NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan

Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan (b. January 3rd, 1953), also known as Dr. Waheed is one of the leading political figures in the Republic of the Maldives, and has been a Senior Member of UNICEF while he worked for the United Nations. Considered a moderate, Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan is was the first Maldivian to obtain a Ph.D. receiving it from the prestigious Stanford University. ^[1] Today he is considered to have one of the most impressive resumes for the post of Presidency of the Republic of Maldives. Dr.Waheed has strongly advocated a non-violent approach to political reform and is being held by an increasing number of learned Maldivians as being the ideal candidate to lead the Republic of the Maldives. ^[2] January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... UNICEF Logo The United Nations Childrens Fund or UNICEF (Arabic: ; French: ; Spanish: ) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University (or simply Stanford), is a private university located approximately 37 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco and approximately 20 miles northwest of San JosÃ© in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County. ...

Early Life

Dr. Waheed was the eldest of ten children, belonging to a low income household. He was the son of Hassan Ibrahim Maniku and Aishath of Silver Scene in Male' - the capital of the Republic of Maldives. Due to his large household, he was acquainted with responsibility from a young age, learning to assist with the care of his younger brothers and sisters. In order to contribute to the income of his family, the young Waheed took on a part time job as a teacher for Alia School and Hidhaya School, and also tutored children when given the opportunity. Throughout his teen years, he was a model for his younger siblings. ^[3]

Education

In the 1970s, Waheed was given the opportunity to study at the American University of Beirut. There he completed a bachelors in the English Language. He also completed a diploma to teach English. In 1978, Waheed won a full scholarship to Stanford University. Within a year he completed a Masters in Education Planning and went back to his homeland. However, in 1982, Waheed chose to return to Stanford to continue his Education. In 1985 he received a Masters in Political Science, and by 1987 he became one of the first Maldivian to receive a Doctorate of Philosophy. The American University of Beirut (AUB; Arabic: â€Ž) is a private, independent, non-sectarian university in Beirut, Lebanon. ... The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University (or simply Stanford), is a private university located approximately 37 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco and approximately 20 miles northwest of San JosÃ© in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

United Nations Career

Dr. Waheed was forced to leave the Maldives in the middle of 1992. He was made the Head of Education for Tanzania. In 1995, Dr. Waheed was made the head of Education in Bangladesh. Three years later, he was promoted again, this time being made a Senior Adviser in New York. In 2001, Dr. Waheed was made the Deputy Head of UNICEF South Asia, and then the acting head of that office. In the aftermath of the American War with Afghanistan, Dr. Waheed was asked to help with the reconstruction efforts. During that time, Dr. Waheed built up the Education Ministry from scratch and developed health and educational care for the women and children of Afghanistan. Once the Education Ministry was functioning, he was made the head of UNICEF Afghanistan. Soon, Dr. Waheed was asked to return to New York, where he was the UNICEF representative to the body responsible for reforming UN organizations. At this time, Dr. Waheed was believed to be the senior most ranking Maldivian in the United Nations. Due to political developments in his home country of the Maldives, Dr. Waheed retired from the UN at great personal cost, and returned to the Maldives to try and play a role in bringing democracy to the country. However, as his resources depleted and the main opposition party began to favor a more militant approach, Dr. Waheed returned to the UN performing short term assignments.^[4] Since his return he has been the head of UNICEF Yemen, and is currently the head of UNICEF Macedonia.

Political Career in the Maldives

In 1980, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, appointed Dr. Waheed (fresh out of University) to the Special Parliament convened to amend the constitution of the country. However, two years later he left the Maldives to complete his education in the United States. He returned as the first Maldivian to receive a Ph.D. and chose to stand for Parliament. Dr. Waheed ran against President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's brother - Ilyas Hussain. Though considered a clear underdog, Dr. Waheed's popularity made him a threat to the ruling classes. Ilyas Hussain together with another one of the President's brother's, Abbas Ibrahim, established the Bimbi Force. This force was responsible for a number of arson attacks as well as a campaign of intimidation directed towards Dr. Waheed and his supporters. In spite of every effort made by these men, Dr. Waheed won the 1989 Parliamentary elections with the largest majority ever recorded. ^[5] Dr. Waheed spent the next couple of years attempting to have laws passed that would assist in the socio-economic development of the nation. After Mohamed Nasheed (also known as Anni) was arrested and appealed to Dr. Waheed for help, Dr. Waheed started a black ribbon campaign. During this campaign he wore a black ribbon professing his support for one of his constituents whom he saw as being wrongly imprisoned. Dr. Waheed introduced a bill resembling a bill of rights so that all Maldivian citizens could enjoy fundamental rights which are safeguarded all over the world. This bill would have helped Mohamed Nasheed, and the people of his country, but would also severely limit the powers of the government. Dr. Waheed had finally gone too far. Those who had supported his campaign for parliament were arbitrarily arrested. The crimes of the Bimbi Force were then blamed on those individuals, and finally in mid-1991 Dr. Waheed was forced to leave the country for the good of all those who supported him and for those he cared about.

