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Maldives Questions Indian Aircraft Pilots..

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The Maldives High Commission of India declared in a statement that Indian aviation platforms have always operated in the Maldives in accordance with “agreed procedures and with due authorisation.”

India on Tuesday dismissed the claim made by Maldivian Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon, alleging that Indian military helicopter pilots stationed in the Maldives carried out an unauthorised operation in 2019.

In a statement, the High Commission of India in the Maldives asserted that Indian aviation platforms in the Maldives have always operated according to the “agreed procedures and with due authorisation.”

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The clarification came days after India completed the withdrawal of 76 military personnel from the Maldives following a demand by President Mohamed Muizzu. Relations between India and Maldives deteriorated since Muizzu, a pro-China leader, came to power in November last year.

Muizzu had set May 10 as the deadline for the withdrawal of the Indian military troops from his country.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Defence Minister Ghassan said he knew of one of the aviation platforms undertaking an unauthorised sortie.

He narrated an incident where one of the two helicopters operated by Indian military personnel in the Maldives landed in Thimarafushi, allegedly without permission – a case, which he said, was reviewed by the Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee), when he was a lawmaker.

However, the Indian mission dismissed the allegation.

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“Indian aviation platforms in the Maldives have always operated as per agreed procedures and with due authorisation from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF),” the High Commission of India said.

Referring to the remarks by the Maldivian Defence Minister, the High Commission said the particular incident which saw an emergency landing at Thimarafushi on October 9, 2019, was “necessitated due to an unforeseen exigency.” “The specific sortie on 09 October 2019 referred to at the press conference was also undertaken with the approval of MNDF.

The emergency landing at Thimarafushi was necessitated due to an unforeseen exigency, which was carried out after taking necessary on-ground approvals from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to ensure the safety and security of the platform and crew,” the High Commission asserted.

According to local media reports, on May 11, the MNDF revealed that the Indian military personnel who were previously operating the helicopters gifted to the Maldives by the Indian government had made a trip on the helicopter without notifying the Maldivian military during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Incidentally, at the same press conference, Defence Minister Ghassan also confessed that the Maldives military still does not have pilots capable of operating three aircraft donated by India.

The Indian military personnel were stationed in the Maldives to operate two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft gifted by India. The helicopters and the aircraft were used primarily for medical evacuations.

The last batch of Indian military personnel were repatriated by Friday, as per the May 10 deadline set following an agreement between the two countries in February in New Delhi.

The Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in its initiatives like ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ of the Indian government.

Maldives Thanks India for $50 Million Budget Aid After Indian Troop Withdrawals.

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India economic support, according to the Maldives government, took the shape of a $50 million Treasury Bill that was rolled over for an extra year.

Moosa Zameer, the foreign minister of the Maldives, praised the Indian government on Monday for providing $50 million in budget help to the island nation. This comes amid a decline in bilateral relations between the two nations since pro-China President Mohammed Muizzu assumed office.

“I thank EAM @DrSJaishankar and the Government of #India for extending vital budgetary support to Maldives with the rollover of USD 50 million Treasury Bill. This is a true gesture of goodwill which signifies the longstanding friendship between #Maldives and #India,” Zameer, who visited India from May 8 to 10 on his very first bilateral official visit, posted on social platform X.

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The Maldives government’s foreign office said that India’s budgetary support was in the form of a rollover of $50 million Treasury Bill, for an additional year, through the State Bank of India, Male’, from 13 May 2024.

The Maldives government said it is “highly appreciative of the generous support that Government of India has been providing to the Maldives in the form of budgetary support.”

“Large number of infrastructural developmental projects and High Impact Community Developmental projects are underway with the assistance from the Government of India, which consists of a notable part as grant assistance. The Government of Maldives looks forward in continuing this collaborative partnership for the mutual benefit and prosperity of their people,” the Muizzu government statement added.

Last week, the Maldives foreign minister had said that 76 Indian military personnel were replaced by civilian employees of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited which manufactured the two helicopters gifted by India, thus also ending the suspense over the exact number of those repatriated at the insistence of Male.

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain in the view of Muizzu insisting on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel operating three military platforms in the island nation.

