Draft Transitional Chapter politically inclined - DRP

Member of Dhivehi Rahyithunge Party (DRP) Parliamentary Group as well as Member of Parliament for Addu Atoll Ibrahim Shareef has said that the Chapter on the Transition of the new Constitution was drafted by Member of the Parliament for Male’ as well as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Special Majlis Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra), in a very unilateral manner by using the influence and powers of his position.

Speaking at news conference held at the DRP office MP Shareef said the draft transitional chapter released to Members by Ibra unofficially was not a draft compiled according to the thoughts of the Drafting Committee or of the Majlis. He further said that draft was formulated with the help of Liberal Party members of the Drafting Commission. MP Shahreef also noted that in process of drafting the chapter technical advice of the Professor Sumeizer technical expert, who came to Maldives to provide assistance in the drafting of the constitution, was never sought.

“We too believe in the importance of the transitional Chapter to reach the new constitution, our stand is that we cannot remove a legally elected government from power without consulting the people and hand over powers to a body which is not even elected by the people, it just cannot be done” said Shareef.

MP Shareef stated that DRP’s view is that President Gayoom should remain in office till the ongoing term expires.

“We are going to have multiparty elections this year, all institutions required to facilitate multiparty elections shall be established; in this regard independent elections commission will be established, the transitional chapter must prescribe deadlines for establishing such institutions as well as deadlines for completion of the necessary bills to reach the new constitution” said Shareef.

In addition MP Shareef said that even though DRP wanted to include dates for holding elections as well as a date for the new constitution to come in to force in the chapter on transition, no consideration was given to DRP’s views in the formation of the draft chapter.

“I believe this raises serious doubts on the sincerity of the Drafting Committee’s Chairman, this is an effort to mislead and confuse the people of Maldives. First making a draft without consulting the members of the drafting committee, no consideration was given to majority party DRP’s views, no consultation was made with Professor Sumeizer, finally this draft was formulated in violation of the procedures established by special Majlis for the purpose of amending the constitution” said MP for Addu Atoll Shareef.