Sunday, December 14, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Mute response to deter street killings
Tackling gang violence is not a “police problem” and there are limits to investigating gang-related crime, according to the assistant commissioner of police.
So the police have constraints and the Government is looking for excuses to pass the blame.
The Gayoom government made sure that it addicted our youth to illegal drugs by taking a lax attitude to drug trafficking during the last thirty years. Many Maldivians accuse some leading officials of the Gayoom government of conniving with the drug traffickers to benefit financially. This is the reason why the Gayoom Government did not have the political will to stop the menace of the illegal drug trade. The explosion of street violence has a direct link to the widespread abuse and addiction to the illegal drugs.
President Nasheed's MDP campaigned to clean up this mess.
But the way to do that is not to pass the buck from one to another.
The feuding street gangs are settling the final score by killing each other.
The suspects in the last two street murder cases of Ali Ishar and Shifau Ismail were released a month before presidential elections on court order. No one has been charged in court for these murders yet.
To provide safety for the people, the police will have to crack down hard on such violent street gangs and the legal system will have to impose appropriate deterrent sentences without delay. Justice delayed is justice lost.
Nasheed's government will be failing to provide safety to the citizens if it does not take tough action immediately to stop this deadly violence.
link:Minivannews
So the police have constraints and the Government is looking for excuses to pass the blame.
The Gayoom government made sure that it addicted our youth to illegal drugs by taking a lax attitude to drug trafficking during the last thirty years. Many Maldivians accuse some leading officials of the Gayoom government of conniving with the drug traffickers to benefit financially. This is the reason why the Gayoom Government did not have the political will to stop the menace of the illegal drug trade. The explosion of street violence has a direct link to the widespread abuse and addiction to the illegal drugs.
President Nasheed's MDP campaigned to clean up this mess.
But the way to do that is not to pass the buck from one to another.
The feuding street gangs are settling the final score by killing each other.
The suspects in the last two street murder cases of Ali Ishar and Shifau Ismail were released a month before presidential elections on court order. No one has been charged in court for these murders yet.
To provide safety for the people, the police will have to crack down hard on such violent street gangs and the legal system will have to impose appropriate deterrent sentences without delay. Justice delayed is justice lost.
Nasheed's government will be failing to provide safety to the citizens if it does not take tough action immediately to stop this deadly violence.
link:Minivannews
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, December 05, 2008
50 million rufiya to oust Gayoom
News reports citing the Commissioner of Elections in Maldives revealed the following amounts spent on the campaign for the recently concluded presidential election.
Gayoom's DRP 33.2 million
Nasheed's MDP 29.9 million
Gasim's Republic 13.9 million
Hassan Saeed 2.8 million
Umar Naseer's IDP 1.5 million
Ibrahim Ismail's SLP 1.8 million
The different parties that campaigned in the presidential election to oust Gayoom's Government had one thing in common. They all wanted to defeat the Gayoom Government that ruled the Maldives for thirty years.
Why did we need the party system? We are told by the politicians and political pundits that multiple parties are needed to enhance democracy.
Political parties came into being in Maldives in order to find a method to escape the tyranny from a fascist one party-government led by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who only supported the capitalistic elites for thirty years.
Now we have to learn about the shortcomings of the party system.
MDP coalition's Home minister Gasim Ibrahim resigned on Wednesday evening, after 22 days in office, stating the new administration failed to release funds for the improvement of prisons. Gasim’s announcement follows heavy criticism over a violent confrontation between police and protesting employees at the five-star One and Only resort. Gasim ordered police to go to the island.
Gasim's Republican party has not yet decided on their continued support for the MDP coalition.
Now the Republican party will be thinking of how to score political points within he MDP alliance or pull out from the government. MDP will think of political horse-trading to keep its government from falling.
In the United States, people are born into either Republican or Democratic families, almost like an inherited religion. Americans are getting tired of the abuses of the party system, and more and more are declaring themselves independent and moving away from the political parties.
Gayoom's DRP 33.2 million
Nasheed's MDP 29.9 million
Gasim's Republic 13.9 million
Hassan Saeed 2.8 million
Umar Naseer's IDP 1.5 million
Ibrahim Ismail's SLP 1.8 million
The different parties that campaigned in the presidential election to oust Gayoom's Government had one thing in common. They all wanted to defeat the Gayoom Government that ruled the Maldives for thirty years.
Why did we need the party system? We are told by the politicians and political pundits that multiple parties are needed to enhance democracy.
Political parties came into being in Maldives in order to find a method to escape the tyranny from a fascist one party-government led by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who only supported the capitalistic elites for thirty years.
Now we have to learn about the shortcomings of the party system.
MDP coalition's Home minister Gasim Ibrahim resigned on Wednesday evening, after 22 days in office, stating the new administration failed to release funds for the improvement of prisons. Gasim’s announcement follows heavy criticism over a violent confrontation between police and protesting employees at the five-star One and Only resort. Gasim ordered police to go to the island.
