MMC against media bills, calls for expulsion

Last night, the Maldives Media Council (MMC) called for the expulsion of the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, as it describes the loss of press freedom and instead of voicing or collecting opinions on the matter, to disregard and expel the bill completely.

As per a statement released by MMC, the council had convened last night to discuss the bill in length, highlighting their concerns.

"The spirit of the council is completely against the bill," the statement reads.

It went on to say while speaking of the bill that the freedom of press and related rights as described in the Constitution is greatly narrowed, with the ruling administration and Parliament majority having total control of the media.

The statement also included that there is a loss of freedom of speech in the bill, along with a disruption in the basic practices of journalism, with various articles also including disruptions in freedom of speech.

Even though the bill states that MMC and Maldives Broadcasting Commission would become one entity, journalistic rights along with broadcasters/re-broadcasters rights will be thinned, with a shadow being cast on print/online media journalism rights as well, as per MMC.

MMC has stated that the write-up of the bill without any input from journalists or industry stakeholders is worrisome even though an independent member had brought the bill to Parliament.

MMC's 14 members convened yesterday and reached various conclusions:

MMC has stated that a responsible journalistic environment needs to be established, with them believing that changes need to be brought to the industry in order to have proper press freedom in all forms, with the council being ready to support the cause and discuss with an open mind.

The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, introduced in Parliament on August 19 by Thinadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Abubakuru, proposes to dissolve the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and the Maldives Broadcasting Commission, merging their responsibilities under a single body: the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission.

According to the bill, the new seven-member commission would be partially appointed by the government, with three members appointed by the President with parliamentary approval, while four members are to be elected by media representatives. The President would also appoint the Commission’s Chairperson, raising concerns about the body’s independence.

The bill grants the Commission significant regulatory authority, including the power to: