A Message to the Majlis
Dear Honorable Members of the Parliament,
I stand here today to express my disgust at having to see, you, our elected representatives squabbling over the bill on Immunity and Privileges to ex-presidents. I am appalled at the very thought of giving immunities and privileges to ex-president Gayoom. As a Dhivehi citizen I demand to know why we should provide all these privileges to this man. A man from whose corrupt clutches, plundering ways and tyranny we have emerged after 3 long decades.
People have died under his watch, honorable members. Dhivehi blood has been spilled under his command. A human life, no matter when, where and how it was lost, must be more precious and important. Do not forget that. To even consider such luxuries as immunity and privileges for this man, before the deaths and the countless lives ruined under his command are investigated and due reconciliation is reached, is an insult on all Dhivehin. It will be an affront to justice and an appalling mutiny to the higher purpose for which you, honorable members, have been put into those seats.
It will be an insult to the constitution that allowed me to vote this man out. I and thousands like me voted him out because we do not want anything to do with him. 30 years is a long time, honorable members. We are at this very moment in time, past those 30 years, because we wanted to see changes. We wanted to see those lives that I mentioned, the ones that were lost, the likes of Evan Naseem and other compatriots, we want to see you question Mr. Gayoom about those lives before you consider his life of luxury. Please do not waste our money and our time on insulting us any further.
Honorable members. Do not be fooled by the gray hair and meek demeanor. Do not succumb to the wide-eyed look of evil disguised as innocence. Do not be fooled into thinking that there is even a molecule of virtue and compassion towards Dhivehin in that man.
If he was such a man of character we would not be at the moment in time and he would oppose this bill and let justice prevail. Right now, he needs to face the music, honorable members. He is not some divine messiah. Those days are gone.
Honorable members. Show us some guts. It is time to throw this bill out and let us get on with more important things. We've already wasted a lot of time on this man and his family.
To end my message, I'd like to play you a song. One of my favorites from Pink Floyd.
The Fletcher Memorial Home (video here)
Take all your overgrown infants away somewhere
And build them a home a little place of their own
The fletcher memorial Home for incurable tyrants and kings
And they can appear to themselves every day
On closed circuit t.v.
To make sure they're still real
It's the only connection they feel
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome reagan and haig
Mr. Begin and friend Mrs. Thatcher and paisley
Mr. Brezhnev and party
The ghost of McCarthy
The memories of Nixon
And now adding colour
A group of anonymous latin American meat packing glitterati"
Did they expect us to treat them with any respect
They can polish their medals and sharpen their Smiles,
and amuse themselves playing games for a while
Boom boom, bang bang, lie down you're dead
Safe in the permanent gaze of a cold glass eye
With their favourite toys
They'll be good girls and boys
In the fletcher memorial home
for colonial Wasters of life and limb
Is everyone in?
Are you having a nice time?
Now the final solution can be applied
Thank you for your time.
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Aburu | November 18, 2008 6:43 AM | Reply
Eloquently said Simon as usual, I completely concur with your comments and sentiments, this man has already had too much, far more than he has given, in the balance. I firmly believe that when he stands in judgment, he will be found wanting and there will be in some measure an amount of recompense.
If I may be so bold, the only point I might add to your discourse is that we clearly voted this man out lawfully. Members of parliament are legally elected by us, the same people, to carry out our wishes and to represent us to the best of their abilities. Therefore the first question in the People's Majlis on this issue should be "Do we follow the will of the people" OR "Are we continuing to act out the orders of the Dictator?"
I believe once this question is asked and if they have the balls or decency, answered in a vote, then the conclusion is simple, again in this new democracy, the people will have spoken.
Thanks Simon.
BLobber | November 18, 2008 7:22 AM | Reply
Well if you don't send this to Majlis members it would be a wast
MH | November 18, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply
even if simon sends it .. few will be able to read it.
Mr. Karma | November 18, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply
Complete support Simon.