Gasim's Republican party has not yet decided on their continued support for the MDP coalition.
Now the Republican party will be thinking of how to score political points within he MDP alliance or pull out from the government. MDP will think of political horse-trading to keep its government from falling.
In the United States, people are born into either Republican or Democratic families, almost like an inherited religion. Americans are getting tired of the abuses of the party system, and more and more are declaring themselves independent and moving away from the political parties.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
MATI should respect workers rights
According to a Minivan News report, "Maldives’ Tourism Employees Association (TEAM) has "no right" to make demands for labour rights enshrined in the Employment Act, secretary general of the country's leading resort owners association has said on Saturday.
Sim Ibrahim Mohamed from Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) made the comment after a leaked letter shows he called on the Tourism Ministry to inform resorts that TEAM does not have “any mandate” from the ministry.
The letter, which says TEAM's demands are "unwarranted, unlawful and unnecessary”, also urges the ministry to “caution the media about publishing or broadcasting stories that are biased and defamatory”.
MATI should not resort to bully tactics.
The Maldivian tourism industry has benefited from cheap labour in Maldives. Most of the tourist resort owners and operators have made handsome profits at the expense of the workers because workers rights have never been protected in Maldives.
While the Maldivian Government has taken membership of most the UN organisations, it has failed to take the membership in one of the most important organisation; The International Labour Organization (ILO). ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues. In structure, the ILO is unique among world organizations in that the representatives of the workers and of the employers have an equal voice with those of governments in formulating its policies.
Under the MDP coalition government, the Minister for human resources Hassan Latheef has now confirmed that Maldives would join the ILO before Dec 7th 2008.
We now have the opportunity to address worker issues such as unfair dismissals and refer to labour tribunals.
MATI should get over its arrogant attitude and advocate to give workers their full benefits without pushing them to take mass industrial action through work stoppages.
Sim Ibrahim Mohamed from Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) made the comment after a leaked letter shows he called on the Tourism Ministry to inform resorts that TEAM does not have “any mandate” from the ministry.
The letter, which says TEAM's demands are "unwarranted, unlawful and unnecessary”, also urges the ministry to “caution the media about publishing or broadcasting stories that are biased and defamatory”.
MATI should not resort to bully tactics.
The Maldivian tourism industry has benefited from cheap labour in Maldives. Most of the tourist resort owners and operators have made handsome profits at the expense of the workers because workers rights have never been protected in Maldives.
While the Maldivian Government has taken membership of most the UN organisations, it has failed to take the membership in one of the most important organisation; The International Labour Organization (ILO). ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues. In structure, the ILO is unique among world organizations in that the representatives of the workers and of the employers have an equal voice with those of governments in formulating its policies.
Under the MDP coalition government, the Minister for human resources Hassan Latheef has now confirmed that Maldives would join the ILO before Dec 7th 2008.
We now have the opportunity to address worker issues such as unfair dismissals and refer to labour tribunals.
MATI should get over its arrogant attitude and advocate to give workers their full benefits without pushing them to take mass industrial action through work stoppages.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Denounce the tyranny and honour Nasir's virtues
When former president and independence hero Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan, NGIV, resigned in 1978 Maldives, he had modernized the fisheries industry with mechanized vessels and started the tourism industry. He is credited with many other improvements such as introducing an English-based modern curriculum to government-run schools.
As a person from Havaruthinadhoo, I strongly believe that former president/prime minister Nasir was wrong to impose collective punishment and expel everyone from my island. His actions were brutal and unjust against those of my island who were imprisoned without any trial and died in custody. I support the protesters of Havaruthinadhoo who are demanding an apology from the Government and a suitable form of compensation.
That said, it is time to pay a tribute to former president Ibrahim Nasir recognizing his stature as a national leader of our country who died in Singapore and was laid to rest in Male' with full honours on Monday, 24th November 2008.
Ibrahim Nasir ran an authoritarian government that maintained discipline and a clean record. He held regular elections that was fair and reflected the will of the people. He did not interfere with the electoral process to rig the elections as was done by the Gayoom regime during its thirty year rule starting in 1978. When Nasir relinquished power Maldives was debt-free to the international community. Under his watch, the national shipping line with more than 40 ships that were plying the oceans of the world remained a source of national pride. It was a remarkable success story among the maritime nations of our region.
After experiencing the Gayoom government during the last thirty years, many people now feel it is time to restore discipline and run a corruption-free government.
It is time to revitalize the old values of thrift, hard work, saving and living within one's means. These values did us good as a nation when we faced difficult times before. The world is facing perilous financial challenges and Maldives is going through a political transition and reform process and needs to take every step with caution.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
R.I.P Ibrahim Nasir
Former President Ibrahim Nasir passed away in Mt. Elizabeth Hospital Singapore at 9.30 PM today. He was 82.
