Saturday, July 11, 2009

Dear Mr.President

As you would be aware, with the seven-gun salute, at 10:35 on the 7th August of 2008 a ‘social contract’ between the government and the people of this nation was officially sanctioned: the new constitution of the Maldives was ratified by the then president Mr Qayyoom.

True.
It was over insurmountable adversity, by hardship, sacrifice and the unwavering commitment of many heroes in countless ways that resulted in the materialization of the 2008 constitution. I am not oblivious, but rather grateful to the laborious effort expended for four years by the Members of the special Majilis.

I do not believe, what the people wanted back then was only a black white document with a green cover instead of blue. Rather I believe the people’s aspiration was to ensure non-discrimination when entitled to rights and freedoms with the liberty to express themselves. The people yearned for equality among all regardless of their personal, professional or political background.

The people sought to drink clean water and to eat nutritious food with access to proper Medicare, while their houses are lit with electricity and facilitated with a sewage system.
The people want not only jobs, but job security with reasonable wages and other benefits.

And the people got all this and many more from the new constitution.

Mr. President,
11 months after the ratification it won’t be utterly false to state that people’s dreams of a better Maldives, a paradise not only to the tourists but also to the Maldivian nationalities, is showing the symptoms of becoming true. Despite some controversial decisions made on the government’s side like decentralization it can be said that they have given a good attempt at executing the constitution.

Maldives attracted global attention most recently, with the achievement of Anna Lindh Prize by you.

Mr. President, you have brought the nation honor and pride. It’s a great personal as well as national achievement for you and for us, as the prize address two of the most critical issues of the 21st century, human rights and climate change.

In your new found glory, Mr. President, Please do not forget about the people. Do not be incognizant about their true condition.
As the head of the state, As the head of the government and as the commander in chief of the armed forces, Please uphold, defend and respect the constitution.

Mr. President.
While you were away in Sweden, tragic events have been occurring back in here. Small babies are been sexually abused and murdered, children’s are been gang-raped, and innocent people are becoming victims of gang fights. Crimes like this have taken the dangerous trend of amplifying with every new day while the root cause and origin is yet to be defined. More terrible is to know that police with their motto to protect and serve are incapable of doing their job, for whatever reason.


Mr. President.
The democratic recognition we have received internationally so far is only upon the basis of what’s stated in our constitution. The constitution might be the strongest argument of we have now in international front to state ourselves as a democratic nation. But what determines how much democracy is within the country, and what determines good governance is how much of the constitution is executed.
Been entitled to every other rights of the constitution is of little value, if the people are not delivered with the right of security, the right to live without fear of been robbed, raped or murdered.

Mr. President.

We still have the hope. We do have faith in you. And we are with you on the journey to “Aneh Dhivehi Rajje”. But for the moment, please deliver us the right to live without fear.

Thanks.

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