‘No Indian troops come May 10, not even in civilian clothing’: Maldives President!

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Maldives President Mohamad Muizzu has asserted that no Indian troops, including those in civilian clothing, will be barred from entering the island nation after May 10.

In Short

  • Maldives President says Indian troops won’t be allowed after May 10
  • Says some people spreading rumours on Indian troops leaving Maldives
  • Says Indian troops in civilian clothes won’t be allowed to enter

A day after the Maldives signed an agreement with China to receive free military aid, Maldivian President Mohamad Muizzu said no Indian troops, including those in civilian clothing, will not be allowed to enter the island nation after May 10, Maldives’ news portal Edition.mv reported.

Muizzu’s remarks came after an Indian civilian team reached the Maldives to take charge of one of the three aviation platforms in the island nation, well ahead of the March 10 deadline agreed by the two nations for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel.

Addressing a community in Baa atoll Eydhafushi, Muizzu claimed that people were spreading rumours about his government’s ‘success’ in expelling Indian troops from the Maldives, according to Edition.mv.

“These people (Indian military) are not departing, and they are returning after changing their uniforms into civilian clothing. We must not indulge such thoughts that instil doubts in our hearts and spread lies,” the portal quoted Muizzu, widely regarded as a pro-China leader, as saying.

“There will be no Indian troops in the country come May 10. Not in uniform and not in civilian clothing. The Indian military will not be residing in this country in any form of clothing. I state this with confidence,” he said.

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Highlighting that securing true independence is a concept he regards with utmost priority, Muizzu remarked that his government was exerting efforts with due importance “to regain the southern maritime area deprived of the country in addition to expelling Indian troops from the Maldives”.

“I am confident we can achieve this. The delay in concluding this task is due to the adverse procedures practiced during the implementation. It was done without even taking the matter to the Parliament in violation of the Constitution as well,” the portal quoted the President as saying.

Muizzu’s statement came amid a diplomatic row over Maldivian politicians’ derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep in January, which strained ties between the two countries.

There are 88 military personnel manning the three Indian platforms that have been providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of the Maldives for the last few years using two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft.

Following a high-level meeting in Delhi on February 2 between the two sides, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said India would replace its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10 and the first phase of the process would be completed by March 10.

Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, was elected President in November last year, and had pledged to remove Indian military personnel in the island nation.

Edition.mv further reported that while the first troops to depart the country are the Indian military personnel operating the two helicopters in Addu City, the military personnel present in Haa Dhaalu atoll Hanimaadhoo and Laamu atoll Kahdhoo are also expected to leave ahead of May 10.

India had agreed to remove their troops from the Maldives under the condition that a number of their civilians equivalent to the military presence are brought to operate the aircraft.

The Maldives’ proximity to India, barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the mainland’s western coast, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) gives it significant strategic importance.

The Maldives has been India’s key maritime neighbour in the IOR and it occupies a special place in its initiatives such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy.

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Maldives Sitting on a debt pile, not bankrupt as of now!

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Even though Mohammed Muizzu has sought financial help from Turkey and China, no one is seen forthcoming as the island nation reels under an economic crisis.

Mohammed Muizzu

Even though Maldives has not gone bankrupt as media reports would have us believe, Male is heavily leveraged with external debt mounting to nearly USD 4.038 billion and the internal debt nearly matching the figure with debt crisis looming ahead in 2026. The gross national income of Mohammed Muizzu ruled Maldives is USD 5.6 billion as per official figures.

While Muizzu with his overt anti-India stance is asking for debt relief from his close friend Xi Jinping and Islamic emirates in the Middle-East, the Chinese debt of USD 1.3 billion constitutes nearly 30 per cent of its external debt with sovereign bonds maturing in 2026. Even though Muizzu sought financial support from the likes of Turkey and China, none is seen forthcoming as the Island nation reels in a fully blown economic crisis.

The Chinese surveillance ship Xiang Yang Hong 03, which was scheduled to dock at Male seaport for operational turnaround on February 8, is still awaited by the Maldivian authorities. The spy ship is currently located 20 hours from Male in the south Indian Ocean, well outside the EEZ of the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India.

