As the “India Out” campaign hits 2022 and the run of allegations of domestic interference by India hits a new threshold as the ruling coalition parties and its allies publish statements defending Indian military presence in the Maldives.
The two front men of the campaign to expel GMR from the Maldives, Adhaalath fundamentalist Sheikh Imran Abdulla and JP leader MP Gasim Ibrahim has once again renewed their commitment to the ruling coalition by voicing against the “India Out” movement. Opposition deputy leader MP Mohamed Saeed accused the parties of publishing statements written by the Indian High Commission in Maldives.
While the allegations against the ruling coalition and opposition alliance continue, India has turned its eye on the fourth estate of the Maldives.
On 28th December 2021 the Maldives Media Council published a statement and a series of photos of a meeting between the newly accredited Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives Munu Muhawar. According to the statement by the Maldives Media Council, discussions were held on the Indian High Commission in Maldives facilitating shot and long-term training of local journalists.
The statement and the notion of India providing training was mostly received with ridicule and concern.
“It is vital to train journalists. But as there are journalists and medias paid by the Indian H.C, opening such an avenue will further increase their influence and power over the media.” Said Heena Waleed, one of the most recognizable media personalities in the Maldives who now serves as the opposition spokesperson.
Allegations of local journalists bribed by the Indian High Commission in Maldives has been at the core of those calling to reform the media in the Maldives. However, the real concern lies in why the Maldives Media Council chose to seek the Indian government for aid in training journalists. Maldives Media Council President Sahubaan Fahumy chose an insensitive moment to seek Indian aid in training journalists.
Moreover, India as a nation is an exceedingly dangerous place for journalists as its ultra-right-wing mobs and Government regulators routinely target journalists critical of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies or for even reporting gangrapes and in the case of Siddique Kappan, reporting on communal ethnoreligious violence.
On 5th October 2020 Siddique Kappan was arrested along with three others and charged with sedition, promoting enmity between communities, deliberate and malicious act to outrage religious feelings and sundry to terrorism. The police charge sheet read that Siddique Kappan intentionally portrayed Muslim victims of communal attacks as “victims”, inciting outrage in the community.
Siddique Kappan is just one of the many journalists and reporters facing trumped up charges by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government which has clamped down hard against the media. In 2021, at least 4 journalists were killed in India.
According to a recent report by media watchdog RSF, India is amongst the five most dangerous countries for journalists. The only countries more dangerous for journalists were Yemen, Afghanistan and Mexico of which two are at war. In addition to this, at least 7 journalists are currently detained by the Indian Government under various charges. Several more journalists from Jammu and Kashmir have also been detained and or jailed by the Government of India.
This attack on the media along with he blatant partisanship portrayed by active members of the media such as Arnab Goswami has led to India’s press freedom index to drop down to 142 where as the Maldives ranks at 79.
The question that remains is whether the Maldives Media Council along with local journalists will help the Indian Government in painting itself as a champion of a well-developed free press by abetting them in their propaganda or whether the Maldives Media Council and local journalists will stand in solidarity with the journalists under attack in India and say “NO” to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attack on the media.