Maldives Presidents party "DRP", Campaign Admits Using State Funds

President Gayoom’s election campaign will utilise state funds, according to officials from his Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP), due to “certain rights the president of Maldives receives and his rights as commander-in-chief.”

The statement comes after budgets were slashed across government departments after a Rf 4.4 bn (US$342 million) state budget deficit was revealed two months ago.

The largest opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has hit out at Gayoom in a statement, saying they condemn him “pillaging the national treasury for his political campaign” by using “excessive state funds.”

But presidential spokesperson Mohamed Hussein Shareef (Mundhu) has said the state spending was only on travel and security, “a must” for any president.

Campaign

Gayoom has just returned from a trip to seven islands in three atolls, including Raa, Noonu and Kaafu, after he launched his “Maumoon 2008” presidential campaign just over a week ago.

DRP spokesperson Ali Waheed said in a press conference last week that as president, Gayoom is entitled to full security, and will be accompanied by staff from the President’s Office to prevent the Maldivian government being brought to “a standstill”.

“Wherever he travels to, President Maumoon makes all decisions in the President’s Office, meaning the President’s Office goes wherever the President goes,” Waheed said.

“The campaign will be paid through DRP [but] the president will receive his rights from the government during the president’s travel, he will claim those rights,” he added.

And presidential spokesperson Mohamed Hussein Shareef (Mundhu) told Minivan News Gayoom’s campaign required no more travel expenses than usual.

“Wherever the president goes, security is a must, it’s a priority,” he said, but could not give an estimate of how many security officers would be required. He added the President’s Office was “mindful” of the cost.

Finance Ministry director general Ismail Shafeeq said he could not say whether or not funds from the state budget were allocated to Gayoom’s campaign.

“There will be a budget for election but I don’t know about political parties,” he said.

“Pillage”

All political parties receive an allowance from the elections commission based on membership numbers.

The MDP has criticised the President over his campaign costs, saying it “considers that excessive state funds have been used in Gayoom’s campaign visits to outlying atolls”.

“The excessive abuse by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of official vessels, cars and other state resources for his re-election bid are in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his duties in the public interest,” it reads.

“Gayoom continues to pillage the national treasury for his political campaign, despite recent reports…that the government faced a US $342 million budget deficit,” it continues.

MDP secretary general Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, who visited Kaafu atoll Gaafaru at the same time as Gayoom, said the President was accompanied by an entourage of several army and police boats.

“On a small island, there were three defence force crafts – one big enough to hold vehicles – two other crafts in the lagoon, two police speedboats and a huge yacht,” he said.

Social Liberal Party presidential contender Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) said: “Obviously any president would require a security detail. [But] it doesn’t mean he needs to take a whole contingent of armed forces to ensure rallies by dragging people out of their houses.”

Tours

A resident of Kaafu atoll Gaafaru said Gayoom stayed for 45 minutes. He said Gayoom had driven the 600-foot distance on the island to reach his destination, and was accompanied by around 100 police officers.

On his tour, Gayoom, who has been in power for thirty years, said he has the experience and skills required to rule the country, according to local media.

He has picked Thasmeen Ali, Minister of Atolls, as his running mate.

A mix of supporters and protesters greeted the President on islands. In Kaafu atoll Kaashidhoo, protest banners read: “Can you see the harbour constructed in 30 years of rule?”

According to local newspaper Miadhu, on Raa atoll Ungoofaaru, a group of Kandholudhoo islanders called for the president’s resignation due to a delay in housing for tsunami victims.

An election date has not yet been set, but the new constitution specifies it must be held by 10 October.


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