MPs did say Pres. Yameen wished to shut down RaajjeTV before elections: MP Ameeth

Maduvvari Constituency MP Mohamed Ameeth has stated that Parliamentarians with the Y-faction of Progressive Party of Maldives, had often said that President Abdullah Yameen wished to shut down RaajjeTV before the next Presidential elections.

Speaking in the panel discussion on media freedom, MP Ameeth said these came forth when the Defamation Act was being deliberated by these Parliamentarians.

MP Ameeth, who had been an active figure in the Parliamentary Group of PPM prior to defecting, said the one of the first issues between him and President was this bill. He added the President had refused to listen when he raised several issues with the bill.

The Parliamentarian said the purpose of the bill was to corral and silence all media that dared to criticize President Yameen. However, he stressed that free media can never be eliminated.

MP Ameeth said statistics showed that media in the Maldives had been severely restricted. This had extended to all rights granted to public by the Constitution.