Journalists Injured in Protests in the Maldives

 

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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