International

Degree by degree, political crisis hots up
The Maldives is yet to boast of a university of its own. But only graduates with a first degree are eligible to contest presidential elections, according to President Gayoom
By Aishath Velezinee
John Major may be good enough for the British democracy and Ronald Reagan for the US democracy, but such uneducated men are not for the Maldives.
According to proposed amendments by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a presidential candidate must possess a university first degree or count for 10 years sitting in parliament.

Never mind that the first 'school' in the country opened only in 1927, O'levels were held in 1960, or that the Maldives is yet to boast a university of its own.
This new condition by President Gayoom, who himself has a BA and MA from Al-Azhar University, Egypt; and three honourary doctorates from the Alighar Muslim University, the Jamia Millia Islamia and the Pondicherry University, all in India, is viewed by many as a brazen attempt to disqualify two of his own party Vice Presidents, Qasim Ibrahim and Ahmed Shiyam Mohamed, who are threatening the balance of power.

Qasim Ibrahim is no scholar himself but his contribution to scholarships reigns supreme, as do his many businesses and philanthropy. His efforts have been rewarded with an empire of his own making and the love of the people. No doubt this was what prompted Mr. Gayoom to include Mr. Ibrahim into the cabinet as Minister of Finance and Treasury, less than a year from his imprisonment following the popular demonstrations of August 12-13, 2004, since described as a "coup-attempt" by the authorities.

Ahmed Shiyam Mohamed, a young and upcoming businessman, too, is well regarded for his generosity. He beat Ilyas Ibrahim, a long-time politician and Mr. Gayoom's brother-in-law, in party elections earlier this year. His victory, it now appears, carries a heavy penalty.

Business tycoon Ahmed Nashid who resigned from the DRP soon after the party congress was blunt in his opinion of the degree-qualification for President.

"I think that's targeting certain individuals, fearing they may win the presidency. It's a personal issue. It's more an exclusionary clause targeting certain individuals than a qualifier for president. There's a hidden agenda," Mr. Nashid said.

Ahmed Adil, an MDP Constitutional Assembly member says, "It is very clear. That condition is to prevent Qasim Ibrahim from becoming President. It's a joke!"

Not even Mr. Gayoom's own party members dare support this affront openly. Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed, and Justice Minister Mohamed Jameel Ahmed are cautious. They say such conditions are in place in some other countries too and that it is all in good faith. Still, they both agree that for the Maldives today, it sets an unnecessarily high standard.

"I think the decision should be left to the people," Dr. Hassan Saeed said.
Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, seen as the saviour of Mr. Gayoom at a time when his popularity is said to be at an all-time low both at home and abroad, says he personally, believes that presidential contenders must be politically experienced.

"But I do not feel comfortable with a technical bar. The opportunity must be there for as many as possible, from a broad range, to contest," Dr. Shaheed said. Old-timer, Energy and Water Minister Ahmed Abdulla, agreed.
Qasim Ibrahim was short.

"The Maldivian people should have the opportunity to choose whoever they want, as long as it's a Maldivian," he said. All in all, of the 18 Constitutional Assembly members -- most of them from Mr. Gayoom's DRP -- who commented to Adduvas Weekly, only four agreed with the presidential graduate clause.

Ahmed Shafeeq, popularly known as Jaaney, a contender for the DRP leadership earlier this year, and perhaps the only man ever to challenge Mr. Gayoom in elections had won 33 votes in the party elections. For him, a man with no formal education, the graduate-issue is very personal.

"Gayoom clearly knows I will contest in the upcoming presidential election. So, he's targeting me. It's a trick to disqualify me. Presidential qualifications should not even include basic literacy. When the President orders it is other people who do the work. So the President does not need any qualification!" he said.
To opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed, Mr. Gayoom's maneuvering is of little surprise.

"Next Gayoom will spell out that only those whose name begins with 'Yaa' are eligible!" responded Mr. Nasheed, making an unmistakable reference to Mr. Gayoom's half-brother, Yaameen Abdul Gayoom, who, though not the most popular man in town, fancies himself to be Mr. Gayoom's successor.
As for 10 years in Parliament, no one took it seriously, since the parliament has seen very little action or politics till recently.

Other Presidential amendments, to "tailor the Constitution to Mr. Gayoom" as Mohamed Nasheed puts it, include withdrawing President Gayoom's February 14, 2005 proposal of reorganizing constituencies based on population strength. With the new proposal, the only change to the Parliament would be the removal of the eight Presidential appointees, allocating six seats instead of two for the capital Male', and an extra eight seats reserved for women -- two from Male', two from the seven atolls north of Male' and four for the twelve atolls south of Male'. The twenty atolls would get two seats each whether they got a population under a 1,000 or nearly 20,000.

This again is viewed by many as a sign of President Gayoom's anxiety that his party would lose majority in parliament were the constituencies redistributed. The only elections since political parties were permitted, by-elections for three vacant seats in the Constitutional Assembly, saw opposition MDP getting overwhelming majorities over DRP. The two largest constituencies, Male' and Addu Atoll (pop. 104,403 and 17,762 respectively) favoured MDP, while DRP had to console itself with Shaviyani Atoll (pop. 11,814) in the by-elections where the party card, though officially banned, was the popular deciding factor.

Mr. Gayoom's latest thinly-veiled attempt to eliminate threats to his hold on power may be satirical, but the danger is that these proposals would become law and all laughter would vanish. With the Constitutional Assembly accommodating 29 unelected presidential appointees, and many elected appointees tied to Mr. Gayoom and his DRP by power and money, the President can shape the constitution as he fancies.

Qasim Ibrahim and Ahmed Shiyam Mohamed -- who actually holds an MBA, but is still cheated out by the very specific requirement of "First Degree" -- may not be eligible to run in presidential elections. If they could, Qasim Ibrahim may sail through in a popular vote. And Ahmed Shiyam Mohamed may follow close.
If the constitutional assembly weighted down by DRP reforms, Mr. Gayoom may win in the short-term. Yet, his wish to be remembered as the 'Father of the Maldives' would win little respect, at least not in the Maldives. To Maldivians of today, and generations to come, he may be the 'grandfather of Maldives 'de-mock-racy''.