DRP Attacks Ibra On Draft Transitional Arrangements

The ruling Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has described the chapter on interim arrangements to implement the constitution in progress – newly drawn up by the drafting panel – as “illegal” in a press conference called at the party’s head office on Sunday.

The DRP claims work on the chapter has been “undemocratic”, alleging Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra), chairman of the drafting committee which develops material initially produced by the panel, has “abused the power and influence of his office.”

A version of the chapter recently leaked to local media appears to meet opposition rather than DRP preferences on key issues such as an interim president and parliament.

But Ibra has dismissed the accusations, saying the draft so far, which includes key changes to the current makeup of government, has been drawn up in accordance with already approved constitutional material – and in consultation with the DRP itself.

“Unethical”

At Sunday’s press conference, Ibrahim Shareef MP (Mavota), previously a member of the largest opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), said the chairman had behaved in a “completely unethical” manner and that his “integrity and sincerity [to the democratic reform] process is questionable.”

Also heading the event were Dhiyana Saeed, Mohamed Saleem, and legal reform commissioner Mohamed Anil.

Dhiyana and Anil argued the DRP could not accept the panel draft on interim arrangements, because the draft did not reflect the DRP's “majority view”. Key objections include the proposed status of the president and parliament during the interim period.

Dhiyana also criticised the draft for specifying an interim government cannot undertake new projects, citing the example of a health insurance scheme. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has pledged health insurance for civil servants after a previous scheme collapsed last year.

Meanwhile Ismail Shareef described the drafting panel as a “household panel” assembled by the “chair [of the drafting committee].”

But Ibra dismissed the comment as an attempt to “deliberately confuse the public,” adding that it was not him alone who had assembled the panel, which has drawn up initial drafts of all constitutional material so far. The majority of the constitution has now been passed.

“Baseless”

Speaking to Minivan News, Ibra described the DRP’s accusations as “baseless”, saying the draft had in fact been developed in consultation with information minister Mohamed Nasheed, head of the DRP parliamentary group Aneesa Ahmed and attorney general Azima Shukoor.

He added that a key issue was conformity with already passed chapters of the constitution, saying both parties represented in parliament – the DRP and MDP – had made some requests which contradicted existing passages. No such requests have been included in the draft, he added.

In any case, he contends the chapter has “no real weight” as it has yet to undergo several stages of the drafting process.

At Odds

The MDP and DRP have long been at odds over the process of transition required to implement the constitution in progress.

The DRP have said maintaining the current president and parliament during the interim period is “non-negotiable.” However the MDP has insisted the president and parliament must change, and initiated the National Unity Alliance of opposition groups – which includes Ibra’s fledgling Social Liberal Party – to campaign for an interim government.

The Alliance maintains an interim parliament should include no presidential appointees, and the leaked draft contains this condition.

But Ibra argues there is no alternative, since under the approved chapter on the legislature, parliament may contain only elected members. Nothing that “contradicts the constitution” can allowed once it comes into force, he says, including during the transitional period.

There are currently eight presidential appointees in parliament and 29 in the Special Majlis (constitutional assembly).

The draft also stipulates the incumbent president may remain in place as interim head of state, but may not stand in the presidential elections slated for later this year.

The DRP have insisted both that incumbent president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, head of state for almost thirty years, remain in place during the interim, and that he is eligible to stand again.

Consultation

Drafting panel member Hassan Latheef said the allegations were “overblown.”

The draft was produced in consultation with the five members of the drafting panel plus Canadian consultant Professor Doug Schmeiser, he added. It contains multiple alternative versions of certain clauses.

Both Ibra and Latheef pointed out that the draft remains at an early stage, and is subject to change by both the drafting committee – which contains DRP and MDP members, as well as members belonging to no registered party – and the Special Majlis.

It has now been submitted to the committee for consideration, but has yet to reach the Special Majlis.

The DRP will use its parliamentary majority to vote down the draft and amend it in accordance with the party line, members said on Sunday