Day: January 4, 2007

The Ministry of Information and Arts has said that it is unable to predict when private broadcasters will be allowed to begin transmitting in the Maldives.

Recently, the Ministry retracted its promise to grant permits to private broadcasters, which were scheduled to be issue at the end of last October.

In an explanation of its action, the government said that before transmission could begin an act of parliament governing private broadcasting would be needed. They said this was due to the “negative effects of unconditional press freedom”.

The government made this decision despite telling Haveeru Daily two weeks prior that privately owned broadcast media would be able to obtain licences “quickly”.

The decision to prohibit private broadcasting also followed a meeting with members of the International Mission for Press Freedom (which is comprised of several press freedom organisations including Article 19, Reporters Without Borders and the International Federation of Journalists) in May. At the meeting, the Information Ministry reportedly promised a “rapid authorisation of private broadcasters and the creation of a Media Advisory Board consisting of leading figures”.

Speaking of the Maldivian Government’s decision, the International Mission said: “[We] understand that a legal framework is needed for the licensing of private broadcasters in line with the practice around the world. We do not believe, however, that there is any reason why such a legal framework should not have been developed by now.”

The statement continued: “the official ‘Roadmap for the Reform Agenda’ said legislation of privately-owned broadcast media (putting an end to the State monopoly on radio and television) would be completed by 31 October. However, on 1 November 2006 it was announced that this legislation has been delayed.”

In its latest statement, given earlier this week, the Information Ministry still had no idea when the press freedom section of the President’s Roadmap would be implemented. Speaking to Hamma Daily on the situation, Mohamed Arif, a senior official at the Ministry said: “Now there is a draft Bill in the Majlis (General Assembly). I don’t know when the Bill will be passed by the Majlis to allow us issue permits to private broadcasters to start their businesses in the country”.

When asked why the government has failed to deliver its promise Arif replied: “We changed the plan as there was no law to regulate the activity”.

Several parties have reportedly invested millions in broadcasting technology when the government initially announced a date for allowing private broadcasters to do business. These parties claim that due to the delays in awarding permits they are presently handling unnecessary costs.

Reports say that more than 30 parties applied for broadcasting licenses before October.

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Department of Public Health (DPH) has issued a statement asking all Maldivians to assist them in destroying mosquito breeding grounds throughout the country.

The DPH’s request is a vital component of its new programme initiated to combat several mosquito-borne diseases, which have recently attacked the county. These include fever, Dengue fever and Chikungunya.

In order to combat the diseases effectively, the department says wider participation is needed from the general public. Dr Mohamed Jamsheed, Director of DPH, has urged everyone to take part in the endeavour.

In an interview with Hamma Daily Jamsheed said: “The present outbreak has reached dangerous proportions in Raa, Meem and Kaaf Atolls. Therefore we are giving priority to controlling the mosquitoes in these atolls.”

Jamsheed said that many Maldivians mistakenly believe that the only way to control mosquitoes is by spraying disinfectants. But this, he said, is the last thing required for destroying breeding grounds.

The most important action, as DPH previously advocated, is to drain every possible entity that harbours stating water, as they are favourable for mosquito breeding.

The Chikungunya outbreak became politicised when the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) published a report on the outbreak, which blamed the government for not taking the disease seriously.

MDP published its report after many islanders in the atolls claimed that the authorities had done little to address the outbreak initially.

Some analysts began expressing fears that DPH and the Health Ministry were “playing down” the incident so that it would not have negative consequences for the country’s tourism industry.

But soon the effects of Chikungunya and the other mosquito-borne diseases were too serious for anyone not to notice.

In the days before the New Year, Hospitals and health post were reportedly packed across the country with patients who had been diagnosed with Chikungunya. One such hospital, IGMH, in Male’, was so full that it could not admit further patients.

An official from DPH said that as of December 19, 135 Maldivians had been suspected of being infected with Chikungunya, which had been blamed for deaths in both Male’ and some Atolls.

Even Finance Minister, Gasim Ibrahim, was admitted to ADK Hospital with the virus.

Chikungunya is generally not fatal. However, last year, 200 deaths were associated with the disease on Reunion Island and India (especially in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh). The European Network for Diagnostics of “Imported” Viral Diseases (ENIVD) claims that new phylogenetic variants of virus, which are fatal, have also been identified on Reunion.

According to recent reports, the numbers of Maldivians in Meem Atoll who have caught the fever are highest in Dhiggaru, Maduvvari and Naalaafushi. The highest number of people who have caught Chikungunya and dengue are presently found in Raa Atoll.

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President Gayoom has recently stated that 2007 should be the time when all political parties in the Maldives unite to form a new pluralist consensus on the future of the country.

Gayoom expressed his wish in an end-of-the-year letter to world leaders and influential stakeholders in post-tsunami recovery and democratic reform.

He also said he was confident that the legal framework and mechanisms of the first liberal democracy in the Maldives would be completed sometime during 2007.

Speaking to the government, Gayoom went on to say that it should “redouble its efforts to ensure a peaceful transition to a modern, liberal democracy”.

But the President’s critics say they have heard Gayoom deliver unfulfilled promises to the international community many times in the past and fear that his latest message is no different.

Regardless of one’s political affiliation, it would be difficult to disagree that the Maldives is currently more democratic than at any other time in its recent history.

Many may also agree with the President that 2006 has been “a year of change, progress and recovery for the Maldives”, but some believe not nearly enough has been done.

In his letter, Gayoom noted his “Roadmap” for reform agenda, which he regarded as a success. He pointed out that the People’s Majlis has concluded all debates on all chapters of the new constitution and said the country remained well on track to conclude its work within the timelines set out in the Roadmap and meet its ultimate goal of multi-party elections in 2008.

But where Gayoom sees success many others, especially those belonging to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) see failure.

Speaking of the government’s Roadmap, MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) said his party was not accepting it because the goals that it listed were not being accomplished on time.

“President Gayoom has failed to implement the goals set in is own Roadmap,” said Anni. “Governments in other countries also draw roadmaps, however, the difference is that they implement the goals set in the roadmaps on time.”

Anni also said: “on 15 May, after Gayoom’s freedom of assembly decree, we saw the Roadmap fail in the first instance. More people were arrested a that time than at any other point in his repressive rule.”

He continued: “Gayoom has lost his façade. He’s been exposed. He never had any intention of reforming. He tried to spin, through glossy brochures and sneaky boys (those ‘New Maldives’ ministers), that reform was going on. Events have deviated too far from the Roadmap.”

Spin or not, 2006 has seen the Maldives enter numerous international organisations that promote human rights and democracy. Last year, the country joined the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), the ICESCR (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) and became the 12th country to ratify OPCAT (Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture).

Gayoom assures that the Maldives’ enrolment in these groups will play a meaningful role in creating a credible international mechanism to promote human rights.

In the conclusion of his letter, the President said that much more remains to be done to repair and reconstruct properties damaged by the tsunami. He noted, however, that a great deal had already been achieved in getting lives and livelihoods back to normal and that the country continues to be on course to attaining the Millennium Development Goals.

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