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| Dr. Mohamed Waheed (Vice President of Maldives) |
At a time of growing discontent among the public on the issue of President Nasheed’s violation of the
Constitution running into its third week, Maldives is goggling
for a viable democratic solution to this standoff between the government and
the opposition. A close consideration of the Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan
Maniku has become an imperative.
Referring to the ongoing stalemate he writes in his website “The
most important and most precious dividend from the democracy struggle in
Maldives has been freedom from fear. It is the knowledge that no one of us will
be dragged out of our beds in the middle of the night and taken to an
undisclosed location. The moment we deny this freedom from one person, we deny
that freedom for all.”
The first ever Maldivian to receive a Doctorate of
Philosophy from Stanford University, Vice President Dr. Waheed has demonstrated
restraint and maturity as a hardened politician whilst in the midst of the
ongoing political crisis. One couldn’t expect more from a man with a Master’s
degree in Political Science from Stanford University and years of experience on
as an international civil servant behind him.
Dr. Waheed served the United Nations in various capacities, and in various countries ranging from Tanzania to Bangladesh, from UNICEF Headquarters
in New York to Kathmandu, Nepal and in Afghanistan, where in the aftermath of the
American War he was assigned to help with the reconstruction
efforts to build up the Education Ministry of Afghanistan from scratch. He also served as the UNICEF's representative to the body responsible for reforming UN
organizations.
Dr. Waheed returned to the Maldives to contribute to process
of political development and bringing democracy to Maldives. In June 2008, after
several unsuccessful attempts to work with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Dr. Waheed formed Gaumee
Itthihaad Party and under a coalition agreement with the MDP, he ran for vice president and was elected during the 2008
Presidential Elections.
His political career has not been a smooth one. In 1989 Dr.
Waheed contested for one of the two seats from Male in the Majlis; his
popularity was challenged by the establishment of the Bimbi Force which was
responsible for a number of arson attacks as well as a campaign of intimidation
directed towards him and his supporters. During the leadership race immediately after
the formation of the MDP a clandestine coalition of political leaders who
feared Dr. Waheed’s comeback mounted a campaign to defame him by attacking both
him and his family.
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| The common man is a priority for Dr. Waheed |
Dr. Waheed received the blows of his political opponents with
humility and restraint. He proved himself worthy of consideration clearly as the leader of
choice, with qualities second to none in the political arena. “Maldives
can gain from the diplomatic skills, expertise and experiences of this man” said
one foreign diplomat. Waheed has clearly demonstrated
his ability as a skipper armed with the skills and tools to maneuver Maldives from these
troubled seas to calmer waters.
Whilst he continues to exercise his patience and tolerance
even from within the framework of the very government that he condemns. Mother Maldives is a crying, she is crying
out for protection, protection for her children. She is crying for protection
to those who are weeping every night out of fear that they may be the next one to
be dragged out of their bed in the middle of the night and taken to an
undisclosed location.
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| Coalition Leaders meet Vice President The only viable option for saving Maldives from catastrophe |
God fearing Nation loving Maldivians should put aside
the political differences and prejudice give due consideration to Dr. Waheed
today, not because he is Waheed the Vice President, but because he is the only
viable solution we have now to come out of this political situation, and continue
on with our new found love affair with democracy until 2013, without setting
examples and paving the way for coup d'état's, government overthrow scenarios and social unrest in our little society in
future.
