The main Maldives opposition Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) plans to stage a large protest tonight, together with several other opposition parties, to voice its outrage at what it sees as severely biased reporting by State media organisations run by the Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC).
MP Ahmed Mahloof said ““It is very clearly stated in the constitution that everyone has the right to receive the right to information, but the State media is only sending the news of MDP (Maldivian Democratic Party) and President Nasheed. If we go and see a 30 minute news item, 20 minutes will be for the President and the MDP.”
He said the protest was not only for the DRP but for all opposition parties who felt sidelined by State run television and radio stations. Mr Mahloof said that the Maldivian opposition should draw courage from recent mass protests in Tunisia, where President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali was toppled after a 23 year Presidency, and Egypt, whose population is strongly challenging the 30 year reign of Presiden Hosni Mubarak.
He added that tonight’s action would mark the beginning of a string of other such demonstrations, which will be continued until their demand of balanced reporting is met. “We hope that President Nasheed will change this (unbalanced reporting), not only for the DRP but for all opposition parties,” he said.
(Source: Haveeru Online)
on Feb 1st, 2011 at 01:54
Maldives political situation is far much better than Tunisia and Egypt.