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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Extreme makeunder in the Maldives | Extreme makeunder in the Maldives |
| (3 days later) | |
| By Chris Morris BBC News, Male | By Chris Morris BBC News, Male |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| The BBC's Chris Morris explores the private presidential island | The BBC's Chris Morris explores the private presidential island |
| As we headed out to sea from Male, I still had the president's words ringing in my ears: "Last time I talked to you," he said, "I ended up in jail." | As we headed out to sea from Male, I still had the president's words ringing in my ears: "Last time I talked to you," he said, "I ended up in jail." |
| That was nearly 20 years ago, when Mohamed Nasheed was a young political activist forbidden from contacting foreigners. | That was nearly 20 years ago, when Mohamed Nasheed was a young political activist forbidden from contacting foreigners. |
| But times have changed. | But times have changed. |
| Last year Mr Nasheed won a democratic election against Maumoon Gayoom, the man who ordered his imprisonment and who had ruled the Maldives for 30 years. | Last year Mr Nasheed won a democratic election against Maumoon Gayoom, the man who ordered his imprisonment and who had ruled the Maldives for 30 years. |
| And now the new regime is determined to shed the trappings of presidential power. | And now the new regime is determined to shed the trappings of presidential power. |
| Presidential trappings | Presidential trappings |
| Our speed boat accelerated past the island where the new president was incarcerated for years as a prisoner of conscience. | Our speed boat accelerated past the island where the new president was incarcerated for years as a prisoner of conscience. |
| We were heading for another island, Arah, the former president's weekend retreat. | We were heading for another island, Arah, the former president's weekend retreat. |
| The presidential yacht will be auctioned off, possibly on eBay | The presidential yacht will be auctioned off, possibly on eBay |
| A multi-million dollar presidential yacht was moored in the tiny harbour. It will now be auctioned off, possibly on eBay. | A multi-million dollar presidential yacht was moored in the tiny harbour. It will now be auctioned off, possibly on eBay. |
| I was shown luxury beach villas, a tree house for the presidential children, a private cricket pitch, and of course the presidential beach. | I was shown luxury beach villas, a tree house for the presidential children, a private cricket pitch, and of course the presidential beach. |
| The island used to be the exclusive preserve of President Gayoom and his guests. | The island used to be the exclusive preserve of President Gayoom and his guests. |
| But the new administration wants to open everything up. There's already talk of turning Arah into a marine research facility or even a writer's retreat. | But the new administration wants to open everything up. There's already talk of turning Arah into a marine research facility or even a writer's retreat. |
| In the capital Male, the presidential palace stands empty. Mr Nasheed says it is too big - he's happier in more humble surroundings. | In the capital Male, the presidential palace stands empty. Mr Nasheed says it is too big - he's happier in more humble surroundings. |
| So there are suggestions that the palace could become a museum, or the country's first university. | So there are suggestions that the palace could become a museum, or the country's first university. |
| 'Bit extravagant' | 'Bit extravagant' |
| But some Maldivians aren't impressed. You can't, they argue, be a political activist for ever. Once you've been elected president, you have to start acting like one. | But some Maldivians aren't impressed. You can't, they argue, be a political activist for ever. Once you've been elected president, you have to start acting like one. |
| The new president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed | |
| "I think he should move here," said a man wandering down the street outside. "I want to see him waving from this gate. Like the Queen does at Buckingham Palace." | "I think he should move here," said a man wandering down the street outside. "I want to see him waving from this gate. Like the Queen does at Buckingham Palace." |
| But President Nasheed has other ideas. | But President Nasheed has other ideas. |
| "It's all a bit extravagant for me," he said. | "It's all a bit extravagant for me," he said. |
| He showed me the old president's office, including his gold-plated toilet. | He showed me the old president's office, including his gold-plated toilet. |
| The new man has moved in down the corridor, sharing an office with his secretary. | The new man has moved in down the corridor, sharing an office with his secretary. |
| "When we started this administration, the presidency was costing more than $150m (£105m) a year," he said. "This is something we simply can't afford. We've brought it down to $4m. | "When we started this administration, the presidency was costing more than $150m (£105m) a year," he said. "This is something we simply can't afford. We've brought it down to $4m. |
| "I don't feel the cut, and we can use the rest of the money for old age pensioners, for schools, for housing and very many things we need now." | "I don't feel the cut, and we can use the rest of the money for old age pensioners, for schools, for housing and very many things we need now." |
| Perhaps I looked surprised, because he was quick to add a rider. | Perhaps I looked surprised, because he was quick to add a rider. |
| "No one should be concerned about my niceties and my comfort," he said. "I'm fine, I'm happy." | "No one should be concerned about my niceties and my comfort," he said. "I'm fine, I'm happy." |
| Text message | Text message |
| So there is certainly a new style of government in Male. In one of the world's smallest capital cities, half the official fleet of cars is also heading for the auction room. | So there is certainly a new style of government in Male. In one of the world's smallest capital cities, half the official fleet of cars is also heading for the auction room. |
| The former president's bathroom included gold-plated fixtures | The former president's bathroom included gold-plated fixtures |
| But former President Gayoom has rejected accusations of extravagance during three decades at the top. | But former President Gayoom has rejected accusations of extravagance during three decades at the top. |
| We weren't able to interview him, but he did send a text. | We weren't able to interview him, but he did send a text. |
| It said allegations of extravagance were "baseless and ludicrous". | It said allegations of extravagance were "baseless and ludicrous". |
| "It's all government property," the text said, and the presidential buildings are "the landmarks of the modern Maldives." | "It's all government property," the text said, and the presidential buildings are "the landmarks of the modern Maldives." |
| One of Mr Gayoom's aides was even more blunt. | One of Mr Gayoom's aides was even more blunt. |
| Mr Nasheed, he said, is not only selling off the presidency, he's selling off the country. | Mr Nasheed, he said, is not only selling off the presidency, he's selling off the country. |
| So politics in paradise remains rough and tumble. But bling is no longer king. Or even president. | So politics in paradise remains rough and tumble. But bling is no longer king. Or even president. |