Spokesperson: Government does not obstruct on any media

Spokesperson of the President’s Office, Ibrahim Muaz Ali has said that the Government does not obstruct any media would always welcome criticism.

At this time where rumors of obstruction of free media, Muaz tweeted that the Government would not obstruct journalists. He said that keeping the medias within the law is the job of the regulatory institutes and they are not places to release press statements at specific times.

"Mi sarukaarakun evves media akah huraheh naalhaane. Faadu kiyunthakah mi sarukaarun abadhuves maruhabaa kiyaane" -im

— Ibrahim Muaz Ali (@SpokespersonMV) November 7, 2015

"Sarukaarun gaboolukuraa gothugai, media ge beleniveri faraaiythakuge masooliyyathakah vaanvaany media thah imuge thereygai belehettun" -im

— Ibrahim Muaz Ali (@SpokespersonMV) November 7, 2015

On 5 November, Police entered the independent media station SanguTV and conducted a search and took all their hard disks. Police said that they searched the station regarding a YouTube video threatening the President, Abdulla Yamin Abdul Gayoom. Police said that the video was uploaded from a system at the TV station.

And the independent TV station, RaajjeTV stopped their regular broadcast yesterday claiming that the country does not have a safe environment for free media. COO of RaajjeTVm Hussain Fiyaz Moosa said that they have stopped their regular broadcast because it was no longer safe for their staff and the station.

“When we stopped our regular broadcastings, there won’t be any news times. And no live events.” Fiyaz said.

Last night, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abdulla Navaaz said that the Police are not trying to harm and obstruct the media and would not do so in the future. He said that the rumors of accusing the Police of obstructing the media are false.