Translation of Yamin’s Testimony to the Maldivian’s about his resignation from the presidency of brother Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom.

Yamin inherited his ownership of government during the president's move, where he manacled the country of Maldives to himself for thirty years. He has lived through Maumoon’s paranoia about the young educated radicals of Maldivian’s desire for democracy and freedom fro the people. Single authority; banishment and imprisoning the opposite was done in totalitarian ways. Maldives through Yamin’s  resignation testimony has installed a system of intimidation and political and economic subjugation where the national security service according were encouraged to intimidate and inveigle people, often violently to support the presidency.

Not only this, as Yamin himself agreed the presidency is a highly controlled system of patronage where the economic and educational system were abused to expand personal political alliance to the president. Under the system, the political, social and economic system is a luxury only to people who support the president and has links to the ruling elite. Interests of the economy were and is still determined to suit the direct interest of the president and his elites. According to Yamin’s testimonies, derived from his resignation the effect of this elitism is the reason for the income inequity of the country where the wealth of Maldivian income is shared by the few elite members of the government and those associated with the government. Yamin for years has overlooked the undemocratic oppressive practises for his own political survival. President’s biography “A man for all islands” admitted and confirmed Yamin’s initial detachment from the president’s government when he quoted:

Yamin’s quote:

“There was a generation separating us…”. Yamin recalls; also at first I didn’t see much of him” p.74 The Book Quotation.

“His younger half brother Yamin who was getting to know him through his visits to their father” p.79

p.84 quote,  “Maumoon asked Mr. Ford to recommend someone to draw maps for him. Strangely Mr. Ford suggested Abdulla Yamin, not knowing the boy was Maumoon’s half brother”.

All these are indication that Yamin neither initially had no connection or alliance with the president nor the systematic beginning of the presidency that brought the country under the absolute power of the president. Yamin will have to struggle to develop the objectivity necessary for his political future, which he is determined to establish without any association to the president and his party. However, in his years with the president, he has secured charismatic and powerful capable figures such as Jabir and Nazim, their influence and partnership hand in hand with his new mission can secure a political future. Yamins’ resignation is testimony for the president to ask our atoll chiefs to stop their  initiation of speeches with syllables for the long life and prosperity of the presidents oppressive and exploiting regime; instead to pray to Allah for successful legitimisation of the actions taken by the common citizens towards democracy. Instead of making fledging opposition parties out the new system, Yamin is a foreseeable future personality towards taking involvement in true democratisation by his move of separating himself from the direct and indirect actions of the government and DRP.

Yamin in his last Ministerial role has undergone through a revelation. He has come to experience the shortcomings of the lack of democracy and its impact on the common people of Maldives. As minister for labour, social security and higher education Yamin has realised the importance of political order based on human rights, social justice, equity and liberty. He has seen that the majority of Maldivian’s are living in circumstances which are hardly compatible with their dignity as human being and Maldivian citizens. He has seen the struggle for survival. In his interview to Haftha Magazine and that is referred in Haveeru Newspaper, he has quoted. “how can I fulfil my ministerial role by…. Discussing his incapacity to provide jobs for 1200 school leavers every year and failure to provide for the health and welfare needs of the Maldivian people. At the same time he has seen how a minority enjoys the fruit of our country’s economy and live in the luxury and wealth while people every where are suffering deprivation of basic needs. Yamin has stood up to expose such injustice. Revealing the conduction of the government unaccountable stance, and unveiling the lack of justice to the poor is considered as betrayal to our president. However expressing dissenting views and political opinion is the key to overcome the poverty that prevails our life. Yamin has realised that his interview has revealed the degrading condition people has to live in the Maldives and a Maldives stagnating in poverty. Furthermore that the solution lies in the beginning of a true democratic process. A democratic order  is the key to infra structure and is necessary to overcome what he has seen. Yamin has demonstrated a willingness to challenge his brother’s interest to pursue the interest of the Maldivian people. He is not saving himself from any embarrassment over being fired like Abdulla Hameed Maumoons’ other brother; but he is embarking on a role as a political actor towards contributing to the current national political discourse that the Maldivians are praying for.

