Political analysts believe that the Maldives Dictator has all but lost his stronghold on power as he could not push the Amendments to the Civil Service Act in the Parliament. The Dictator failed to secure the 26 votes necessary to debate the Amendments. And, the Dictator is making a complete fool of his youngest minister. It appears that the Information Minister Kutti Nasheed is an incompetent dimwit who could not do his homework and was paying lip service to the Dictator's orders.
Either way, the Dictator is hell-bent on getting his own way and therefore has now proposed further amendments to the Civil Service Act by instituting several commissions to deal with the various groups that come under the Civil Service Act. He wants to dilute the Civil Service Commission into oblivion so that he can maintain his grip on as many Maldivians as he could.
The Dictator's recent actions prove how desperate the Dictator has now become. Even his own people are deserting him now. Ahmed Shiyam, one of the DRP Vice President's have tendered his resignation from the DRP and unconfirmed reports say that Hoarafushi Saleem, one of the Dictator's appointees to the parliament has also sent in his resignation.
There are many reasons why the Dictator is so eager to restrain the Civil Service Commission. One of the important reasons is that the parliament members who are in civil service have to choose one job after May, when the Civil Service Act comes into force. Out of the 50 members of parliaments, some 22 have to choose. They may choose to remain in the parliament or constitutional assembly or resign and be a civil servant. Another reason is that the police, the army, Atolls administration staff and staff at his Office and Palace will be under the commission from May, which means that he cannot appoint or promote people at will, in return for their loyalty and support for his rule. Put it simply, he cannot bear the thought that in a couple of months, there will be hundreds of Maldivians who would fall under the category of "civil or public servants", who would be hired, promoted and fired on the basis of their merit by an independent commission. In other words, he cannot accept that he would no longer be their 'god' and they would no longer bow down" to him.
A powerful Civil Service Commission means that the Maldives Dictator's power will be considerably weakened and that he will not be able to abuse his position for personal gain and operate a regime based on favouritism and blind loyalty.
As such, it is our foremost duty to ensure that that an independent civil service is establish and people would be treated based on their merit. This is paramount not just for now but for our future as well. Irrespective of who is in power, it is crucial that no future ruler can dominate and treat those who serve in the government with discrimination and disdain the way Dictator Gayyoom has.
The people of Maldives cannot afford it. Not any more.
