RSF urges Maldives to withdraw election amendment on media
There will be a fear of vote fraud; there will be a free chance for vote rigging and there will be less chances of such cases coming to light, RSF said.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the world's largest body advocating for the rights of journalists, on Thursday urged the government of Maldives to withdraw the amendment to the Elections (General) Act, saying it was a threat to journalists.
According to the government's amendment to the law submitted in March, only "registered journalists" in the country can cover elections. Organisations are concerned that international and freelance journalists may not have space to cover the election.
Expressing concern over the amendment, the RSF had on Thursday said that the fact that only 'registered journalists' will be allowed to enter polling booths ahead of the upcoming general elections is a threat to press freedom.
According to the RSF:
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The amendment will deprive freelance and foreign journalists who want to cover the process of voting and counting in the September 9 elections
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While the election process is underway, it will hamper the coverage of the news in a transparent manner
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There will be a fear of vote fraud; there will be a free chance for vote rigging and there will be less chances of such cases coming to light
Urging the government to withdraw the amendment, Daniel, who heads the RSF's Asia-Pacific desk, also said that with six months to go for a major election, the proposed amendment, without consulting the press, to the election law was a "signal of danger" to freedom of news and the country's democracy.
Maldives Journalists' Association (MJA) and Transparency Maldives have issued statements in the past expressing concern over the bill. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have also expressed concern over the amendment.
Summary of the proposed amendment
Henveiru North MP Ibrahim Muizzu proposed the amendment to the election law on behalf of the government. Among these amendments, concerns were raised over the proposed amendments to Sections 41(a) and (b).
Section 41(a)
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What is now in the law – in order to monitor the voting process as reporters on the day of voting, only reporters permitted by the Election Commission under this Act can be deployed at polling booths and counting places.
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How the amendment has been proposed – To monitor the voting process on the day of polling, only registered journalists allowed under the Act can be active in polling areas and counting places.
Section 41(b)
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What is now in the law – The Election Commission should issue permission to act as monitors in an island or area before the day of voting, so that no more than one person is allowed for each of the registered newspapers, magazines and news outlets.
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How the amendment has been proposed - The Election Commission shall permit registered journalists to enter each area where voting and counting of votes are held without discrimination, for permission to act as monitors in an island or area.
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