Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) has extended its moral support to the agitating media poisons of Manipur on its struggle against the militants. The Assam based scribe’s body argues that the media persons under the banner of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) have taken a significant stand against the armed militants who have dared to threaten the media with their gun power.
“In any situation, the media should (must) not be dictated in a democratic country. A section of Manipur militants have taken the unacceptable way to threaten the scribe and also the newspaper sellers & distributors there. We urge the authority to take necessary actions in this regard,” said a statement issued today by the JFA president Rupam Barua and its secretary Nava Thakuria.
Mentionable is that nearly 200 reporters representing the AMWJU and few hawkers had met Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Monday regarding the ban on newspapers in Imphal imposed by certain militant outfits. They also organised a silent protest rally in the capital city.
The armed outfit have reportedly threatened the editors and reporters that they would be shot if they publish newspapers and also threatened the hawkers.
Manipur with the population of around 27 lakh today supports more than 40 underground armed outfits who are waging a war against the Indian Union government. Most of the militant outfits have made it a habit to order the newspapers to publish their press statements as it is. Otherwise, the concerned editor-journalists face harsh words and actions from those so-called revolutionary outfits.
The JFA expresses its serious concern over the development and urged the Manipur government to take necessary steps. It also appeals to the civil societies of Manipur to stand behind the media persons such that they can serve the society in a better way.
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