“The supporters of autocracy are still active. We want to seek justice for the abuses of the past autocratic regime. It has to be retributive and transitional justice and respect for human rights. Individual is an important part of the democratic equation. We want to ensure that in the democratic process there should not be domination of either the minority elite or the majority. We are studying the South African formula for setting up of a Reconciliation Commission for rending justice for the abuses of the past autocratic regime,” he said while addressing a gathering at Observer Research Foundation in Delhi on Saturday.

One of the main impediment in the process was the bureaucracy, he said and added “in Maldives the Civil Services Commission is an independent body, but it has inculcated values of the autocratic regime for the last 30 years. We need to establish links with this body and make it a tool for an effective democracy.”

In the presidential election of 2008, Presidential candidate of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Mohamed Nasheed defeated his rival and the long-time President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in the second round of voting and was sworn in as the country's president on November 11, 2008. His running mate, Dr Mohammed Waheed Hassan became the Vice President. Gayoom's Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) is now in the Opposition.

Hassan said that the power was peaceful and the previous head of the state now lead a peaceful life. “There has been no political prisoner in the last one year, while there was series of arrests and torture during our long struggle for democracy,” he said.

He described certain other challenges which the government has to redress like the impact of global financial crisis on the economy, soaring prices and irresponsible decisions of the past regime which has led to high public debts and decline in revenue collection. “We need to establish working relations with all political parties and need to garner public support for public policies. We need to persuade the media with our objectives and not to control the media,” he said.

As Maldives is a 100% Muslim dominated country, Hassan said that the government was working for “freedom of religion within Islam” so that all sects have equal freedom and the society become really pluralistic in nature.

The Maldivian government would usher in judicial reforms and introduced new revenue Bill in the Parliament. The University Bill will also be introduced for setting up of the first National University in Maldives. New areas for researches like marine science, hospitality and tourism, climate change, including mitigation and adaptation would be introduced in this university. The Maldivian government has sought cooperation of Indian universities, India's University Grants Commission and Indira Gandhi National Open University in this connection.

The Maldivian government would pursue the policy of economic liberalization and encourage the growth of the tourism sector. It has introduced social safety net for the first time with an old age pension scheme for people over 65 years of age.

Regarding gender issue, Hassan said that traditionally Maldives was a liberal society with greater role for women and hence there was no reservation quota for women in Parliament. Already there are six graduate women in the new Parliament.

Climate change is an important issue of the small island country like Maldivies and the government has made resource allocations for adaptation strategies like checking coastal erosion and water salinity.

“With a view to protect the rights of small islands and to give them adequate representation, we have increased the seats in the Parliament from 50 to 75. We have adapted strategies to make Maldives a carbon neutral country in the next 10 years,” he said and added that in the next SAARC Summit in Bhutan climate change would be a focus issue and Maldives would garner support for the Copenhagen Accord for setting up of Climate Fund. Hassan also pleaded for an Asian initiative for adaptation strategies by mobilizing own resources.

However, Hassan expressed apprehensions of scuttling the democratic process citing happenings in the past following the 1989 election. After 1989 elections the parliamentarians were eager to bring in some democratic but this was not possible. The country was occupied by the militia and Hassan had to leave the country and return in 2005 to join the political movement.

According to Hassan the media played an effective role for the return of democracy. The international TV channels, use of mobile phones and gradual removal of restrictions on media helped the process. “”In 2004 after a young person died in custody there was an unprecedented unrest all over the country. Tsunami waves hit the country. The mounting pressures compelled the government to work for a democratic process,” he said.

Similarly in the new circumstances Hessian is banking on the critical role of the media in stabilizing democracy in Maldives.

Hassan arrived in New Delhi on February 18 on his first official visit to India at the invitation of the Vice President of India, M Hamid Ansari. He is accompanied by his wife Madame Ilham Hussain and a high-level delegation.

He called on the Vice President of India on February 19. Recalling his earlier visit to the Maldives in November 2008, Vice President commended the Maldives on the Government's resolve to strengthen the pillars of democracy. Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the state of bilateral relations. Vice President assured the Maldives of all possible assistance in its developmental efforts. Assistance at the Government level has been supplemented by emerging partnerships and bilateral investments in the Maldives from India in the areas of infrastructure, renewable energy, housing, education and public health. Welcoming the growing cooperation in the field of security, both leaders agreed that terrorism and radicalization of societies are threats requiring a firm and effective response and expressed their resolve to enhance their cooperation to meet these challenges. Both leaders also agreed to continue to cooperate closely in combating climate change.

Hassan also called on the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil. During the meeting, President reiterated India's support for the economic development of the Maldives. Both leaders recalled the traditionally close and friendly relations between India and the Maldives, and welcomed the recent impetus given to this relationship in a range of new areas, especially infrastructure development, renewable energy and housing.

The Indian External Affairs Minister, SM Krishna also called on Hassan. Later in the evening, the Vice President of India hosted a banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary. Hassan is slated to visit Amritsar, Bangalore and Mysore.