PPM releases statement on 'media freedom'
Ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives releases statement on "Media Freedom"
Progressive Party of the Maldives head office
The Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) has released a statement on the 2nd of March following the alleged harrassment of a journalist reporting live from an opposition rally held by Joint Opposition parties.
In the statement, the party says that all media must have the full liberty to cover the situation of the country without any restrictions.
News reporters, as mentioned in the statement, are employed to report occurences in the nation to the people.
The party said that a journalist from channel 13 had been harassed by protesters while covering the opposition rally held on Friday, and that she had been verbally abused by protesters who had interferred with her journalistic duties.
While the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives strongly condemns these acts, reporters from multiple media stations have previously been harassed on field while they were carrying out their duties.
Notably, RaajjeTV's journalist Hussain Hassan had suffered multiple injuries in police custody while he had been covering a rally on the 16th of February. Due to the severity of his injuries, Hussain had to be flown abroad to seek medical attention.
Likewise Vmedia's reporters are also subject to police harassment while they carry out their journalistic duties.
In the statement the ruling party also called on the opposition to put an end to their 'disruptive' rallies, saying that their demonstrations are being held disproportionately and without authorization. While PPM calls opposition gatherings 'illegal', the government has on multiple occassions allowed PPM gatherings in Male' and in Addu city.