May God have mercy on his soul.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Counter secular fascism in Maldives
Michael Parenti, the American writer and lecturer who spoke about the irrational features of fascism must have found this phenomenon in the distant land of Maldives.
Fascism is the unchecked rule of a class of the privileged, or relatively rich, in power--a full-scale assault on poor and working people. Parliamentary institutions are usually set aside, or so demeaned as to be meaningless.
This is how Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a secular fascist adopted a fascist style of government and ruled like the medieval kings who acted above the law. Gayoom practised nepotism and cronyism. His opponents were thrown into prison, tortured and killed.
Obviously Gayoom's brand of leading fascists were never true to Islam. Their intention was to divide and rule with devastating consequences. These secular fascists were motivated by greed to make money and they compromised the principles of justice and fairness just in order to remain in power. Within the country, their policies of elitist development has turned a vast majority of the population into second-class citizens.
This has created a leadership cult in the government bureaucracy. The result is the rich became richer creating an economic elite and consigning the poor to a permanent underclass.
While Governments were created for the sake of security of the people, the Gayoom Government became themselves the biggest threats to people’s security in Maldives.
"Parenti writes that “Much of politics is the rational manipulation of irrational symbols.” The emotive appeals of fascist ideology have served a class-control function, “distracting the populace from their legitimate grievances and directing their frustrations at various scapegoats.”
The Gayoom regime was very good in symbolism, they created corporate feudal alliances and ran a casino economy. They addicted our younger generation to illegal drugs in order to keep them silent and President Nasheed has inherited a bankrupt country.
In order for Maldivian citizens to find a fulfilling life in Maldives, President Nasheed has to focus his efforts to provide greater meaning than just economic survival of our nation.
"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. But if we rise up to meet it head-on, then history need not be re-lived. When we as a people fail, or worse yet, refuse to stand up to the injustice of historical past, then that injustice becomes an ever-present constant in our daily lives." - Cia Bannar, film maker and human rights activist.
Fascism is the unchecked rule of a class of the privileged, or relatively rich, in power--a full-scale assault on poor and working people. Parliamentary institutions are usually set aside, or so demeaned as to be meaningless.
This is how Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a secular fascist adopted a fascist style of government and ruled like the medieval kings who acted above the law. Gayoom practised nepotism and cronyism. His opponents were thrown into prison, tortured and killed.
Obviously Gayoom's brand of leading fascists were never true to Islam. Their intention was to divide and rule with devastating consequences. These secular fascists were motivated by greed to make money and they compromised the principles of justice and fairness just in order to remain in power. Within the country, their policies of elitist development has turned a vast majority of the population into second-class citizens.
This has created a leadership cult in the government bureaucracy. The result is the rich became richer creating an economic elite and consigning the poor to a permanent underclass.
While Governments were created for the sake of security of the people, the Gayoom Government became themselves the biggest threats to people’s security in Maldives.
"Parenti writes that “Much of politics is the rational manipulation of irrational symbols.” The emotive appeals of fascist ideology have served a class-control function, “distracting the populace from their legitimate grievances and directing their frustrations at various scapegoats.”
The Gayoom regime was very good in symbolism, they created corporate feudal alliances and ran a casino economy. They addicted our younger generation to illegal drugs in order to keep them silent and President Nasheed has inherited a bankrupt country.
In order for Maldivian citizens to find a fulfilling life in Maldives, President Nasheed has to focus his efforts to provide greater meaning than just economic survival of our nation.
"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. But if we rise up to meet it head-on, then history need not be re-lived. When we as a people fail, or worse yet, refuse to stand up to the injustice of historical past, then that injustice becomes an ever-present constant in our daily lives." - Cia Bannar, film maker and human rights activist.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Gayoom's apology
According to Miadhu, "For the first time President Gayoom made a public apology to the people of the country for anything that he or his government has done which would have caused any harm on any one or hurt anyone."
Is it too little too late?
The Maldivians are a forgiving people. But for the majority of Maldivians who have been systematically deprived justice and basic rights, and to the families of those who were tortured and killed in state prisons and those who blame the Gayoom regime for the addiction of our young to illegal drugs, the personal apology of Gayoom is not enough.
Holding the Gayoom regime accountable is not a cry for vengeance as the Gayoom cronies did to former president Ibrahim Nasir when he resigned and handed over to Gayoom peacefully 30 years ago. No official of the Gayoom administration should go scot free of their abuse of human rights, torture and killings. These are serious crimes which Gayoom's Government overlooked by error or design and both must be investigated under the due process of law.
Gayoom must answer why he allowed a system that perpetrated such crimes while his government promoted selected islands as idyllic haven resorts for the rich and famous in the world.
Is it too little too late?
The Maldivians are a forgiving people. But for the majority of Maldivians who have been systematically deprived justice and basic rights, and to the families of those who were tortured and killed in state prisons and those who blame the Gayoom regime for the addiction of our young to illegal drugs, the personal apology of Gayoom is not enough.
