Reforms could turn on its head

First, condolences to the family of the young man, Samir Abdul Mueen, who was killed by gang violence in Male' yesterday.

President Nasheed's government has had enough time to initiate tough action to hunt down the leading thugs of gangster groups responsible for such violence and lock them up after due process of the law. But this government like the previous Gayoom government is soft-pedalling and we have lost one more person to the senseless violence. Unless these insane criminals are sternly dealt with, no one is safe in Maldives.

The campaign promises of MDP for a good life in the 'other Maldives' can only be realised if the coalition leaders exercise good judgement and take timely action. The recent incident of sending riot police to remove 13 striking workers from an operating resort has shown the lack of sound judgment of the former home minister Gasim Ibrahim, a key partner in the MDP coalition.

The striking workers are not the nation's enemies. The strike would not have gone to that extent if not for the inaptitude of the resort management.

If such incidents get repeated in the tourist resorts, Maldives will turn into a pariah paradise. Managements and workers have to find a way to work amicably and resolve disputes in civility.

The Maldivian peoples vote has defeated the mass manipulators of Gayoom's fascist government who deprived the people justice and their rights for thirty years.

Urgent measures must be taken now to restore the public's trust on the government.

President Nasheed has personally suffered the torture and injustice of a brutally unjust government. Many people have lost their lives in unexplained and questionable circumstances in the state's prisons. Even Evan Naseem's murderers convicted by the court to death are roaming free in Male' instead of being locked up.

President Nasheed has only a short honeymoon to put things right. I agree that he should call for dignity and respect to the former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as he has done. But as our president, he also has to be the leading voice calling to bring to justice those who perpetrated serious crimes with incriminating evidence.

During MDP's campaign Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, the current special envoy to the president spoke about creating a "truth and reconciliation committee" to start the healing process. Nothing has been done on this promise as though it is not urgent enough.

President Nasheed got elected because the majority of Maldivians wanted change and a just government. Many believe that president Nasheed has good intentions. But good intentions without decisive and strong leadership will not deliver the promised changes. While ministers should have the authority to work independently and be held accountable, the president should be kept informed timely of such situations as the deployment of riot police to use force against the public.

To make governing more difficult, president Nasheed has to muddle through coalition politics. We knew the challenges are formidable but failure should never be considered an option due to our desperate plight.