dagblog - Comments for "Ex-Maldives leader said forced out "at gunpoint""

Maldives court issues arrest

artappraiser — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:46:50 +0000

In reply to Ex-Maldives leader said forced out "at gunpoint"

Maldives court issues arrest warrant for former president
Fears of renewed street violence after more than 48 hours of political turmoil since Mohamed Nasheed forced out of office

Jason Burke in Delhi, guardian.co.uk, 9 Feb. 2012 04.27 EST

A court in the Maldives has issued an arrest warrant against Mohamed Nasheed, the country's former president forced to resign by elements within the police and army earlier this week, raising fears of renewed street violence after more than 48 hours of political turmoil.

Ahmed Naseem, foreign minister of the Maldives and a supporter of Nasheed, made an impassioned plea for foreign intervention.

"We need them to help solve the issue of this illegal government that has come to power in a coup," Naseem told The Guardian [....]

Actually, he only speaks out

jollyroger — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:59:37 +0000

In reply to President Nasheed is known

Actually, he only speaks out during the hour just before and just after each low tide--the rest of the time his mouth is submerged and he breaths through a reed.

He just published an op-ed in

artappraiser — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:02:27 +0000

In reply to Ex-Maldives leader said forced out "at gunpoint"

He just published an op-ed in the New York Times:

Op-Ed Contributor
The Dregs of Dictatorship
By MOHAMED NASHEED
Published: February 8, 2012

Male, Maldives

DICTATORSHIPS don’t always die when the dictator leaves office. [....]

I learned this lesson quickly [....]

[....] I believe this to be a coup d’état and suspect that my vice president, who has since been sworn into office, helped to plan it.

[....]

The problems we are facing in the Maldives are a warning for other Muslim nations undergoing democratic reform. At times, dealing with the corrupt system of patronage the former regime left behind can feel like wrestling with a Hydra: when you remove one head, two more grow back. With patience and determination, the beast can be slain. But let the Maldives be a lesson for aspiring democrats everywhere: the dictator can be removed in a day, but it can take years to stamp out the lingering remnants of his dictatorship.

I love the Times' biographical note: Mohamed Nasheed was president of the Maldives from 2008 until Feb. 7.

President Nasheed is known

Donal — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:11:34 +0000

In reply to Wikipedia has a good

President Nasheed is known for speaking out against practices leading to Climate Change in Copenhagen, declaring The Maldives carbon-neutral, etc.

Wikipedia has a good

artappraiser — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:48:59 +0000

In reply to Ex-Maldives leader said forced out "at gunpoint"

Wikipedia has a good background summary for those of us who have shamefully not kept up with the Maldives news:

[...] Prior to 2008, Maldives did not have a constitution which guaranteed fundamental human rights. For 30 years, from 1978 until 2008, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom served as president. During the later part of his rule, independent political movements emerged in Maldives, which challenged the then-ruling Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) and demanded democratic reform. These movements brought about significant change in political structure. In 2008 a new constitution was approved and the first direct presidential elections occurred, which were won by Mohamed Nasheed and Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan (as Vice-President) in the second round. The 2009 parliamentary election saw the Maldivian Democratic Party of President Nasheed receive the most votes with 30.81%, gaining 26 seats, however the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party with 24.62% of the vote received the most seats (28).

Despite the passage from monarchy to republic, the contemporary political structure shows continuity in which power was shared among a few families at the top of the social structure. In some islands, the offices have remained within the same family for generations. In the modern day, the village is ruled by an administrative officer called Katību, who serves as the executive headman of the island. Above the Katībus of every atoll is the AtoỊuveriya (Atoll Chief). Although many islands are distant from the governing capital, administrative rights over the lawmaking body of a particular island is held to a minimum, hence centralising representatives from islands to a general parliament. The People's Majlis, located in Male, houses members from all over the country.^[3]

Challenges

The government of President Mohamed Nasheedh faced many challenges [....]

For those who have already taken Maldives 101, they also have "Main Article: Politics of Maldives"