An unconfirmed report suggests that the high profile child sexual abuse case involving a close ally of Gayoom at the President's Office, which was conducted behind closed doors, may have quietly reached a not guilty verdict.
At the same time, scores of people from Kulhudhuffushi, who did nothing more than demand why the government isn't keeping its promises, have been arrested for allegedly inciting and taking part in the violent removal of minister Ahmed Abdulla from their island. Given well-documented human rights abuses in custody, people have a right to be concerned about the plight of these people.
Meanwhile the economy, which has been in shambles for a long time, has taken another downturn. Maldives Monetary Authority governor Abdulla Jihad is warning of a massive drop in the country's foreign reserves as a result of government overspending, even as Gayoom continues his extravagant campaign handouts.
Each player and official of the national football team was paid an amount of over US$15,000 by Gayoom. The dictator later said that the SAFF trophy would travel to all inhabited Maldivian islands, the clearest signal that the dictator intends to milk the football glory for everything it's worth for his upcoming elections.
But this shameful bribery by Gayoom on national television, mounting reports of human rights abuses by the police, the release of pro-government paedophiles, and the collapse of the economy seem to be the last things on peoples minds as the mad frenzy of the football celebrations enters its third day---just as Gayoom planned.
It's a sad day for the country when no one will raise their voices against Gayoom, even though everyone can see through him.
The national football team should apologise to the Maldivian public for selling out to Gayoom by presenting him with the No. 1 football shirt. With DRP's top Gayoom arse-licker Hanim behind the move, the football association of the Maldives has allowed its members and players to show political allegiance to the dictator.
In the game against India, Maldivian footballers may have outshone in skill and tact, but in Gayoom's political game they've proved to be passive, greedy and gullible.
3 comments:
The national team should apologize to the public or else the public will hate the team when they come to their senses.
Playing the game and winning a small cup is nothing heroic though the state owned TV and radio tries hard to convince themselves and the rest otherwise. Only a very foolish team full of losers would let themselves be manipulated for political reasons. A bunch of puppets with no brains.
Our footballers are national heroes. The winning team brought happiness to a nation which had nothing to be happy about for a long time.
But I agree with your version of events, that Maumoon capitalized the event. It is sad that other politicians do not have the know how and the capacity to captalize on national events. That is not Maumoon's fault, is it?
And Dissent, please respect our footballers. When you said what you have said, did you speak to anyone of them in person?
look! who is the real heroe? one who wins football against cricket teams? or one who wins blues award in the country where blues originated from? i think the people are biased and ignorant and it is unlikely they will ever come to their senses. its like in music where a crash and bang rock drummer gets a standing ovation while jazz drummer's sense of polyrhythms and dynamics go over their heads. so if maldivians only feel happy when they win a football match, then they seriously have issues and desreve to be unhappy. goodluck!
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