Holding the Gayoom regime accountable is not a cry for vengeance as the Gayoom cronies did to former president Ibrahim Nasir when he resigned and handed over to Gayoom peacefully 30 years ago. No official of the Gayoom administration should go scot free of their abuse of human rights, torture and killings. These are serious crimes which Gayoom's Government overlooked by error or design and both must be investigated under the due process of law.
Gayoom must answer why he allowed a system that perpetrated such crimes while his government promoted selected islands as idyllic haven resorts for the rich and famous in the world.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
President-elect Nasheed will have a short honeymoon
President elect Mohamed Nasheed takes over the presidency on November 11 to become our 4th President. He has may pressing problems that require immediate attention such as housing of the cramped Male', drug addiction among youth and providing justice to the many citizens who been deprived their rights and the dignity of life for the last 30 years by the Maumoon regime.
Surely the least of the president-elect Nasheed's problems should be to worry about security and other privileges to the out going President Gayoom even until the bill submitted to the parliament is passed.
President Gayoom has said that former president Ibrahim Nasir did a smooth handover 30 years back. We have the precedent of how Ibrahim Nasir was treated by the Maumoon regime after such a peaceful transition. Thus, president-elect Nasheed has his transition job cut out for him.
President Gayoom speaking on Henyabo variety show, called on the people to continue in the righteous path of Islam and to protect the sovereignty of the Maldives. We don't need President Gayoom or any of his evil cronies to lecture the Maldivian people about Islamic values for while the ordinary Maldivians remained true to Islamic values the Gayoom cronies plundered the wealth of the Maldivian nation for their personal gains against all Islamic values.
Immediately after inauguration, President Nasheed should lead the nation to clean up its checkered political history of murder, violence and root out endemic corruption in all sectors of the society.
A report on Minivan News by Olivia Lang and Shauna Aminath reflects the apalling state of our social affairs in a country seen by the west as a haven for the rich tourists.
"Just over two months ago, Shareefa Abdul Kareem’s 14-year old daughter was grabbed by a group of six men when she was walking home on her small, sleepy island in Noonu atoll.
Dragging her to an isolated beach, four of the men violently raped her, to the extent where she needed hospital treatment for three days.
Despite confessing their actions to police, five of the men remain free on the island, and have threatened the girl – who remains in her house for safety – they will carry out another attack.
As fellow islanders remain silent, Shareefa, 50, talks to Minivan News about how she copes with the trauma – and, as a mother of five, how helpless she feels. "
President-elect Nasheed should shift his focus to redress these social problems and seek to provide justice to those who have suffered under this evil dictatorship for so long.
Surely the least of the president-elect Nasheed's problems should be to worry about security and other privileges to the out going President Gayoom even until the bill submitted to the parliament is passed.
President Gayoom has said that former president Ibrahim Nasir did a smooth handover 30 years back. We have the precedent of how Ibrahim Nasir was treated by the Maumoon regime after such a peaceful transition. Thus, president-elect Nasheed has his transition job cut out for him.
President Gayoom speaking on Henyabo variety show, called on the people to continue in the righteous path of Islam and to protect the sovereignty of the Maldives. We don't need President Gayoom or any of his evil cronies to lecture the Maldivian people about Islamic values for while the ordinary Maldivians remained true to Islamic values the Gayoom cronies plundered the wealth of the Maldivian nation for their personal gains against all Islamic values.
Immediately after inauguration, President Nasheed should lead the nation to clean up its checkered political history of murder, violence and root out endemic corruption in all sectors of the society.
A report on Minivan News by Olivia Lang and Shauna Aminath reflects the apalling state of our social affairs in a country seen by the west as a haven for the rich tourists.
"Just over two months ago, Shareefa Abdul Kareem’s 14-year old daughter was grabbed by a group of six men when she was walking home on her small, sleepy island in Noonu atoll.
Dragging her to an isolated beach, four of the men violently raped her, to the extent where she needed hospital treatment for three days.
Despite confessing their actions to police, five of the men remain free on the island, and have threatened the girl – who remains in her house for safety – they will carry out another attack.
As fellow islanders remain silent, Shareefa, 50, talks to Minivan News about how she copes with the trauma – and, as a mother of five, how helpless she feels. "
President-elect Nasheed should shift his focus to redress these social problems and seek to provide justice to those who have suffered under this evil dictatorship for so long.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Replace hatred with compassion
Amid the tragedy of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, April 4, 1968, an extraordinary moment in U.S. political history occurred as Robert F. Kennedy, younger brother of slain President John F. Kennedy, broke the news of King's death to a large gathering of African Americans in Indianapolis, Indiana. He appealed for compassion and love toward one another. Listen to his speech below.
Some of RFK's quotes.
1)“Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.”
2)“I believe that, as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil.”
3)“It is not enough to understand, or to see clearly. The future will be shaped in the arena of human activity, by those willing to commit their minds and their bodies to the task.”
