Nasheed sworn-in as new Maldivian President By M V Meenakshisundaram

Male, Nov 11 (PTI) After three decades of single-party
rule, Maldives Tuesday entered a new phase of history with
Mohamed Nasheed, a former political prisoner, being sworn in
as the first democratically-elected President of the country.

The 41-year-old Nasheed, who trounced Maumoon Abdul
Gayoom, Asia's longest-serving leader, in the first multi-
party democratic poll a fortnight ago, was sworn-in at a
colourful ceremony attended by a galaxy of leaders, including
Vice President Hamid Ansari.

"The only antidote" for the country is the multi-party
system, the Maldivian Democratic Party leader said soon after
taking oath of office.

Gayoom, whose 30-year-reign came to an end after his
defeat at the hands of Nasheed, was conspicuous by his absence
at the swearing-in ceremony of the man he had confined behind
bars for years.

Known as 'Anni' to Maldivians, Nasheed has been a
campaigner for the multi-party democracy in the country.

The Colombo and U.K.-educated journalist-turned
politician is a popular democratic face of Maldives and is
considered as the 'latter day Nelson Mandela'.

"We have striven so hard" for this multi-party system
"which entrenches the freedom of expression and protects the
right to dissent," Nasheed said after Maldives' Chief Justice
Abdulla Saeed administered oath to him.

The new President vowed to take the country on a march to
become a "fine example to the international community".

Nasheed, who assumed charge as the third President of
Maldives since the country got independence from Britain in
1965, said the outcome of the freely expressed wishes of the
people was a genuine transition to democracy.

Another senior member of Maldivian Democratic Party
Mohamed Waheed Hasan, was sworn-in as the Vice President.

The change of guard takes place as Maldives is poised to
host the next South Asian Association for Regional Coperation
(S.A.A.R.C.) Summit in 2009.

"A government that does not fulfil its pledges forfeits
its right to govern. Those who do not deliver electoral
pledges cannot take pride in their electoral success," the new
President said in his address to the Members of Parliament.

Soon after his election, Nasheed, now at the helm of one
of the most beautiful and lucrative tourist destinations in
the world, had promised to deliver better healthcare and
transport to remote islands and cut the cost of living.

With Maldivian islands being given over to luxury hotel
developments, tourism has become the engine of its economy.
Foreign investment is limited to tourism, which contributes 28
percent of G.D.P. directly and up to 70 percent indirectly.

As a first measure to reach out to people, Nasheed
announced a monthly stipend of 2,000 rufiya (about Rs 7,000)
from January next year to all those who are over 65 years of
age and do not earn that much.

Terming the country's transition to democracy as a unique
moment of change in its history, he said it was rare,
certainly in recent times, for people to achieve this as
smoothly and as peacefully as has been done in the Maldives.

A beaming Nasheed, jailed several times by Gayoom, said
he would not carry any hatred or rancour. "No flowers will
bloom, no birds will chirp and no butterflies will flutter in
the flames of hatred, jealousy and rancour."

"It is human to be consumed by the trappings of office
and its lures," the young President said, apparently referring
to his predecessor. PTI M.S.