The New Nation - Internet Edition

Nava Thakuria

The media in Northeast has been fighting insurgents as well as the governments since long back. The devoted media persons of Manipur and Asom ( Assam) have taken the lead in accepting the challenge with their greatest zeal. More recently, the media persons of Manipur were threatened by a banned armed group named PREPAK, which was followed by the restriction from the State government in covering insurgency related issues, that might contains subversive outlook. On the other hand, the media persons of neighbouring Asom have been continuously raising voices against the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for its transgression.

The recent episode of threats to Manipur journalists began with an atempted bombing of The Sangai Express, an English daily published from the State capital Imphal on July 31 by the militants belonged to PREPAK (Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak). Wrapped as a gift package and addressed to the editor, the bomb was delivered to the office of the daily. However, before it was delivered to the editor, a journalist identified it as a mortar bomb and immediately alerted the police.

Finally, a bomb expert of the government diffused the mortar shell successfully. Meanwhile, threatening calls and unidentified intruders prevailed in the office of other daily newspapers named Huyen Lanpao and Naharolgi Thoudang. It is learnt that two opposing factions of PREPAK had threatened the media houses with dire consequences if they publish the statements adorning rivals' point of views. The journalists of the state under the banner of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and Editor's Forum Manipur (EFM) had protested against the diktat and organized demonstration in Imphal. Meanwhile, two organizations had resolved to cease publications of daily newspapers since August 1. Local cable news channels of the state also joined the agitation. The agitating media persons had met the state chief minister O. Ibobi Singh, when he reportedly pledged to ensure the safety of journalists of Manipur.

The International Federation of Journalists has meanwhile condemned the atempted atack on Manipur media. "Journalists have to be able to work free from fear of violence," asserted the IFJ Asia Pacific Director Jacqueline Park. In an e-mailed press statement, Ms Park also argued that the media should be left to do their work freely. "By reporting the situation factually and fairly the media will help build understanding between rival groups, and hopefully help facilitate peace" she added. Reporters Sans Frontiers (Reporters Without Borders) also came with string resentment In a press statement from Paris, RSF said, "We deplore the violence and threats by armed separatists." Manipur is home to nearly 20 insurgent outfits, which are fighting New Delhifor demands ranging from sovereignty to autonomy. Last year, armed cadres of militant outfits shot at Ratan Luwangcha, an Imphal based journalist The militants tried to justify their acts with allegations that Ratan practiced some wrong policies in lure of money. However, Ratan denied that allegation strongly.

In the meantime, the Manipur government had enforced a ban on the publication of news and articles with the line of militants' propaganda. The state Home department issued the order on August 3 preventing publication of news items those may pose 'threats to the country's integrity'. It also forbids publications of articles smelling threats from the banned outfits to any individual.

The Journalists' Forum, Assam (JFA) has strongly condemned the combined threats to the media in Manipur from both official and unofficial quarters. The forum of working journalists in neighboring Asom, expressed its whole-hearted support to the Manipur media which is in the line of fire from both the militants and the government In a press statement, issued by JFA president Rupam Baruah, the Forum stated that in a democracy 'the media is responsible for and accountable to only the general public'. Even in a conflict situation, like the one prevalent in Manipur, this basic tenet of journalistic ethics does not allow media outlets to peddle views favouring one party and harming the other, added in the resolution.

"This is exactly why, the atempted July 31 bomb atack on The Sangai Express and the August 3 Manipur Government order banning publication of what it calls any propaganda of unlawful or militant groups, are simply a move to throtle democracy itself," added the statement At the same time, the journalists under the banner of a trust in Asom had organized a memorial lecture, sixth in a row this year, to commemorate the death anniversary of an Asomiya journalist Kamala Saikia, who was killed by ULFA militants in 1991. Organized by Kamala Saikia Memorial Trust on August 9 in Guwahati, the memorial lecture was delivered by Haroon Habib, a senior journalist from Dhaka (Bangladesh). Mentionably Kamala Saikia, who was then 65 years old, was dragged out from his residence at Dikhoumukh in eastern Asom by the militants on the night of August 9 and next day his injured body was recovered in a nearby paddy field.

The veteran teacher-journalist was brutally tortured before being killed. ULFA leaders were angry with Mr Saikia for a series of articles condemning the group for alleged misdemeanors and, which were published in a number of prominent Asomiya dailies. The thought-provoking articles received applause from the common readers, but those turned irritating for the militant outfit They came to him time to time and asked him to stop writing against their activities. But the brave journalist did not bow to their diktat and paid the supreme price.