AMWJU, EGM resolve
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 20 2023:
The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) have decided to ban publishing news related to civic action programme and achievements of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its specialised unit, Rapid Action Force (RAF) .
This decision was taken days after RAF personnel deployed in Imphal harassed several journalists performing duties amid the current tension between communities.
On June 16, RAF personnel assaulted and harassed two executive members of AMWJU including its general secretary A Jiten and another member at Kakwa, under Singjamei police station.
Taking strong exception to the incident, AMWJU had given the RAF 48 hours to clarify and take action against the personnel involved in the incident.
As no response was given, the journalist bodies, during a meeting today, decided to ban publication of all news related to CRPF and RAF's civic action programme and achievements.
While the ban is effectively in place, the media will nevertheless publish all news related to high-handedness and abusive actions and wrongdoings of the CRPF and RAF, said AMWJU and EGM.
It may be noted here that the incident of June 16 was not the first time the RAF had harassed and assaulted media persons.
Earlier in May, RAF had assaulted three journalists, who were covering an incident of arson at New Checkon area.