It is very interesting that some honorable Members of Parliament say, that several people have serious doubts on the outcome of the 8/18 Referendum. And that it would have to be cleared.
In the first place, this Special Majlis does not have a mandate to call for a referendum. They were formed under the present Constitution of the Maldives which require them to amend it. If these MPs cannot do that as given in the Constitution, they should resign.
If the Constitution grants the power for the Special Majlist to consult with the people, People’s opinion should have been sought for several fundamental issues, including but not limited to:
- Allowing a woman to become President.
- Retaining that all Maldivians should be Muslim, when the People don’t necessarily want to.
The way out of all this mess and to cut short the bickering in Parliament and the delay tactics, is to have an open vote where the person has to declare and show how he voted, live on camera. We would only need to have a camera onto each ballot writing table and a large screen outside the restricted zone. But there should be unrestricted visibility: otherwise there is the possibility of fraud. Maumoon’s hypnotic powers are miraculous!
Long Live: Maldives Alight!
Smile and Let Smile 
shahuru
August 31, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Even if we had cameras, there will still be a party or a group whose idea did not win. They can find someway or something to complain..Realistic idealism and rational conclusion to thought and putting nation before personal feelings is something which will take a long time for us to learn.But in the meanwhile; how do we go about the matters at hand?
heaven
August 30, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Very true. The whole atmosphere in the Majlis has now become surreal and removed from the harsh concerns of the majority of Maldivians…. M
Shihab
August 30, 2007 at 3:37 am
Though the latter is possible, I would still note that the Majlis does not have a lega mandate to consult the people. They can, provided that clause is inserted and the Constitution amended by the President. But, the moment the Constitution is amended, the Special Majlis will not have a legal mandate to continue with amending the Constitution.