I wrote this article on 28th Nov 2005, and it was published in a few websites. The contents are still valid hence I start off with this.
I was not very hopeful when the party system was introduced under a Presidential decree. It was a desperate move by Pr.Maumoon in a time of extreme pressure both locally and internationally. I would still say it was a serious mistake. So was allowing the freedom of press which we enjoy today. Before the reader brands me a communist, let me present my reasons.
In a party system, the most important factor to ensure that political parties do not create diversions and hatred among the community are a well researched locally applicable transparent set of regulations. The current regulations made in haste are not sufficient to control elements working in the name of parties to create mischief on behalf of their parties, to gain whatever interest they are looking for. This applies equally to DRP and MDP. There are members of both parties who are using the dirtiest possible tricks in politics to gather more support. We hear more (only?) of the failures of the other in the meetings held by the parties. While DRP portrays an imminent danger of our religion and customs being lost should MDP come to power, the MDP paints a picture of corruption, torture and injustices of the present Government whose leaders represent DRP.
It is a reality now to wake up in the morning and find the tabloids splashed with your face. It does not matter whether the story is true, who bothers to check the facts? We have the freedom to write, and since a lot of media do not check the accuracy of what they publish, people who have personal grudges against each other are taking this opportunity to lash out. This can be seen from internet websites which are Pro MDP and Pro DRP. The language used in writings in Fact Maldives (accused to be pro DRP) and Dhivehi Observer (allegedly run by MDP), are something that no parent would want their children to learn. In other words, these are times that the Dhivehi Language itself would make history as there were hardly any vulgar writings in Thaana. That has now changed as the cyberspace is daily bombarded with whatever filth the writer can come up with.
As an example, any civil servant who does anything within the government is attacked verbally. The level of these attacks is so low that it goes to include the family of the person, his/her sexual orientations and whatever else the writer can come up with. The best part of it today’s freedom is that you don’t need to do any journalistic investigation, rather you publish what you get through an anonymous e-mail, whose details probably even the publisher would not know.
The same goes to senior opposition figures. A recent article in Fact Maldives attacked Male’ MP Ibrahim Ismail for whatever the writer could come up. How many of the readers would know that the whole thing is all lies? Ibra, disabled since early childhood, could not have done anything the writer alleges.
While I would go out of my way to encourage everyone, to disclose corrupt practices, we should also respect the privacy of each individual of this nation. Unless there is proof of a misdeed or use of public money, the matter should not be printed as bare allegations. If there is proof it should only be the person who is responsible to be exposed not his family.
I would strongly advise to all the leaders of this beast we have created, to look a little bit further than your stretched arm towards power. Tomorrow when you get this power, is this the type of moral behavior you want? Our youth of a generation has been brainwashed with government and opposition propaganda. No one really knows whom to trust and it has become “cool” to be able to snap a photo a passing girl on the street from your state of the art 3G Camera phone and upload it to a website with some remark. Your ex girl friend or ex wife’s photos and numbers are published publicly some in the most compromised positions. This is the time pass of the cyber generation.
These are some of the reasons why I strongly believe that without first enacting laws to regulate parties and media, the action was a mistake. The beast is now free and it would take a combined effort by all of us, to pick up what little we have left and control this beast. Fire without which we cannot live, would consume us if out of control.
Meanwhile, the few people who are interested in ruling us are fighting to see who can create the best illusion to keep the public from reality. One this is sure, the Dhivehi Raajje to which I was born is no more.
It is time that someone explains that Freedom of Expression is not meant to take the rights of another person.
Posted by maldiveislands 