Male’, Maldives – Victory Day reminds Maldivians of the importance of loving our country, said President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a message published in the 28th edition of “Addana”, an annual magazine by the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) on November 3rd, to commemorate this occasion.
In the statement, President Solih expressed his gratitude to the the Maldivian armed forces for continuing to display that same selflessness and love for their country that Maldivian soldiers showed the country on 3rd November 1988.
He further described the failed coup d’état of November 1988, orchestrated by local turncoats with assistance from the foreign militant group People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) as one of the most brutal and deadly assaults on Maldivian independence during which 19 locals were murdered in cold blood.
The President said that Victory Day is an important reminder for us unconditionally love our motherland and that we must learn from our past and gather inspiration from them, as we pay tribute to those who fell on November 3rd.
He added that the heroic actions of the soldiers that defended their country and religion exemplifies their patriotism , and that Maldivians will never cease to remember the martyrs and their valiant efforts to defend their homeland. In addition, he said that the unity and compassion shown by Maldivians on 3rd November remain unchanged even today.
As an ending note, he thanked everyone involved with crippling the coup d’état attempt of 3rd November 1988, and expressed gratitude to India, who with their operation codenamed “Operation Cactus” assisted the Maldives during the final stages of battle.
