President Mohamed Nasheed has said that how we deliver the pledges was as important as the struggle for the freedoms that we have today. He made this statement in his keynote address at the seminar on “Socio-political Transformation – Future of Culture in Changing Societies”.
Referring to Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous speech, ‘Tryst with Destiny’ where he said “long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially”, the President said that the Maldives was now at a similar juncture.
Speaking in this regard, the President said the government had pledged to bring about freedoms such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. He further reiterated the government’s commitment to deliver on these pledges.
In his speech, the President also focused on the events of 12 August 2004. He said on that date, the “people of the Maldives very historically came out in protest”.
“I believe that that was a defining moment in the history of this country. It registered very well that the people are looking for change and that there is no going back”, said the President.
Furthermore, the President said among the reform measures brought about, the Maldives has now adopted a Constitution that stipulates fundamental rights, provides for separation of powers and for the formation of independent institutions.
President Nasheed also stressed that the government was committed to strengthen democracy in the Maldives.
The seminar was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Indian High Commission, as part of the India-Maldives friendship week.
