Counter secular fascism in Maldives

Michael Parenti, the American writer and lecturer who spoke about the irrational features of fascism must have found this phenomenon in the distant land of Maldives.

Fascism is the unchecked rule of a class of the privileged, or relatively rich, in power--a full-scale assault on poor and working people. Parliamentary institutions are usually set aside, or so demeaned as to be meaningless.

This is how Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a secular fascist adopted a fascist style of government and ruled like the medieval kings who acted above the law. Gayoom practised nepotism and cronyism. His opponents were thrown into prison, tortured and killed.

Obviously Gayoom's brand of leading fascists were never true to Islam. Their intention was to divide and rule with devastating consequences. These secular fascists were motivated by greed to make money and they compromised the principles of justice and fairness just in order to remain in power. Within the country, their policies of elitist development has turned a vast majority of the population into second-class citizens.

This has created a leadership cult in the government bureaucracy. The result is the rich became richer creating an economic elite and consigning the poor to a permanent underclass.

While Governments were created for the sake of security of the people, the Gayoom Government became themselves the biggest threats to people’s security in Maldives.

"Parenti writes that “Much of politics is the rational manipulation of irrational symbols.” The emotive appeals of fascist ideology have served a class-control function, “distracting the populace from their legitimate grievances and directing their frustrations at various scapegoats.”

The Gayoom regime was very good in symbolism, they created corporate feudal alliances and ran a casino economy. They addicted our younger generation to illegal drugs in order to keep them silent and President Nasheed has inherited a bankrupt country.

In order for Maldivian citizens to find a fulfilling life in Maldives, President Nasheed has to focus his efforts to provide greater meaning than just economic survival of our nation.


"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. But if we rise up to meet it head-on, then history need not be re-lived. When we as a people fail, or worse yet, refuse to stand up to the injustice of historical past, then that injustice becomes an ever-present constant in our daily lives." - Cia Bannar, film maker and human rights activist.