MBC cautions press over broadcasting parliamentary sessions

The Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) had on Monday released a statement cautioning broadcasters to ensure their adherence to regulations.

The commission said that it has noted how local media organizations broadcast content of events that are ongoing inside the parliamentary premises and that this can easily lead to violation of its broadcast practices and laws on expression and defamation.

“Content acquired from sources other than the parliament’s media office can potentially contain derogatory language and sound or images that are offensive, broadcasters must be especially careful so as to not allow any such content to be aired” the statement said.

The commission had said that it would penalize broadcasters that do violate its regulations.

Parliament will then reconvene to vote on the allied opposition’s 45-signature no-confidence motion against parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh.

A sitting was also scheduled for 2nd October, but was cancelled due to delays in constructing a reported security ‘chamber’ for Maseeh.

The parliament’s security personnel have barred even its administrative staff from entering the premises.

READ MORE: As work on 10-foot platform continues, parliament employees banned from entering chamber

A number of opposition parliamentarians had entered the premises after Maseeh had indefinitely convened sittings until the vote against him. Police had used pepper-spray to subdue them before forcibly removing them from the premises.