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| Victory for the People - Flickr Photo: enwiie |
"Kratos Demos - Power to the People " ... Simple and unambiguous.
Joseph A. Schumpeter, the famous Austrian-Hungarian-American economist and political scientist, describes in short the Classical Doctrine of Democracy in his book Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy as:
"The Democratic method is that institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions which realizes the common good by making the people itself decide issues through the election of individuals who are assembled in order to carry out its will."
Democracy is in theory simple and justifiable, let the people choose and let the people decide.
In the Maldives we are very new to this concept. In fact we can come to a conclusion to say that we are an infant nation when it comes to democracy, social, civil and human rights; pillars necessary for a people State.
We came up with a new constitution to support a democratic nation. We got rid of a long serving President, who dictated a nation for 30 long years. We, for the first time had the freedom to establish and participate in Political Parties. We struggled and we achieved the right of Freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful Assembly. We held the very first Multi-Party Elections in the country. Yes we did that all.
Unlike other countries, who struggled for generations and shed blood for their cause we were lucky to embrace democracy the easy way and yes it was a miracle. But with the new freedoms and gift of democracy did we have the necessary felicitous institutions, organizations and people ?? Have we made the right choices?? Is the Nation progressing or heading further back down in the drain??
As of now we are still struggling. Struggling to get back on our feet as a nation. And what we seriously need now is an overhaul in the system. Especially the Judiciary!!
Today in the Maldives we are witnessing what some Political experts have come to say a 'unique Coup'. Earlier last month President Mohmaed Nasheed was forced out of office after a Police Mutiny. Today he has established that he was indeed thrown out of office metaphorically on gunpoint. His party Maldivian Democratic Party - MDP (the largest Political party as of number) and his supporters stand by him and is willing to do what ever it takes to bring an end to what they accuse an illegal government.
On the other hand there is a fair number of Pro-Government supporters on new President Dr. Mohamed Waheed's side, a coalition of all major Political Parties and an allied civil society network that now go by the name 23 December Alliance.
The game is between Nasheed's MDP and all remaining Political factions in the country. Irony here is that 3 years back it was Gayoom in one side and every other Political party on the other side. Interesting it is, to see that the numbers on both sides are huge. Protests have seen unimaginable show ups in numbers. The numbers make it very clear, the country is without doubt divided. And every now and then all of them are on the streets. Protesting over what they believe is right.
A legitimate government! ... O_o ... Not a legitimate government! Well give a chance for the people to decide.
As of now we are still struggling. Struggling to get back on our feet as a nation. And what we seriously need now is an overhaul in the system. Especially the Judiciary!!
Today in the Maldives we are witnessing what some Political experts have come to say a 'unique Coup'. Earlier last month President Mohmaed Nasheed was forced out of office after a Police Mutiny. Today he has established that he was indeed thrown out of office metaphorically on gunpoint. His party Maldivian Democratic Party - MDP (the largest Political party as of number) and his supporters stand by him and is willing to do what ever it takes to bring an end to what they accuse an illegal government.
On the other hand there is a fair number of Pro-Government supporters on new President Dr. Mohamed Waheed's side, a coalition of all major Political Parties and an allied civil society network that now go by the name 23 December Alliance.
The game is between Nasheed's MDP and all remaining Political factions in the country. Irony here is that 3 years back it was Gayoom in one side and every other Political party on the other side. Interesting it is, to see that the numbers on both sides are huge. Protests have seen unimaginable show ups in numbers. The numbers make it very clear, the country is without doubt divided. And every now and then all of them are on the streets. Protesting over what they believe is right.
A legitimate government! ... O_o ... Not a legitimate government! Well give a chance for the people to decide.
One question I have been frequently asked is "Ain't Waheed an elected Vice President? He is an elected person! and according to constitution he took over when the President resigned. Yes?". My answer is simple.
YES. Its all true! But what did Waheed sell his voters?? A manifesto! An MDP-Gaumee Ithihaad manifesto to be precise. Lets rephrase, what did Nasheed and his running mate sell their voters? MDP-Gaumee Ithihaad Manifesto! That's what the Maldivian's voted for the next five years. Whether it was to get rid of a cruel dictator or for the allied movement that backed Nasheed back then. Well now Waheed is the President. His voters expect him to continue what he was voted in for. Is he at it ??
Today Waheed has joined forces with once his opponents and they have made a coalition government. They have come up with new polices, ideas and plans for the country.
How could they strip the voters from what they had voted for? Is this fair in a democracy? I don't think so! Today we are back with old Gayoom elements that I voted out. So did some 54% people in the country! That's where the question "Where is my vote?" comes from.
Personally what I want to see now is an election. I want to see what the common Maldivian want! Not what the security forces want nor what protesters want. I want to see whether they want Nasheed back in power or do they want Waheed to keep on leading the nation. Or for that matter whether they want Gayoom back ??
Once an independent free and fair election is held, the scene will be quite very clear. We will have to end this political fiesta that has brought hail storm in to our society. Then we know, what the country want. And then its time for people like us to digest! No questions asked. That is democracy.
Democracy always presents you with a solution. Ask the people !! No seriously just ask the people !! The solution forward is an Election.
YES. Its all true! But what did Waheed sell his voters?? A manifesto! An MDP-Gaumee Ithihaad manifesto to be precise. Lets rephrase, what did Nasheed and his running mate sell their voters? MDP-Gaumee Ithihaad Manifesto! That's what the Maldivian's voted for the next five years. Whether it was to get rid of a cruel dictator or for the allied movement that backed Nasheed back then. Well now Waheed is the President. His voters expect him to continue what he was voted in for. Is he at it ??
Today Waheed has joined forces with once his opponents and they have made a coalition government. They have come up with new polices, ideas and plans for the country.
How could they strip the voters from what they had voted for? Is this fair in a democracy? I don't think so! Today we are back with old Gayoom elements that I voted out. So did some 54% people in the country! That's where the question "Where is my vote?" comes from.
Personally what I want to see now is an election. I want to see what the common Maldivian want! Not what the security forces want nor what protesters want. I want to see whether they want Nasheed back in power or do they want Waheed to keep on leading the nation. Or for that matter whether they want Gayoom back ??
Once an independent free and fair election is held, the scene will be quite very clear. We will have to end this political fiesta that has brought hail storm in to our society. Then we know, what the country want. And then its time for people like us to digest! No questions asked. That is democracy.
Democracy always presents you with a solution. Ask the people !! No seriously just ask the people !! The solution forward is an Election.
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