PCI moots amendment of guidelines
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 05 2016: Press Coun-cil of India (PCI) Convenor Ravindra Kumar has said that the guidelines laid down by the Council need to be amended considering the inconveniences faced by the scribes working at conflict-torn areas like Manipur.

Ravindra Kumar who is a member of the three-member committee visiting the State addressed media at Manipur Press Club after meeting the Chief Secretary, DGP, ADGP and NIA officials today.

He said that PCI needs to set long term as well as short term goals to resolve the misunderstanding which erupted between NIA and the media fraternity of the State.

Saying that the Council would put in efforts to resolve the issue at the earliest, Ravindra Kumar observed that there is need for frequent interactions to boost confidence between the two sides.

Stating that the PCI committee had received cons- tructive inputs from NIA, AMWJU executives, Editors and media persons, Ravindra Kumar said that the Council would amend its guidelines taking all these suggestions and inputs into account so that the disturbances faced by the scribes at strife-torn areas are reduced to the minimal level.

Contending that the Council is fully aware about the difficulties faced by the journalists of the State, the PCI Convenor appreciated the media fraternity of the State for courageously rendering service to the society.

He said that efforts must be put in to maintain harmonious relations with the scribes and all other stake holders in order to function the media houses smoothly.

Stating that PCI currently has 28 members, Ravindra Kumar said that the suggestions and proposed amend- ments of the sub-committee need approval of the full-member sitting.

Saying that they heard that Manipur police had been acting as per the guidelines which were published 20 years back and might not be relevent to the present context, Ravindra said that these guidelines must be updated to avoid misunderstanding.

Although it would be premature to disclose the possi- ble guidelines, Ravindra said that however there would be certain 'dos and don'ts' both for the media persons as well as security agencies.

Newmai News Network adds: A three-member delegation of the Press Council of India (PCI) in Imphal today met top state government officials including Chief Secretary to discuss the prevai- ling situation faced by media fraternity in Manipur.

The PCI team also called on officials of National Investigation Agency (NIA), who asked two Imphal-based media houses to disclose their sources about the May 22 militant ambush at Zoupi of Chandel district along Indo-Myanmar border, which killed six Assam Rifles personnel, sources said.

Details of the meeting between the PCI team and the state officials were awaited.

The delegation which was here in a two-day visit to the State called on Chief Secretary Oinam Nabakishore Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Dr Suresh Babu and DGP of Manipur Police, LM Khaute.

During the meeting the team is understood to have raised the current problems of the media persons in the state and highlighted the need for their safety and also the NIA notice seeking disclosure of detailed sources of Zoupi ambush.

Sources said the NIA representatives felt contrite about the agency's action serving to the media houses as part of the ongoing probe into the Zoupi attack.

The deadly attack came exactly a year after the biggest ambush on the military took place at Paraolon in Chandel, in which as many as 17 soldiers of the 6 Dogra regiment were killed and another 16 injured.

Perturbed, All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) had earlier lodged a complaint with PCI over the NIA move which the union feels has caused serious apprehension that could interfere in the freedom of press.

Convenor Ravindra Kumar and C K Nayak and Kosuri Amarnath both members of a committee constituted by the Press Council of India arrived here yesterday.

The primary purpose of the sub-committee is to evolve guidelines for the media and armed forces on reporting in conflict situations in Manipur and other northeastern states.

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