Chapter 23

23
TURQUOISE TERRITORY

According to Colonel Omar, “Axis of Evil differs from point to point, in views and opinions, in changing time. After US and UK, the flag-carrier of the race leader in the Eastern Hemisphere is Australia. In 1994, South Africa denounced apartheid and one flag came down. Today it makes no difference, world dominance – greed and imperialism.”

“That has been abandoned by the British,” said the Brigadier.

“Negative. I don’t think so. If they did, someone else started. This day it is up to every superpower to try and hold grip of whatever they can, selfishly. We see too many superpowers on the rise. Regrettably, 21st century has created more hypocrisy.”

“Barbarism!” uttered the Brigadier.

“Who can live without it? Who can live without a little bit of racism? Otherwise you don’t even call him a man. You can’t belong to an ethnicity. I thought there was a time we did. We are hardly Indian, not even Asian or African. Our culture and lifestyle is totally different. Our tribe is different. This work of India is not a short term dispute. It turns a new chapter in the history of our little world. India is a superpower and that is if they maintain the next good characteristic of a superpower – stubbornness. Or call it isolationism. It is India that has a long nose. Not Russians, not Chinese. Why not Iran or some other country? It’s because India that’s left out of criticism.”

“We hear condemnation from the international community. No doubt, India has to oblige sometime.”

“I don’t think so,” said the Colonel again. “The world community has no time to bother about a small and wasted tiny little nation for more than a day. Those voices will fade away. Politicians can fly to them but no country will help us like the way they did to overthrow the government. For them it’s a victory and who doesn’t want to talk about success.”

“I can see your point,” said the Brigadier. “Last one of the smart leaders is gone. No matter how bad he is pictured, it’s got to be a man of conviction and if not this country fits in like a vacuum in the international society. Any government cannot bring in the honourable man…the dictator. Thus the interest is gone, the anxiety is low and underground deals are cut. This country is nothing but a problematical environment and unwanted refugees. Tell me, what is the point of a PhD? All what we need is a Knighthood.”

“Well, the Devil has got one. Even if his image is shattered he can cling on to it. And that’s all we get. The only man here is the Major General but the world has changed…the countries shy away.”

“The countries shy away…the one US awarded to Madam Keshàe was done in confidentiality during a clandestine meeting five years ago.”

“Precisely, and those young faces in European Union today, know nothing about a nation or its people or an ethnicity other than to deal in business and talk about bringing democracy to this country after throwing out a dictator. They’ll keep on talking loud about it but silent over the invasion.”

“And that turns us into Pakistan…a graveyard. We don’t breathe peace anymore. Riots, corruption and coups...”

Many sultans in the past were awarded Knighthood from the United Kingdom. Then the little Maldives was a hiding ground for the powerful British Navy when Japan took over the British South-East Asian colonies beginning with the Battle of Singapore on 7th February 1942. Three hours after the attack on Pearl Harbour on 7th December 1941, the Japanese aeroplanes torpedo-bombed the British fleet in Singapore sinking the flagship HMS Prince of Wales along with HMS Repulse, on 8th December as per Eastern dateline. In August 1941, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the US President, Franklin D Roosevelt, met onboard HMS Prince of Wales to conclude that Japan got no capability to knockout the western powers. Likewise, India was underestimated.

Australia demanded immediate withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives and the Prime Minister of India to return with an apology.

In the recent years, Australia took a step ahead to act as a superpower in the Eastern Hemisphere but economic ties with India, China and Japan maintained her position moderately even. She grew into a regional power and a contributor reaching to territories around Indonesia, Polynesia and Asia. By the 21st century, she raised the flag over the Indian Ocean and as instructed by the US Administration reflecting on a top secret pact among the US, UK and Australia.

Australia banned asylum seekers and practised hardliner policies to prevent the flow of immigrants as figures increased significantly. The Australian Asylum Policy read ‘by invitation only’ and those who reached the country faced arbitrary detention, rejection of due process in asylum procedures and denial from family reunification.

Politically, even with cross-cultural relationship with countries around Australia, she mannered a strong hand of concern to deal with growing issues; overthrow government, military coup, chart new territory, policing East Timor, intelligence gathering, strengthen diplomacy and friendship, develop commerce and oilrigs, forming partnerships, investments, expanding the military and donations towards wellbeing of her neighbours.

