the decision to turn the nation into a one-party state based on socialist ideology, as well as certain initiatives of the government, caused some bitterness, especially among the upper and middle classes. censorship of the media and control over public expression were unpopular. a number of groups attempted to oust the rené government between 1978 and 1987. the most notable was a group of mercenaries who tried to enter the country in 1981 disguised as tourists from south africa. the mercenaries were exposed as they came through customs at the international airport but most of them, including their leader, colonel michael "mad mike" hoare, escaped after commandeering an air-india passenger plane to south africa. although the south african government prosecuted and jailed some of the mercenaries for aircraft hijacking, hoare testified that south african military and intelligence officials were involved in the coup attempt. during this period, the seychelles government received support from tanzania, which deployed troops to the islands to strengthen the government's hand.