I guess we are all going through a cold-turkey of Maumoon's legacy. He tried to always imply that it was a god-given gift for him to rule Maldives. And his brain washing has been inevitably catching it seems, we just gotta buckle-up now! he's just a old man who should just sit home and write a book or something.
ganja paradise | November 18, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply
No need to send this to Majilis.
Why?
Because, Simon, you are not a Maldivian by law.
How?
Because you are an Atheist you dumb a*s.
Thom | November 18, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply
Is it really necessary to condemn Gayoom? The act seems to reflect a lot of negativity on our country, he was the ruler for 30 years and he does have a passionate following, misguided as they may seem... it seems disrespectful to not allow certain priviledges like perhaps a vehicle and a home to an ex president...
It is certainly the norm to offer this level of respect in the rest of the world...
Wouldn't the more democratic way be to treat the man with respect, to leave him be and, simply focus on the country?
I do believe in justice ... however... I guess what I'm trying to say is now that its all put behind us, while it seems disappointing that members find the need to bicker about this in parliament, however, isn't it wiser to work to the future, and just leave the past where, it belongs?
aih | November 18, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply
I agree with Thom. This is a privilege for expresidents in other countries. Every government has had a history of injusticie. It may the people under him who has done it. Fingers cannot be pointed at him only. Give the former president some rest. He did his best to bring us this far.
faisal | November 18, 2008 8:04 PM | Reply
Respect should be given wehre it is deserved. And Maumoon doesn't deserve any of it. Not after the way he ruled this country. One cannot 'respect' a dictator, a despot, a tyrant, but only fear him. Some comments above only prove that Maumoons legacy of fear and intimidation will remain ingrained in some of our young minds, and will take years to be rid of.
Simon | November 19, 2008 12:00 AM | Reply
Thanks for the comments, everyone.
This post was meant to be taken as a regular post and not an actual letter to the Majlis. The Pink Floyd song attached is ample evidence to that effect. Just thought I should mention that.
Maumoon Lover | November 19, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply
Hehehe! You actually thought people believed this rubbish was an actual letter to the Majlis. You are dumber that I initially thought.
And Simon, please don't insult our intelligence (and if you have any too) by referring to the crooks at the Majlis as "Honourable" - that is just lunacy!
Maumoon Lover,
Hehe. Man, you really get your panties bunched up whenever that bastard Gayoom's name comes up on this blog, eh? Heheh.
Don't insult your intelligence? I can't help. Sorry.
Maumoon Lover replied to comment from Simon | November 19, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply
Now you got that all wrong Simon. It had nothing to do with Maumoon. It was totally about your damn stupidity. Now there is a difference, you know.
Worst of all it's a real shame you never even saw that in my earlier post.
"it's a real shame you never even saw that in my earlier post"
New to this whole blogging thing, aren't you? Around here I make the posts while others make "comments". What you called your earlier "post" is known simply as a "comment".
In any case, that shriveling pig Gayoom either gets you hot and balmy under the collar or panties in a bunch. Or both. Hehe.
Case closed and no more out-of-topic comments please.
Maumoon Lover replied to comment from Simon | November 19, 2008 6:57 PM | Reply
Yeah, I feel like a real doofus confusing post & comment. Silly me! Your level of intelligence and know how on all things better than anyone else depress me so much! And especially blogging hehehe!
Still fun to see that you get charged so easily. Just like me ;)
OK OK! - no more on that.
Ibrahim | November 19, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply
You make valid arguments Simon - might I add that the spirit should not be to 'go after him' but rather to 'make him accountable'?
I think some of us are not making, or willing to make, such a distinction.
Ibrahim | November 19, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply
... and we should make everyone accountable, everyone who knowingly, and without regard to the public, abused the system - no matter how remotely.
athena | November 22, 2008 12:49 AM | Reply
Hello
My 2 cents as usual: the bill in parliment doesn't affect Gayoom only. It would be for the rest of the presidents that come through.
Therefore, we can't afford to make this about gayoom or what he is going to get out of it! We have to look at the big picture and think of how we are going to treat our leaders/presidents who have served our country and its people.
cheers