Muzzling critical media
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: January 09, 2024 -

NOTHING could be more ironic than this.

A day after the editor of a vernacular daily published from Imphal was arrested by the Manipur police on the charge of "promoting enmity on grounds of religion and race" following a reportage carried about the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the Indo-Myanmar border town of Moreh, Governor of Manipur Anusuiya Uikey was praising the role of media as the fourth pillar of democracy in raising public consciousness to promote peace, harmony and brotherhood beyond caste, religion and personal interests.

She was speaking as chief guest of the 49th foundation day celebration of Manipur Press Club held on January 6.

Interestingly, the arrest of Dhanabir Maibam, the editor of Hueiyen Lanpao, came within a week of the arrest of Wangkhemcha Shamjai, editor-in-chief of another vernacular daily, this time an eveninger, named, Kangleipaki Meira, for allegedly publishing "provocative news" on December 29, 2023.

While Wangkhemcha Shamjai, who was accused of abetting the law-and-order problem in the state after drawing attention to it in a reportage on his paper, was subsequently granted bail on December 31 last; Dhanabir Maibam, who has also been accused of criminal conspiracy and violating various clauses of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, was kept in police custody for three days.

It was while Dhanabir Maibam was still languishing in the police custody for publishing a news report on deteriorating law and order in Moreh town which saw killing of a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and injuries of at least nine security personnel over the course of multiple attacks carried out by armed Kuki militants since October 31 that Governor Anusuiya Uikey was extolling the crucial role of media in upholding democracy and promoting peace, harmony and brotherhood and asserted that no authority should suppress or gag the media and media persons should not succumb to threats and pressures at any cost.

Of course, Governor Anusuiya Uikey had also talked about the need for journalists to be patient in times of crisis and publishing news reports without indulging in sensationalism.

At the same time, she said that media persons should be capable enough to broadcast the news reports impartially and fearlessly.

Furthermore, she noted with appreciation that media presented the events in a balanced manner with reality during times of crisis in the state.

All these beautiful words of appreciation on the working of media in Manipur that came out from the mouth of none other than the first citizen of the state herself has prompted us to question whether Governor Anusuiya Uikey really knew what was happening in Manipur today or was she just doing her job of reading out a speech prepared for the occasion.

The arrest of two editors within of a span of one week for publishing some news reports which are not favourable to the government is nothing but gagging or suppression of media that the Governor had asserted no authority should indulge in.

The power of media and its influence is something well-known to all but to arrest journalists on some trumped-up or politically motivated charges for their critical writings on the undoing of the government by invoking provisions of Official Secrets Act of 1923, which is an anti-espionage legislation handed down from the British colonial period, is condemnable by all as it amounts to muzzling the freedom of press or media enshrined under freedom and expression of speech in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, which encourages independent journalism and promotion of democracy by letting the people to voice their opinions for against any act of commission or omission of the government.

Let us not forget that a free media is essential for a thriving democracy.

So, if a democratically elected government is intolerant of critical media, then it is only trying hard to cover up its own failure, which is not a good thing at all.