MJA: Bill passed without addressing concerns, asking not to ratify

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC)'s supermajority passed the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill on Tuesday’s extraordinary parliamentary sitting without addressing the concerns raised by the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) and journalists, the association said on Wednesday evening.

Speaking at a press conference held on Wednesday evening by the association to express its concern over the passage of the bill, MJA President Ahmed Naif said the bill was not passed with the amendments requested by the journalists, and the government saying otherwise is a great lie.

Despite journalists repeatedly calling for there to be a self-regulatory system to regulate the media, the bill would abolish the system altogether, Naif said. He said a system of government influence and power will be born then.

Although the bill was passed by parliament, the association's stand has not changed. They still do not accept the bill and call on the President not to ratify it and send it back to Parliament.

"We, even if the bill is passed, we will not follow it. We will challenge it," Naif said, adding that protests and awareness activities would also be conducted.

Further clarifying what the bill will be enforcing upon implementation, MJA Vice President Mohamed Shahuzan pointed out the concern that a Media and Broadcasting Regulatory Commission with members appointed by the President will be established once the new bill becomes law.

Although MJA had expressed concern about the appointment of members by the President, the Parliament did not bring a solution to the issue, Shahuzan explained. The power to appoint the chairman of the commission and the power to remove members from the commission was all given to the parliament, he said. This gives a party with a parliamentary majority the powers to influence the commission, he said.

He also expressed concern that the bill still facilitates the control of social media and the Internet. He said that there is not a single article in the bill that provides any protection to journalists.

The MJA also condemned the use of excessive force by the police during Tuesday's peaceful protest.