Former Convicts, now Heads

Maldivians wanted a change and most of them voted for a change. Maldives elected a new Leader to bring changes he promised. With the oath of new leader, the Maldivians began experiencing changes they never thought of. Some people I know never thought of. Things are happening so fast that some people have difficulty in digesting it. First it was appointing the secretaries and under secretaries which is equivalent to the deputy Ministers and Executive Director level approximately. Most of my friends thought this is cool as most of them are young and capable. That was fair enough. The young capable appointees were none other than the volunteers who contribute a lot for the change.
Shocking news was that recently President has appointed Mr. Abdulla Shahid as Minister of State for Defence, who was one of the masterminds behind the terrorist attack to Maldives on November 3, 1988 which took at least 19 innocent lives. Is this a change we looking for? Now do not tell me that he was fighting against Maumoon regime. And he was a national hero who ended Maumoon’s torture. There was news that he was forced to take alcohol and was drunk when perpetrators got his help to draw the map and got intelligence information about the NSS Headquarters being an active soldier. Does this show his innocence? The important thing is that he was convicted and imprisoned for life when later years he was pardoned. How will he have any national interest and determination when once he joined a troop to capture Maldives and hindered its harmony. This is an insult to the warriors who lost their lives and the live who fought to save their nation.

There is also a rumor that convicted drug dealer who was imprisoned for life was declared void by Maldivian High Court. He was a journalist and activist when he was sentenced. But the people who know him better have said that he is a drug dealer and the case was genuine. I will not be surprise when he was given a high level post saying that he was framed as he was against previous government.

No wonder the people who left Maldives when it needed their services most are now joining the politics and running for the parliament election hence, that they get a high pay while they ruin the life of the island peoples. I also wonder why decentralisation of Atolls are been given so much important while the atoll councils are to be formed according to our new constitution.
I think this is too early to comment on anything. I really want to hold for May 2011.

Separatist Movement in Havaru Thinadhoo

Havaru Thinadhoo, presently known as G.DH Thinadhoo was once depopulated and dispersed and later again on 22 August 1966 it was rebuilt with 440 households of not more than 2500 inhabitants. According to the historians of Maldives the people of Thinadhoo were involved in the formation of separate nation called United Suvadive Republic ( 3 January 1959 to 23 September 1963) jointly with Addu and Fuvamulah, three southernmost Atolls of Maldives and Huvadhoo Ocean separating them from the rest of Maldives.
According to the historians the separatist movement started soon after British started their decolonizing the South Asia namely India and Sri Lanka. Due to lack of proper communication and scheduled shipping line there was no communication between the Centre and the distant atolls of Maldives The islanders of these atolls were deprived from essential items like food, clothing and most importantly there was no medicines for epidemic s. This isolation leads the South Atolls to establish direct trade link with Ceylon and South of India. The islanders had their own sail boats and were self sufficient without the help of the Centre of the Maldives. The historians agree that the south of Maldives was wealthier than that of Male’ due to its direct trade links with the foreign traders. This self sufficiency was affected when India and Sri Lanka got its independence and South traders need to get a travel document which was issued in Male’. This caused many sailors and the businessmen to suffer again. Frustration together with the isolation caused Southern warriors to go against government and form new nation thinking that with the help of British they will be able to sail across the ocean to their destinations without showing document. The people of South with their open heart trusted English people who were supervising the work of the Gan airport, without knowing that their Government had seized the ships of South people. This caused the south people to suffer in starvation. Many people and children died due to the starvation. Then the Prime Minister used the opportunity and called for surrender. The hunger and the anger made the people not to surrender in fact they fought even though they do not own any weapons. Some historians say that they are the people with pride and arrogance.
When I read some articles about Havaru Thinadhoo Baqavai i was amazed by the courage of the people. They not only fought for their rights but also fought to protect their properties and family. Their properties were destroyed in 1962 when the Prime Minister captured the island and forced islanders to leave the Island. The prisoners were taken to Male’ in Maldives Star and were imprisoned for life where many prisoners died due to torture and disease. The rest of people were dispersed to other neighbouring islands where most of them had to sell the belongings they left with to get a handful of rice. This is not worse than that of the situation in Darfur. The people of Thinadhoo lost their properties; families had to find separate way, lost their pride, the pregnant women lived with no husband to support. The once capital of the atoll was looted. Havaru Thinadhoo was resettled on the 22nd August 1966. The name was changed from Havaru Thinadhoo to Thinadhoo on 27th June 1979.
I wonder when the eminent people will be willing to tell the truths, wonder why suddenly they started talking about decentralisation and the way of connecting all the islands. The centre should not be biased. We all are Maldivians and we share same history, culture and Tradition. Maldives not only need to restructure the government it also need to have better and proper shipping line as well as costal security system