For the record, the Chinese surveillance ship was only allowed to use the Male port for OTR and not conduct any survey or ocean bed mapping in the EEZ of Maldives and beyond.

While India is expected to replace the military crew of one ALH helicopter flying Maldivian flag by the end of this month or early March, the Modi government is on a wait and watch mode but fully prepared to help Maldives in case of an humanitarian disaster.

Rather than get worked up with Muizzu’s anti-India posture for his own political survival, the Modi government has given a green signal to Indian Navy to extend the air strip at Agatti islands in next door Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands with a new air base sanctioned for Minicoy islands. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will commission the first squadron of MH-60 R Sikorsky helicopters in Kochi on March 4-5 and then head towards Maldives on board India’s two aircraft carrier strike forces to Minicoy to commission a new base called INS Jatayu.

Even though Muizzu’s anti-India political posturing is aimed at the Majlis elections in April, the public mood towards China’s Belt Road Initiative (BRI) for infra development in Maldives is at best lukewarm. This is after a number of countries like Pakistan, Kenya and Tanzania are reeling under BRI debt after taking high interest loans from Chinese EXIM banks.

This Article Was Originally Published on Hindustantimes News!

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Maldives remains at ‘high risk of external, overall debt distress’: IMF

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The International Monetary Fund has warned that the Maldives IMF remains at “high risk of external and overall debt distress”.

The Maldives, which has borrowed heavily from China, remains at “high risk of external and overall debt distress”, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned. It also said that there was a need for “urgent policy adjustment”.

Beijing has pledged more funding for the Maldives since pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu took power in November 2023.

Muizzu thanked China last month for its “selfless assistance” for development funds after a visit to Beijing.

The IMF did not give details of the Maldives’ foreign debt but said there was a need for “urgent policy adjustment”.

“Without significant policy changes, the overall fiscal deficits and public debt are projected to stay elevated,” the IMF said after a review of the country’s economy.

“The Maldives remains at high risk of external and overall debt distress,”

The island nation, famed for its white sand beaches and where tourism accounts for nearly a third of the economy, has recovered economically from the Covid-19 pandemic.

But while a planned airport expansion and an increase in hotels are projected to boost growth, the IMF said “uncertainty surrounding the outlook remains high and risks are tilted to the downside”.

Muizzu’s mentor, former president Abdulla Yameen, who ruled for five years until 2018, borrowed heavily from Beijing for construction projects.

That left it owing 42 per cent of its more than $3 billion foreign debt to China in 2021, according to the World Bank, citing the Maldives’ Finance Ministry.

Global east-west shipping lanes pass through the nation’s chain of 1,192 tiny coral islands, stretching around 800 km across the equator.

This article was published on India Today.

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Maldives Prosecutor General brutally stabbed amid political crisis: Report

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Maldives’ Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has been brutally stabbed by unidentified miscreants, according to media reports. The development came amid political turmoil in the island nation where the Opposition is planning to impeach President Mohamed Muizzu.

Maldives’ Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has been brutally stabbed by unidentified miscreants, according to the country’s media reports. Shameem was appointed by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which was in the government till November last year, and is presently the Opposition party.

The attack on Shameem came as several Maldivian parliamentarians have been targeted by gangs on the road in recent days.

Meanwhile, the MDP said it has collected enough signatures needed to initiate a no-confidence motion to launch impeachment proceedings against President Mohamed Muizzu and his government. The impeachment motion against the pro-China President is likely to be submitted to Parliament soon.

This development came after the Maldivian Parliament witnessed chaos when lawmakers came to blows, disrupting a special session convened to seek parliamentary approval for Muizzu’s cabinet ministers. MPs from the ruling alliance consisting of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) clashed with the MDP.

Muizzu, 45, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year.

Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17, Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw 88 military personnel from his country by March 15, saying the Maldivian people had given him a “strong mandate” to make this request to New Delhi.

According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives to help operate a Dornier aircraft and two helicopters provided by India.

In a veiled dig at India, Muizzu, without naming any country, said, “We may be small, but that doesn’t give you the licence to bully us.” He made the comments after visiting China, his first foreign trip after becoming the President.

This article was published on India today.

