The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls
for restraint on the part of the State authorities in the Maldives as
protests against rising prices in the capital Male have been allegedly met with
excessive force, injuring a number of journalists in the process.
According
to the Maldives Journalists’ Association (MJA), an IFJ affiliate, protests
against rising prices of essential commodities began in the island nation on
May 1 and have continued under the leadership of the main opposition party.
A number
of journalists from the print and electronic media, according to the MJA, have
suffered injuries of various degrees of seriousness while covering the
demonstrations, some from being pushed back by police riot shields.
The MJA
has registered its strong protests with the authorities over what it has
described as the overtly hostile attitude of the police towards journalists
covering the demonstrations.
“We call
upon the government in the Maldives
to respect the right of local journalists to cover contemporary events of
public importance, without undue restraint or threat,” IFJ
Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.
For further
information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific
on +91-9810518009
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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