Redress mechanisms for the media do not function: MP Nasheed

Kulhudhuffushi-south MP Mohamed Nasheed has said that the public redress mechanisms for the media do not function.

Speaking on DhiTV’s Khabaruthereyn program last night, the former Information Minister said that the Maldives Media Council does make an effort towards maintaining freedom of the media, but largely neglect the responsibility of addressing complaints from the public.

“Media Council has three main responsibilities. Defend and determine that the right freedom of the media is fulfilled, media council to mediate and establish a fundamental code of conduct for the media and to maintain it, to make sure that it is adhered to, and to investigate complaints regarding the infringement of rights of an individual, from something that the media might have said, and for the person to gain the proper redress through the system. This function for example, I have definitely not heard of this redress mechanism to function,” Nasheed said, speaking on the program.

He said that there are a number of components within the Media Council that does not function, that need to be considered.

“Broadcasting Commission is the same. The Broadcasting Commission’s law stipulates a number of responsibilities. There are principles to how their content should be. Guidelines exist too. For example, I have looked into these principles since I’ve been involved in this, regarding the content, how the content should be and how it should be broadcasted. Then I have looked at what we see in the media now,” Nasheed said.

He said that what he sees on the media today and what is stipulated in the law do not match. Even though the law clearly stipulates the principles of broadcasting, the system does not function due to an inability to implement the law, Nasheed said.

“We would look at a different place each night. It does not complement what I have told you. The regime is the way it was before. The principles of broadcasting have been established in the law. What we don’t see the implementation, in the direction and with the momentum that it should,” MP Mohmaed Nasheed said.