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The following is an interview by the Chief government Spokesman to the Dhi-Politics

DP : In a recent interview with Reuters, Maldivian Democratic Party's President Mr. Ibrahim Ismail said that he is prepared to 'go back to' jail if necessary to bring democracy to the Maldives, and he has 'warned' the government of Maldives of raising a campaign for civil disobedience or strikes, if the governments' actions fail to meet his expectations by the end of January this year. What is your response to this threatening statement considering MDP's role in the heaviest public unrests the country has gone through in the recent past and what do you think Mr. Ibrahim Ismail believes to be carried out by the government in terms of democratic progress by the end of January?

Mr. Ibrahim Ismail’s threats do not worry the Government; threats, intimidation and coercion have no place in the mature democracy that we are building in the Maldives. Mr. Ismail is still living in the past; his allegations are from a bygone era

Mohamed Hussain Shareef,

Chief Government Spokesman

Ans : Mr. Ibrahim Ismail's statements, inflammatory outbursts and doublespeak have little to do with the Government’s agenda for democracy, human rights and reform. The MDP survives on such rhetoric, disinformation and unsubstantiated allegations. Their recent failed attempts to create civil unrest across the country and their willingness to promote lawlessness and violence have raised serious doubts about their commitment to democratic ideals or reform.

Calls for civil unrest and a tourism boycott are certainly not the kind of strategies and actions associated with a political party with a sincere commitment to democracy and reform. These are, rather, the actions of unsophisticated mercenaries and opportunists! The lust for power has driven the MDP and Mr. Ismail to sink right to the bottom of the political gutter. The failure to appeal to the majority of the descent and law-abiding citizens of the Maldives has left the MDP with little choice but to adopt such a revolutionary and populist outlook; it is merely a survival technique. Setting deadlines for an overthrow, orchestrating civil unrest and promoting societal divisions and disharmony can keep their misguided members at bay for the time-being, but eventually the people will start seeing through the lies.

The MDP assume that the Maldivian people are fools; they think that the people are mere lambs who they can lead to the slaughter! They are wrong. What Mr. Ismail has failed to contemplate is that the Maldivian people are in fact industrious and well aware of the dangers posed by such economic non-cooperation measures. Mr. Ismail’s life will not be affected, but the ordinary man’s will!

The Government is responsible for the welfare of the people. The reform agenda is also being carried forward on the expectations of the people and in consultation with stakeholders. Mr. Ismail’s expectations are the least of our concerns. His problem is that he assumes that he represents the Maldivian people. Only the elected Government has a right to speak and act on behalf of the people. Mr. Ismail should, at least for the time being, remain in his standard and speak for his party and its membership.

Mr. Ibrahim Ismail must also realise that the Government has extended a sincere invitation to all political parties to join in the reform process as partners and stakeholders. However, the reform agenda will not be held hostage by Mr. Ismail or the MDP. The Government has a responsibility to the people to deliver on our promises for democratic reform, and we intend to do this with or without the political parties.

DP : In the referred interview, Mr. Ibrahim Ismail further warned that he may as well call for a tourism boycott if the government does not make substantial movement 'soon'. Here, it is worthy of note that Mr. Ibrahim Ismail hasn't given a clear timeframe and hence it is likely that he may take actions at any time. So, is the government ready to respond quickly to such an action which may stake the country's economy at ruin?

Ans : Let us make one thing clear – the MDP has already called for a boycott! The current 'selected' boycott that we are seeing is sponsored by ‘Friends of Maldives', and their links with the MDP need no further comment. Of course, calling for a tourism boycott in the name of MDP would not the worst political blunder of Mr. Ismail's short reign of the MDP. It would be an insult to the hardworking people of the Maldives, many of whom earn their living from employment in these resorts. People will not tolerate anyone snatching food off their plates and it would therefore be very unwise for the MDP to call for such a boycott in their name.

As for the ongoing FoM boycott, it seems to me to be a business strategy by those resort owners allied with the MDP. It is an attempt to gain a comparative advantage in a very competitive industry.

Mr. Ibrahim Ismail’s threats do not worry the Government; threats, intimidation and coercion have no place in the mature democracy that we are building in the Maldives. Mr. Ismail is still living in the past; his allegations are from a bygone era. The Maldives that we like in today is a country transformed to such an extent that one can be forgiven for mistaking it for a brand new country! Mr. Ismail's ideals are outdated; his allegations are outdated; his shadow cabinet is also filled with outdated individuals.