4)“Gross National Product measures neither the health of our children, the quality of their education, nor the joy of their play. It measures neither the beauty of our poetry, nor the strength of our marriages. It is indifferent to the decency of our factories and the safety of our streets alike. It measures neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our wit nor our courage, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything in short, except that which makes life worth living. It can tell us everything about our country, except those things that make us proud to be a part of it.”
5)My favorite poet was Aeschylus. He once wrote: "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."
The text of RFK speech.
Some of RFK's quotes.
1)“Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.”
2)“I believe that, as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil.”
3)“It is not enough to understand, or to see clearly. The future will be shaped in the arena of human activity, by those willing to commit their minds and their bodies to the task.”
4)“Gross National Product measures neither the health of our children, the quality of their education, nor the joy of their play. It measures neither the beauty of our poetry, nor the strength of our marriages. It is indifferent to the decency of our factories and the safety of our streets alike. It measures neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our wit nor our courage, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything in short, except that which makes life worth living. It can tell us everything about our country, except those things that make us proud to be a part of it.”
5)My favorite poet was Aeschylus. He once wrote: "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."
The text of RFK speech.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
People power rise to end a murderous regime
Photo credit: Lakruwan Wanniarachchi / AFP /Getty ImagesSupporters of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) presidential candidate Mohamed Nasheed celebrate with tears of joy after his win on October 29, 2008.
This is a remarkable turn in history for the nation of Maldives, known to the world as the most popular honeymoon destination and tourist paradise.
Mohamed Nasheed,41, known to his supporters as Anni was imprisoned 13 times by the Gayoom regime. On one occasion Nasheed wassbeaten so badly that he now walks with a limp.
On October 29, Asia's longest serving leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been toppled by his arch rival Mohamed Nasheed in the country's first-ever democratic election. This brings to an end the the thirty years of the Egypt-trained Maldivians who took over power from former president Ibrahim Nasir when he resigned in 1978. The fake imams failed to provide justice to the citizens and they created a situation to enrich the rich while impoverishing the poor. More than 70 percent of the Maldivians still live below the poverty line inspite of the fact Maldives has the highest GDP in the region.
The swansong of Mohamed Nasheed's election victory will be to bring those who are responsible for the systematic killings in prisons to justice. The fake imams will now have the opportunity to witness the functioning of a caring society. The Maldivian people will count on president-elect Nasheed to rise to the occasion.
Congratulations to president-elect Mohamed Nasheed.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Impose truth tests on our presidential candidates
Here is an excerpt from an article on NDTV.com .
"Forensic tools like polygraphs or lie-detection tests are not just for criminals and terror suspects. Many in the corporate world are opting for this technology for pre-recruitment screening and also post-employment, for integrity check and zeroing in on fraudsters.
These are no isolated cases. Several top corporates, including MNCs, are opting for this technology to keep out the bad eggs. "
India is the biggest democracy in the world and some of their top corporations will have financial strength greater than the entire reserves of our country Maldives.
There will be no harm done to us if we follow their steps of good governance.
After decades of dictatorship and political stagnation, now everyday is a new beginning that will decide the fate of Maldives and its people.
In order to weed out the evil characters before they capture the power on our national stage, the State must impose truth telling tests by the polygraph. Then we will know what kind of people our leaders are, where they stand on different issues and what matters to them most.
In the United States, where there are 47 million people without health insurance, read about a truth test in one state that wants to tackle their health care problems.
If leaders of corporations should be put to polygraph tests to determine their truthfulness, the same measure should be applied to national leaders of countries who carry greater responsibility. National leaders entrusted with the well being of people's lives should be held to a higher standard than corporate leaders.
In the case of Maldives, the two presidential run off candidates- DRP's leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and MDP's leader Mohamed Nasheed should be polygraphed to test their truthfulness.
Here are some pertinent questions on the issue of drugs- the biggest appalling problem in Maldives.
"Forensic tools like polygraphs or lie-detection tests are not just for criminals and terror suspects. Many in the corporate world are opting for this technology for pre-recruitment screening and also post-employment, for integrity check and zeroing in on fraudsters.
These are no isolated cases. Several top corporates, including MNCs, are opting for this technology to keep out the bad eggs. "
India is the biggest democracy in the world and some of their top corporations will have financial strength greater than the entire reserves of our country Maldives.
There will be no harm done to us if we follow their steps of good governance.
After decades of dictatorship and political stagnation, now everyday is a new beginning that will decide the fate of Maldives and its people.
In order to weed out the evil characters before they capture the power on our national stage, the State must impose truth telling tests by the polygraph. Then we will know what kind of people our leaders are, where they stand on different issues and what matters to them most.
In the United States, where there are 47 million people without health insurance, read about a truth test in one state that wants to tackle their health care problems.
