Click to play videoMohammed Nasheed, the first ever democratically elected president of Maldives, the picture-perfect achipelago in the middle of the Indian Ocean spoke to CNN-IBN National Affairs correspondent Sumon K Chakrabarti in a freewheeling interview, just after he was sworn in to office last Tuesday.
And he clearly said that the fate of Asia's longest ruling dictator, Mamoon Abdul Gayoom - his predecessor, laid in the hand of the country's judicial system. There would be no witch-hunt against Gayoom by his government, Nasheed asserted. But if the court orders any enquiry, the government will do it against Gayoom, who faces charges ranging from finacial irregularities and embezzlement to human rights abuse and murder.
But Nasheed made it very clear that the man accused of carrying out human rights abuses and torturing political rivals, police chief Adam Zaheer, has to go. "It's inevitable," Nasheed told CNN-IBN in this exclusive interview.
He also confirmed that India ranks right at the top of his foreign relation priorities.
Here is the gist of the interview -
CNN-IBN: Democracy has come quickly but democracy has come after a lot of fight on the streets, what does this mean to you, the changed democracy?
Nasheed: The question is how you do you govern so that the people benefit the most – the freedom of expression, the freedom of assembly and we can therefore respect the individual rights of the people and at the same time we can have smooth transfer of powers and the governments can change. People need not think that the only way of gaining or attaining power through the barrel of a gun.
CNN-IBN: What does President Nasheed put on the table now, when the democracy is finally here?
Nasheed: a) We have to concentrate on democracy. Democracy is very tender, at its very early stage and we have a number of issues. Our state finances are not in a very good order and therefore we need to give the highest priority to this.
CNN-IBN: Is it due to any financial irregularity that has happened in the previous tenure?
Nasheed: Why we are in such a bad state is simply because of the management and we are here to see if there are any other reasons.
CNN-IBN: You are saying mismanagement, will you also use the word irregularity here?
Nasheed: I think if we go by the reports of the auditor journal, irregularities crop up very prominently.
CNN_IBN: President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – your predecessor – many call him the dictator he has ruled this nation for 30 years. Are you going to (conduct an enquiry) if you find evidence of human rights abuse, use of power.
Nasheed: My answer is again the same, if it is at the expense of democracy – no.
CNN-IBN: If it is not at the expense of the democracy?
Nasheed: Of course, then it should happen. If individuals still have the right to go court and if anyone feels they have lost the right or their right have been hampered, the judicial system allows them to take up the issue and that is not the part of the government and therefore I wouldn’t have role in it.
CNN-IBN: When you became the President or rather when you were the president-elect there was a very smooth transition to power which happened and you made a very reconciliatory move during that entire period which was very surprising because you as a person has been personally tortured by the formal president. You have been to the jail and the people who along with you have been to the jail or have been tortured, do you think they should – people who have done this to the people of Maldives – should be punished, who have used their power, who have tortured people and how should they be punished?
Nasheed: For me democracy and freedom and the role of law is very very important and we have fought all the battles, for the last 20 years all fought the battles and if looking into these irregularities is at the expense of the democracy then I would be hesitant. For me what is important is the future, we are doing all this for our children and our grand-children and children’s children and so on and so therefore, if looking into things and going back is at the expense of the democracy, I would go for democracy.
CNN-IBN: Apart from democracy Gayoom, he was another symbol of that regime which tortured and misused his power which is police chief Adam Zaheer, what is going to happen to him?
Nasheed: It is inevitable he is reaching retirement age and I am sure he would want to peacefully hand over power to another generation. We need to modernise our services, especially the police force. We need to make it more public friendly and the vast majority police officers here are very good people. So, we need to see how we can further make the forces more receptive to the people and I will do whatever is necessary to that.
CNN-IBN: Which country is going to be your very important strategic partner, which would list at the top of your scheme of things?
Nasheed: Well, of course my first foreign visit will be for India.
CNN-IBN: I have seen you working on the streets and now I am seeing you sitting in the president’s office, many many congratulations. I hope the democracy really works under you.
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