PO spokesperson denies claims that journalists were not allowed to enter Sunday's presser with phones
Some media houses were “irresponsible” in reporting the facts even after being allowed into the press conference with their mobile devices
Presser held at the President's Office
Chief Spokesperson at the President's Office Heena Waleed has denied reports that journalists were not allowed to enter the President’s Office’s press conference with their mobile phones on Sunday.
Heena denied these claims, after some media houses reported that journalists were told that they would not be allowed to enter the press conference hosted at the President’s Office on Sunday, with their mobile phones.
An employee at the President’s Office had told journalists who arrived for Sunday’s presser, that they wouldn’t be allowed to enter the hall with their phones.
When journalists refused to enter without their phones, the employee said about 20 minutes later that it was their protocol and that they would make an exception for Sunday’s presser as the journalists had not been informed of this beforehand.
The employee is to have told journalists that they wouldn’t be allowed to enter press conference with their phone henceforth.
When journalists expressed concerns regarding this at Sunday’s presser, Spokesperson Heena revealed that she did not have a say over the protocols of the office.
Highlighting that this was being done by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Heena assured that they would work to ensure this will not be repeated in the future.
After being asked if she meant the issue with the phones, she said that they would work to ensure “the issue that surfaced today” is not repeated".
She however denied that journalists were told that they were not allowed to bring in their phones at Sunday’s presser, after media houses began publishing the news after the presser.
In a press release on Monday, the President’s Office revealed that journalists “were allowed” to carry their mobile phones into the press conference.
They noted that as a general rule, the security protocol at the President's Office directs even high-level political appointees attending meetings to leave their mobile devices with the security personnel upon arrival.
Highlighting that the security personnel at the President's Office made an exception to the usual security protocol to allow journalists to carry their mobile devices into the office for Sunday’s presser, the office noted that the exception will remain in place for future events.
The office asserted that the incumbent administration of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu remains committed to create a conducive working environment for journalists.
President’s Office also noted that some media houses were “irresponsible” in reporting the facts even after being allowed into the press conference with their mobile devices.
