Talking Point

I have received some two hundred letters asking me to withdraw the Bill proposed to amend the Civil Service Act. They were almost identical in substance. They carried three points: proposed amendments infringe principles of human rights; they undermine democracy; and they go against the spirit of the Civil Service Act. They urged me to withdraw the bill. They asked me for a written response. My office will provide that response.

When Civil Service Act was passed last April, there was hope of a revised constitution being in force a year later. Two deadlines were formally marked. They were 31 May 2007 and 30 November 2007. When none of those deadlines materialized, there was hope that work on revision of the constitution would be wrapped up by the year end. That was by 2007 end. When that did not happen, it was hoped that the exercise would conclude by March end 2008. Those deadlines became wishful thinking. The revision of the constitution has remained in 'about to complete' mode.

Judges of lower courts have expressed their serious concerns over their status during the period of transition proposed under the revised constitution.

Tuesday's defeat of the Civil Service Bill in Parliament was viewed as the day government died a natural death. Thursday's vote in the Constitutional Assembly on the transition chapter was to be the day funeral would be held. That was how a local journalist explained to me the sentiment within opposition circles. For all purposes and intents, Thursday was meant to be the Decision Day.

Finally, the coin drops. Political tug of war over the form and substance of transition is over. Well, it is almost over. Still, some relatively less important provisions remain to be adopted. Those provisions when cleared would lend more detail and greater clarity.

There is much debate in the Special Majlis about a certain proposal 32. It has been quoted and misquoted. It has interpreted and misinterpreted. It has been used and abused. Let's examine the significance of this particular proposal. Let's see what the proposal contains and what its impact is on the rest of the transition framework.

It is a serious instance of identity fraud, or identity theft. It all began with the campaign run against the amendment proposed to the Civil Service Act.

The Government has proposed to repeal the current legislation on presidential elections. The bill was sent to parliament recently. Its first reading has been held. I understand that it has met with some opposition already. The opposition is due to not sending a replacement bill on a matter provided in the constitution.

Maldives Media Association brought out a press release dated 14 April 2008 calling for state media to grant equal access to political parties and candidates standing for presidential elections. When I heard of the release on TVM news tonight, I checked with my office if MMA had ever contacted the Ministry of Information on the issue or if the Ministry had ever communicated to the Association what work we have done in this regard. Both the questions were answered in the negative.

I haven't responded to comments in a long while. But the post I wrote on fake petition letters seems to have offended some important NGOs and I thought I must clarify certain ill conceived thoughts. I have tried to address the main issues raised in all comments received so far. Here it goes.

Curtains today fell on the protracted political power play on transition. Special Majlis made a number of decisions on transition related issues. All combined, here is a snapshot of how final transition arrangements look like.

When I came to Information Ministry in July 2005, I was not aware of a World Press Freedom Day. The day is marked on 3rd of May every year. When I learnt of the day, I quickly arranged to have an unofficial observation of the day in 2006.

Often in foreign news, we come across reports of left wing and right wing political parties. Often we hear of characters belonging to one of the two wings taking considerable seats in parliament, or being offered cabinet berths, or meeting to solve a crisis.

Like many others, I watched on TVM the full ninety-minute debate organized by DhiFM amongst candidates contesting for the MDP ticket to run for president of this country. But unlike many others, that debate initiated several thoughts in my mind. Here is how I would react to them.