MPs slam DhiTV Editor for working against Parliament

Editor and News Head of DhiTV Midhath Adam came under heavy criticism at the Parliament’s Privileges Committee today.

Midhath was summoned in relation to a case filed by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson and Hulhu-henveiru MP Reeko Moosa Manik, who accused DhiTV of defaming his business and family.

At today’s Committee meeting, Kaashidhoo MP Abdullah Jabir accused DhiTV of broadcasting stories shaped to attack him personally, and of twisting news stories related to the Parliament.

DhiTV is mainly owned by Champa Mohamed Moosa, one of the major businessmen in Maldives.

Jabir said that DhiTV spreads information to win the support of the government, to facilitate expansion ofthe business activities of the Champa family.

Midhath responded to Jabir’s accusations and said that he attended the Committee meeting in his capacity as the Editor of DhiTV, and not as a representative of any family.

He said that DhiTV never spun any news stories or reports on speeches of Members of Parliament.

Jabir proposed to summon the Board of DhiTV to the Committee. The Committee Chairman said that voting on this proposition will be conducted at the next Committee meeting.

Mahchangolhi-south MP Mohamed Rasheed also accused DhiTV of acting against media standards and working against the Parliament. As an example, he said that DhiTV showed the video of actions of MPs of MDP on parliament opening day, with a Hindi song playing in the background.

Midhath said that it is possible that such a video is shown by a group that was given DhiTV On-Air time, and noted that the video was not prepared by DhiTV.

DhiTV transmission is given to DhiFM from midnight (after news) until 2:00pm.

Maafannu-north MP Imthiyaz Fahmy said that the practice of editing MPs’ speeches before they are broadcast is against the agreement made between the Parliament and Broadcasting Stations.

He accused DhiTV of spinning MPs’ statements, and described this as irresponsible behaviour by a media station.

Committee Chairman Mathiveri MP Hussain Mohamed asked Midhath whether DhiTV has a policy on broadcasting biased news stories, and whether they “spin” and “slant” stories before they are broadcast.

Midhath said that DhiTV never followed any policy to spin or slant news stories. He stressed that they also never dubbed any speech of any MP before broadcasting.

Imthiyaz Fahmy proposed to obtain the videos of DhiTV’s news stories related to Moosa Manik’s case.

Midhath said that those stories might not be available anymore, as they were broadcast in 2010.

He informed that regulations stipulate that on-air material should be saved for two months, after which important recordings are archived.

The case filed by Reeko Moosa Manik states that DhiTV damaged the reputation of his business, and also ruined the reputation and honour of his family. It also states that speeches made about Moosa by Gemanafushi MP Ilham Ahmed and Thoddoo MP Ali Waheed at the Parliamentin November 2010,were edited and broadcast by DhiTV.