“SBC should be free” was the message many protesters echoed during a march in Victoria on Saturday, 13 June.
Organisers held the protest to oppose the proposed Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) Amendment Bill.
Among those taking part was journalist Michelle Murray, who has worked at SBC for the past five years and recently announced her resignation.
In a statement released before the protest, Ms Murray said she had tendered her resignation and would leave the broadcaster next month.
“SBC is standing on a precipice with the new law being proposed,” she said. “I will not be part of this New SBC or be part of any effort to legitimize it. I am concerned that hard won democratic principles are being eroded.”
Ms Murray said programmes such as Gran Reportaz were possible because of a democratic environment that allowed journalists to carry out their work.
“Despite many challenges, productions like Gran Reportaz were the fruits of a thriving democracy and I believe this may be placed at risk,” she said.
She also criticised the consultation process surrounding the proposed legislation.
“It is unfortunate that journalists, like myself, who are on the frontlines, were not even allowed to give our opinion on this new bill, whether for or against,” she said. “Media freedom matters. Freedom of expression matters. My stance is a principled one.”
Speaking to the media during Saturday’s march, Ms Murray said she felt it was her duty as an SBC employee to stand alongside citizens concerned about the future of the broadcaster.
“I decided to join the march in solidarity with people who are brave enough to come down and defend SBC,” she said. “I’ve been an employee of SBC for the last five years and I believe in an SBC that is strong, transparent and there to bring forward truth to the people of Seychelles.”
Ms Murray said SBC had operated under legislation that allowed journalists to perform their duties independently. However, she argued that the proposed amendments could increase political influence over the broadcaster.
“The propositions that the government has brought forward contain many good words,” she said. “But when you look at the details, you see that the ultimate goal is to control SBC, and the door will be wide open for political interference in SBC’s work.”
Former Seychelles president Wavel Ramkalawan, who led the march, also called for broader consultation on the proposed legislation.
“We need to know what was wrong with the previous law,” he said. “Did the model under the previous law work? And I will say yes, it worked.”
Mr Ramkalawan said the existing law resulted from consultation between political leaders at the time, including then-president Danny Faure and himself as leader of the opposition.
He highlighted the role of the Constitutional Appointments Authority (CAA) in selecting members of the SBC board.
“We agreed on CAA because it is an independent body,” he said. “CAA is the body that chooses judges and people in high offices. I think CAA did a good job giving SBC a good board and this model worked.”