Maldives: The difficulties faced by independent newspapers

The example of the Minivan newspaper shows the difficulties independent newspapers are facing in countries where the situation of press freedom is critical.

In July 2005, after having waited for over one year, Minivan has been granted a license to print newspapers in the Maldives. A daily newspaper called Minivan and a weekly newspaper called Vagutu have been registered. The company already runs a radio station and web sites from abroad. Already then the website Minivannews.com was citing an industry insider saying, "The government may well allow lots of newspapers to register but those that do – and are critical of the government – will find themselves constantly in court with huge fines. It’s a subtle way to censor the press whilst projecting to the international community that you have press freedom because all these newspapers are granted licenses."  

The new newspaper successfully launched on July 26th. As Minivannews.com reported on July 27 the first edition was sold out in 2,5 hours. Reactions were generally positive like "Finally, we have a newspaper that expresses the true sentiments of Maldivians? or ?so refreshing to have a newspaper without Maumoon?s (president Maumoon Abdul Gaymoon) picture on it", reports Minivannews.com. Though there is said to be also criticism, as one reader said the "headline article (Mohamed Nasheed, head of the Maldivian Democratic Party, opposed to the government) was very similar to how Haveeru (a regime-owned daily) places the first article about Maumoon.?

In the middle of August Friends of Maldives, a UK-based NGO, reported that as part of growing tensions "threats against the printer of Minivan Newspaper the only Independent newspaper in the Maldives results in his refusal to print the newspaper (on August 15). The editor is a target of threats and intimidation but insists on printing her newspaper on a normal printer using A4 paper."

Yesterday Minivannews.com reported that six articles of the paper were sent from the Ministry of Information to the Attorney-General for criminal prosecution. The prosecutions could lead to prison sentences for many of the paper's senior workforce including Aminath Najeeb, the editor. A source close to the paper said on Minivannews.com: "Even if Gayoom doesn't outright ban the paper, he appears determined to render it ineffective by ensuring that the staff are simply unable to go to work... either because they are in jail or because they are being hauled up to the police or courts for hours every day."

Sources: Minivan (July 18), Minivannews.com (July 27), Friends of Maldives (August 18), Minivannews.com (September 21)