Muizzu's current mantra: "Wasn't Me"
The incumbent is facing criticism for attempting to stifle opposition protests through new parliamentary resolutions. Critics highlight the hypocrisy of officials who previously led aggressive, often vulgar demonstrations against the past administration but now deny their own history. Despite efforts to distance PNC from past PPM actions, digital records and high-definition footage ensure that leaders remain accountable for their previous rhetoric and conduct.
Muizzu was in the forefront of the 'India Out!' campaign led by the then-opposition during the previous administration. | Google
Long ago, a catchy Maldivian rap titled "Masheh Noon" which translated means “Wasn’t me”, became a household staple after Zain Ahmed Shaheed performed it on TV Maldives. The song, a Dhivehi cover of the world-famous Shaggy song "It Wasn't Me", took its cues from a traditional folk story featuring the interaction between the terrified Aiminabee and the long-navelled demon known as Foolhudhigu Handi. In that tale, the woman desperately claims her innocence regarding rumors about the creature, repeating the refrain that it simply was not her.
Today, that same energy has been adopted by the current government. The officials running the show have undergone a total transformation, discarding their previous identities and doing a complete about-face on their past rhetoric. The elaborate theatrical displays they once put on, the street demonstrations they orchestrated and the inflammatory media they produced are now being met with a collective shrug of denial. It is as if they are collectively insisting that those people from the past were someone else entirely.
Digital receipts in the age of "yesterday"
These are not ancient myths or stories from a bygone era that would confuse the youth of today. These events happened only yesterday. In a world dominated by modern technology, you cannot just hit a delete button on reality. Unlike the fading ink of old papers, every syllable uttered and every action taken is now stored in a digital vault, forever reachable by anyone with an internet connection.
This past week, the PNC-dominated People's Majlis made their priorities clear by introducing a resolution to stifle opposition demonstrations. Pro-government members stood up and gave polished speeches about why these protests need to be shut down. Their logic suggests that the opposition is spreading unverified falsehoods, using language that offends public decency and abusing the right to free speech. Because of this, they argue that the protests must be terminated immediately.
Selective memory and shifting standards
Listening to these sanctimonious arguments is laughable for anyone who remembers their behavior just a short time ago. The irony is staggering, considering these are the exact individuals who led a non-stop crusade to bring down the previous administration. Memory still holds the image of the chaos they triggered, from the demonstrations held between the two doors and the persistent protests of the six, to the aggressive campaign to push India out.
Back then, they were busy labeling the former leader a thief and calling him a crocodile. They fueled public fear with sensational stories about thousands of Indian military personnel occupying the country and claimed the oceans were sold off while local fishermen were out at sea. They ridiculed the "Bag Government," screamed about electricity costs being too high and cautioned that secret agreements with India had traded away the nation's independence. They went as far as claiming the Islamic faith was being lost, alleged corruption regarding ventilators during the global pandemic and even threw shade at the Covid-19 vaccines being given to the public. This list is only a tiny fraction of the noise they made.
Vulgarity and the PPM escape hatch
During their time in the streets, their behavior was anything but refined. There were no boundaries for their mockery or the insults they hurled. Much of what they screamed was so crude that families couldn't even listen to it together. Even when they were not shouting profanity, their physical actions were often offensive. One only has to look back at the "Same Bed" remark from the current Fisheries Minister Shiyam or the notorious hand gesture made by the former Deputy Mayor Nareesh.
Now that the shoe is on the other foot and they are the targets of criticism, they suddenly find the heat unbearable and want to ban the fire. The loud voices of the past have gone silent, replaced by the excuse that those actions belonged to PPM. They want everyone to believe that PNC is a brand-new entity that should not be held responsible for what happened before. It is a miracle how many political doppelgängers they seem to have in their ranks.
Caught in a high-definition trap
Ultimately, while they might want to sing along to the "It wasn't me" chorus, they need to understand that politics requires a level of bravery and the ability to own one's actions. You should not act without thought, assuming you will not eventually fall into your own trap. There is an old truth that people are held captive by the words they speak. Every performance, whether it goes viral or not, belongs to the person who gave it.
Thousands of people are observing every movement and every speech. In the current era, everything is being taped, filed away and saved in high definition. It does not matter how many times they try to use the "It wasn't me" defense to duck out of their responsibilities; the digital trail they left behind ensures there is no back door to escape through.
