MMC asks to launch investigation into press threats

Maldives Media Council (MMC) has asked Maldives Police Service (MPS) to investigate the warnings given by a Special Operations officer to journalists.

The request came after an officer accosted journalists covering the opposition’s protest in Male’ City on Wednesday evening. MMC said that they had received reports of such an incident, and requested MPS to hand over details of the confrontation.

Journalists reported that officer had accosted them while they were stationed at the junction between Alikilegefaanu and Majeedhee Magu. “Voice” chief editor Shafraz Ahmed Hussain reported that they were resting on the pavement when the officer approached them. Shafraz said that they had not said or done anything to provoke such a reaction, and when the officer said that “you’re dead”, they were quite shocked.

The officer was a member of the Special Operation (SO) officers, who were at the protest. He had boarded the SO vehicle after giving the warning. He had exited the vehicle again, to deliver the same warning.

The unprovoked warning came after the Presidential decree criminalized the opposition-led India Out movement.