ID :
27375
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 11:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/27375
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Ex-political prisoner ends Gayoom's 30-yr reign in Maldives
T V Sriram
Male, Oct 29 (PTI) Maldives President Maumoon Abdul
Gayoom, the longest-serving ruler in Asia, was ousted on
Wednesday from power by a former political prisoner who swept
the historic presidential run-off in the picturesque Indian
Ocean archipelago.
Euphoric opposition supporters poured into the streets as
official results showed that Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed, who was
repeatedly jailed by Gayoom over a period of six years, has
ended the 30-year reign of the 71-year-old leader.
With all votes counted from Tuesday's election, Nasheed
won 54 percent in comparison to 46 percent for the longtime
ruler, election officials said. Nearly 87 percent of the
nation's 209,000 registered voters had cast their ballots.
The victory of 41-year-old Nasheed marks a watershed in
the history of Maldives where a ban on opposition parties was
effective till 2004. Gayoom had won the six previous
presidential elections but never before faced an opponent.
Under international pressure and growing opposition
protests, he launched a democratic reform programme four years
ago, lifting the ban on opposition parties and promising to
hold the nation's first multiparty presidential election.
President Gayoom won the first round of the elections
earlier this month, but could not secure the stipulated 50 per
cent needed for outright victory.
"I want a peaceful transition," Nasheed told reporters as
results were coming in. "I want my supporters to be calm."
"We have embraced democracy for the sake of the next
generation and the people of the Maldives," said acting
opposition party head Ibrahim Hussein Zaki. "Gayom will accept
this. He has ruled for 30 years. It should be a very short and
harmonious transfer of power."
Nasheed was expected to be sworn on November 11, 30 years
to the day that Gayoom took office in 1978.
Nasheed emerged as the consensus candidate to challenge
Gayoom before the October 9 elections, which were held amidst
allegation of widespread irregularities.
President Gayoom has nevertheless been credited with
catapulting the country to a high economic growth and making
it one of the wealthiest in South Asia.
The Maldives, which was under British rule, became
independent on July 26, 1965.
Gayoom survived a bid on his life early this year while
mingling with a crowd on Hoarafushi in the north of Maldives.
The man, who tried to attack the President with a knife, was
overpowered and Gayoom escaped without any injury.
In November 1998, India's help was sought to crush a coup
against the ruler. Indian troops landed in the tiny Indian
Ocean republic and successfully put down the coup after
intruders, numbering 150-400, virtually fled without a fight.
There have been at least three coup attempts against
Gayoom.
The Maldives, a liberal Sunni Muslim nation of about
three lakh people, is a favourite tourist destination endowed
with a chain of 1192 coral and white sand islands.
Male, Oct 29 (PTI) Maldives President Maumoon Abdul
Gayoom, the longest-serving ruler in Asia, was ousted on
Wednesday from power by a former political prisoner who swept
the historic presidential run-off in the picturesque Indian
Ocean archipelago.
Euphoric opposition supporters poured into the streets as
official results showed that Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed, who was
repeatedly jailed by Gayoom over a period of six years, has
ended the 30-year reign of the 71-year-old leader.
With all votes counted from Tuesday's election, Nasheed
won 54 percent in comparison to 46 percent for the longtime
ruler, election officials said. Nearly 87 percent of the
nation's 209,000 registered voters had cast their ballots.
The victory of 41-year-old Nasheed marks a watershed in
the history of Maldives where a ban on opposition parties was
effective till 2004. Gayoom had won the six previous
presidential elections but never before faced an opponent.
Under international pressure and growing opposition
protests, he launched a democratic reform programme four years
ago, lifting the ban on opposition parties and promising to
hold the nation's first multiparty presidential election.
President Gayoom won the first round of the elections
earlier this month, but could not secure the stipulated 50 per
cent needed for outright victory.
"I want a peaceful transition," Nasheed told reporters as
results were coming in. "I want my supporters to be calm."
"We have embraced democracy for the sake of the next
generation and the people of the Maldives," said acting
opposition party head Ibrahim Hussein Zaki. "Gayom will accept
this. He has ruled for 30 years. It should be a very short and
harmonious transfer of power."
Nasheed was expected to be sworn on November 11, 30 years
to the day that Gayoom took office in 1978.
Nasheed emerged as the consensus candidate to challenge
Gayoom before the October 9 elections, which were held amidst
allegation of widespread irregularities.
President Gayoom has nevertheless been credited with
catapulting the country to a high economic growth and making
it one of the wealthiest in South Asia.
The Maldives, which was under British rule, became
independent on July 26, 1965.
Gayoom survived a bid on his life early this year while
mingling with a crowd on Hoarafushi in the north of Maldives.
The man, who tried to attack the President with a knife, was
overpowered and Gayoom escaped without any injury.
In November 1998, India's help was sought to crush a coup
against the ruler. Indian troops landed in the tiny Indian
Ocean republic and successfully put down the coup after
intruders, numbering 150-400, virtually fled without a fight.
There have been at least three coup attempts against
Gayoom.
The Maldives, a liberal Sunni Muslim nation of about
three lakh people, is a favourite tourist destination endowed
with a chain of 1192 coral and white sand islands.