If leaders of corporations should be put to polygraph tests to determine their truthfulness, the same measure should be applied to national leaders of countries who carry greater responsibility. National leaders entrusted with the well being of people's lives should be held to a higher standard than corporate leaders.
In the case of Maldives, the two presidential run off candidates- DRP's leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and MDP's leader Mohamed Nasheed should be polygraphed to test their truthfulness.
Here are some pertinent questions on the issue of drugs- the biggest appalling problem in Maldives.
- Are there any Maldivian Government officials complicit in drug trafficking or in anyway involved in the drug supply chain?
- Do you have the political will of what it takes to stop drug trafficking in Maldives?
- Do you believe that during the last three decades abuse of drugs and drug addiction has reached epidemic levels among the young people in Maldives?
- Is it true that many people accuse the Government of failing to stop the inflow of drugs into Maldives?
- Do you agree that illegal drugs is the cause of so much of gang violence and increasing robbery in Maldives?
- Has drugs become a national security problem?
- As president would you keep the convicted drug traffickers incarcerated to serve out their full term without any early release?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Hollywood's Drew Barrymore advocates it's time for change
Barrymore recently directed a documentary, “The Best Place To Start,” which advocates voter registration.
“Does anyone really want to hear from me?" she asks. "But I think people know I’m not just a party girl. I’m a producer, a director, an actor; I believe in philanthropy.”
Source: link
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
A father deals with meth-addiction. "My Addicted Son"
Nick now claims that he was searching for methamphetamine for his entire life, and when he tried it for the first time, as he says, ''That was that.'' It would have been no easier to see him strung out on heroin or cocaine, but as every parent of a methamphetamine addict comes to learn, this drug has a unique, horrific quality. In an interview, Stephan Jenkins, the singer in the band Third Eye Blind, said that methamphetamine makes you feel ''bright and shiny.'' It also makes you paranoid, incoherent and both destructive and pathetically and relentlessly self-destructive. Then you will do unconscionable things in order to feel bright and shiny again. Nick had always been a sensitive, sagacious, joyful and exceptionally bright child, but on meth he became unrecognizable.
So writes David Sheff in a gut-wrenching article posted on The New York Times.
Through Nick's drug addiction, I learned that parents can bear almost anything. Every time we reach a point where we feel as if we can't bear any more, we do. Things had descended in a way that I never could have imagined, and I shocked myself with my ability to rationalize and tolerate things that were once unthinkable. He's just experimenting. Going through a stage. It's only marijuana. He gets high only on weekends. At least he's not using heroin. He would never resort to needles. At least he's alive.
A fortnight later, Nick wrote an e-mail message to his mother and asked for help. After they talked, he agreed to meet with a friend of our family who took him to her home in upstate New York, where he could detox. He slept for 20 or more hours a day for a week and began to work with a therapist who specialized in drug addiction. After six or so weeks, he seemed stronger and somewhat less desolate. His mother helped him move into an apartment in Brooklyn, and he got a job. When he finally called, he told me that he would never again use methamphetamine, though he made no such vows about marijuana and alcohol. With this news, I braced myself for the next disaster. A new U.C.L.A. study confirms that I had reason to expect one: recovering meth addicts who stay off alcohol and marijuana are significantly less likely to relapse.
Two or so months later, the phone rang at 5 on a Sunday morning. Every parent of a drug-addicted child recoils at a ringing telephone at that hour. I was informed that Nick was in a hospital emergency room in Brooklyn after an overdose. He was in critical condition and on life support.
After two hours, the doctor called to tell me that his vital signs had leveled off. Still later, he called to say that Nick was no longer on the critical list. From his hospital bed, when he was coherent enough to talk, Nick sounded desperate. He asked to go into another program, said it was his only chance.
So without reluctance this time, Nick returned to rehab. After six or so months, he moved to Santa Monica near his mother. He lived in a sober-living home, attended meetings regularly and began working with a sponsor. He had several jobs, including one at a drug-and-alcohol rehabilitation program in Malibu. Last April, after celebrating his second year sober, he relapsed again, disappearing for two weeks. His sponsor, who had become a close friend of Nick's, assured me: ''Nick won't stay out long. He's not having any fun.'' Of course I hoped that he was right, but I was no less worried than I was other times he had disappeared -- worried that he could overdose or otherwise cause irreparable damage.
But he didn't. He returned and withdrew on his own, helped by his sponsor and other friends. He was ashamed -- mortified -- that he slipped. He redoubled his efforts. Ten months later, of course, I am relieved (once again) and hopeful (once again). Nick is working and writing a children's book and articles and movie reviews for an online magazine. He is biking and swimming. He seems emphatically committed to his sobriety, but I have learned to check my optimism.
So writes David Sheff in a gut-wrenching article posted on The New York Times.
Through Nick's drug addiction, I learned that parents can bear almost anything. Every time we reach a point where we feel as if we can't bear any more, we do. Things had descended in a way that I never could have imagined, and I shocked myself with my ability to rationalize and tolerate things that were once unthinkable. He's just experimenting. Going through a stage. It's only marijuana. He gets high only on weekends. At least he's not using heroin. He would never resort to needles. At least he's alive.
