MDP blames President for failure of Information Bill

23 November 2007
Report: Soodh

The main opposition party, MDP has said that the Bill on Acquiring and Receiving Information that was considered by the Majlis at the eleventh sitting of the third session held on the 14 of this month was not accepted due to a series of steps taken By President Gayoom aimed at preventing the Bill getting passed.

According to a news release issued by the MDP, the Bill on Receiving and Acquiring Information was submitted to the Majlis on 14 of February , as the government recognized the need to have constitutional mandate for the right of the individual to receive an acquire information. However the press release notes the inactivity on part of the government to pursue the matter any further for over nine months.

MDP press release noted that steps taken by President Gayoom to prevent the Bill getting accepted by the Majlis can be clearly seen. In this regard the failing of the opening of the opening ceremony by the High Commissioner of UK and the conclusion of the joint meeting held by Information Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Bill on 22 January 2007, without providing any information to the public, was the first of a series of steps taken by the President says MDP News Release.

According to MDP the meeting was suddenly arranged to announce the introduction of the regulation on the freedom of media and the regulation on receiving and acquiring information by Presidential decree. Information Minister Nasheed and former Foreign Minister Dr. Shaheed, High Commissioner of UK and MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed , Anni , were to be the main guests at the meeting. MDP notes that none of the Ministers attended the meeting that day. At a ceremony held at Nasandhura Palace Hotel, former Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed has said that the Bill on the freedom of Media and the Bill on Acquiring and Receiving Information will be introduced in the form of regulations. Further the absence of the 2 ministers at the reception held in Dharubaaruge, shows that Preesident Gayoom was not keen on introducing the changes.

The press release issued by MDP yesterday, said the failure of the Bill to be accepted by the Majlis was due to the lack insufficient members supporting the government present at the Majlis.

“Instead of blaming the members of the opposition party for the failure of the Bill, Information Minister Nasheed should be ashamed to justify a reform agenda that President Gayoom was forced to announce due to external pressure which was mainly due to MDP” said the Press Release.

Speaking to the Press, Information and Legal Reform Minister, Nasheed said that he has no wish to blame MDP for the failure of the Bill and that he believed that MDP had no desire to fail the Bill either. He further said that it was a decision taken by Maria, a member of the MDP parliamentary group, at the last minute.

The Bill failed to be accepted by the Majlis, due to Maria withdrawing her support. Speaking at another Majlis session Maria had offered her explanation to her action. She said she withdrew her support as the members affiliated DRP were not present to support the Bill.