The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Maldivian Opposition looks to India for help in its struggle

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Maldivian Opposition looks to India for help in its struggle

Special Correspondent

Says present regime using defence aid given by India against citizens

SEEKING INDIA'S SUPPORT: Maldivian Democratic Party founder Mohamed Latheef participating in a discussion in Chennai on Monday. Ahmed Mausoon, an entrepreneur (left), and Ahmed Naseem Mohamed, former head of the Foreign Investment Services Bureau of the Maldives, are also in the picture. — Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

CHENNAI: Maldivian Democratic Party founder Mohamed Latheef on Monday said India had a vital role in restoring democracy in the Maldives.

"Our biggest failure is getting India on board [our struggle]," he observed, while participating in a discussion organised by the Observer Research Foundation, a Reliance-funded think tank.

Mr. Latheef, who lives in Colombo fearing persecution in Male, said India was one of the few countries supporting the present regime in the Maldives. The European Union and many other countries had taken note of the manner in which the country was being run and India should also help the Opposition.

"No statement"

It was disappointing to note that there had been no statement from India supporting the democratic movement in the Maldives. The Maldivian Government was using the defence aid provided by India against its citizens.

The present regime was using four tools to govern: Islam; use of coercive institutions of society; control over the media; well-entrenched system of patronage. The President was using Islam as a major legitimising factor to hang on to power.

"But, sometimes God alone is good enough to keep people down," Mr. Latheef observed. Community chiefs, village headmen and other influential people were being extended a variety of patronage, such as contracts, to ensure they did not complain. The private sector was vibrant, but many feared their property would be taken over, citing national security reasons, if they supported the Opposition.

Defence spending

Pointing out that the Maldives spent 8 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product on defence, he questioned the rationale behind it. The country did not have any known enemies. It was, perhaps, the most homogenous society on earth. The only conclusion that could be drawn was that the forces would be used to quell dissent.

On the support for the pro-democracy movement and the Opposition, he said: "If there is an election tomorrow, we will win by a huge margin; more than 70 per cent of the votes." About a third of the voting population were members of the MDP. Many others wanted to join, but were scared of losing their jobs.

Ahmed Mausoon, a Maldivian entrepreneur, and Ahmed Naseem Mohamed who, till 2005, was head of department, Foreign Investment Services Bureau, explained the problems faced by the people and sought Indian support. Both are now based in Colombo.

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