IMPHAL, Dec 23: After a decision to protest against the “diktat” of a militant outfit by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), newspapers in Manipur today failed to hit the stands. As a result, none of the newspapers published from Manipur came out today as scribes were protesting forcible publication of press hand outs of a particular militant outfit.
The decision was taken in a meeting of AMWJU last evening, following a statement issued by the militant outfit, a spokesman for the body said. While a section of the outfit wanted the statement to be published in newspapers, another section of the same outfit warned the dailies with dire consequences if the statement was published, he said.
Journalists in the perennially restive State had been facing pressures from all quarters to publish press handouts resulting in frequent confrontations. Journalists, at meeting discussed the publication of news-related items especially of organizations with several factions at logger heads with each other.
The media body decided not to publish any statement issued by the outfit while appealing the public not to disturb the functioning of the media in the State. “This is not the first time that militant outfits have disturbed the smooth functioning of the media in Manipur,” the spokesman said. On earlier occasions also, dailies had failed to hit the stands because of various pressures from different militant outfits, he said.
Editors and members of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) has strongly opposed the infringement of the freedom of the press. (Agencies)
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