New Salary of President

The Financial Committee of the Peoples Majlis has proposed Rf. 150000 for President and Rf.75000 for vice President and the Majlis today approved Rf.100000 as the monthly salary for President for which 16 members voted in favor and Rf.75000 for Vice President. The newly appointed President however showed his concern saying that he thinks that the proposed salary is too high before the bill was send to the parliament for approval. At the Majlis session held yesterday, the parliament members discussed about the proposal of the Financial Committee and indeed all the members felt that the salary was too high. Parliament members had different views and members suggested that the salary should not go beyond Rf.100000. The main discussion was held regard to the President’s salary though some members also focused on the vice president salary. However the proposed salary was approved for Vice President. This is first time that Maldives has Vice President Post who is paid same amount as the salary which was paid to previous President. Based on the local news coverage what I understood was that the proposal was made without any base, without any calculation no surveys neither any much facts. The Financial Committee came up with some amount saying that no citizen of the Maldives should get higher salary than that of President and Vice President and if the salary is low then it will hinder their responsibilities. The President should be paid highly so that he will be able to fully commit to his responsibilities as President.

What amazed me was a comment from a member saying that the President should get enough salary to build his house and make his life comfortable when he leaves President Post and he should not be a burden for the Parliament after that. These members once were saying that the former president was spending government money for his own private use. Is this making any sense to us?

Before the parliament approves the salary, it has to be more transparent without any loopholes. People elect president and hand him responsibilities of leading the nation forgetting that he has a life and needs to be fulfilled. He is a human being like any of us. He has to be paid like us. People are not willing to accept this because President they believe that President is entitled for numerous allowances and gets everything. People want to know reason why he needs a separate salary to secure his future. I am not bother about that he is under or over paid but curious to know why and for what he is being paid that huge amount despite with all facilities.

What I feel is that when a Parliament opted to revise the salary it has to be shared with the whole society and people should know what really this salary refers to?. This is to avoid the unwanted accusations. Now the question is that whatever parliament approves does it have the consent of the people of Maldives as members are appointed by the people. I do not think so. What about the people who did not tick for them.

Economic Diplomacy and International Relations

Some consider economic diplomacy to be a fairly recent addition to the work of professional diplomats, who previously tended to concentrate almost exclusively on political tasks. Commercial work, like other functional sectors, consular or cultural, was traditionally viewed with disdain, and represented a secondary career track for high-flying diplomats. However, in a globalised and interconnected world, economics is more important than ever as a determining element in international affairs. It is also a sizable component of relations between states. Thus, economics has moved to center-stage in diplomacy and now extends beyond ‘commercial diplomacy’. Aside from foreign trade, it includes external investments, financial flows, aid, bilateral and multilateral economic negotiations and technology exchanges, which all ‘brand’ countries and contribute to image-building.

Economic diplomacy is an active and interconnected factor in integrated diplomacy, where the lines of division between functional areas are blurred, and each sector influences the other.

