Solidarity for 'Dignity Fund' continues to grow

Residents of Thulhaadhoo Island in Baa atoll sympathetic to Raajje Television’s efforts to pay various fines imposed against the station and its staff have set up a donation box in solidarity with the broadcaster's own ‘Dignity Fund’.

The station launched its ‘Dignity Fund’ at the Raajje Television’s head office in Malé City on 10th March, and has reportedly amassed hefty support.

Raajje Television’s management said last week that support has been fast growing and that the station is pleased with the acclaim the fund has received.

Residents of Devvadhoo island in Gaafu Alif, Dhiddoo island in Haa Alif, and Kendhoo island in Lhaviyani atolls have also established donation boxes for the fund.

On Tuesday, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP)'s national assembly had made their contributions as well.

Members of the assembly had congregated at the station’s head office, and the party’s recently elected chair Hassan Latheef said that party members had keenly requested that MDP make contributions to the fund.

The station launched the fund following a MVR 200,000 fine against it over defamation allegations. This same verdict – put forth by the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) for alleged violation of broadcast regulations – also fined a former journalist with the station by a sum of MVR 50,000.

Two other journalists with the station had been fined by MVR 28,500 for ‘obstruction of justice’ after they were arrested while covering a bomb scare in Malé City, and their cameraman, Adam Zareer, was fined by MVR 3,000 – in what the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had described as undemocratic and unjust charges.

A credible source has informed Raajje Television that there is another impending fine of MVR 800,000 against it, also on defamation charges.