Call to Chief Mohamed Zahir and Commissioner Adam Zahir!

As the first multiparty presidential election in the country looms close we have to seriously consider some of the political maneuverings of the incumbent president. Let’s consider the following:

1. The appointment of President Gayyoom’s half-brother Yamin Gayyoom as the Tourism Minister only days before the election.
2. The appointment of six new Atoll Chiefs only days before the election.
3. The apparent influence of Gayyoom’s sons and daughters in Gayyoom’s party, DRP’s, election campaign.
4. The joint press briefing given by the Police and MNDF, in which they basically said that they will take strict action against any individuals or parties that ‘violate” the election law.
5. The confident mood in the DRP camp and their claim that they will win the election in the first round.
6. The fact that DRP controls the so-called “independent” Elections Commission.
7. The fact that DRP controls the “Supreme” Court.

Imagine the following scenario:

Many people turnout to vote on 08th October. Half way through the day, DRP realizes that they are behind in the exit-polls. Some volatile DRP supporters create trouble near some voting booths in Male and other islands. Trouble flares between DRP supporters and supporters of “reformist” candidates. Right on cue, the Police move in to “control” the “Violence”. The police “fail” to do so, and ask MNDF for help. MNDF “tries” to control the conflict but things go out of control! Suddenly a state of emergency is declared by Gayyoom and the voting is suspended until further notice. In the ensuing days, Gayyoom asks the Elections Commission to investigate and make a ruling on the suspended election.

The so-called “independent” Elections Commission (which is incidentally controlled by DRP) will of course rule that the elections law has been violated and that the guilty parties are MDP and other reformists. For a further opinion on this, Gayyoom asks the “Supreme” Court! It too rules in favour of Gayyoom. The election will then be nullified and a new date will be set for the election, possibly in January 2009. In the ensuing violence, many reformists and reformist leaders, including some candidates are arrested and sent for trail.
By the time the new Election Day approaches, the opposition is weakened and terrified.

We hope and pray that this gloomy scenario does not come to pass. But if it does happen, the country could go down a bottomless pit and some irreversible damage could be done to our democratization and to our social and economic fabric.

I plead to the Chief of Staff (Two-Two) Mohamed Zahir and the Commissioner of Police Adam Zahir to put country first and not to get entangled in the web of deception spread by the current regime. Mohamed Zahir should realize that Gayyoom’s coalition-partner (his half brother) Yamin doesn’t look too favorably at Mohamed Zahir. Koimala, a website favorable to Yamin has often attacked Mohamed Zahir as “Bodu-Kakkaa” and called him numerous other names. Does Mohamed Zahir believe that if DRP and Yamin’s coalition win the election that they will keep Mohamed Zahir in the same post! I somehow doubt it.

Adam Zahir should also realize that he too could become a liability to Gayyoom if Gayyoom wins the lection. Afterwards he too could be dumped. I believe that these two gentlemen have the opportunity to redeem themselves as leaders of the people rather than saviour of Gayyoom. I call upon Mohamed Zahir and Adam Zahir to respect the freedoms and the rights granted to the people by the constitution. I call upon them to help us (the people of Maldives) in these difficult times.

We are willing to forgive and forget whatever shortcomings that you may have had. In return please take the side of the people and help take this country towards a more democratic, free and fair government.