Defence Minister Hassan Rashid: November 3 attack aimed to deprive Maldivians of freedom and independence

Minister of Defence and National Security Hassan Rashid has said the November 3, 1988 attack was a very dangerous assault aimed at depriving the Maldivian people of their freedom and independence, and that the nation will forever be proud of the brave soldiers of the Maldives Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives to protect the country's independence and sovereignty. In a special message delivered on the occasion of Victory Day, the Defence Minister stated that the attack launched on November 3 by a small group of Maldivians in collusion with external militant groups was carried out with the aim of taking away the freedom and independence of the Maldivian people. "That was the day when the enemy carried out merciless attacks, killing 19 innocent Maldivians as martyrs and injuring many others. The most important lesson we should take from Victory Day is the lesson of prioritizing the Maldivian nation. On Victory Day, the brave soldiers who died as martyrs for the religion and the country were protecting the independence and sovereignty of this nation," the minister said. The minister further stated in his message that the military heroes who died as martyrs for the religion and the country on that day set an example. "Today, we too must work together with unity to protect this nation from the malicious plots of the country's enemies and traitors, becoming a group that loves the religion and the country," the minister said. Victory Day is commemorated to celebrate the victory achieved by Maldivians against a group of Sri Lankan mercenaries who attacked Malé. Today marks 38 years since that incident, during which 19 Maldivians, including eight soldiers and eleven civilians, died as martyrs in the terrorist attack.