After almost a four month absence from here, I am back. A busy final semester and the decision not to dwell on controversial issues kept me away. Despite these, a very disturbing issue has unearthed. The issue of campaigning for and against presidential candidates inside MPS.
In recent days there have been both covert and overt campaigning or propaganda to influence officers to incline to or go against a particular candidate. Talk of commissioned officers, text messaging subordinates to influence their voting right has become common. A rumor of a very high ranking officer having a disagreement with a non-commissioned officer in the canteen, over the winning percentage of presidential candidates in the run-off election is another. To add on, the use of social networking website, Facebook by police officers to message, propagate and also the failure to action against such acts proves that campaigning is going on. These acts are illegal, unethical and would further damage MPS’ bid to become an organization that practices modern democratic policing.
While there are these malpractices, I want to quote a very important message posted by Station Inspector Younus Sobah on the the wall of Facebook group Police Gang, to which he is a special advisor.
“Many police related facebook groups have been actively advocating against a certain candidate. While I highly encourage freedom of expression, I would reccomend police officers of this group refrain themselves from getting politically one-sided and promote the idea of voting for the candidate who you choose is best, instead of trying to lure others to vote for or against one particular candidate. Police have a duty to be politically neutral in everything they do. Do vote, but vote with your conscious, and not because of fear.”
Source: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=572742727&aid=28353#/group.php?gid=5962278874
I urge my fellow colleagues to refrain from such acts and stay focused on our job of safe guarding the nation. This is the time we prove to the people we are “politically neutral” and not susceptible to political manipulation. Vote we must and it’s every eligible individual’s right.
2 Comments
This comes as a huge surprise; MPS officers should be more responsible than this. I also agree that MPS had gone through a lot during recent times specially at protests, riots and many other forms of violence that were targeted towards them. But this does not mean that the meaning of policing be left out of the ethics which the MPS uphold and believe in. I strongly advise the MPS officers to refrain themselves from such acts. It is every eligible individual’s right to vote for his or her choice.
we want a police service that protects and serves the people. not just protecting and serving the regime. so many educated young people in the police force are denied of their due rights because of adam zahir and his cronies. the public confidence in police is low because some people inside police force are serving only the regime. the drug offenders are on the loose because drug trade is controlled by high ranking officers. those who want a Maldives with lower crime, those who want a society where other citizens live in harmony with police, those who want a society in which police are respected, should vote for change this time. if high ranking officers try to influence your vote, bear in mind that the judiciary is now independent. if you lose your job or are demoted unfairly, you can take legal action and file a lawsuit. the people are with the police who want a civilized police force. vote for change. we are with you.
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