Assistance by India during the 1988 Coup Attempt
Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has expressed his gratitude for India’s support during a critical period in the history of his country. He recalled the role India had played in suppressing the 1988 coup attempt, carried out by foreign mercenaries. Yameen said Maldives Victory Day serves as a constant reminder of the timely assistance India provided to his country during that period. His remarks are significant as Yameen is largely seen as an anti-India politician.
In November 1988, there was an attempt by a group of armed insurgents to unseat the then-President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The attacks left 19 people dead, including eight soldiers. In the wake of the attacks, President Gayoom sought immediate assistance from India. The then-government of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi responded with rapid deployment of paratroopers who reached Maldives within nine hours by air and sea. The rebels were neutralized, and mercenaries trying to flee on a cargo ship were intercepted by the Indian Navy. Since then, Victory Day is celebrated every year by Maldives on November 3.
Yameen's Changing Views on India
Yameen said that Victory Day commemorated the bravery of Maldivian soldiers, as well as the co-operation extended by India during that fateful period. Till recently the president of Maldives from 2013 to 2018, he is the nephew of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
However, during his term in office, the ties between India and the Maldives deteriorated. Yameen adopted obviously pro-China policies and called for the "India Out" campaign, which demanded that Indian military personnel leave the Maldives. Thus, his statement on appreciation for India's role was quite surprising to many observers and was reported as such by local media outlets.
Legal Troubles and Political Developments
Yameen has faced a raft of legal challenges since being ousted from power. He spent two years in prison and was sentenced to 11 years in a corruption case in 2022. After his ally, Mohamed Muizzu, won the election in 2023, Yameen was placed under house arrest. In April 2024, the High Court annulled the conviction and ordered a retrial.
