Under fire

Reporters Without Borders has charged the Maldivian government of repeatedly manipulating Interpol after ten Sri Lankan police officers raided the Colombo premises of an exile radio station and website, radio Minivan and Minivannews.











com, on 28 December. Reporters Without Borders has charged the Maldivian government of repeatedly manipulating Interpol after ten Sri Lankan police officers raided the Colombo premises of an exile radio station and website, radio Minivan and Minivannews.com, on 28 December. The Paris based media rights group said the raid by Sri Lankan police in search of arms, was prompted by baseless claims by the Maldivian authorities.

Some of the Maldivian journalists have since fled Sri Lanka and the station has stopped broadcasting for fear of further reprisals.

"The government in Malé has made a regrettable habit of sending reports to Interpol accusing independent Maldivian journalists and media based abroad of criminal activity without any proof," the press freedom organisation said.

"This is an intimidatory policy designed to deprive thousands of Maldivians of independent news and information. We call on Interpol to investigate this crude manipulation by Malé.



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Opposition journalist Ahmad Didi was arrested in Sri Lanka