19th January 2007

FOM condemns expulsion of Minivan News journalist from the Maldives

Friends of Maldives condemns the recent expulsion of Minivan News journalist Phillip Wellman by the Government of Maldives. Mr Wellman was first told to leave the country in November 2006 while covering events in a southern Atoll of Maldives along with a photographer commissioned by the UK Guardian. At the time, the Government of Maldives gave assurances that Mr Wellman would be able to return to the Maldives two weeks after his first expulsion. The American journalist returned on Sunday the 14th of January 2007 and was told to leave a few days later as he had not written to the head of immigration in the Maldives. However, Phillip Wellman had informed the Government of Maldives about his return. Mr Wellman entered the country with a tourist visa and had taken all the steps to acquire another working visa. (He had no intention to work for Minivan News until he had received his work visa) He is now banned from returning to the Maldives for 2 years.

The Government of Maldives is once more showing its lack of commitment to freedom of expression in the Maldives and seems intent on disrupting the work of independent media.

Abdulla Saeed (Fahala), Minivan Daily reporter is still serving a life sentence for trumped up drug charges, and Ahmed Abbas, well-known artist and political cartoonist is serving a 6 months sentence for a quote he gave to Minivan Daily.

Friends of Maldives calls on the Government of Maldives to show genuine commitment to freedom of expression by allowing journalists to work in the Maldives unhindered. If their intentions to allow a fully independent media, Abdualla Saeed (Fahala) and Ahmed Abbas should be released immediately.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Friends of Maldives

E: enquiries@friendsofmaldives.org
W: www.friendsofmaldives.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

Friends of Maldives – www.friendsofmaldives.org

Friends of Maldives (FOM) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights in the Maldives. Based in the UK and established in 2003.