Will do everything possible to protect the right to withhold source of information: President

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that he would make efforts to promote freedom of press, and do everything possible to protect the right to withhold the source of information as guaranteed by the constitution.

Speaking to reporters after the ratification of the political party bill and parliament privileges and powers bill, the president said that there is no developing country in the world in which the government does not operate a newspaper, TV station or radio station.

“As you would be aware of, ever since I assumed office I have been trying to promote freedom of press. If you think about it, you would know that over the past year the government has not operated a newspaper, magazine, TV station or radio station. This is not something that has been done in any developing country, or by any recent government of the Maldives,” he said.

He said that the government’s purpose has been to ensure freedom of press, and that the government would not attempt to restrict any freedom given to journalists by the constitution.

The president expressed concern regarding the parliament privileges and powers bill, and said that while the law includes the privileges of family members of MPs, former MPs and the Parliament Secretary General, even though such privileges can be determined by enacting a law, these issues are not within the boundaries defined in the bill.

The president said that he was also deeply concerned over the section in the bill which states that anyone can be summoned to the parliament and shall be required to answer questions truthfully, failure to do which could result in him being convicted of a criminal offence.

The president said that he believes that the legislation obstructs the rights of citizens, business entities, and state institutions.