The Maldives’ tourism product is way too strong for a Mr. Ismail to shake up. Our tour operators and holidaymakers know the country too well for them to be swayed by the kind of lies that are printed on Dhivehi Observer. Only David Hardingham sees the Maldives in this light. Also, its worth noting that this is not the first occasion that we have heard calls for a tourism boycott. Last year, a British-based company called Tourism Concern also embarked on such a smear campaign. Needless to say it was an utter failure. In fact, British arrivals numbers have been on a steady increase ever since, in spite of the tsunami. Both campaigns have strong MDP links, so it is laughable when Mr. Ismail says that he is ‘contemplating on calling for a tourism boycott' when he effectively already has!

DP : DhiPolitics has a feeling that MDP's President Mr.Ibrahim Ismail's mentioning of going to jail several times is intended to create a view to the media that the government of Maldives resorts to autocratic means to suppress the opposition voice. Do you think this could be his intention or would his attempt may disrepute the government of Maldives to the eyes of the international community?

Ans : If DhiPolitics has a 'feeling' that it is so, the Chief Government Spokesman is ‘sure’ that it is so! Actually, Mr. Ismail and the MDP don’t brand this Government as autocratic, but rather as a dictatorship.

Anyway, breaking the law and going to jail is nothing to brag about. However, if Mr. Ismail thinks that imprisonment makes you one a greater leader, I recall that our current President, H. E. Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was imprisoned and banished long before Mr. Ibrahim Ismail even graduated from school! His Excellency was in solitary confinement too, in a time when solitary confinement really was solitary confinement!

It will take much more than a Mr. Ismail to tarnish the reputation of this Government in the eyes of the international community. For over two decades, the Maldives has developed steadily through the policies of this Government, and with the help of the international community. The MDP could possibly fool the Arctic Inuit Eskimo population about the situation in the Maldives, but the international and donor community have a presence on the ground and they know full well that this Government is committed to democracy, human rights and reform.

DP : Mr. Ibrahim Ismail said "The population is getting very restless about the lack of forward movement," –by the government- despite the existence of diverse political interests among the people within the current political environment of the Maldives, don't you think it's an exaggeration by Mr. Ibrahim Ismail to express the vista of his party pertaining to every single Maldivian?

Ans : There is a distinct difference between a ‘population getting restless’ and a ‘party becoming restless'! There is also a marked difference between a ‘population getting restless’ and a ‘party becoming violent’! Mr. Ismail should know the difference quite well. If forward movement is incitement to violence, calls for civil unrest and creating societal disharmony, then this Government will never do it!

The pace of reform is not slow, considering the amount of pitfalls and obstacles that the MDP have created for us! There is a deliberate attempt in the Special Majlis to slow down the constitutional reform process. Everyone knows that only the MDP stand to gain from this. Also, recent incidents of civil unrest serve only to divert our attention from the reform programme. However, the Government is determined to overcome all these obstacles and to deliver to the people what was promised at the start of the President’s sixth term of office – a modern and mature democracy.

It wasn't Mr. Ismail or the MDP that brought political parties to the Maldives! It wasn’t Mr. Ismail or the MDP that brought the Human Rights Commission, the Judicial Services Commission, the Criminal Justice Action Plan, the Public Complaints Bureau, the 31-point Proposals on Constitutional Amendment, strengthened safeguards during investigation and trial, a bail system, a parole system, legal representation, the specification of arrestable and non-arrestable offences, improved prison facilities and the Jail Oversight Committee. Also, it won't be Mr. Ismail or the MDP who will bring the new Penal Code, the Police Powers Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Press Freedom Act, the Press Council Act, the Defamation Act, the Act on Registration and Publication of Newspapers and Magazines, the new Elections Act, the Referendum Act and of course a brand new Constitution!

DP : As per the policies unveiled by Mr. Ibrahim Ismail, it is clear that the MDP recognizes Civil Disobedience as a democratic means to confront the government. What impact would it reflect to the country and its people at the commencement of a new political era in the life of this country?

Civil disobedience is not a policy; it is an insult! Also, Mr. Ismail's words differ from the MDP’s actions. There is of course a major difference between civil disobedience and civil unrest. One is peaceful while the other is violent and thus unlawful. Democracy is about dialogue and consensus, respect for law and order, individual liberty and fundamental rights, and the welfare of the people. It is not about confronting law enforcement officials, impoverishing the people and smear and propaganda.

Also, for civil disobedience and economic non-cooperation to work, one needs the popular support of the people. This is one luxury that the MDP do not have! Maldivians are a descent, peace-loving and friendly people. Also, the people are fully aware of the achievement of this Government over the past quarter century. They also have the confidence that we can keep delivering.

That is what this Government intends to do – deliver better services to the people. We will not get bogged down by the attempts of a minority! A popular Mark Twain goes: "You take the lies out of him, and he’ll shrink to the size of your hat; you take the malice out of him, and he'll disappear!"

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