Journalists stage protest; hand letter of concern to president
Senior Associate Editor of Dhauru News Ahmed Naif, who spoke at the event, said the country has slipped 13 places in the press freedom index due to reasons.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has been handed over a special letter on concerns after Maldivian journalists raised their voice at the Artificial Beach on the occasion of International Press Day on Wednesday.
On Wednesday afternoon, during the event at Artificial Beach, more than 30 journalists working at multiple media houses raised their voice about the restrictions on media freedom. After shouting slogans there, journalists went to the President's Office to submit a special letter to the president.
Highlights of the concerns raised during the journalists' protest:
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The issue of delay in passing the evidence law amendment, which has been delayed in parliament; the law as it is now poses a threat to journalism since it forces journalists to reveal their sources
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Journalists' not being excluded from the foreign interests bill, which is at the parliamentary committee stage
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Proposed amendments to the law in the run-up to the elections
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Maldives falls 13 places in press freedom index
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Withholding information from state agencies
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Not taking action against people that threaten journalists
Secretary General of the Journalists' Association and Senior Associate Editor of Dhauru News Ahmed Naif, who spoke at the event, said the country has slipped 13 places in the press freedom index due to severak reasons.
The amendment to the Evidence Act has been at a "deadlock" in parliament as the government has not been able to implement it as per its wishes. He described it as a "slap in the face of journalists".
"It is a direct pledge of the president to amend the [Evidence] Act to make it easier for journalists, to protect their sources," Nayef said.
Journalists who attended the event then went to hand over a letter highlighting their concerns to the President's Office.
Outside the President's Office, the letter was received by Mohamed Hisaan Ali Fahmy, head of the communications office at the President's Office. In addition to the letter, Hisaan was also handed over a report on Maldives released by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Wednesday.
On the occasion of Press Freedom Day, MJA, Maldives Media Council and Broadcasting Commission jointly launched a panel discussion event titled 'Noosverinnge Salla', loosely meaning a journalists’ discussion, Wednesday afternoon.
The first panel discussion of the event was held this evening. It was a panel discussion on the financial independence of newspapers.
The panel discussions will be held on Thursday afternoon, evening and night as well.
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