In some ways, we have evolved back to the earliest recorded days of relations between kingdoms and principalities, when commerce was an important motivation for reaching out to other foreign entities. It led ancient civilizations to exchange spices, silks and other precious commodities with distant lands, thereby creating the norms and procedures within which the exchanges could be carried out. These were the first ‘international’ accords and treaties that were not only concerned with conquest and territory, but with mutually beneficial commercial dealings within a legal framework.

This portal explores the multiple dimensions of modern economic diplomacy as a component of international relations.

The portal's principal content is derived from the economic aspects of diplomatic activity analysed at length in Ambassador Kishan Rana's book, "Bilateral Diplomacy", published by DiploFoundation, Malta, 2002.

Chapter 4: ‘Economics and Diplomacy’

This chapter sketches the importance of economics in diplomacy. It looks at the way economic work is handled by different governments, some through integrating commerce and foreign affairs, others by making the foreign ministry responsible for aid programs, and many more through enforcing a separation of economic and external affairs. It outlines the methods used in economic promotion, and goes on to consider the issue of country image and ‘branding’, which is closely connected with economic as well as political activities abroad, especially as national stereotypes are the dominant way in which foreign countries and peoples are perceived by all of us. The role of innovation in diplomacy is also sketched.

Chapter 5: Trade, Investments, Aid and Technology

These are identified as the four pillars of economic work and are examined in detail from the perspective of diplomacy practitioners. Trade, especially export promotion, is a primary external affairs activity, whether it is handled by professional diplomats or by commercial specialists who are aided by the diplomatic machinery. In a similar fashion, the mobilisation of foreign direct investments (FDI) is a goal pursued by all countries, developing and developed. Actual methods used in these activities are illustrated with examples. The chapter also examines the gap between the lip service that many pay to economic diplomacy and the existing weaknesses in implementing it in a number of developing states.

Wondering why it is a wonder

Taj Mahal, being a one of a wonders of the world situated in India and makes more thrilling that it is in Asia. It is a monument built by the Muguls and regarded as the best and finest one they ever build. It is built entirely with white marbles with inlaid design of flowers in gems. The architectural works of Taj Mahal was often impressed by the western historians. It was built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife and queen Mumthaz Mahal at Agra.

When I was at school I read about wonders of the world, then I was having an impression that this will rock my life if ever I had a chance to see the Taj Mahal in my real eyes. Never knew why it is regarded as a wonder. When I had a chance to travel to New Delhi, spending two days in a Train on a tour, First thing me and my friends did was hire a cab to Agra. It was during hot summer. The breeze was so hot and we were feeling thirsty always. After 3 to 4 hours journey we finally reached to Agra where again we took another hour to reach to the Taj Mahal compound. As the vehicles were not allowed we took a rikshaw till the gate of the Taj Mahal. We got tickets and then experienced the lies and difficulties. However we managed to enter. We all were thirsty and were feeling tired. We were happy to see the one of the wonders of the world with our real eyes. I am very sure that everyone out there will be feeling the same thing. when we entered in to our surprise we saw was a building. huge mosque like structure, long pond, lots of trees shape, lots of people taking pictures with different pauses. We took few pictures from outside and when entered inside there was a protected area with iron bars in four side and when looked down what we can see was a stair case. The man next to us told that we all should throw a coin there. It seems that if we wish for anything it will come true. I did the same, never was that my wish came true. Then again we passed the door we saw the two tomb. Thats the where the Mumthaz was buried and Shah Jahan was brought buried when he died in Agra Fort.

I thought of myself that what a waste of money and energy but reality was that I felt kind of proud of myself. Thought it is just a building and there is nothing else to see other than admiring the architecture works, the craft men creativity, the four other building sides by, the unequal octagon. After this I have visited again twice, every time sees the same thing and feels the same. I did go other places where I found same architecture works but better amazed and impressed. I still do not understand why this is treated as a wonder. But trust me even if I say this you cannot stop yourself craving for a visit to Taj Mahal. I keep wondering why that is so....

