A host of complex issues will come up for deliberations as Maldivian President Waheed Hassan Manik, arrives in New Delhi on Friday, soon after the successful visit of the former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed to India.
Dr. Waheed, the former Vice-President, who stepped in after Mr. Nasheed vacated office on February 7, is a political lightweight, who will be unable to categorically assure New Delhi on issues that are high on the agenda. The issues include the problems confronting Indian investments in the Maldives, the open hostility of some sections of the new government towards India, and the fate of projects that have been approved by the Nasheed dispensation.
But the most important agenda will be the political issues that have been flagged by Mr. Nasheed during his visit to New Delhi. The Waheed government has neither shown the urgency, nor the persistence to engage all shades of opinion to arrive an early election date. While the main supporters of the new administration, including India, the United States and the European Union, wanted early elections – by the end of the year – this now appears remote.
Dr. Waheed’s main backers in Maldives want elections closer to the date that the elections would normally be conducted – late next year. There have been some discussions on fixing July 2013 as the election month, but this too has not found favour with Dr. Waheed’s backers – including the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, one source said.
The signature Indian project that has run into rough weather is GMR’s Male International airport. There have been a host of issues relating to the airport from the start. Sections of the new government have, in the past, been openly hostile, and have demanded that GMR not charge an additional fee on passengers for having developed the airport.
According to Minivan News, Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), led by Dr. Hassan Saeed, Dr. Waheed’s special advisor, filed a successful case in the Civil Court in December 2011 to block the payment of the charge, on the grounds that it was effectively a tax not approved by Parliament.
“Nasheed’s government had agreed to deduct the ADC from the concession fees payable by GMR while it sought to appeal to verdict. As a result, Dr. Waheed’s government received only US$525,355 from the airport for the quarter, compared to the US$8.7 million it was expecting,” the news website said.
Dr. Waheed will be flown to New Delhi in a special plane on Friday, in his first visit to India after he took over as President. During the five-day visit, he is expected to meet a host officials and leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Officials said that the visit has been accorded the status of an ‘official visit’ as opposed to a ‘State visit.’
Keywords: Waheed Hassan Manik, Maldives politics
There is no doubt that the current government came with the help of coup, destroying the democracy in the country for that Maldivians have being begging for over 30 years. After the coup, again former autocratic Mr. Maumoon and his supporters are in most of the senior position of the current government and now trying to bring back the old days to this country. Hope India will not support this coup regime. where is my vote. We need our voting rights. we need an early election immediately.
What the first person Ahmed said is exactly the sentiment of the
people in the current government.
They don't think an Indian company should have such a large project
simply because the political leaders in those parties did not get a
piece of the pie. If the project was given to a joint venture of a
Maldivian company which was owned by these folks and GMR, this issue
would not have arisen. This has been the common practice in Maumoon's
regime. His brother in law Yamin (who is now supposed presidential
candidate of Maumoon's party) or his atolls minister Thasmeen (leader
of DRP) or business tycoon Gasim (JP) usually get a piece from all
investments.
And regarding the courts and parliament having no problem with the
election, the parliaments majority is controlled by the government
parties and most of the judges are still the same ones that were first
appointed by Gayoom.
Also its not Mr. Nasheed's word that people take to say this is a
coup, its what was shown live on Mr. Gasims TV
Well said Ahmed.why don't these countries stop their bullying tactics.solomon
Dr. Waheed was suspceted as the mastermind behid the coup and he should resign immidiately just to as to conduct an early election before end of this year as to meet majority's request.
i believe what Mr. Hamid Abdul Ghafoor said, and still now Mr.Waheed's
office announces that his current visit to India is only to build a good
relationship with India and this is nothing related to any other
political disturbances or early elections in Maldives.
Gabbar Singh after several years of hiding arrives India from Maldives after bringing down
the first ever democratically elected president by a coup, with the same group of Dakus, to
meet PM in disguise.
How can India or any other country openly ask another country to go against it own constitution! Even India or America wouldnt do that. Most likely they may support to amend the constitution to favour such a solution. The way America run Guantanamo or the law they apply in Iraq or Afghanistan or between Palastine and Israel may not be the best solution to Maldives Issue. India is also want to bleed Maldives with their investments? Is that their only interest. Former president now blaming the Indian High Commissioner of involvement of so called Coup! Such a person can be trusted? wow!!!
Waheed is doing good already with all the pressure from some violent MDP
members. proof is that MDP members have given vote in the parliment for
the names of Vice president and newly appointed ministers of Waheed
Cabinet. GMR agreement was done by former president nasheed without any
approval of national instituion
The problem appears to be that we cannot have it both ways! Linking
"Early Elections" to "CMAG Inquiry" is not in the interest of any
stakeholder. So it is best for Waheed to invoke an election through
resignation!
The big question for Maldives would be, will India support the coup or will it support democracy.
You guys are so biased and favoring sides. There are two points I
would like to stress being a Maldivian myself. Do we have to answer
lot of questions about Indian investments here in the Maldives.
Business is established for mutual benefits. If either side do not
find a benefit then that business need to be sorted out. We don't want
our integrity be in someone's hands. We are a Nation having our own
constitutions and values.
Secondly, why do you guys need to ask us about an election while the
Parliament of the Maldives does not need to ask that. And while our
courts are not worried about it. Why do we have to make America, India
or EU happy on this issue. Why don't you guys learn a bit of a respect
to a Country.
Simple because Mr. Nasheed said it's a coup you don't have to put a
bad name on this Nation on daily basis.
Please leave us alone on this issue. We don't depend on people when it
comes to sustain life. We believe in our Creator Allah Almighty. Hope
you hear it clearly
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