Ammatey has always been a hero. But today he is languishing in jail for gulping down the last dregs of what he thought was a James Bond's Vesper martini left by a tourist, at the resort where he used to work as a waiter. His crime? Alcohol consumption! His friend Khaleel’s story isn’t any different. He is banished to a remote island in the north for taking home half a bag of cement from the government school in his island where he used worked as a Sarudhaaru. The deepening smile lines on his weather-beaten thirty-something face, the painful calluses on his hands and the growing cataract in his eye – all bear testament to the hardships he has endured over the last 8 months. His crime? Yes, you got it right – corruption!
Both men are penalized for legitimate reasons. Alcohol is Haram - proscribed in this 100 percent Muslim country. And so is corruption. But what Ammatey, Khaleel and several hundred other Maldivians like them have for long tried to figure out is why the law in their country applies only to their type – the working class and the rank and file. It is no secret that many high ranking people in the echelons of power wouldn't let go of any opportunity to instantly gulp down anything that even remotely resembles alcohol. And our country is also yet to see any high ranking official involved in any substantive corruption case brought to justice, in spite of the numerous hush-hush allegations against former ministers, CEOs of State owned enterprises and some high ranking officials of the current government. Instead, as Dr. Waheed says, we only “left the corrupt scot-free and gave them promotions ”.
15 comments:
the rich and the powerful will never be brought to justice. thats not something that is happening in this country. they do it everywhere. they become rich and powerful by pandering to the wishes of the government of the day and then if that govt changes they immediately change color and morph into creatures acceptable to the new govt. the new govt in turn can immediately see the need for these bastards. then they get married to these guys.
In an oligarchy like this, what else can we expect, dho. Politicians can drink to their heart's content in hotels or resorts but if it's a poor or working class person, he/she not only gets humiliated by being lashed in public but has to serve jail or banishment sentences. Welcome to Maldives "democracy."
This is so fucking true Naimbe'. Resort security guards act sometimes like religious schollars and monitor this constantly. they do not care Moslems from another country drinking alcohol. they do not care, if the resort owner (Maldivian) comes to island every week with bimbos and have party with alcohol. But its fine to rest of the 100% muslim staffs also, cox he is the owner. Basically, this is nothing to do with a faith, but its a way to somehow control the ppl.
bloody hell. what made some of us think that things are going to be better under the new government. this is all a big farce. the truth of the matter is regardless of whoever is the president the rich bastards, the resorts owners and the few filthy rich guys are going to rule. they will always operate above the law. every man and women in this country knows that almost all resort owners and more than half of all members of parliament drink regularly. why aren't these people humiliated. why is it that always the poor guy gets caught for drinking and otehr offenses?
i call upon the government to allow BOOZE to all. why let only a privilleged few enjoy booze?
anon 1:30 - ha ha. yeah i join u.
Anon 1:30 and 6:39 - please refrain from this types of calls. this is not very healthy to our society. something haram is haram. even if the whole world wants it cannot be made otherwise.
I call upon the author of this blog not to publish this type of cheap comments.
Salam, Rashid
"I call upon the author of this blog not to publish this type of cheap comments"
i now call all to ignore Rashid,
if its haram then be haram for everyone. why we allow rich do that. Its not really anything to do with Haram or Halal is it? if you have enough money nothing is Haram! they are above the law isn't it? pfff!
"this is not very healthy to our society"
and how healthy are our society today? Sick, mildly sick? extremely sick. i think the last one.
"even if the whole world wants it cannot be made otherwise"
I say it can. or in fact it is. Our hidebound minds can not tolerate the fact that religion is nothing but a fake institution and ideologies can not be the solution to humanity.
naimbe',
This is slightly off topic. What are your thoughts on the current frenzy in privatization and trade liberalisation that is being done right now.
I agree it will bring economic development, but will have some not so good consequences. Do you think this is the Maldivian version of the economic shock therapy ala Poland, Chile etc?
@ hilath, Ayya Is, Shiham. Rashid and anons - thanks for your comments.
@ Rashid – You have said what you wanted to say. If I don't moderate your comments I don’t see any reason why I should moderate the comments from anon 1:30 and anon 6:39. Shiham has responded to you very well. As he has said, this has got very little to do with religion. We allow the rich to engage in drinking openly. If we do that I don’t think there is any possible justification for the double standard we have towards the average working class guy drinking.
@ meekaaku – yeah, looks like that will make a very good blog post.
I find it funny that none of the coalition members are vocal about any of this. I dont think they all will agree to these policies especially Ibra. I might be wrong.
I think we will have to wait n see how it goes.
http://haveeru.com.mv/?page=details&id=79144
Here’s yet another classic example of laws for the working class. Haveeru says Anticorruption Commissioner wants Abdulla Jinah (N. Velidhoo, Asdhoo) to be prosecuted over unauthorized sanctioning of a Rf 20,000 (USD 1,560) loan. What a shame! Shame on the commission that’s got no balls to go after the people responsible for sanctioning the Rf6.1 million worth of loans that Auditor General has classified as bad debt in BML’s audit report. I, of course, don’t condone Jinah for what he has allegedly done. But for me its disheartening to see the likes of the seemingly bright young man from Velidhoo, who I remember meeting a few years ago when I was working as a local counterpart to a UNDP consultant on microfinance, become a sacrificial lamb.
I am not concerned whether it's haram or halal. That depends on which religion or ideology you follow.
I am concerned about discrimination. What's available for one should be available for all -- whether it's alcohol, pot or even acid.
That's democracy.
Law operates on 2 tracks. Formally and informally or in de-facto. While formally there is no legal discrimination, in actual fact (de-facto), there is plenty.
This very obvious two tier justice system should go. Such discrimination is the main cause for discontent to breed in society.
For development to spur, society must be at ease with itself. Lack of such peace, is a recipe for a major disaster in future.
it's very impressive, how you've presented the case. but it's not just the working class vs elite. it's also the working class vs the working class. elite vs elite. justice is a concept unheard of in this country!!
Post a Comment