www.mja.org.mv

PRESS RELEASE

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has sent a letter intimidating some private television stations, for broadcasting a mass protest organized by political parties, NGOs and the citizens on 23 December 2011.

MNDF warned some private television stations not to broadcast any content from the protest which could disrupt national security.

Maldives Broadcasting Commission is the legal entity assigned to regulate broadcast media, and Maldives Media Council is the legal entity assigned to regulate print media. So, this is an act which proves MNDF has used undue influence over the local media. The directive sent by MNDF is politically motivated, because it has warned not to broadcast any content which may disrupt the national security, prior the protest and there were no such motive by the organizers. We believe directive was very irresponsible, and we call on MNDF to make a public apology.

At the same time, we strongly condemn the biased coverage presented by state broadcaster Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC) regarding the mass protest. As MNBC is run by state budget, Maldives Broadcasting Commission should investigate MNBC for broadcasting biased video footage and images on the particular date.

State TV and radio have the responsibility of presenting a fair coverage. To achieve this, we call on the government to handover the state media to Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC), an independent institution established by the Peoples’ Majlis (Parliament), which is responsible for the state media. We urge Maldives Broadcasting Commission and the court to play a vital role to set free state media, and to proceed the pending court trial of MBC, filed by the MBC. We also call on the Parliament to regulate MBC Act.

It is very important to establish a good mechanism in the Maldives to spread information, due to the geographical nature of the country and the availability of the resources.

We do not encourage violence and acts of terrorism, and have also not witnesses such encouragement from any of the commercial media. So, we strongly condemns MNDF for intimidating the media, prior any such incident.

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