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Gaim Yoosuf Adam Professor Theresa.Adams ENG 270 Persuasion 10th December 2012

Leaving Political Party-dependence for a better future Even though, it has been almost 12 years since a democratic system was introduced to Maldives, the system is pretty new to the Country where they experienced a thirty-year long presidency, led by ex-president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, up until 2009, when Maldives had their very first own multi-party election. There is no question that the introduction of political parties to the country brought certain benefits to the society. To end the 30 year presidency itself was a huge achievement, and a much needed change. Introduction of freedom of speech and having more than one opinion was just some perks of the political party system. However, like anything else, there is both positive and negatives in introducing political parties to the country. One question remains unanswered by the people who support the party system. Considering both positives and negative, is party system good for the Maldivian society? As a neutral and someone who does not belong to any political party, I have to say that as for now, disadvantages of introducing party system weigh more than the advantages it brought to the society. We need democracy. Democracy is supposed to bring freedom, be it freedom of speech, or freedom of choice. But party system has been preventing certain freedom from people who belong to parties. Yes, but has become a common sentence among the people who support a certain political party.

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Ever since I was a small kid, I remember the campaigns people did to get votes for parliament members. Just like now, even than we had the freedom to vote for whoever candidate we wish for our atoll, or area. So the question is; what is the difference between now and then? Then we voted for the candidate we thought was more suitable for the job. We looked for a candidate who can provide a better service to our atoll, or to our island. We looked for things like; can he/she provide a good education system? Can he/she improve the recreation services for our island?, and so on. Then we made sure we are voting for the perfect candidate. With the introduction of party system, things have slightly changed. Today the majority of the people look for only one thing in a candidate. In their eyes, a candidate has only one requirement. As long as the candidate(s) represents the political party we belong or we support, that is more than enough for us. No more looking for the best suitable candidate. It seems as if we dont decide who to vote anymore, rather the party we belong or support decides the vote for us. Then we all believed a wrong doing as something bad, no matter who did it. Use of alcohol was a downgraded illegal action (since Maldives is an Islamic nation). However, in todays society even usage of alcohol becomes a bad act only if it was done by someone who belongs to a party we dont support. We tend to give a blind eye if was done by someone from the party we support. Once I heard two people talking about two different people who ever in higher position in two different parties. One who belonged to Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was criticizing a higher-position member of than the governing party, Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) as he was well-known for the usage of drugs and alcohol. The one

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who was listening to the conversation asked the MDP supporter is the rumor about the higherposition MDP members usage of alcohol and drug was true. The answer came in an incomplete sentence. All he said was Yes, but. As if it is alright for that member to use since he belongs to a party he supports. Two people from two parties committed the same crime. But in the eye of the party supporter, the only wrong-doer is the one who does not belong to the party he does not support. When MDP came into power in 2009, lot of people criticized them during the South Asian Association for Regional Corporation Summit which was held in Maldives, as they put idols as a way of decorating, as the idols symbolize Hindu Gods. But the MDP supporters went on to say; during Maumoon presidency he put an even bigger idol in a resort for an occasion.

During MDP government, people criticized when a picture of then their vice president was leaked to public as he was in front of a Hindu Temple. People called him a betrayer to the religion Maldivians believed in. But ever since he became the temporary president after the president was thrown away from power in the beginning of 2012 with a coup, the opposition has changed their mind about the ex-vice president. At the same time, for MDP supporters, he became a traitor to the party. There is no doubt; there are few individuals who look for reality. There are people who belong to a party that accept good as good and bad as bad, even if it is done by their own party. The only problem, however, is this number is scarily few. Most people are too attached to their own party; they refused to accept anything unless it favors their own party.

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Needless to say, for the benefit of the society we live in, we need to decide what is best for us, rather than letting a party decide for us. We need to leave the Yes, but... ideology, and start accepting good as good and bad as bad, not matter who did it. Only we are responsible for our action. For a brighter future, we need to be independent in our decisions again. We need to start using party as a tool for our benefit, rather than letting a party use us as a tool for their benefit.