Legal Advisor and Member of Parliament for Laamu Gan Constituency Fayyaz Ismail said that the officials in independent institutions responsible for preserving the Constitution as well as fairness and justice, are neglecting their responsibilities and the only way to make them is responsible is to file cases against them.
During one of their “Citizens against Brutality” rallies last night, Fayyaz said that even though all three powers of the State are meant to be separate, they were now seeing the powers merge into one rule.
He said that the independent institutions were founded to check the powers of the State and to do what is necessary to keep State actions within the boundaries of the Constitution. But, he said that those institutions were neglecting their duties and that others have taken over the institutional powers.
“If we are to preserve the Constitution and the rule of law for the next day or even for the next 30 years, we have to file cases against the officials of those independent institutions that are leaving us to fend for ourselves. Or we will never be able to separate the power.” said Fayyaz.
He also said that those in the institutions were not employed just for the sake of handing them a job and that with their position comes great responsibility. He added that despite this, they were not fulfilling their duties and keeping silent while citizens are repeatedly being tyrannized.
“They shouldn’t shirk their responsibilities dictated by the Constitution for fear of losing their jobs. Their fear shouldn’t stop them from doing their duty in preserving the rights of citizens. But all we see them doing is calmly watching the tyrannical acts done to the citizens and making excuses for their negligence.” said Fayyaz.
He noted that the government employees were losing their jobs because they were loyal to the wrong party, and that it was a worrying fact that the Civil Service members were taking part in the injustice.
Fayaz said that the government had first undone the political rights given to the citizens, and are now undoing their Constitutional rights, the electricity subsidy being a recent example. He added that it has gone to the point where the government is terrorizing the low and middle class businessmen and taking their money, with the independent institutions taking part in it.
Fayyaz said that the community is under great fear due to the huge problems in the country, and emphasized the importance for citizens to come out to protest for their rights or else, he said, we will soon lose much more and be under an even greater fear than before. He said that the citizens gain their courage to speak out through the courage shown by the people, and he called out for everyone to come out for their rights.
“I hope that all the Maldivian citizens join our rally on May 1st and, god willing, we will completely stop the injustice being done to us.” said Fayyaz.