Imphal, July 21 2010: An emergency meeting of the standing committee of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) which was held in the evening today has strongly condemned the intrusion and threats by armed persons who identified themselves as HPC(D) cadres at the residence of S Singlianmang Guite, correspondent of The Sangai Express, at around 11.45 am today, as infringement on the freedom of media.

The Ukhrul District Journalists Union has also strongly condemned the threats issued against Guite by the armed persons.

Chaired by AMWJU president Khogendra Khomdram, the meeting resolved to show solidarity and support the demands that have been put forward by Manipur Hill Journalist Union in connection with the incident.

Accordingly, it was decided that in support of the cease work strike being launched by the Manipur Hill Journalists' Union, AMWJU will suspend normal duty and staged a sit-in-protest at Keishampat from 10 am to 5 pm tomorrow.

On account of the proposed sit-in-protest demonstration, no newspapers will hit the news stands on July 23 and there would be no news telecast by ISTV.

With exception to AIR reviewer, no AMWJU member would also cover the ongoing Assembly session tomorrow.

In a statement, general secretary of AMWJU has appealed to all the members to abide by these resolutions and attend the sit-in protest demonstration in time. Meanwhile, Manipur Hill Journalists' Union, in a statement, has strongly decried the incident.

In a statement issued by its secretary, the Union recounted that three armed men, who came in an old black coloured Maruti Esteem and identified themselves as HPC (D) cadres barged into the residence of S Singlianmang Guite, correspondent of The Sangai Express at around 11.45 am today.

The armed men, who appeared enraged over a news item published in today's edition of The Sangai Express, were led by a man who sported long hair and slim figure.

Upon entering the residential premise, they inquired of the whereabouts of Singlianmang.

When told that he was out attending a programme at Tuibuong, they demanded to talk with him and asked his wife to call him on his mobile.

Without bothering to listen to the attempts made by Singlianmang to clarify that the particular news report was not filed by him, the armed intruder who appeared drunk, bluntly shouted at him while one of them took off a pistol and placed on the table right in front of his spouse and younger brother.

Taking cognisance of the serious incident, Manipur Hill Journalists Union convened an emergency meeting and adopted four resolutions.

As per the resolutions, the Union presumes that the intrusion was a serious threat to the life and freedom of a journalist.

The open display of arms in front of women and other family members was viewed seriously by the Union and as such it decides to cease publication of all newspapers under the Union indefinitely with effect from tomorrow.

Urging the authority concerned to immediately identity the perpetrators and taken them to task as per the law of the land, the meeting also decided to initiate further steps as deemed necessary in consultation with AMWJU.

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