Category: Executive

‘Too many tweets make a twat’?

by Azra Naseem

British Prime Minister, David Cameron, when asked for his views about politicians on Twitter, famously replied: ‘Too many tweets might make a twat.” Cameron was discussing the instantaneousness of modern communication, and the perils of politicians Tweeting without thinking.

It should be said that neither side of the divided Maldivian political landscape are too keen to listen to Cameron right now. The authoritarians have a bone to pick with him for declaring President Nasheed his ‘new best friend’ and ‘ideal stag party-companion’ not long before the coup; and Nasheed’s supporters aren’t happy with him for abandoning his new best friend at the first sign of trouble. But, on lessons about Tweeting, Cameron’s advice is spot on for Maldivian politicians.

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CoNI ‘Timeline’: For your opinion only

by Azra Naseem

The National Commission of Inquiry (CoNI) has not been able to begin its investigations proper yet. But, its Commissioner Ismail Shafeeu and his two ‘investigators’ have seen it fit to release a ‘Timeline’ of events that led to President Mohamed Nasheed’s resignation on 7 February.

The first page is a disclaimer, saying that the released document is ‘not a report of findings’ but a Timeline ‘with omissions’ released to seek public opinion on its contents.

Since when has opinion been needed for the establishment of facts?

And what right does Ismail Shafeeu (the Commissioner) and his two ‘investigators’ have to release anything in the name of CoNI? CoNI is yet to begin its work with the approved MDP nominee (Gaha Ahmed Saeed) and the representative of the international community, yet here it is, a so-called timeline in the name of CoNI.

People are meant to read it and send feedback to CoNI before 21 June.

So here’s an unofficial translation of the 44 page document. See what you make of it, and make sure you leave your opinion. DhivehiSitee will see to it that it gets to CoNI before 21 June.

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Regression, regression, regression

It has been almost four months since the first democratically elected government of the Maldives fell on 7 February 2012. Since then, the new regime has lowered the national discourse to a level that befits the fourth Century rather than the 21st.

What has been accorded top priority in the national agenda despite the social, political and economic turmoil in the country are not policies for economic survival, decreasing the rising criminality and gang violence, social welfare schemes and educational development  but sorcery, anachronistic and cruel practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, length of men’s beards and coverage of women’s ‘modesty’. And alleged irreligiousness of Nasheed and his supporters.

The agenda for the All-Party talks, for all intents and purposes a ‘Roadmap’ for returning the country to some sort of normalcy is a case in point. It clearly demonstrates that the new regime has no intention of putting democracy on the agenda; it prefers to make a mockery of reformists’ demand to do so.

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