Police spokesman, Hassan Haneef, has blamed that MDP instigated violence during the demonstration and that at least nine police personnel were injured. But MDP spokesman Hamid Abdul Ghafoor has denied the allegation. He has infact, accused the police of using “brutal force” to break up a ‘peaceful rally’ for new elections, and put the number of arrests at more than one hundred.
The demonstration was anything but peaceful since reports speak of demonstrators hurtling at the police pavement cement blocks, glass marble pebbles and water with chilly powder. The clashes lasted over two hours.
With the government of President Mohamed Waheed who had come to power under controversial circumstances in February, unwilling to hold early elections, the Maldives will remain caught in political turmoil for a long while. Nasheed has not reconciled to the reality that he had lost power as much due to his rivals as due to his failure to live upto the expectations he had created at the outset. His MDP has resolved to continue with the protests. While Nasheed is going around the world, urging governments to exert greater diplomatic pressure on Male, his party is planning to hold protests outside the country. The first such protest will be organised in Colombo this Sunday, the party spokesman says.
On his part, Waheed has shown no willingness to be accommodative and magnanimous in his dealings with the opposition. He has put the opposition on notice that he would not yield to their pressure. “MDP should understand that government cannot be toppled from the streets,” President Waheed said, according to a local report.
There can be no gainsaying the fact that the people are the ultimate arbitrators in a democracy. The Commonwealth’s Ministerial Action Group on the Maldives has also advocated early ballot. Its assessment as early as April was that “the earliest possible expression of the will of the people is required to establish universal faith in the legitimacy of those who govern.”
From all accounts it is clear that elections are not round the corner until at least 2013.
This reality has given rise to confrontation politics, which are no good for any country, more so to a small island nation like the Maldives. Trouble in the Male streets will put off tourists who are the mainstay of the country’s economy. There is already so much on the Internet and social network sites that presents the Maldives in bad light. Further damage to the country’s image will be to nobody’s advantage.
Since both Waheed and Nasheed had worked together and since both profess commitment to democracy, it should be possible to work a way out of the present imbroglio. Timing of elections is the prerogative of the man in power. The opposition doesn’t grumble as long as it is made to feel that its voice is heard and registered.
The two leaders visited New Delhi during April-May; first to come was Nasheed; his successor followed him barely three weeks later.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh heard them with attention and advised them to work for peace and stability of their country. India will continue to lend strong support for the development of Maldives since as Dr Singh told them “peace and stability” in Maldives are important to India.
