MJA begins campaign to establish a law to ensure protection to journalists

The Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) has commenced a campaign to establish a law to ensure protection to journalists working in the Maldives.

A t-shirt to be used in the campaign carrying the campaign slogan was launched by President of MJA Ahmed Zahir (Hiriga) at a ceremony held in DhiTV Studio today.

Speaking at the ceremony, Zahir said that journalists have had to face serious challenges over the past one year or so, and in order to overcome these challenges, efforts are ongoing to establish an act to ensure protection to journalists. He expressed hope that the act would come into effect within the year.

“The law will include several things to ensure protection to journalists, such as salaries, work hours and insurance for journalists,” said Zahir, who also acts as the Chief Editor of Sun Online.

He said that efforts towards creating this act are assisted by Kulhudhuffushi-South MP Mohamed Nasheed. He also expressed confidence that expert assistance will be received from IFJ and UNESCO.

Zahir stressed the importance of a Right to Information law in the Maldives, and highlighted that the Right to Information Bill has been in a parliament committee now for a long period of time.

He said that the UNDP had provided $264,000 (MVR 4 million) to Transparency Maldives for the right to information campaign. He expressed concern on behalf of MJA as one year later, no work has been carried out by Transparency Maldives in this regard.

Vice President of MJA Ali Shammaan said that MJA, a voluntary organisation, has worked hard for the benefit of journalists, including sending two journalists abroad every year for journalism education.

Secretary General of MJA Mundoo Adam Haleem said that while the government has established an organisation to work for the benefit of media operators, people should ascertain for themselves who actually works for the benefit of media operators. He said that looking back over the years, no other organisation has worked for media development as much as MJA.