It was the most difficult ‘state of existence’ yet, among my closest colleagues during days through the campaign and on the day of referendum due to differences of political beliefs between me and them. I have believed from the beginning that presidential system is the most suitable one for the Maldives and voting to that effect is more important than that of ending Gayoom’s regime.
Then their was this effort by each us to guess and forecast the results of the referendum; I don’t really know why I thought I was an expert but these were my arguments;
1. If our perception that is born out of MDP’s loud voice, that all young people support everything MDP says, is right the Parliamentary System will win by a 20,000 vote majority.
2. If, however, the people do distinguish that this referendum is not about the politics of parties but ‘about a system which will serve best the nation’ the presidential system will win by a 20,000 majority.
My thoughts were based on the fact that all sides MDP, DRP and public for a long time suggested that presidential system was best for the Maldives until MDP decided to use their campaign on referendum as a tool to remove Gayyoom off the power as soon as possible.
However, my colleagues and many others who supported MDP and DRP thought that people will vote something to the effect of party lines and the result shall be 50/50, and may weigh to either side. Colleagues, here at the resort, believed it will be a narrow victory to the parliamentary while people I know from elsewhere who supported DRP suggested it will be a victory to the presidential.
A gut feeling, but shaped, my thinking that the people will vote either to remove Gayyoom or to install the system they believed in. Now, it appears people did just that by deciding ‘presidential’ - chose the nation over politics.
The people’s majority at the ballot boxes did ‘challenge’ and say ‘no’ to MDP’s idea that removing Gayyoom at any cost is the most important thing. The people also left a serious message to Gayyoom that they know how to vote in and vote out.The referendum’s result for the parliamentary system may be work out by estimating the number of those who voted ‘just against Gayoom’. Gayoom could try to guess his popularity by estimating the people who voted ‘just because they wanted a presidential system’.
‘The People’ might not just forgive MDP, again, for rejecting the public’s decision. Arguably this is the first time we the people made an informed and free decision. Gayoom may better be careful to claim too much credit for what people think something they did all by themselves for the reasons they know best. It seems, in the people’s decision, there are spanks on the buttock of both political power houses – MDP and DRP.
“The people have spoken†kept coming to my mind as the sun rose to that 19th August morning.
12 responses so far ↓
shiyam // Aug 21, 2007 at 3:02 am
I don’t think anyone will, that easily, start thinking so great about people. But i do agree with you interpretation of referendum. Don’t you think Gayoom will become more arrogant?
laala // Aug 21, 2007 at 3:03 am
Good, u told this early on. Lets see how these politicians behave now!
Shihab // Aug 21, 2007 at 3:13 am
Hey Shahuru: Now there’s a new player - the Committee of Eleven who want to get rid of Maumoon at the cost of this nation and our economy and our future. They have amassed sufficient to look after themselves through the chaos and anarchy. They are prepared for the worst. They will get rid of him! We will be doomed!
s[u]jau // Aug 21, 2007 at 7:31 am
I cant believe that the people have spoken. Or people have accepted Maumoon! I guess most of the people voted not knowing what the parliamentary or presidencial government is. People has voted - you go n ask a citizen - what are the characteristics of the system that he/she voted.. Very few can answer that question… People in Maldives seems not ready to a change as they will never be - people say “Maummoon noon ehenmeehaku verikamh aissiya nehge miraajje ah vaane gotheh ves” I wonder, as if Maummoon couldnt even die… hahaha
free will // Aug 21, 2007 at 10:45 am
Those who count votes decide, rather than voters. To know there is an election is enough for the Maldivians. I don’t find any good reason of voting when it doesn’t count. free and fair eletion is just not possible in the maldives while “golhaa” is in power. it’s not people who say “no” to barulamaanee. it’s the current regime. you have to accept the fact. it’s not public decision. so MDP has the right to reject that.
ra:zuwa: // Aug 21, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Yes, Shihab. It apears you are right but it doesn’t surprised me. There is enough corporate money behind MDP that could override people’s ballot. In my view everyone in the opposition know that Gayoom is a dieing case. I don’t see Gayyoom the reason of the present chaos. I see, hear and know to the extent i can say the rich will not allow a system where people have an upper hand. Something has to happen differently; I don’t know what.
ra:zuwa: // Aug 21, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Dear Shiyam, There is possibility that Gayyoom might try to become arrogant but it can only be a distant reality i my view. The opposition is powerful enough to keep him on knees. On the other hand he would rather want build on what seems to be a success to his side of political cake.
ra:zuwa: // Aug 21, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Dear Laala, Its just few hours since the blog. We are seeing what the political opposition is up to. But I haven’t yet looked into figures; according to many there is reason and scope for them to create a mess out of it.
ra:zuwa: // Aug 21, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Dear Sujau, I just asked these people, why they voted Riyasee;
1. 60 year old foreman; he says he wants to vote and say who should be the president.
2. 30 year old waiter; he wants parliament not to have ministers.
3. 19 year old lady receptionist; she wants if ‘businesses’ controlled parliament to vote for a president from another party; and if they did control president to vote for a parliament from another side. If they control both, to vote both of them out.
What I learn here is that the collective population have the picture of what they want for the nation. ,no one person knows all.
The same questions can be twisted and asked to those who preach parliamentary system, if any individual knows all about it. I bet, not!
ra:zuwa: // Aug 22, 2007 at 10:51 am
Dear FreeWill, thank you for the comment. Counting of votes was done at the voting dstinations; not in Male. Gayyoom, has to be the God to control 17 young individuls from every destination, in a time he cannot control his ministers.
What I hear at the moment is everyone saying “at our vote box everything went by fine” but things did not go well in other places. We all think at our place it was fine but not in other areas. BUT i too accept things could be better; but its a matter of national capability.
I do accept votes this time did not go MDPs way BUT what ever went wrong are very minute; not significant.
Just the day before voting I asked some MDP activists if they would accept the result if parliamentary did not win “..sielence…then they said..if it went right. Then on the voting day they thought everything is very controled because MDP was alert. At every step of the way they thought the parliamentary will win. Then when at last it turned out different the same people said “voting didn’t go properly in other places”.
Someone has yet to show that the public did not choose presidential system.
Yasir // Aug 24, 2007 at 3:53 am
The comments section is equally warm as the blog post it self. Keep doing it Shahuru.
ra:zuwa: // Aug 24, 2007 at 7:58 am
Thank you, yasir. But I cannot accept yours as a comment since you did not touch the topic at all!
Thank you all for all the comments to this post. Thank You.
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