In the past decade she continued to assist the Maldives with small grants on education and scholarships through AUSAID programmes. By 2006, Australia was ready to part with capital towards development of the Maldives. For these reasons Australia was in a good position to say, “We value human rights and freedom of the Maldivian people. We never left behind the Maldives in a major tragedy. Australia has been a principal donor helping the Maldives reform policies and education. We stand firm with the islanders for their freedom and help them out from intimidation. Australia continues to help the Maldives on environmental issues and supporting the global agenda on preservation of the environment, to reduce greenhouse gases. India, as an important ally and a key commercial partner, can seek other means for the freedom of the Maldivian people, respect sovereignty of the country, continue to facilitate in situations like this, rather than invasion. We are prepared to offer the islanders with their rightful place in the global society if the nation faces natural disaster to wash away from the face of earth. We can only help if the Maldives remains free of intimidation from other countries.”

With staunch controversy towards Australia, as Blue Waters depicted, all eyes in the Maldives looked for a country like Australia to dry their soles in a place they could call home and by means of unification, migration, occupation or colonialism. Realistically, Australia was in position to come to the rescue of several islands under threat in its very own sphere before she could reach out to the islands of the Maldives in the first place. Hence, Blue Waters and MUM maintained a motion in favour of unification with India in particular and upheld the Un-republic Movement.

The United Kingdom condemned the action of India and the language used by Prime Minister Lotus. “United Kingdom demands nothing less however the unconditional withdrawal and disbandment of strategic interest in the Maldive Islands that require any military instigation. Prime Minister Lotus has spoken in utterly extraneous terms. This nation of Maldives is a sovereign country and remains an independent member nation of the Commonwealth and the UN. United Kingdom is the protector of the Maldives in statute to Westminster and we stand strongly in her soil regardless of what India has to say. United Kingdom is determined to sanction India in the Commonwealth, appeal to this extremely delicate and serious issue in the EU of which the entire economy of the Maldive Islands is based on and ordain in the United Nations on behalf of the Maldive Islands to protect and secure the tiny oceanic nation to its original state, normality and formalities to remain independent.”

Secretary General of the Commonwealth called on all member nations, “India has to be sanctioned for violating boundaries of an independent nation, exploitation of a helpless member nation of the Commonwealth and the global society.”

After six months, India was sanctioned by one year ban in the Commonwealth, removing her from vice chair, for failing to state otherwise it was not invasion or to apologise. Many member states favoured a severe ban nonetheless, important members like Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia, Seychelles and South Africa opposed sanction.

China responded to say, “India has no right to intervene in the Maldives to strengthen her military. No country could claim victorious over the other or part of another country.” This again disheartened countries – victorious over part of another country – controversially reflecting on Tibet, Taiwan and Yellow Sea territories.

Pakistan vowed, “India proves of desecrating standards day by day. It’s equally dangerous to come to terms and nuclear deal with a country that has breached international law to occupy land from an independent country by using force. India is acting as a superpower in the Asia Region. It’s shameful that India seeks a chair to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Better be coached to a coach bed if by any luck.”

Sri Lanka expressed dissonance, “This action has driven us to fearful heights. India has a tight-fist over Lakshadweep and the Maldives. People in Minicoy are Divehin.” Under Laccadives Laws and Regulations, passed in 1967 by the Government of India, a Maldivian was not allowed to step foot in the Laccadives. With a special permission only if granted by the Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives, a Maldivian could visit Minicoy for just fifteen days.

SAARC Secretary General expressed, “We are observing a catastrophic situation in the Maldives. Both countries have potential for reconciliation and resolve this matter at urge. India has proven more of support to the Maldives as important partners of SARRC without a slightest margin of error in their relationship and that has to be continued in the future. Our focus should go to help the nation out of calamity.”

Japan responded robustly, “For ages since the independence of the Maldives in 1965, the Government of Japan has been their major donor and longstanding partner. An invasion is unacceptable. We stand between to resolve the matter in practical terms, facilitate talks if it necessitates and seek a solution peacefully.”

As rightfully claimed, no country could come close to a contributor so hugely parted with generous aid to the Maldives. Politically, Japan got involved in no internal affairs in the past. It could be the right party in the right time on the right reason, though with bilateral attitude of India to solve dispute solely between the two states, Japan was favoured more than another country. The US hailed Japan’s mediation to resolve this dispute between the two nations. The Maldives looked forward for it and India agreed randomly. Some nations got no say or plausibly unhappy over Japan’s intercession such as Australia, the UK and China. In the past, Japan stood to support suffering countries but consistently when it came to the point of decision-making, she was always denied. Japan knew it couldn’t happen with any government in the Maldives.

