SAFMA Maldives Media Statement

SAFMA Maldives expresses concern over the recent attacks on media personnel, and calls on all concerned parties to respect the ideals of freedom of expression and media enshrined in the Maldives Constitution.
The three incidents that are of concern to this Association had occured within the scope of 10 days are the attack on Haveeru Executive Editor, Hiriga Ahmed Zahir while covering the unrest near Parliament, the protest against Minivan News following an article published in the online English news site by its Editor, Mariyam Omidi and the most recent case of verbal and physical abuse to Ibrahim Rasheed, Newscaster from Television Maldives on Monday night.
SAFMA Maldives also reiterates that it is not necessary that all media organizations share the same opinions and editorial policies, and believe that the public should be able to formulate its own opinion based on the different viewpoints and information accessible from the various media, and call on the Government, political parties and the general public to respect journalists working to acquire true information in order to carry out a public service.

Congratulations to the new Executive Board

SAFMA Maldives Annual General Meeting was held yesterday afternoon at the Seminar Room in Youth Centre.
After the announcement of the Annual Report for 2008, and the budget report for 2009, the Executive Board for the Maldives Chapter was elected.
Mariyam Suhana, Chairperson of THE VOICE was elected President, and Fayyaz Faisal, Editor of Jazeera Daily elected as the Vice President, with VTV Video Journalist Zeena Zahir appointed Secretary General. Shifza Mustafa, Newscaster for VTV was elected Deputy General Secretary and Aishath Shaheen from Haveeru Daily was appointed Executive Member.
The first meeting of the new Executive Board will be held later this month. SAFMA Maldives thanks the work of the previous Executive Board, and especially the former President of SAFMA Maldives, Aminath Najeeb for her untiring contribution to the association.
SAFMA also thanks MADULU for its assistance in setting up SAFMA Maldives in the country, and the continued assistance extended to the association throughout the past two years.