Over a decade later, after a career in the United Nations, Dr. Waheed returned to the Maldives once again to serve his people. However, this time things were different. Political parties had just been allowed to be formed. And an atmosphere of camaraderie was rampant throughout the nation. Dr. Waheed then stood for the leadership of the newly formed Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). During this campaign, however, a new machine emerged working against Dr. Waheed. Believed to be both members of the government party (Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party) and other leadership candidates for MDP, this new machine worked tirelessly to defame Dr. Waheed, attacking both him and his family. During the leadership race, fliers were dumped on the streets of Male' making these slanderous accusations. Many feel that Dr. Waheed's refusal to acknowledge or address the rumors that then followed may have helped cost him the election - which he lost by a narrow margin. It is also claimed that the two other primary candidates resorted to bribery and manipulation of voting procedures in order to increase their support. Unfortunately, it is also claimed that Mohamed Nasheed, now chairman of the MDP - the same man Dr. Waheed had defended while in Parliament resulting in him being forced to flee, had knowledge of the acts being committed but remained silent in the name of 'party unity.' (Note: there is no proof of these accusations, and all indications are that Dr. Waheed and Mohamed Nasheed remain close allies)

After having lost the leadership race, Dr. Waheed stayed with MDP for six months developing its policy papers and being key member of its administration. Dr. Waheed was also the Shadow Cabinet Minister for Atoll Development. However, after having organized and let a massive rally, Dr. Waheed was forced to retunr to the UN. Having spent most of his own money during his campaign, and having lived with no income for half a year, Dr. Waheed's financial obligations dictated that he resume working. Dr. Waheed had given up his position in UNICEF, and had arguably given up more than any other member of the opposition to be a part of the movement for democracy. In 2006, after his work with MDP, he took up a consultancy position so that he may settle his accounts.

Dr. Waheed is expected to retire completely from the UN and return to the Maldives this year. And dedicate himself fully, completely, and wholly to the Republic of Maldives for good or for worse. Mohamed Nasheed Mohamed Nasheed (Dhivehi: Þ‰ÞªÞ€Þ¦Þ‡Þ°Þ‰Þ¦Þ‹Þª Þ‚Þ¦ÞÞ©Þ‹Þª) (b. ... Mohamed Nasheed Mohamed Nasheed (Dhivehi: Þ‰ÞªÞ€Þ¦Þ‡Þ°Þ‰Þ¦Þ‹Þª Þ‚Þ¦ÞÞ©Þ‹Þª) (b. ... The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is a political party from the Maldives. ... The Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) is an authoritarian political party from the Maldives. ... Mohamed Nasheed Mohamed Nasheed (Dhivehi: Þ‰ÞªÞ€Þ¦Þ‡Þ°Þ‰Þ¦Þ‹Þª Þ‚Þ¦ÞÞ©Þ‹Þª) (b. ... UNICEF Logo The United Nations Childrens Fund or UNICEF (Arabic: ; French: ; Spanish: ) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. ...

Extras

Dr. Waheed was also the first person shown on TVM (Television Maldives). In 1978, when the first public television station was introduced to the country, Dr. Waheed was the first person shown who indroduced Mr Ibrahim Shihab who inaugurated the station. Dr. Waheed also taught a number of famous individuals in Male' such as: the comedian Yoosuf Rafeeu (known as Yoosay), and the former Executive Secretary Abdullah Shahid. Aerial of TVM, located inside its main building. ...

References

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Internal Relevant Links

Categories: Maldivian people | Maldivian politicians | Current national leaders The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is a political party from the Maldives. ... Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (Dhivehi: Þ‰Þ¦Þ‡ÞªÞ‰Þ«Þ‚Þª Þ‡Þ¦Þ„Þ°Þ‹ÞªÞÞ° ÞŽÞ¦Þ‡Þ°Þ”Þ«Þ‰Þ°) (born December 29, 1937), has been the president of the Republic of Maldives since November 11, 1978, having succeeded Ibrahim Nasir. ... Mohamed Nasheed Mohamed Nasheed (Dhivehi: Þ‰ÞªÞ€Þ¦Þ‡Þ°Þ‰Þ¦Þ‹Þª Þ‚Þ¦ÞÞ©Þ‹Þª) (b. ...

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