to having his way. In an attempt to deter people from gathering near the Majlis House tomorrow, the WebSMS service has been disabled today. It is expected that the service will be completely cut off tomorrow. A full report on Abbas Ibrahim will be posted shortly. Some 9 members of the assembly are in solitary confinement and will not be able to attend the assembly. Among them are members who staged a walk-out in the first session held on 19 July 2004. MPs will be frightened to vote against the government candidate tomorrow fearing arrest and torture. This is the only way Gayyoom knows how to run the country. No wonder he is characterised as a brutal dictator.

Today, voting was conducted by raise of hands and not by a secret ballot as the constitution demands. This is high treason, but that doesn't bother Gayyoom who ignores the constitution and laws of the land.

Constitution of Maldives
Article 97 - President and Vice-President of the People’s Special Majlis
(1) A President and a Vice-President of the People’s Special Majlis shall be elected from among its members at the first sitting of the said Majlis. Where the office of President or that of Vice-President of the said Majlis becomes vacant prior to the dissolution of the People’s Special Majlis, a new member shall be elected to fill such vacancy.
(2) The Speaker of the People’s Majlis shall preside over the first sitting of the People’s Special Majlis until a President of the People’s Special Majlis is elected pursuant to clause (1) of this Article. Upon election of the President of the People’s Special Majlis, the Speaker of the People’s Majlis shall cease to preside over the sitting.

Constitution of Maldives
Article 133 - Elections and public referendums by secret ballot
Voting in elections and public referendums stipulated in the Constitution and the law shall be by secret ballot.

In today's assembly, 12 Members once again again staged a walk-out in protest against this illegal activity. They are:

Ahmed Adhi (Haa Dhaal)
Ali Faiz (Baa)
Ibrahim Mohamed Salih (Lhaviyani)
Hussein Ibrahim (Lhaviyani)
Ibrahim Shareef (Male' Atoll)
Ahmed Athif (Male)
Mohamed Riyaz (Dhaal)
Mohamed Shihab(Dhaal)
Abdul Latheef (Dhaal)
Hussain Afeef (Thaa)
Mohamed Thohir (Addu)
Ibrahim Shareef (Addu)

The MP's in solitary confinement since 13th August are;

Qasim Ibrahim (Alif Dhaal)
Ibrahim Hussain Zaki (Alif Alif)
Dr. Mohamed Munavvar
Dr. Hussain Rasheed
Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim (Alif Dhaal)
Ibrahim Ismail (Male')
Ahmed Shafeeq (Meemu)

However, many lessons can be learned from the events of the three meetings of the Special Majlis to date.

Gayyoom continues to influence the Special Majlis, in contravention of the constitution.
Gayyoom is continuing the political culture of nepotism by keeping his family members in powerful positions.
Constitutional reform proposed by Gayyoom last June is only aimed at prolonging his family rule.
The Parliament (Majlis) in the Maldives has been a rubber stamp until recently.
Maldivians must now make a decision to keep resisting this tyrannical and autocratic rule.
The reformists are now growing in numbers each day.
MPs who walked out today in protest are making it clear that they are not intimidated by Gayyoom's atrocities and hard-line military operations.
Reformist MPs and the leadership of the opposition are not forgotten and will always be hailed as heroes, along with those MPs who walked out for the second time.
The actions of the reformists today show that these are men of principle and they are determined to fight on.

This is just a bried analysis. A full SWOT analyses will show what advantages we can gain from the current situation to ensure that this tyrant is deposed as soon as possible.

Related Reports & Articles

Honourable Members of the Peoples' Special Majlis meeting with their Lawyer Husnu Suood after filing the lawsuit

All these members are in solitary confinement today... where is justice in the Maldives? Including the lawyer Attorney Suood

DO EXCLUSIVE
Gayyoom rejects lawsuit against his brother on the charge of high treason
In a statement by the Criminal Court of the Maldives, Gayyoom has refused to even accept the case charging his brother Abdulla Hameed of high treason for attempting to undermine the Constitution of the Maldives. A press release today said that the Criminal Court only conducts cases filed after investigation and only those brought by the State Attorney Generals’ office. The case of undermining the constitution of the Maldives was brought up by the distinguished Honourable Members of the Special Majlis is dismissed by Gayyoom’s government as a simple ‘systematic problem’. read more

DO EXCLUSIVE
Lawsuit filed against Speaker of the Parliament for High Treason
Hon. Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim, People’s Special Majlis Member for Ari Atoll South, filed a lawsuit for high treason against the incumbent Speaker of the Parliament of the Maldives, Abdulla Hameed today. The charge is for High treason Under Article 12 (1) of the Constitution of the Maldives “Any person who, by the threat or use of force or in violation of the Constitution, abrogates or attempts to abrogate the Constitution or attempts to undermine the Constitution or conspires to commit any of the said acts shall be guilty of high treason”. read more

Birth of democracy in the Maldives
A clear message of Demo Kratis (people rule) was sent to Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom today by the courageous Maldives members of the parliament who in an unprecedented move and a historic move, walked out of the parliament in protest of the attempt by cabinet ministers to undermine the constitution of the Maldives. read more

DO TRIBUTE
Maldivian Heroes of Democracy
Our country needs more heroes like these to embark on a path of meaningful development and to create equal opportunity for all. read more

BBC Report
MPs walk out of Maldives assembly
Up to 30 members of the Maldives new constitutional assembly have staged a walkout during its first sitting, reports from the capital, Male, say. The unprecedented show of defiance led to them being surrounded by police, who in turn were surrounded by members of the public. The angry scenes came as the assembly discussed re-drafting the country's constitution and introducing reforms. Opponents of the government say they are sceptical of any proposed changes.
There has been no word from the government spokesman, who could not be contacted.
read more

BREAKING NEWS @ 10:00 am Maldives Time 19th July 2004

MPs protesting near Presidents' Office

Special Majlis Members (Parliament) Walks out of the first session in protest Confirmed reports are coming from the capital Male' that 26 members of the Parliament has walked out of its first session in protest of the illicit conducts of the Chairman of this session Abdullah Hameed. read more

Breaking News Update
Gayyoom has agreed to abide by the law and allow a secret ballot. MPs are now returning to the Parliament House. Large crowds in the area calling for Gayyoom's resignation! Heavy police present in the area with riot gear. Most of the area is blocked off by NSS.

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The meeting has been cancelled. MPs advised the public to remain calm and not to resort to violence. The Parliamentary session has been postponed indefinitely.

MDP Press Release
Speaker attempts to violate the constitution
Twenty four members of the newly formed Special Majlis (constituent assembly) walked out of the first meeting today in protest of the temporary Speaker’s decision to conduct the meeting in violation of the constitution. read more