I just watched a press conference of the new President of the illegtimitate government with foreign media. Smooth words, smooth gestures, and I must say smooth suit. But that doesnt fool anyone. In order to convince them that there absolutely was 'no plan, no plot' to overthrow the government of Mohamed Nasheed, he went to the extent of saying 'see how unprepared we are. We don't have a communication strategy. We dont have the people'... EXACTLY! Maybe it just goes to show your sheer incapability, and discord among the mutinous coalition (because everyone wants a bigger piece of the pie I believe) and that there is no one to serve you because you don't have the people's hearts, their love and support and admiration! There will be no peace, no contentment, no fulfillment in your 'triumph'. As Montesqueu says, "An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war". With a poker face he says, we have no political prisoners. No political prisoners!? Many people have been arrested all over the country, especially in densely populated islands like Thinadhoo and the islands of Addu Atoll, where support for Nasheed has been strong and protesters have raged against the police stationed there.
Maldivians, especially the youth, need to take note of whats at stake here, and stand up for what is right. I shall pepper in another of Montesqueu's quotes, "The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy". There is no room for apathy here, no space for passive inaction. People need to be proactive, take initiative, and take charge of their country. Take back what is ours from the clutches of the few corrupt merchants and their thugs who are pulling the strings. A handful of people have taken over by force, and we cannot sit in apathy, and look away. To quote Martin Luther King Jr, "Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent".
Nobody else will step in and do it for us. We have to speak and stand up for what is right and true. What is the purpose of power, when you have neither respect nor love? What good are your weapons and your police and your military when you alienate and lock up and drive away the people? Is there a country without the people? When one takes into account the crowd that took to the streets on 8 February on the impromptu march without any prior planning or notice whatsoever, one can see who has the public support and who they think is in the right. Friends of mine who have been politically neutral are siding with President Nasheed in this instance because they too can see that this was mutiny, this was a blatant coup! How can there be a new government without an election, or an overthrow? It has to be one of these two. Why would such a popular president resign without cause? The international community needs to look into this, to safeguard the democracy that they so staunchly promote and defend. Why is Waheed's government so reluctant to have an election now? To put all fears to rest, to calm down everyone with a clear and deciding vote and put an end to all sorts of allegations, why not? He stated today that he will not have an election any time before the presidential election to be heldin 2013. That is fear I tell you. They are scared because they know the people are with Nasheed. Have an election, cowards!
"The time is always right to do what is right" - Martin Luther King Jr
"To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary" - Abraham Lincoln
Stay tuned for updates :) Hopefully I shall have something more cheerful to write about... and if not there's always my ranting... Ps- I have just moved to my honey's place, and because I am always lousy with moving, I have only brought along ONE pair of shoes and ONE bag...and I have managed to sail through a week without bothering about it. I always knew I wasn't such a diva! :D
Very well said. I was open mouthed at Dr Waheed's press conference.
ReplyDeleteSure was smooth.
But his credibility is lost when he denies that he had no diea about the coup.
It wasa coup and he was in discussion with the opposition parties just about that. Ousting the president and taking over was the plan two days before the coup.
Pathetic country we have :)
Pathetic country because of cowardice and corruption :( yes it is laughable when he says he didn't know about it. Midnight rendezvous were just to have to enjoy some late night snacks I assume?
ReplyDelete