Distributors back at work... But the threat continues
- Sangai Express Editorial :: September 09, 2013 -

The impasse is over.

From today, readers and subscribers are most likely to have the day’s papers delivered at their doorsteps as the distributors or hawkers under the banner of the All Manipur Newspapers Sales and Distributors Association have decided to resume their duty, which is pick up the newspapers from the circulation section of the media establishments and then deliver them to the readers and subscribers.

This is however one part of the story. The impasse continues.

The farce of the drama that has been enacted on the turf of the Imphal based media establishments continues, with no end in sight. Certain things need to be put in the correct perspectives.

In the first place, the impasse was never a case of the newspaper houses going on a collision course with the distributors or hawkers.

It was about the non-publication of a statement issued by a group which has donned the garb of an underground outfit.

With the media fraternity under the aegis of the Editors’ Committee, Manipur and All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union sticking to their stand, a stand taken with conviction that the newspapers in Manipur cannot be the notice board of anyone, this group of gun toting elements zeroed in on the softest target, the distributors, who go from house to house to deliver the day’s papers at ungodly hours.

The distributors have decided to resume their duty, and rightfully so, for the question of publishing or not publishing a news item or a press statement is the prerogative of the Editors.

The armed group which issued the threats to not only the distributors, but also to all the Editors, along with their family members and the media fraternity also knows this.

The sole agenda of piling the pressure on the distributors is to pressurise the newspaper houses to kow tow to their diktats. Diabolically clever, if one may add.

The stand off continues.

The threats against Editors continue, with renewed vigour, if one may add.

It is not a question of whether the group will actually carry out their threats or not.

It is not only a question over the strike power of this group.

This is not to dismiss these points altogether but the more significant point is the growing trend of trying to muzzle the voice of the media.

Professional hazards, one may call it, but when each and every sundry groups come under the impression that it is within their rights to impose conditions on the media, then it is a sure indication that something, somewhere is terribly wrong.

Look at the issue from a bigger canvass, and it is not only armed groups which have been imposing their writs on the media, but pressure groups of all hue and colour.

Newspapers being banned or boycotted in certain parts of the State just because a statement or two was not published is not a new thing.

Ban or boycott newspapers has also become the slogan of quite a large number of civil society organisations and it has been enforced on more than one occasion.

The Sangai Express has faced this situation on more than one occasion.

Disagreeing with the policy and stand of a newspaper is perfectly in line with the understanding of freedom of speech and expression.

But when the disagreement morphs into bans and boycotts in certain parts of the State, then it is taking things to new heights.

The wearer of the shoes knows where it pinches and only those who are in the profession of journalism would understand the pressure under which they have to work in Manipur.