Talking Point

I have been asked many times why I had decided to engage a foreigner as the chief government spokesperson. I have been briefed of many discussions held in the Maldives media against engaging a foreigner as the chief government spokesperson. In the recent few days, the issue has found new vigor as a direct consequence of the news of my proposal not to have a foreigner as the Maldives First Lady. I have been challenged by many comments and emails sent to this blog to answer the question why I would want a foreign national to be our chief government spokesperson if I feel so much about Maldivianness.

I have been blamed for shutting down DhiFM’s live broadcast of the MDP Convention held at Dharubaaruge in the evening of 29 November 2007 on Transitory Arrangements. I am told that it was a key official of MDP who announced in the Convention, that evening, that I had ordered DhiFM to stop the live broadcast. Naturally, I would have suffered much incrimination from the crowd gathered there and whoever might have come across the news.

“Transitional Government” is the latest of phrases born in the world of Maldives politicians. As we approach to wrap up work on revising the constitution, this new phrase seems to have gained good publicity. The opposition must be given credit for generating all this “inthiqaalee” hype. “Inthiqaalee” seems to mean “transitional” in the local language. It comes from the Arabic noun “Inthiqaal” based on the root word of “Naql” which in Dhivehi too means “to move from place to place or situation to situation”.

Whenever I have had a discussion with a media professional on his or her requirements in the Maldives media landscape, the need for disclosure of information held by or created by the Government, is pointed out as the single most important reform they would like to see happen. I have been reminded many times of the extreme importance of the right to information. I have been asked several times to expedite work on resubmitting the bill on freedom of information. I have been told a number of times to introduce the substance of the bill in the form of an executive decree.

In the press conference I had this afternoon I was asked about the validity of the claim made by Male’ MP Ibrahim Ismail as regards the deemed registration of his Social Liberal Party. The facts surrounding registration of Social Liberal Party are well publicized. Is it deemed registered as claimed by Ibrahim Ismail? Well, that is a moot point that may be argued both ways. However much one may not like the present set of circumstances, it is my professional belief that his party is now deemed registered.

I never spoke publicly about Mohamed Hussain Shareef or Mundhu. Everyone who knows both of us would also know perhaps that we have not necessarily had very warm relations. I cannot recall any specific reason for that state of affairs. All I could say is that our relations have always been at the level it necessitated to be, professionally speaking. But I have read with great interest the media stories about the argument Mundhu had with Dr Ahmed Shaheed over the latter’s premature release of findings of Hussain Solah’s autopsy report to the media. I could not wait but come out and lend support to Mundhu. He is right cent per cent.

I have been asked a few times if I believe that a minister could be held responsible for his acts or omissions even if he resigns from his Cabinet portfolio. I have been asked if parliament could question an ex-minister regarding his acts or omissions while in office even after he has resigned from his cabinet portfolio. This becomes especially relevant if a person resigned to circumvent or pre-empt an unpleasant showdown with parliament.

Accuracy of the three incidents

When I wrote the blog post on “Shaheed’s Row with Mundhu”, I narrated three specific incidents that happened during the crucial days surrounding the death of Hussain Solah. I was personally aware of and privy to those developments and information. Dr Hassan Saeed, just like me, was aware of and privy to the same developments and information. All of what I have said in respect of those three incidents in the post can be checked back for accuracy with media reports published during the time. If someone carefully goes through the published information in various newspapers and websites, the truth of the internal perspective that I have outlined in the post can easily be verified.

I read with immense curiosity what has been reported in the Minivan News today on the Situation Committee. It paints a very evil picture of the Committee.

Yes, the Situation Committee is a standing committee of cabinet ministers. Yes, it acts as a link between intelligence management, law enforcement and senior government in tackling crisis situations.

My meeting with the EU parliamentary delegation headed by Robert Evans happened on the day of Eid, Wednesday, 19th December 2007. At 10 am in the morning when I met them, I was not sure how it would begin, proceed or end. I had heard many stories about the purpose of the visit, the timing of the visit and the meetings that have been scheduled for the visit. Like many others I was skeptical about the delegation.

Eversince the local media came to know of Government plans to launch a publication called the “Government Gazette”, concerns have begun to be expressed within the media community. The Government has been working on the Gazette for a while. It is a component of a larger project called the “Central Messaging System” designed by the Information Ministry in its efforts to introduce a media relations system for the Government. The Gazette was designed to be lauched with the beginning of the coming year. One other component of the same project was intiated with the opening of Fansavees as a press briefing hall. Few other components of the larger project are to follow in due course.