Thousands of Maldivians have been paying their last respects to former President Ibrahim Nasir who has passed away Saturday night in Singapore. President Nasir who has lived in Singapore in exile for the past 30 years after stepping down in 1978, has died at the Mt. Elizebeth Hospital, Singapore at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness. President Nasheed and ministers were at the airport when Nasir's body arrived there with his son Ismail Nasir close family members and friends. Nasir's body was carried to Male' in full state honors and the body was taken to the President's Palace in state followed by the President, ministers members of parliament.
Large crowds were gathered near the official jetty and through out the journey which carried the body to the Palace. The body of former President is lying in state while long queues of young and old are waiting patiently to pay homage to their national leader. The funeral which was scheduled for the evening of Sunday has been delayed to early morning on Monday because of the large number of people coming from across the country to pay their last respects to a leader most of whom have not seen or known.
A state funeral has not attracted such a large crowd in the Maldives. Maldivians in tens and thousands are waiting in long lines to pay last respect to their national hero who attained the country's full political independence from Britain in 1965. Nasir is also acclaimed as the founder of the modern development and progress of the Maldives. Among President Nasir's most outstanding services to the country, he has introduced English medium of education and developed the educational system, introduced tourism, free market economy, modern telecommunication, developed the international airport, devolved powers of the atolls, modernized fishing industry, developed foreign trade and other vital fields.
President Nasir however faced much intimidation and harassment by the people after he left the country for what was alleged as abuse of power and state resources. A Parliamentary Commission held a full investigation over these allegations and he was sentenced in absentia for misappropriation of state funds, a charge which the former President denied. State honors conferred on President Nasir were also stripped off by the Government of President Gayoom. Gayoom relinquished the post after loosing the first multi-party presidential election to a key leader of the democratic reform of the country, current President Mohamed Nasheed. Nasheed assumed office just a week ago.
Relations between former President Nasir and his successor Maumoon Abdul Gayoom were at the lowest after the hostile actions taken against Mr. Nasir including mass demonstrations held in Male' at the beginning of Gayoom's presidency. Since then the two leaders have not met and late President Nasir chose to live away from the Maldives and Maldivian people. Former President Gayoom has granted clemency to late President Nasir, but there was no knowledge if former President Gayoom had made any attempts to mend the relations with his former boss.
Former President Gayoom has made a statement saying whatever had happened against late President Nasir happened without his knowledge. Gayoom and his two sons paid their respects to the late President Nasir this afternoon.
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