:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Luthfy advises Gayyoom to rid the government of nepotism and apologise to the people of Maldives and then resign

Published 07/05/2008 02:36:17 GMT

Luthfy does not want Gayyoom to resign immediately. He wants to ensure that the corrupt elements in this government is ejected, a civil society is installed before Gayyoom apologises to the people of Maldives and then resign from office. This is the correct sequence which will ensure that once and for all, our country will rid herself from the claws of tyranny, ignorance and fear, as most political analysts would agree.

Ibrahim Luthfy, like many Maldivians, experienced the brutality of Gayyoom's dictatorship. Over the past 10 years, he has been subjected to ill treatment and torture whilst in detention on numerous occasions. He was later sentenced for life imprisonment for being involved in publishing and distributing an internet news bulletin Sandhaanu critical of Gayyoom's regime. Luthfy escaped from the authorities in May 2003 and has now obtained asylum from UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Luthfy now lives in Europe. Read more on Luthfy's work on Maldives Culture

Below is a translation of the letter sent to Mr. Gayyoom by Ibrahim Luthfy on 05/03/2004.

----------------------------------------------------

Ibrahim Luthfy

askibrahimluthfy@yahoo.com

President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom,

Mr. President, you have turned a deaf ear to the agonising pleas and echoing voices of the people of Maldives;

- a deaf ear to the pleas for appropriate reform [improvement in public services and administration];

- a deaf ear to the stories of people being mercilessly tortured by the police and the security guards in the jail who support your rule [who keeps you in power];

- a deaf ear especially to the crying voices of the ill-minded youth [disabled] entrapped by the drug epidemic, the painful and heartbreaking and agonising voices begging and crying for remorse and salvation from the terrifying and excruciating torture inflicted on them;

- a deaf ear to the appeals on the unjust sentences deliberated on the people by a judicial system under your full administrative control;

- the stories of embezzlements of money and property of the people by influential elites;

- a deaf ear to the continuous complains raised by by people about the discontent with procedure of the appointment of the representatives of the people [only those who follow the government line are allowed to sit in the parliament and 8 appointees by the Executive];

It is good if you now believe that love and respect of the people cannot be obtained with an iron fist rule [brutal dictatorship]. However, if you contemplate that hearts and minds can be converted by deception and tricks, then I believe you are just being an enemy of your soul. Those who love you or hate you are not the yield of what people write or talk. It is the yield of your own words and actions.

Yes! Time for “on-going forethought” on appropriate reform is indeed a foregone conclusion. Isn’t time lapsed irretrievable? Isn’t every singles second now an excruciating time? Please don’t get upset and act irrationally, rather initiate wisdom. I have listed below some valuable advices for your Excellency.

- appoint a person loved and respected by the people as the Speaker of the Majlis [this person must be a person of highest order of integrity and must be a person who has earned undivided love and respect of people]

- instead of family members and close friends in the cabinet, appoint public figures who have earned the support and respect of the people

- appoint a civil servant to the position of Police Commissioner [the country is in dire need of a civil society]

- release all those who are locked up or in detention for criticising or opposing your regime

- finally, apologise to the people of Maldives and resign from presidency

I do believe that these are big tasks. Nevertheless, it won’t take that long to accomplish. All you need is a little courage. There is no doubt that complete power is in Your Excellency’s hands.

It is true that reform or change cannot be achieved in a day within dusk to dawn. On the other hand, 25 years is long enough to bring about reform and change [to a small nation like Maldives]. People have been impatient for the reforms and changes that you are now contemplating. For how long can they [the people of Maldives] shelve their views and stay put without expressing their aspirations? Let me stress that any reform without the above proposed tasks will be a waste of time and effort. Some might advise you that aforementioned tasks will ruin your reputation but that is not the reality.

We Maldivians forgive and forget quickly. Past and present pages of our history prevails this reality. May I also add before conclusion that although we all try to work on our instincts the result can sometimes be the complete opposite of what is we anticipate.

Why not reflect on the detention and arrests of Naushad, the 3 of us [Luthfee, Zaki and Didi], Nirsreen, Fareed and all others arrested [and undergoing torture and ill treatment] on your order?

Think deeply as no one can stop the clock. God Almighty is the most powerful!

Ibrahim Luthfy

5/3/2004

----------------------------------------------------

askibrahimluthfy@yahoo.com