nPostednon November 3, 2016
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n Itnwas called Operation Cactus.
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nTherenwere no casualties.
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nThenwinners were Indian paratroopers and the Indian navy.
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nDoesnthis sound like a set up for Victory Day in the Maldives? Unlikely asnit sounds, it’s true: n
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ThenMaldives are a bunch of coral atolls in the Indian Ocean. It’s verynsmall, and the population is more dispersed than those of mostncountries – since the atolls are flung far-and-wide. The islandsnseem to be a tropical paradise – so much so that the economyndepends heavily on tourism.
ThenMaldives are a bunch of coral atolls in the Indian Ocean. It’s verynsmall, and the population is more dispersed than those of mostncountries – since the atolls are flung far-and-wide. The islandsnseem to be a tropical paradise – so much so that the economyndepends heavily on tourism.n
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nStill,npeople who want power sometimes struggle and fight for it, even on antropical paradise with little economic clout and a sparse population!
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nApparentlynsupporters of a former president, Ibrahim Nasir, attempted severalncoups against the then-current President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Then1988 coup attempt included, not just Nasir supporters in thenMaldives, but also a group of Tamil terrorists / militants – Inassume “guns for hire.” (In other words, I assume the Tamilnfighters were taking part because they were being paid to do so.)
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nThenTamil fighters gained control of several buildings and the airport innthe capital city of Malénbut did not capture President Gayoom. He fled and asked for help fromnseveral other nations. India quickly responded with – as Inmentioned above – a parachute battalion and the navy. And in just anfew hours, the Indian forces were able to recapture the airport andnbuildings. They sent the mercenaries on their way and restored ordernby the lawful government (including Gayoom).
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nThenpeople of the Maldives have celebrated November 3 as Victory Day evernsince. n
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nThenMaldives is an Islamic country. And yet its economy depends onntourism. I wondered how the two things worked together in practice,ngiven the interest in alcohol and skimpy swimwear in a lot of touristnresorts.
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WhatnI found out was that most tourists are whisked straight from thenairport to their resort, and there is almost no mixing betweenntourists and Maldivians. Each resort seems to be on its own island –nbut there is a choice from 106 different resort islands to choosenfrom! Maldivians do not live on the resort islands.
WhatnI found out was that most tourists are whisked straight from thenairport to their resort, and there is almost no mixing betweenntourists and Maldivians. Each resort seems to be on its own island –nbut there is a choice from 106 different resort islands to choosenfrom! Maldivians do not live on the resort islands.n
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nInalso read that the Maldives has become more and more repressive withnits citizens, with a reactivated death penalty, public floggings, andnpunishment for crimes that aren’t crimes in most nations, such asnpublicly taking part in a religion other than Islam or carrying a cannof Spam or other pork product. Some people wonder if it is ethical tonsupport such a nation with tourist dollars – even if the Maldiviansndo leave the tourist resorts completely out of their Islamic lawnenforcement.
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nInpersonally think it best to choose another tropical paradise. ThenMaldives seem to be unstable at best…at least right now.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nBunka No Hi in Japan
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nIndependencenof Cuenca in Ecuador
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nIndependencenDay in Dominica
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nSeparationnDay in Panama
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nClichénDay
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nNationalnDouble-Talk Week
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nJapan’snCulture Day
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nChemist JokichinTakamine’s birthday
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Sandwich Day
Sandwich Day n
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Plannahead:
Plannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nNovembern holidays
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nNovembern birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in November
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nDecembern birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in December
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