Media condemns
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 28 2023:
Media organisations of Manipur have strongly refuted the allegation of being biased and urged four student bodies to retract their ban on the media in Manipur, especially those based in Imphal.
The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union, Editors' Guild Manipur and Manipur Hill Journalists' Union, in a joint statement, said they are deeply concerned with the charges levelled by the four student organisations that include, Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) Churachandpur, Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF), Hmar Students' Association (HSA) and Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) .
"We refute the allegations of being biased and urge the four student bodies to retract their ban on the media in Manipur and Imphal in particular.
It has been a practice that any organisation or individual not satisfied with the reporting of any media house may approach any of the three organisations for rectification, correction, clarification or correction if needed," the media bodies said.
The four student organisations should submit case-wise, any article or reporting or lack of it to any media house under the three media organisations for any changes, rectification or clarification.
However, to announce a blanket ban on all media-persons or media houses from the valley area indicates a deeper conspiracy rather than addressing the issue, the media bodies said.
Urging the student bodies to retract their stance, AMWJU, EGM and MHJU stated that they may be forced to approach various National and international media bodies including the Press Council of India (PCI) and Central Government for protection of freedom of speech and movement of media persons.