Difficult times for press freedom in the Maldives
The Maldives remains a country that could slip back into a regime of strict control of free expression and media freedom, according to a number of reports released recently by human rights and freedom of expression organisations
Until early 2012, the Maldives was moving steadily towards joining the community of newly democratising countries. An election in 2008 ended the 30-year reign of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and placed Mohamed Nasheed, leader of the opposition, as president. The new government began initiatives to widen democratic space, and space for free expression and media. But signs of change began slowly in February 2012.
President Nasheed ‘resigned’ after weeks of protests in January over the dismissal of the Chief Judge of the criminal court who had released a government critic by the government. He stepped down on 7 February and was succeeded by Vice President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik. The change in power was swift and happened alongside a mutiny in the police, causing many to suspect that the president was forced out. Mr. Nasheed later told media that the power transfer was in fact a coup. The former president now faces various charges, including refusal to obey a court order.
Media controlled by government
The political situation in the Maldives has deteriorated rapidly impacting on press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index 2013 where the Maldives fell 30 places to rank 103rd. Space for independent debate and free expression, including press freedoms, has shrunk resulting in a climate of uncertainty and fear. Society has polarised along party lines, and ‘inadequate’ religiosity is increasingly being used to tarnish, and even attack opponents. The traditional media remains strictly controlled by government or their partisan owners, most of whom support the government, leaving little neutral space for independent, professionally produced content.
There are also indications that the control of print media is being being extended to online content.
“I am waiting for the day when they will actually arrest someone because of a Tweet,” said a young journalist. He was particularly worried that the power given to the chief of police by government for arresting people for ‘inciting violence’ through social media could be used to clamp down opposition views. The police set up a cyber crime unit in September 2012.
Gang attacks on political opponents and media
There is also evidence of growing political violence, where gangs have been hired by political parties to attack opponents, including media. A study on gangs in Male by the Asia Foundation (reported by Minivan News) said politicians and businesses hire them to assault rivals, damage property and in some cases for killing opponents. The report quotes a gang member saying, “Politicians have asked us to cut the TVM (Television Maldives) cable for MVR 25,000 (USD1620), to light up a bus for MVR 10,000 (USD650).”
According to officials from Rajje TV – seen by government as being close to the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party – police issued a statement in March 2012 saying that it would not “protect” or provide information to journalists from the station. Two weeks after the police announcement of non-cooperation by police, someone slashed Rajje TV’s uplink cables and broadcasts were stopped for 24 hours. Station officials claim it is the only channel providing opposition views, which is why it has been targeted.
Another report by the Maldivian Human Rights Commission submitted to the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations (for monitoring ICCPR compliance), published on June 2012, confirms the increase in violence. According to the report, many of the murders were committed in public places in broad daylight and that those involved in “extreme violence and murders” were repeat offenders.
One recent example was the attack on a journalist and blogger on 4 June 2012. Ismail ‘Hilath’ Rasheed was slashed in the throat with a knife that missed a vital artery by millimetres. According to Amnesty International the attack took place in the presence of onlookers. But no one had been arrested in October 2012. Mr Rasheed’s views had not gone unnoticed by the government: in September 2011 the Ministry of Islamic Affairs had ordered his blog (www.hilath.com) be blocked on the charge that it contained anti-Islamic material. The Human Rights Commission said there were 15 attacks against journalists in January-June 2012.
According to Reporters without Borders Press Freedom Index 2013, Maldives remains a country that could slip back into a regime of strict controls of free expression and media freedoms.
IMS organised a mission to the Maldives in October 2012. It was an attempt to understand the situation on the ground following the political changes in the island nation of 394,000 on the Indian Ocean. IMS has been engaging in the Maldives since 2006, where it supported free-expression advocates to work towards widening the space for expression and media freedoms.