EU had sighted a different course, “This world is missing a balance. It is not unexpected of growing anxiety shown by the rising superpowers in developing defence strategies in parts of the world that give rise to various unrealistic problems declining our focuses on global terrorism, environmental issues, migration, wars, refugees, trust and funding towards more serious issues as to develop alternative energies, work out science and technology in order to eradicate poverty and preserve our environment from challenges that face this world today. India should not stand between EU and deter our businesses. India should not be part of a problem.”

Finally, when a broadly spoken matter arrived at the United Nations, the Secretary General tiresomely searched a large scale map on the wall using a magnifying glass. “What are you looking for, sir?” an orderly asked.

“Maldives,” Secretary General replied.

“Right here,” he pointed.

Secretary General shrugged, “That’s what you call a nation! It’s smaller than I expected. Everybody’s talking big about this little paradise. I only see brochure products about the Maldives on websites.”

“They call it ‘the sunny side of life’, sir, full of gossipers and dreamers.” The orderly poured him tea.

One of the western journalists who climbed Fua Mulak asked, “Do you fear of international terrorism, Mr Hanim?”

Atoll Chief replied, “Not at all. We fear only if something happens like the Twelfth Night. We know for many years now, those drones and espionage flights are flying over this region. It’s a perilous threat. We may be hit one day without a warning. Since we can do nothing about it…we know to live without fear and no complain. We know those satellites can observe our gifili – shower gardens where we take bathe in open air, out in the sun, no roof overhanging. We still do because we don’t know they observe. I fear most of the time when the tsunami siren goes off. If there’s a warning, of course, I fear. You and your people are warned all the time so you think about threats unrealistically.”

Western media in Fua Mulak brought out all sorts of stories blaming India behind the whole scheme and the siege. It hardly got to be a resourceful country to invade for India knew realistically that no country on earth could stand against the occupation. It could be embarrassing sometimes as the great nation might be denounced of ill responsibilities. However, shame and blame could only be key factors for not taking the mad decision. And once the action was undertaken, madness overcomes shame or blame. Nobody could joke about it because of the calculated choice.

When Argentina cried for the Malvinas Islands in 1982, it certainly took a turn; the Battle for Falklands was fought and won by the British.

“One can say they are colonies with disputes…” the reporter said.

Colonel Omar termed, “One good example of a Turquoise Territory.”

“Let’s say, United Kingdom and Spain agreed to share sovereignty over the Rock of Gibraltar, would you agree to share sovereignty over Maldives with India?”

“We do sometimes share the same towel among our families to dry after bathe. They don’t. We do share the same bed called the ashi to sleep. They don’t. But we don’t share the underwear because we do not have one. No way that we agree to share the flag by both nations. We are totally different. We are independent. Now that India has turned us into a Turquoise Territory. We wish to be treated like when Iraq invaded Kuwait or China seizes Taiwan or the Turks pull out Kurds. Here’s a case rather more vindictive than the Perejil Rock. We have all the freedom, liberty, self-rule, independence. What more do we ask for? Once we become a sovereign state like Kuwait or Pakistan or East Timor, we stay independent. Those places you’re talking about; Hong Kong, Macau, Falklands, Ceuta, Melilla, Jaffna, rocks and sandbanks, disputed territories of the British keep, they were never independent. When a slave is freed once, he will always demand freedom. A Turquoise Territory is some place like the Caymans. See if they ever get freed, they would never get slaved.”

“What’s another Turquoise Territory?”

“Fola Vehi,” Colonel Omar said raising another alarming argument and the journalist dismissed to ask any further questions. President Capricorn claimed the island of Maliku in 1983 – in Divehi Language spoken by the native islanders of the Maldives and the Laccadives, the island is called Maliku. Minicoy happened to be an alien term used by the Malayalam in India. Even though a Maldivian might harbour a desire over Maliku, most would believe they were defectors. It could not happen with Chagos Islands – called Fola Vehi in Divehi term, because the Chagossian hardly belonged to the native Divehi tribe and the ethnicity.

The Maldivian High Commissioner, Honourable Ribbon, was summoned to the South Block, official residence of the Prime Minister situated on Raisina Hill, in New Delhi.

Ribbon was a nepote of the Capricorn Regime, relieved from enduring politics, designated to a retired post of diplomacy to flex his remnant muscles. The new government of young faces in the Maldives might have hinted some kind of international pressure behind the outcome of the meeting between the Prime Minister and Ribbon. In fact it was an understanding of this man in his calibre that made the Indian Prime Minister present himself to invite a top delegation to India to hold talks. Under any other circumstance, the Government of India could have more likely called the High Commissioner to the Ministry of External Affairs and basically disclose India’s intentions.

Following that and according to local media, President of the Maldives, Madam Keshàe,