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Gayoom agreed to exclude article 9: Nihan

Posted on 14. Oct, 2009 by admin.

Opposition DRP’s member Ahmed Nihan who is the MP for Vilumaafannu has said DRP Leader former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Deputy Leader Kendhoo member Ahmed Thasmeen Ali have discussed the matter and Gayoom agreed to exclude article 9 before that matter was finalised during informal discussions parliamentary leaders of DRP and MDP had with Speaker Abdullah Shahid yesterday morning during the extended break of the meeting. Nihan said this at TVM’s Raajje Miadhu program last night to explain how both parties reached an agreement on the hotly disputed article 9 which was designed to give total immunity to a former president from prosecution.

Ruling MDP has vehemently debated and maintained article 9 was unconstitutional and would jeopardise democracy and rule of law in the country. But opposition DRP with its majority in the Majlis was all out to pass the bill and rejected all amendments of MDP aimed at excluding article 9 and reducing the financial privileges. However, Speaker Abdulla Shahid yesterday at the eleventh honour discussed with DRP and MDP, and after having reached agreement between the 2 parties, dropped the article saying there are several inconsistencies in it. The bill on protection and privileges of the former President was finally passed yesterday without article 9 and with an addition enabling to revise and reduce the financial benefits given to a former president amounting to more than MRf 300,000 a month during times of special circumstances and difficulties.

Nihan who is one of the promising and vocal MPs of the DRP who is also the author of the bill said nothing can be achieved for the good of the people by force. He also said yesterday’s bill was not a victory of yellow over blue, neither it is a victory of blue over yellow. He emphasised the need for the two parties working together in dealing with important issues and bills in future.

Nihan however still believed article 9 is not against the Constitution. Why they have included article 9 was to allow former presidents to live in the Maldives as that has not been possible in the past. He said he respects the views of MDP supporters when the voting was in progress, but DRP’s change of position is in no way as a result of their protests. Nihan said he was both relieved and pleased that the Majlis has done a good job by passing the bill.