Government Press Freedom Seminar Ends In Farce
22 Jan 2007, 01:15
Minivan News
An event aimed at showcasing the Gayoom government’s “commitment to press freedom†ended in farce on Monday when Foreign Minister Dr Shaheed and Information Minister Mohamed Nasheed both inexplicably failed to turn up, while Fisheries Minister Abdullah Kamaluddeen slept through most of the meeting.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the event, inviting journalists from across the political spectrum to come to Darubaruge in Male’ at 1:30pm. In addition to reporters, Maldivian Democratic Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) also attended.
“We were told that Dr Shaheed and the Information Minister would be present. It was rumoured that they would announce a raft of new press regulations,†said Minivan News correspondent Will Jordan, who was at the event.
Jordan and other participants were disappointed, however, when advertised keynote speakers failed to appear, leaving only Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) to represent the regime’s views on press freedom.
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