President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Monday presented a commemorative shield to former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, recognising his leadership during the 3 November 1988 terrorist attack on the Maldives. The ceremony, held at the Maldives Centre for Social Education, formed part of the Victory Day observance, which marks the nation’s successful defence against a foreign-led assault.
President Gayoom, who also holds the Grand Order of the Distinguished Rule of Ghaazee (GODRG), was honoured for his role as president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces during the crisis.
The attack, orchestrated by foreign mercenaries in coordination with six Maldivian nationals, sought to destabilise the government and undermine national sovereignty. Nineteen Maldivians were martyred in the confrontation, which remains one of the most significant threats to the country’s security in recent history.
Victory Day, observed annually on 3 November, commemorates the resilience of the Maldivian people and the leadership that guided the nation through the emergency.
As the assault unfolded, President Gayoom assumed immediate command of the national response. He mobilised cabinet ministers, the Ministry of Defence, and other key institutions, issuing directives to coordinate the country’s defence. His efforts extended beyond the capital, with measures taken to monitor the welfare of citizens across the country.
From the moment the first shot was fired, President Gayoom remained at the helm. His leadership was marked by strategic clarity and an unwavering commitment to national security, working without pause until the threat was neutralised.
A defining element of the response was his swift engagement with international partners. Drawing on longstanding diplomatic ties, President Gayoom secured immediate military assistance from neighbouring India. The rapid deployment of Indian forces proved instrumental in repelling the attackers and restoring order.
The events of 3 November underscored the strategic depth of Maldivian foreign policy at the time, affirming the country’s ability to mobilise international support in moments of existential threat. In the early hours of the response, President Gayoom’s family was relocated to the headquarters of the Maldives National Defence Force (then known as the National Security Service), with assistance from both domestic forces and the arriving Indian contingent.
Posthumous honours conferred on victims of 1988 siege
The government of President Muizzu formally honoured the memory of those who lost their lives during the terrorist assault on the nation’s sovereignty on 3 November 1988. At the ceremony, he posthumously recognised the service of both military personnel and civilians martyred in the attack.
Commemorative shields were presented to the families of the fallen, with the November 3 Commemorative Shield of Honour symbolising the state’s formal decision to acknowledge their sacrifice. The award was conferred in recognition of 19 individuals, eight members of the armed forces and eleven civilians, who were martyred during the coordinated assault.
Victory Day marks the nation’s successful defence against a violent incursion that posed a direct threat to its territorial integrity. The attack was carried out by foreign mercenaries in collaboration with seven Maldivian nationals and orchestrated by the Sri Lanka-based militant group, the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE).
Among those martyred in the line of duty were Corporal Hussain Adam (aged 20), Corporal Mohamed Ibrahim (31), Sergeant Adam Naseer (28), Lieutenant Moosa Ahmed (51), Corporal Abdulla Zuhair (33), Sergeant Kuda Adam Kuda Thuhthu (49), Corporal Mohamed Hassan (28) and Corporal Hussain Mohamed (38).
The civilians who perished included Ismail Haleem (aged 35), Ibrahim Hameez (22), Umar Ahmed (45), Ahmed Labeeb (52), Ibrahim Hussain (52), Abdul Sattar Adam (49), Abdul Rahman Adam (53), Ahmed Rasheed (24), Hassan Zareer (20), Javad Umar (16) and Hussain ‘Dhon Manik’ Abdul Rahman (70).