First
Political Party in the Maldives
The
Maldives had a political party in the early 1950's, leading
up to and during the period of the first republic (1953 - 1954).
The name of the party was the "Rayyitunge Mutagaddim
Paatee" which loosely translates as the "People's
Progressive Party".
The
polulation of the Maldives at that time was about 60,000.
It
is not understood that there was any movement to re-establish
a political party until 2000. That bid was stopped by resolution
of the People's Majlis (parliament) which is made up exclusively
of deputies who support the ruling regime.
Many
of the deputies of the Maldive parliament have paid positions
in the administrative sector of the regime. Others are under
oath, in other capacities, to be loyal to the leader of the
regime.
The
Maldive regime's main arguement against allowing political parties
was that they were not practicable in a country with a population
of just over 300,000. Another argument was that a party was
a social event meant to serve tea and other refreshments. This
was according to the then minister in charge of incorporating
societies.
(This
minister is a well-meaning, hard working honest, fair and likeable
individual. He is a disciplinarian who was in charge of discipline
in the main boy's school in Malé in the 1960's. Most
of his ministerial colleagues and the senior officer corps of
the National Security Service grew up lining up to his orders.
Boys were told to look at the back of the head of the boy standing
in front of them- "konmme kujjakuves balaanee kuriyah hunna
kujjaage boluge fuhkiba". The idea was to get the line
straight. By disallowing the political party, he was instinctively
getting people into line)
Recently
held Maldive elections have always been pronounced as fair by
scrutineers from fellow member countries of the South Asian
Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) who do not speak
the local language called Divehi. It is not understood that
candidates are able to appoint their own scrutineers as in civilised
democracies such as New Zealand.
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