President's Office also decides not to cooperate with Raajje TV

The President's Office has revealed its decision to cease extending cooperation to opposition Raajje TV claiming that the station was spreading false information and fabricated content. Earlier Maldives Police Services (MPS) had made a similar decision not to cooperate with Raajje TV, accusing the station of continuously broadcasting fabricated and false content intended to defame, tarnish and undermine the integrity of the Police in the eyes of the people.

President’s Office Media Secretary Masood Imad on Sunday said that the President’s Office will cooperate with Raajje TV when they change their policy towards the office and that Raajje TV broadcasts fabricated and misleading news about the government.

“Their (Raajje TV) policy towards the government needs to be changed. It spreads news about government authorities (ministries) after twisting it to their own advantage. Raajje TV has committed a lot of these acts” Masood said.

Masood said that the President’s Office will cease extending cooperation to any news media who blatantly reports false information about the government, even if it is Haveeru or any other news media, which is now the government’s stand.

He said that the President’s Office will cooperate with Raajje TV when it stops spreading fabricated information to its gain, and report the truth.

However, Government Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza today stressed that the government does not entertain a notion of not cooperating with any media outlet. He admitted that Raajje TV was not invited to the media briefing given by President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik due to a minor “oversight.”

“We will continue to provide information to anyone when a request is made to the President’s Office. Under the policy of disseminating information to the media, all outlets would continue to be in the loop. President’s Office will not adopt a policy to deny any information to Raajje TV,” Abbas said.

Chief Operating Officer of Raajje TV Abdulla Yamin stressed today that the decision by the government to cease sharing information with the station was to “hinder and stymie” independent and free media. He added that Raajje TV always has and will continue to broadcast news with freedom and independence.

“Raajje TV was not invited to the press briefing held by President Waheed prior to his departure to the OIC Summit. When we inquired about it we found out of the decision had been made to cease cooperating with us. But we will always cooperate with the government and its institutions,” Yamin detailed.

He also pointed out that no action had been taken previously against some broadcast media which had quite clearly reported false news.

“Even the President’s mother had been subject to obscenities on some stations. But no decision to cease cooperation was made at that time,” he alleged.

Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) had earlier urged the Police to reverse its decision and continue to cooperate with Raajje TV. The Commission detailed that in a democratic society, under no circumstances must any institution stymie or impede the independence of media.
Tweet Bookmark Print Badge the Comments! Give badges to the best comments you see! You will get four badges a day 0 Comments To have full access to the interactive features available in Haveeru Online please register or sign in. or Post a Comment Loading comments... Please wait