MJA calls to remove restrictions for journalists on privileges bill

Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) has called for the immediate removal of all restrictions to journalists stated in the Parliament member’s privileges bill. The bill was recently passed by the Parliament for a second time without any amendments, which forces the bill to be ratified by the President.

A statement released by MJA today expressed concern over the privileges bill. It stated that the ratification of the bill will pose serious obstacles to journalism.

The association stated that article 17 (a) of the bill states that all persons may be summoned to the Parliament and its committees to obtain testimony and may be asked to provide whatever documents that they require. The fact that legislature does not distinguish between journalists is a matter which might pose serious obstacles to journalism, and that the clause contradicts with the rights granted to journalists by the Constitution, stated MJA. The association called that the clause be removed from the bill.

“As Article 28 of the Constitution allows certain rights to the press, the last sentence of the Article states that no person shall be compelled to disclose the source of any information that is espoused, disseminated or published by that person. Article 17 (a) of the privileges bill however does not recognize such a distinction, and that the fact that it allows the journalists to be summoned to the Parliament and to its committees, and be asked to reveal their sources of information causes to this association to pose grave doubts about the legitimacy of this bill and its article,” stated the MJA statement.

MJA, an organization that works for the rights of journalists, noted that while Article 4 (a) of the privileges bill states that “any action that might obstruct” the dignity, esteem and the work of the Parliament shall be considered an action that impedes the privileges of the Parliament, the clauses which state the punishments of such an impediment does not clearly define the what is considered as impeding the privileges of the Parliament.

The statement also said that former President Nasheed’s government had worked towards reducing the criminal circumstances that might be faced by the journalist and now that the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP’s have voted in favour of the privileges bill begs to asks the question whether they have retracted the decisions they have made previously.

The Parliament members privileges bill was first sent back to the Parliament by former president Maumnoon Abdul Gayoom in 2006. Former President Nasheed had also sent the bill without ratification, followed by the current president Dr. Mohamed Waheed last December. The Parliament however has passed the bill without any amendments which will force President Waheed to ratify the bill.

All three presidents had returned the bill stating that it grants unreasonable privileges to the Parliament. The bill now grants the MP’s a number of powers and allowances.

When the bill was most recently asked for vote in Parliament, MP's from MDP and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) voted in favour of the bill.