A fortnight later, Nick wrote an e-mail message to his mother and asked for help. After they talked, he agreed to meet with a friend of our family who took him to her home in upstate New York, where he could detox. He slept for 20 or more hours a day for a week and began to work with a therapist who specialized in drug addiction. After six or so weeks, he seemed stronger and somewhat less desolate. His mother helped him move into an apartment in Brooklyn, and he got a job. When he finally called, he told me that he would never again use methamphetamine, though he made no such vows about marijuana and alcohol. With this news, I braced myself for the next disaster. A new U.C.L.A. study confirms that I had reason to expect one: recovering meth addicts who stay off alcohol and marijuana are significantly less likely to relapse.
Two or so months later, the phone rang at 5 on a Sunday morning. Every parent of a drug-addicted child recoils at a ringing telephone at that hour. I was informed that Nick was in a hospital emergency room in Brooklyn after an overdose. He was in critical condition and on life support.
After two hours, the doctor called to tell me that his vital signs had leveled off. Still later, he called to say that Nick was no longer on the critical list. From his hospital bed, when he was coherent enough to talk, Nick sounded desperate. He asked to go into another program, said it was his only chance.
So without reluctance this time, Nick returned to rehab. After six or so months, he moved to Santa Monica near his mother. He lived in a sober-living home, attended meetings regularly and began working with a sponsor. He had several jobs, including one at a drug-and-alcohol rehabilitation program in Malibu. Last April, after celebrating his second year sober, he relapsed again, disappearing for two weeks. His sponsor, who had become a close friend of Nick's, assured me: ''Nick won't stay out long. He's not having any fun.'' Of course I hoped that he was right, but I was no less worried than I was other times he had disappeared -- worried that he could overdose or otherwise cause irreparable damage.
But he didn't. He returned and withdrew on his own, helped by his sponsor and other friends. He was ashamed -- mortified -- that he slipped. He redoubled his efforts. Ten months later, of course, I am relieved (once again) and hopeful (once again). Nick is working and writing a children's book and articles and movie reviews for an online magazine. He is biking and swimming. He seems emphatically committed to his sobriety, but I have learned to check my optimism.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Democracy is a tough business
In an interview with TV Maldives on the night of the first multi-party contested election for the presidency, the Deputy President of Maldives Human Rights Commission, (MHRC) Mohamed Zahid has said the people have shown a remarkable example of democracy and change in Wednesday's presidential election. He said the peaceful and smooth manner in which the election was held and results were received by the people is also an excellent example of the respect of the people to the ideals of democracy.
All these years we had a system that is rigged to bring to power people who are already in power. Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) a likely future president has been imprisoned by this autocratic Government for being a reform activist and advocate for democracy. Now he has the freedom to contest and unseat the incumbent president who has held power for thirty years.
It appears Maldives is following the Middle East path to democracy. For decades there have been less than democratic elections in the Middle East, where ruling parties control candidates’ and voters’ access to the ballot and also control the vote counting.
Egypt's long serving President Husni Mubarak and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad have tried ruthless tactics to keep them in power through the referendum on a single candidate that Maldives followed up to now. The general feeling among democracy advocates in the Middle East is that elections have increasingly become a tool used by authoritarian leaders to claim legitimacy. Thus, elections are being used as a technique to mislead the people. What is missing in these countries are the independent institutions and democratic values that underpin the democratic process and good governance.
The democracy experiment by the Americans in Iraq has shown mixed results. The Americans invaded Iraq captured a brutal dictator and hanged him. They held elections and put in a puppet regime yet the country's problems remain unsolved. In fact, violence has increased between sectarian groups and Iraq has become a haven for terrorists to conduct their operations.
From this we know that democracy is not the answer to a society's all the problems. A country does need good elected leaders dedicated to public good and committed to solve a country's problems.
This is just the beginning of democracy and freedom in Maldives. Hence now is not the time to celebrate anything. The old leaders have failed our people and a new set of leaders will have to come and make their mark in history. Only time will tell their performance and the electorate should always remain ready to petition or strike with work stoppages as done by the teachers and tourist resort workers recently claiming higher compensation and demanding their rights.
Democracy is a messy and unpleasant business when leaders are corrupt and insincere.
The Maldivian people have lived in a state of depression for so long that they have lost trust in their elected leaders who up to now appeared at their doorstep once in five years to buy their vote and forgot about their promises once they turned their back. The new political leaders will have to walk their talk to regain the lost trust.
All these years we had a system that is rigged to bring to power people who are already in power. Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) a likely future president has been imprisoned by this autocratic Government for being a reform activist and advocate for democracy. Now he has the freedom to contest and unseat the incumbent president who has held power for thirty years.
