The government today reasserted its strong commitment to freedom of the press.
Press Secretary Zuhair said that the government’s commitment to media freedom is “absolute and unwavering.”
“President Nasheed’s administration never has and never will do anything to undermine the independence, integrity or professionalism of the media,” the Press Secretary said.
The Press Secretary’s comments follow an allegation from the Maldives Journalists Association that a government minister used intimidating language towards media professionals.
Press Secretary Zuhair rejected these accusations. Zuhair noted that the minister in question merely pointed out to journalists and media organisations that certain TV news channels acted unprofessionally when airing footage of recent protests.
The TV news stations in question announced that they were showing their viewers ‘live’ coverage of the protests, when in actual fact they were airing recorded footage.
The Press Secretary went on to note the enormous gains in press freedom since President Nasheed’s administration assumed office in late 2008.
According to a report published last year by international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RWB), the Maldives has made “solid gains” in consolidating media freedoms in recent years.
“Some developing countries have managed to make solid gains, particularly Mongolia and the Maldives,” the report stated.
“As a rule, the authorities have been respectful of press freedoms, exemplified by their decriminalization of press offenses in the Maldives.”
The Maldives is ranked in 52nd place in RWB’s latest league table (2010), just three places behind Italy.
In 2007, the Maldives was ranked 129th place in the league table and its then president was labeled a ‘Predator of Press Freedom.’
Other international organizations have also praised recent improvements in Maldivian democracy and freedoms.
In 2009, American NGO Freedom House promoted the Maldives from a “not free” to a “partially free” country, in its report on global civil liberties.