The Maldives Journalists’ Association (MJA), an affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), has in a statement released on October 1, welcomed the Maldives Police Service decision to end its boycott of the independent news and entertainment channel, Raajje TV.
Since the resignation of Mohammad Nasheed as President of the Maldives in contentious circumstances in February, state institutions have declined to participate in or cooperate with news coverage in Raajje TV, which is known to have an editorial policy sympathetic to the former president’s party.
Political parties too have reportedly taken to voicing their opinions only to news media that they are sure will take a favourable editorial policy.
In August, the MJA reported that the office of the President of the Maldives and the Maldives Police Service had discontinued participation in news stories and features carried by Raajje TV. At the same time, opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed was reported to have pointedly disregarded assembled journalists and granted an exclusive interview to Raajje TV after returning from an overseas visit.
According to MJA President Ahmed Zahir “Hiriga”, the growing polarisation is also evident in media coverage of political events, such as public meetings and rallies.
The IFJ supports the MJA’s call that government institutions and political actors should provide equal opportunity and cooperation to all the media organisations without discrimination.
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