Section 119 must be revisited

On Thursday, August 7th, 2008, I wrote an article highlighting the fact that as Republican Party’s prospective presumptive presidential nominee, Qasim Ibrahim presided over the proceedings of the Special Majlis as Speaker on June 26th, 2008, there was a conflict of interest. On Friday, August 8th, I expressed further concern over this issue, i.e. the provision in the constitution which allows the president to do business if he or she is ‘not actively engaged’ in it. The same day an article by the Social Liberal Party’s presidential nominee, Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra), alluded to the same issue. On Saturday, August 9th, I wrote another article on the same issue. Today, August 11th, Minister for Legal Reform, Mohamed Nasheed has written about the same issue.

In my articles, I highlighted the fact that Qasim did not allow a debate on this issue when it was incumbent on him to do so. Thanks to his announcement about his intention to run for president, we now know why, and also why he was so keen to be elected Speaker of the Special Majlis.

I also read through the comments on Ibra’s article on the constitution. One person, a pseudonymous author, Center-right, asked Ibra some interesting questions: “1. Which do you prefer in the constitution - raeesakah hunna meehaku 'viyafaarieh kohgen nuvaane' or 'viyafaarieh hingumugai amalee gothun baiverivegen nuvaane'? 2. I hear Gasim asked you to insert that amendment. True? 3. Would you agree that amendment should have been debated because it was such an important and substantial issue?” To which Ibra has replied: “I think your questions deserve a separate post as answer. I will write one when I have a bit of time (a scarce commodity these days!)” Let us see what Ibra has to say. We need to know who was (or were) responsible for this.

Minister Nasheed’s article further highlights the gravity of this situation. Thanks to this particular provision, four years of sincere work by many suddenly threatens to look not worth a plug nickel. Minister Nasheed says that he is not going to be silent on this. I commend him for that.

Minister Nasheed, on behalf of those against a plutocratic dictatorship, can begin by proposing a revisit to section 119 which needs to be amended as it was originally passed by the Special Majlis. I know it may be impossible to do this in the Majlis because those who sneaked in the provision in question into the constitution simply will not allow the three-quarters majority of the whole house required under section 261 of the constitution.

Yet, this must be initiated, if not by the government, by the people, through letters, petitions, peaceful demonstrations and the like. Let us not let our country slide backwards.