The editors, working journalists and non-journalists in Manipur on Wednesday staged a demonstration against the unethical pressure of a militant outfit in connection with the publication of news relating to the different factions of a terror group.
Demanding freedom of press, the demonstration was jointly organised by the All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) at the Manipur Press club complex.
Both the media bodies unanimously resolved not to entertain any pressure in publication of news relating to the particular militant outfit. Officials said that this is not for the first time that journalists have abstained from work and protested against a terror groups’ pressure and threats.
There had been pressures and counter pressures to cover or spike certain news of some militant outfits earlier too. The newspaper offices had shut for more than 10 days in 2000 to protest the outlawed outfits’ threats. A senior editor, who refused to be named, said that the media organisations recently came under huge pressure from rival sections of a militant group following internal crisis within the outfit with regards to publication and non-publication of news. In Manipur, media houses have often had to face terrorists groups’ diktats and threats.
