RaajjeTV suspends regular broadcast over threats

RaajjeTV has stopped airing its regular broadcast over continued threats to the station and its staff.

In a statement published on Thursday, the opposition-aligned TV station said it has received threats, including calls for violence against its staff and to burn down the station by a mob gathered in front of RaajjeTV.

This was backed up by public appeals to the broadcast regulator, police and military by ruling party lawmakers and senior government officials to shut down RaajjeTV.

RaajjeTV, the most viewed channel in the country, began receiving threats following the Supreme Court ruling on February 1 to release nine political prisoners and reinstate 12 opposition MPs to parliament.

In spite of serious threats and intimidation, which escalated after the government’s declaration of a state of emergency, the police service has stopped protecting RaajjeTV while security is being provided to government-backed TV stations.

While the Maldives Constitution declares that the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) is the oversight body of the country’s media, its powers have now been taken over by the armed forces, which have turned to issuing warnings of action against the media, in the name of protecting “national security.”

In the statement, RaajjeTV said it now has no choice but to suspend its regular services to ensure the safety and security of the station and its staff.