If the lessons of the past are to be learned then the Maldivian’s must use Yamin’s testimony of resignation. They must speak out for justice and equity. The truth and courage shown by Yamin need to be adopted by us trapped in power acquired through our silence for our own gain, because the majority of our population are victims of poverty and inequality. I am talking  about educated people like my fellow islander and dear friends like the justice minister. As it will only be a matter of time before we will become causalities of the current government system and end up been discarded by our president like old toys. It is time for us to start speaking out. The economic vulnerability of two thirds of our population means they are living as the poorest people of the world. Lack of money spend on the society’s needs for health and education means the two thirds who cannot go for abroad for their health and educational needs; have to live, rot and die in a society exacerbarated with problems of poorness. Yamin has seen it all. Subversive poverty, living on despair as Yamin said 12000 school leaving and the unemployed population, young adult’s end up wallowing in drugs, crime and going astray. Our capital island is flooded with people migrating to the only urban area looking for employment and means of income; a fact which contributes to higher rate of violent crimes being committed. Many of the poorest sector of the population located in the atolls island communities have ended up being female headed households. With the majority of children growing up in families only headed with their mothers as most authority meant in the islands children are deprived from the shelter and authority of their fathers. The fathers in the current system of community have to leave their families in search of employment in Male’ and the tourism sector. Yamin has realised his role as an agent of change is overcoming this social crises and poverty these children are growing in. The mean to overhaul this long established limited form of family life is through a democratic transition.

In our president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom’s book; in chapter ten he has discussed how president Nasir ran the country.

Chapter 10 p 102 – 103 of the presidents biography A man for Islands Quoted:.

“Maumoon was quite confident that his abilities were being recognised even if a lot hung on the impetuous actions of president Nasir the stranglehold of Nasir on the country was so effective that no one could break free. The president did not rule by fear alone. The power of office was boosted by his involvement in enterprises that enriched his cronies as well as himself. Fear and greed: one kept the food and the other the bad dancing to Nasir’s tune. He played the instruments of power like a maestro, both undermining and utilising anyone who might be a potential source of discord. When you did not know who Nair’s spy was, or what gossip would say, discretion was survival” Our dear president’s first flush of enthusiasm to establishing a rule different from Nasir has waned as soon as he became the president. His presidency while has brought no change; had nurtured Nasir’s political culture with more aggressive forms of corruption and oppression.

Maumoon’s younger half brother as he referred to in his biography has seen him committing 30 years of political injustices. Where did the principles of openness, freedom and accountability that Maumoon craved for as an unhappy foreign educated adult under Nasir’s regime go as soon as he himself became the president. He had our country for thirty long years to ensure that these take place in Maldives and citizens like himself in the society are given the chance to fulfil their dreams; the same dream he had for himself and his future. Our president who I once adored and worshipped as my hero, just like his own brother Yamin did; especially after I met him does no longer hold the same appeal he had for me. Specially after reading his biography I lost my owe for him and sees him as a man who contradicts himself  who has become the biggest hypocrite I had ever seen. Just like Yamin the political personalities who are thinking about their own and their family needs to present the right path to our president. We to secure our livelihood are deluding him and protecting his presidency. This is against Allah’s given responsibility associated with the gift of  education. Where is the Maldivian saying use the given responsibility of educating yourself and educate others using your knowledge. This needs to be our moral thinking.

Finally, issues of civil society and problems of infra structure faced by the communities in the Maldives are associated with democratic order. Those who have it, let us use our education our positions in the government, our power  in the society and our conscience to empower our president towards ensuring a proper democratisation initiative. Let us use Yamins resignation move as an inspiration and seek that strength in ourselves to help the people of Maldives with a vision towards listening to their ideas, needs and dreams. The empowerment of the people of Maldives (instead of elites) is by working towards eliminating the great deal of mistrust and fear created by the kind of presidency we have seen so far.

A political party system clean of past impurities needs to be established. Both leading parties of today has their foundation based on these impurities. This is the reason why  so far, little has been done. We need to work for a more transparent political party system that puts human rights in its heart and the well being of the people as priority needs to be established. The voiceless victims of poverty stricken Maldivians of public sphere need to be educated about their rights for involvement in the democracy dialogue is the key to healthy reforms. At the moment so far from what I have seen there is a threat for our citizens that political parties and members we appointed to represent us in the parliament  are paying lip service to democracy and  people’s needs. We have been trapped in a vicious circle since the democratic reforms were announced three years ago and as yet little has been done by the government and the established political parties to free us from this circle.

For democratic principals to take root we need people and a party free of political impurities. Yamins testimony is he has taken the initiative towards purification of himself. A political party that we can trust to be open and accountable selflessly dedicated for the good of the people is needed. Who will be our saviour? Who will save us the common Maldivian  from fear; distrust; poverty and other demons that has taken hold of us. Yamin’s departure from the government is the inspiration for me to raise this million-dollar question.