Imphal, February 17, 2010: The Editors Guild of India has expressed grave concern over the plight of journalists in Manipur.

And has called for urgent remedial measures to bridge the growing gulf between the Manipur state government and security forces on one hand and the Manipur media on the other.

An EGI team of Sumit Chakravartty and B.G.Verghese, which visited Manipur last month, in response to a request from local journalists, has submitted a detailed report of the traumatic conditions faced by the media in this conflict zone.

One fact came out clearly in the course the EGI team’s discussions.

Unlike in other States, in Manipur the I&B Minister does not interact with journalists.”, the report notes.

“Besides the state, the media is under pressure from insurgent groups, especially the splinter elements, as, in Margaret Thatcher’s famous phrase, publicity is the oxygen of terror.

There is a veiled atmosphere of fear in which there is a private voice and public utterance.

This is a very difficult path to negotiate but it is a journey that must be undertaken”.

The All Manipur Working Journalists Union had written several letters to the guild highlighting the harassment and pressures faced by Manipur journalists.

Five journalists were gunned down by unknown persons in the last few years.

.SHemant, the AMWJU President, wrote urging the EGI to ask the Manipur Government take necessary action to bring to book those responsible for the killing of a 22-year-old journalist, Konsam Rishikanta Singh, a junior sub-editor of The Imphal Free Press, who was shot dead by unknown assailants at Langol in Imphal West on November 17, 2008. The state government has so far failed to either identify or book the perpetrators.

Media fraternities in the state suspect the involvement of the security forces in some of the killings.

Apart from continued harassment by the Manipur police and State Government, journalists in the state are also pressured by non-state underground players.

The report recommends the establishment of regular informal meetings between senior editors and journalists with the CM, official spokesman, Chief Secretary, DGP, and elements of the Unified Command jointly so as to restore confidence and bring about a rapprochement.

At present the only minister to interact with the media is the sports minister, a former footballer.

It has also suggested setting up a media support group of academics, former administrators, erstwhile security personnel, respected political figures, jurists, professionals and NGOs in Imphal and elsewhere in Manipur.

Professional bonding between the state journalists and media group all over the country through internships could impart mutual strength and solidarity to both the local and national media, the report advised.

Comment