Maldives opposition ready to bring impeachment motion against President Muizzu

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The Maldivian opposition party has gathered enough signatures to initiate an impeachment motion against President Mohamed Muizzu.

President Muizzu

The main opposition party in the Maldives, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has collected enough signatures needed to initiate a no-confidence motion to launch impeachment proceedings against the Mohamed Muizzu government. The impeachment motion against the pro-China President is likely to be submitted to the parliament soon.

This development comes a day after the Maldivian Parliament witnessed chaos on Sunday when lawmakers came to blows, disrupting a special session convened to seek parliamentary approval for Muizzu’s cabinet ministers. MPs from the ruling alliance consisting of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) clashed with the MDP.

A viral video on social media shows MPs gathered near the speaker’s chair and engaged in a physical fight. During the altercation between Kanditheemu MP Abdulla Hakeem Shaheem and Kendhikulhudhoo MP Ahmed Easa, Shaheem sustained injuries to his head when the two parliamentarians fell near the chamber.

The violence in Parliament occurred after the MDP decided to withhold parliamentary approval for four members of Muizzu’s cabinet ahead of the voting. Subsequently, pro-government MPs initiated a protest, leading to chaos.

Meanwhile, the ruling PPM-PNC coalition has filed no-confidence motions against the Parliament’s Speaker Mohamed Aslam and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem, Sun.mv news website reported.

The ruling coalition have said that denying parliamentary approval to the cabinet will be tantamount to obstructing the services the government gives to citizens.

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This article was originally published on Indiatoday

China-backed conservative Islamic elements caused the Maldives crisis: Former Indian envoy! Maldives China-backed conservative Islamic elements caused the Maldives crisis: Former Indian envoy!

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China-backed conservative Islamic elements caused the Maldives crisis: Former Indian envoy

Dnyaneshwar Mulay claims that Muizzu is a close ally of President Abdullah Yameen, who is well-known for being pro-China and anti-Indian.

Maldives News

According to a former senior Indian diplomat, the swift deterioration of relations between India and the Maldives might be attributed to the rise of an Islamic conservative group on the Indian Ocean island.

“The crisis has been caused by a lack of understanding of the situation and the realities of bilateral relations between the two countries,” stated Dnyaneshwar Manohar Mulay, a former Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives. “Democracy in the Maldives is relatively young, in their teens.”

The newly elected Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a meeting just one month ago, and since then, their ties have deteriorated dramatically. Three Maldivian politicians provoked the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, immediately with tweets criticizing him for his close links to Israel and for pushing the Lakshadweep islands during his recent visit, which was seen as a cost to the Maldives.

Additionally, the clergy made disparaging remarks about Indians. The damage is done even though the tweets were removed, the Ministers were suspended, and the Maldivian government disassociated itself from them.

“Whenever such developments happen, it is the result of some people, who have been polluting the minds of the island population there, and China has played a significant role in doing this,” stated former High Commissioner Mulay. It has been giving all of the support to the Maldives’ conservative components, and the country’s present administration is both strongly conservative and pro-development.

Maldives News

“There is an Islamic tilt to their policies, which is why President Muizzu’s first visit was to Turkey, and it is regrettable that his second visit was to China,” he continued. It reveals the preferences of the new regime.

Mulay brought out the fact that President Muizzu is a supporter of the late Abdullah Yameen, the well-known hardline opponent of India who presided over the Maldives from 2013 to 2018. Yameen embezzled USD 1 million in state funds in 2019, earning a five-year prison sentence and a USD five million fine.

As President of the Maldives, Yameen had laid the foundation for the Chinese debt trap in 2015 and led the `India Out’ campaign, currently being pursued by President Muizzu, who wants India’s 70 soldiers in the island nations out. These personnel operate India-sponsored radars and surveillance aircraft.

Indian involvement in the Maldives is long, extending from hospitals, education, credit facilities, defence agreements, and many other areas of bilateral cooperation, the former High Commissioner told this reporter.

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In Mulay’s view, however, when things settle down, Maldivians would realise that it would be very difficult to navigate through their domestic issues; issues related to climate change and day-to-day requirements. Maldives is extremely dependent on India and New Delhi has been providing all this, by going out of its way for decades now, since about 1976.”

