The Analyser - Politics

Government gets tough again in run-up to opposition rally

extracted from Reporters without borders

Reporters Without Borders voiced concern today about the attitude of the Maldivian authorities, who in the past few days have expelled two foreign journalists (including one working for the online newspaper Minivannews.com), arrested an opposition cartoonist and backtracked on plans to end the state’s broadcast media monopoly.

“The government should be trying to defuse tension on the eve of a major opposition demonstration, but instead the police are intimidating, expelling or arresting journalists perceived as being sympathetic to the protest,” the press freedom organisation said.