Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shafeeu obstructed by a group of islanders from getting on to Kolamaafushi. | via Sun Online

The local media reported today that a group of islanders have obstructed the Minister of Fisheries from getting on to Kolamaafushi, an island in Gaafu Alifu Atoll. The minister is reported to have gone to the island along with the Cabinet Secretary of President Mohamed Waheed Hassan’s government. The cabinet secretary Dr. Abdulla Nazeer is from the island.

The minister is said to have been later allowed onto the island after the Dr. Nazeer negotiated with the group of islanders. However, other members of the minister’s entourage were not allowed onto the island.

Maldivians have a new constitution, which they believe have given them unprecedented freedoms and liberty to do whatever they wish without bounds. Political parties deem it fit to take the new found liberty to their own hands as they see fit. In essence, there are no courts or law enforcement agencies who can check the free will of the people who chose to observe their own version of vigilante justice.

Maldivians are tribal by natural selection and design. That had been the tradition of the forefathers who had lived on these islands. The true history has however been successfully buried along with the rest, by social engineers who thought they would bury it forever. The liberties of a constitutional monarchy, a monarchy style presidential form of government, and later a liberal democracy have manifested the true character and tribal nature of the giant within.

Values that give distinction to civilized cultures are alien to Maldivians in general. Such things as dialogue, civilized conversation and argument are second place to the more respected art of arrogance and unreasonableness. Reasoning and logic are non-existent.

It is against this backdrop that the treatment of those like Fisheries Minister Shafeeu, and of President Nasheed and President Waheed, by the “democracy loving” and “annihilate-the-rest believing” hooligans who brave the islands can be understood.

Maldives has been known to those who have not lived here as a paradise on Earth. It is however, the most scariest dwelling on earth for those who are compelled to make a living on its capital Male’ which hold a third of the population of the country. It is a concrete jungle which is more like a constructions site, with the roads a resembling a huge vehicle deport. Young people who have no value of human life roam the streets. They will blame that on the higher ups who dwell on lawlessness as a means to prosperity.

The challenge of overcoming tribalism in the Maldives is going to take decades. Overcoming tribalism and removing the public from the slavery of the monarchical clans is going to take ages.