He said that sections of the Maldives population are already voicing their fears, knowing that India is the first responder during its time of crisis. “The tourism industry has voiced its fears, as have the others,” the former High Commissioner said.

Asked if China could grab the space if India vacated it in a country regarded as a long-term close ally, Mulay said: “I am sure things would improve, but I will give it another six months to see how things shape up.”

In November 1988, Indian troops famously intervened to thwart a coup attempt in the island nation. The attempt was carried out by a group of Maldivians and assisted by armed mercenaries of a Tamil secessionist organisation from Sri Lanka, the Peoples’ Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), to overthrow the government. In the counter-offensive called Operation Cactus, India had thwarted the move, earning it a lot of goodwill.

This article was orginally published on hindustantimes.com!

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Bollywood Celebrities Begin Visit Lakshadweep Campaign Under Hashtag #ExploreIndianIslands

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 8 (ANI): Amid escalating tensions between India and the Maldives following derisive comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep by some Maldivian political leaders, celebrities from the Indian film industry started visit Lakshadweep campaign under a hastag ExploreIndianIslands.
Taking to X, actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra wrote, “Lakshadweep’s unparalleled beauty has earned a top spot on my Travel List! Crystal-clear waters and tranquil shores await, promising an unforgettable escape. #Lakshadweep #Bucket List #ExploreIndianIslands #DekhoApnaDesh.”

Visit Lakshadweep

Actor Shraddha kapoor expresses her desire to explore Lakshadweep’s pristine beaches and coastlines

Visit Lakshadweep

“All these images and memes making me super FOMO now. Lakshadweep has such pristine beaches and coastlines, Thriving local culture, i’m on the verge of booking an impulse chhutii. This year, why not #ExploreIndianIslands,” she posted on X.

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taking to X, actor Jacqueline Fernandez wrote, “Wanna make 2024 all about travel and exploring the beautiful & scenic destinations closer to home. On top of my list is nature’s paadise’ the #Lakshadweep islands. Heard so much about this wonderland that Ijust can’t wait to be there!!! #ExploreIndianIslands.”

Visit Lakshadweep

Cheif Executive officer of Serum Institute of India (SII), Adar Poonawalla also took to X to promote tourism in Indian islands.

“our country has so many magnificent tourist destinations, with unimaginable potential; yet to be fully explored. Can any of you guess this Indian tourist haven, just from the pictures i’ve posted? #ExploreIndianIslands @PMOIndia,” he Wrote.

Actor varun Dhawan on X Wrote,”Seeing our honourable prime minister@narendramodi sir at the beaches in Lakshadweep makes me realise I’ve been missing out on our pristine beaches and water Can’t wait to book my next holiday #ExploreIndianIslands.”

Varun Dhawan

“Actor Tiger Shroff also talked about the beauty of Indian islands.
Lost in the azure embrace, Lakshadweep islands have captured my heart. The rich culture, tranquil beaches, and the genuine warmth of its people create an enchanting allure. Join me in celebrating the inclusivity and unparalleled beauty of these islands – a treasure trove waiting for us to explore! #Lakshadweep #Explore Indian Islands,” he wrote.

Tigor shrof

Actor Pooja Hegde said she can’t wait to “take a holiday and dive into the vibrant culture of Lakshadweep!”
“A destination that not only captures the eyes but also the heart #ExploreIndianIslands,” she added.
Earlier in the day, actors Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan and John Abraham also hailed the beauty of Indian islands.
This comes amid the row over derogatory and ‘anti-India’ remarks made by Maldives minister, leaders and other public figures after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
PM Modi visited the Union Territory of Lakshadweep on January 2 and shared several pictures, including an ‘exhilarating experience’ after he tried his hand at snorkelling.
In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, “For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list.”
“Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep,” PM Modi posted on X.
He added, “During my stay, I also tried snorkelling – what an exhilarating experience it was! For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list”.

Prime Minister Modi also laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 1,150 crore in Agatti on Tuesday. Notably, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is considered close to China and he even ran the electoral campaign on the line of ‘India Out’. After coming to power, he has taken several steps that have been unconventional from the point of India-Maldives ties. (ANI)

This article was originally published on ANI News

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