Maldives pro-opposition TV station gutted
9 Oct 2013 4:26 AM IST
About six men on motorbikes threatened and chased away a security guard before setting fire to the station, Akram Kamaludeen said. Other offices in the building also were damaged.
Kamaludeen said there was no evidence that pointed to a suspect. He said president Mohamed Waheed Hassan’s government and his allies have been upset with the station’s coverage.
Last year, attackers broke into the building and cut cables, disrupting the station’s broadcasts. The television station backs the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, and authorities have barred it from covering government events. ‘This is a dark day for press freedom in the Maldives,’ said Kamaludeen, adding police did not protect the station despite prior threats and has not investigating the previous attack.
Police were patrolling the neighborhood at the time of the attack and are investigating how the group broke in, said police spokesman Hassan Hanif. The Maldives is facing political turmoil, with a court postponing a presidential runoff election that was expected to be favorable to MDP candidate, former president Mohamed Nasheed.
Nasheed secured over 45 percent of first round votes on 7 September but fell short of the 50 percent needed. A runoff between him and his closest rival Yaamin Abdul Qayyoom, brother of former autocrat, was postponed by SC after the third-placed candidate alleged fraud in the first round.
Kamaludeen said there was no evidence that pointed to a suspect. He said president Mohamed Waheed Hassan’s government and his allies have been upset with the station’s coverage.
Last year, attackers broke into the building and cut cables, disrupting the station’s broadcasts. The television station backs the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, and authorities have barred it from covering government events. ‘This is a dark day for press freedom in the Maldives,’ said Kamaludeen, adding police did not protect the station despite prior threats and has not investigating the previous attack.
Police were patrolling the neighborhood at the time of the attack and are investigating how the group broke in, said police spokesman Hassan Hanif. The Maldives is facing political turmoil, with a court postponing a presidential runoff election that was expected to be favorable to MDP candidate, former president Mohamed Nasheed.
Nasheed secured over 45 percent of first round votes on 7 September but fell short of the 50 percent needed. A runoff between him and his closest rival Yaamin Abdul Qayyoom, brother of former autocrat, was postponed by SC after the third-placed candidate alleged fraud in the first round.
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