Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 14, 2009:
Journalists of Manipur ceased work for the day on Tuesday and attend an emergency general body meeting of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) to discuss the matter arising out of police commandos' harassment to two scribes on October 10 last.
With the journalists off the duty, broadcasting of news in local cable networks was suspended and no newspaper publication in Imphal today.
The general body meeting reaffirmed the stand of the AMWJU regarding the boycott of chief minister, O Ibobi and his council of ministers and publication of government news till there is visible action regarding the demand put forwarded by the scribes' body.
Scribes demand include to replace police officers "chain of command" in police establishment who leveled false charges against the two humiliated scribes keeping behind the threatened to killed using high-handed words (nongmeina kapthoku ra, aduga encounter da sibani haibada kanana khangdoino) meted out by the Imphal west police commando personnel.
The meeting resolved that no talk with the government will be held until and unless visible action is taken up to the demand put forward by the scribes' body.
The boycott of Chief Minister, his council of ministers and government developmental activities and achievement works will continue.
Editors and senior journalists who spoke at the meeting recalled harassments meted out by the security forces to them.
Alleging firing of a round at the office of the evening daily 'Paojel' during curfew hour when the people protest against the July 23 incident high-up in the second week of August related with the supply of photos to the JACs formed in connection with the incident, police commandos fired at the office, they said.
Not only this, police on duty in Imphal city had at many instances harassed reporters covering events related with the people protest.
They had even charged the reporters of instigating the protest.
This showed that police are not happy with the reporters, editors and senior journalists talking in the meeting observed.
In the marathon meeting, editors of almost all newspapers published in Imphal, media persons working in various print and electronic media houses took part.
The meeting commenced at about 11 am and continued till around 4.30 pm.
Mention may be made that the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union announced the boycott of chief minister, his council of ministers and news related with government development activities demanding appropriate action to the police commandos who ill-treated two working scribes by detaining them on the their way to home after work of the day on the night of October 10 last.