The Maldives Ministry of Information has announced that radio and television stations will not be allowed to operate unless they are approved by law. According to the announcement made yesterday, radio and television are to be scrutinised due to the negative effects observed as a result of the unconditional freedom of press, such as unprofessional and immoral behaviour on the part of journalists and writers. “The concern is that if we let television and radio stations operate without jurisdiction, we would be providing the media with its rights for freedom, but the rights of the others may be attacked,” said the ministry announcement.
The release also stated that this ruling was passed in order to protect the rights of the public and to prevent parties from taking advantage of the changes occurring within the system. Television and radio stations are to operate under a stable set of rules and regulations, and the social conditions are not right to yet allow the advent of such privately owned media, said the release.
“The Ministry does not expect everyone to act in this manner,” the release continues. “It is the government’s concern to establish independent media as soon as a proper democracy is established.”
This is a step back from the comments made in an exclusive interview to Haveeru Daily, by the Minister of Information, Mohamed Nasheed, in early October. Then he stated that the Ministry would start providing licences to independent television and radio stations on 1st November.
(Source: Haveeru Daily Online)
Related stories:
- Maldives: TV and Radio licences to be available in November
- Maldives to licence private broadcasters “within a couple of months” - Minister
on Nov 6th, 2006 at 23:42
Although there is truth in the idea that the media can corrupt and introduce the wrong ideas, in this case it just seems that this change is simply a political manouever to cover up something else.