Residents of Naifaru island in Lhaviyani atoll sympathetic to Raajje Televisision’s ongoing efforts to garner funds to pay off various fines imposed against the station and its staff have set up a donation box in solidarity with the ‘Dignity Fund’.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had held a campaign rally in the island on Friday night, and party members were among the first to have contributed.
The party’s national assembly on 14th March made their contributions as well.
Raajje Television launched the ‘Dignity Fund’ at the station’s head office in Malé City on 10th march.
Raajje Television’s management has since said that support has been fast growing and that the station is pleased with the acclaim the fund has received.
Residents of Hoarafushi Island in Haa Alif, Thulhaadhoo in Baa, Devvadhoo Island in Gaafu Alif, Dhiddoo Island in Haa Alif, and Kendhoo Island in Lhaviyani atolls have also established donation boxes for 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 28,800 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.
