KUCHING: The Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) has urged the new authorities in the Maldives to respect the rights of journalists there to work without fear of intimidation and in a safe and respectful atmosphere.
CJA president Rita Payne said the association has developed valuable relationships with the Maldivian media over the last few years and while it remained neutral in matters of internal politics, it would not stay silent if members in the Commonwealth journalism fraternity were endangered.
“As CJA president, I urge the new authorities to protect journalists and create a climate where they will be able to report freely without fear of repercussion.
“We expect nothing less from a Commonwealth member country that has undertaken to uphold Commonwealth values, especially as they relate to human rights and freedom of expression,” she said in an email to The Borneo Post.
Payne said she visited the Maldives last June and had the opportunity to meet a range of journalists there.
“It was apparent then that they were under pressure from media owners, political parties and powerful business interests.”
She said the CJA noted with grave concern a statement by the Maldives Journalists Association that members of the media there were being threatened and harassed over their reporting of the current political crisis.
The association said that television stations were being penalised for airing opposition politicians’ comments.
“The CJA will continue to closely monitor the situation in the Maldives and through our Commonwealth network will do all in our power to defend the rights of Maldivian journalists. We will issue further bulletins as the situation unfolds,” added Payne.
She was elected CJA president during the recent CJA conference in Malta.
She succeeded Hassan Shahriar from Bangladesh, who led the association for two terms.