If Only

I got a

Chance to tell you

Chance to hold on it

Chance to share with you

Chance to announce it

Chance to remind you

Chance to see your smile

Chance to watch your curiosity

Chance to see it in your eyes

When I say

This is your favourite movie

;P

Romancing or time passing- ends up women sobbing

I often wonder why young ladies, teenagers, women fall for wrong guys. Is that they are weak or that they are stupid or that they are blind. The answer is short and simple. The men appear at a wrong time. Those times when she just broke up with her boy friend and was on grieve or that she had suffered a family problem recently or that she needed a comforting hand to be with her as she was feeling ignored, frustrated, desperate or that she thinks that why not a try. First he captures her heart with sweet wonderful words and convinces her that she means everything to him. How can they be so selfish?. Next step would be asking her out for dinner or for a walk. She hesitates at first but ladies complicated creature. They go out for a date even if it was never said. Then the phone calls starts. The phone calls which takes half of her sleep which wakes her up during her deep sleep, which she waits for desperately, because of which she misses half of her dinner. The conversations which she is never bored off. These are the happy days. Memorable days she thinks. Then come the departing. Feels the whole world is laughing at her and cruel to her. She feels that there is nothing left to her. Feels she sleeps like forever at least she will dream of him. They start separate journey with the lots of unwritten promises. I hope that all girls have enough strength to say no to these cowards but.... Human being especially women in particular are sensitive and emotional as well get impressed easily, which is their weakness.

She leaves with sealed promises but how far this will go or will there really be a happy ending that is what we are not sure of. She waited there one end thinking that whatever he said was true and one day he will come in a white horse to take her. But what she never thinks was the dark side. May be that he was just time passing with you showing the worlds end with the translucent picture frame all over. You were so blind to see the reality and to take a step ahead and touch the frame. When time passed by you realise that you have been used as puppet and being fooled. Some women find it out before it is too late and open their eyes before they are blind folded again. Others unfortunately ends up there life because that they cannot handled what they suffered.

Now wake up girls. Never allow yourself to be played by these cowards. Never treat your selves like a toy. Grown up and make your choices. World is full of choices. There are nice men as there are cowards. Nice men who makes you happy and who will do anything to have a future with you. It is that we don’t know how to use the potentials we have got. Be faithful, be honest and strong so then you will feel that the world is all yours. May god gives all women the strength to stand up and spoke up even in odds.

psychopath- real or not....

Today i met with a friend of mine who i have not met for years so we had a lot to fill us with. She was so happy to meet me after so long. She is a happy girl , more like childish, kiddish at least this is what i thought about her. She never shows her sorrows. cheerful girl . It is impossible to believe that she had ever cried. So mischievous. We took bus to her place. On our way we talked about ourselves. During our conversation i asked her about her boy friend. I saw her face getting faded and thought of my self if i did right thing asking her about him. But i could not control my self , curiosity was pushing me i repeated my question again. She spoke after long silent and said that they broke up and he is dead. I did not know what to say so i just comforted her with my sweet polite words i dun even remember what i told to her now. I was on shock. I saw his pictures from her when we were studying. He looks handsome and smart.

This make me ask more and more . I was like as if i was interviewing her. The surprising thing is that she does not know how he died. What she told me was that when she was bout to leave for studies his dad called and said that he died and never mentioned how he died. She said that she broke up with him before graduation because he was demanding things from her. But after that he also visited to her and was finding a reason to talk to her. She did not want to talk and ignored him. After week time she moved on with her life when she heard about his death. Not only that she was told about his death, it seems that the boy family and his and her common friends started accusing her of his death. His dad called her mobile, landlines and was accusing her and her family. She suffered as well her family with this meaningless accusations. According to her still she does not know the mystery of his death. I could not believe what i was hearing. keep your self in her position and then complete the picture your self. Are these people so narrow minded or psychopaths?