It appears Maldives is following the Middle East path to democracy. For decades there have been less than democratic elections in the Middle East, where ruling parties control candidates’ and voters’ access to the ballot and also control the vote counting.
Egypt's long serving President Husni Mubarak and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad have tried ruthless tactics to keep them in power through the referendum on a single candidate that Maldives followed up to now. The general feeling among democracy advocates in the Middle East is that elections have increasingly become a tool used by authoritarian leaders to claim legitimacy. Thus, elections are being used as a technique to mislead the people. What is missing in these countries are the independent institutions and democratic values that underpin the democratic process and good governance.
The democracy experiment by the Americans in Iraq has shown mixed results. The Americans invaded Iraq captured a brutal dictator and hanged him. They held elections and put in a puppet regime yet the country's problems remain unsolved. In fact, violence has increased between sectarian groups and Iraq has become a haven for terrorists to conduct their operations.
From this we know that democracy is not the answer to a society's all the problems. A country does need good elected leaders dedicated to public good and committed to solve a country's problems.
This is just the beginning of democracy and freedom in Maldives. Hence now is not the time to celebrate anything. The old leaders have failed our people and a new set of leaders will have to come and make their mark in history. Only time will tell their performance and the electorate should always remain ready to petition or strike with work stoppages as done by the teachers and tourist resort workers recently claiming higher compensation and demanding their rights.
Democracy is a messy and unpleasant business when leaders are corrupt and insincere.
The Maldivian people have lived in a state of depression for so long that they have lost trust in their elected leaders who up to now appeared at their doorstep once in five years to buy their vote and forgot about their promises once they turned their back. The new political leaders will have to walk their talk to regain the lost trust.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Immoral Politicians
For the last three decades, the Egypt-trained politicians who came into power and wore Islam up their sleeves have turned Maldives into a country without morals. They are shrewd, narcissistic and hopelessly addicted to seeking vain glory. They thrived on empty pride. They violated the principle of justice and failed to deliver equitable distribution of wealth which they preached from the pulpits.
In this fledgling multi-party democracy, we have now entered the era of boastful challenges and provoking one another. The arrogance and incompetency of the present Government has created many difficult problems. By some estimates half of the country's young people are abusing drugs. Drug addiction has reached epidemic proportions in this tranquil country and yet the Gayoom Government claims it has not failed in its responsibility to stop the influx of drugs into Maldives. This Government lacks the leadership and sincerity to provide the necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation for the addicts. What is happening in Maldives on the explosive growth of the drug trade is a crime against humanity and those responsible must be held accountable as advocated by Umar Naseer in his presidential election manifesto. It is the Singapore theory. "If you addict my child, I will execute you."
At a time when there is a global financial crisis, difficult times lie ahead for us in the short term. The internal house cleaning process brought by the thirty-year autocratic regime has begun to take its bite.
In the first independent auditor general report, AG Ibrahim Naeem said the President’s Office is currently owed Rf 47.7 million (US $3.7 million) in outstanding loans to highly-placed government officials. Naeem also blamed Gayoom’s Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) for “misuse of state funds”, as party business was conducted on official trips.
It now appears even before the curtains close on the Gayoom regime, the finger pointing and the blame game has begun with the same ferocity and venom that the current administration started against former president Ibrahim Nasir after he resigned and handed over power peacefully.
The repressed feelings of the last three decades has brought us back full circle. The barbaric behavior this government unleashed against former president Ibrahim Nasir has turned on its head after thirty years.
In this fledgling multi-party democracy, we have now entered the era of boastful challenges and provoking one another. The arrogance and incompetency of the present Government has created many difficult problems. By some estimates half of the country's young people are abusing drugs. Drug addiction has reached epidemic proportions in this tranquil country and yet the Gayoom Government claims it has not failed in its responsibility to stop the influx of drugs into Maldives. This Government lacks the leadership and sincerity to provide the necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation for the addicts. What is happening in Maldives on the explosive growth of the drug trade is a crime against humanity and those responsible must be held accountable as advocated by Umar Naseer in his presidential election manifesto. It is the Singapore theory. "If you addict my child, I will execute you."
At a time when there is a global financial crisis, difficult times lie ahead for us in the short term. The internal house cleaning process brought by the thirty-year autocratic regime has begun to take its bite.
In the first independent auditor general report, AG Ibrahim Naeem said the President’s Office is currently owed Rf 47.7 million (US $3.7 million) in outstanding loans to highly-placed government officials. Naeem also blamed Gayoom’s Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) for “misuse of state funds”, as party business was conducted on official trips.
It now appears even before the curtains close on the Gayoom regime, the finger pointing and the blame game has begun with the same ferocity and venom that the current administration started against former president Ibrahim Nasir after he resigned and handed over power peacefully.
The repressed feelings of the last three decades has brought us back full circle. The barbaric behavior this government unleashed against former president Ibrahim Nasir has turned on its head after thirty years.
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