Editors' Guild sets record straight
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 22 2015:
Reacting sharply against the statement issued by one Shyamo of Lamphel as published in some section of the media including a local cable network which projected the journalist fraternity of the State in general and Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) president A Mobi in particular as ignorant about the country's Constitution and statute, the EGM has categorically stated that its decision to boycott the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers has no element to defame any individual.
EGM submitted a charter of demands including replacement of APO (Press) Th Shyamo after he tried to physically assault EGM president A Mobi.
But the EGM has been silently waiting for the Government to fulfil their demands without resorting to any extreme measures in keeping with the ethics of journalism.
It was only under compelling circumstances that the EGM resolved to boycott the Chief Minister, the Council Ministers and MLAs of the ruling party.
In November last year, EGM president A Mobi and general secretary Yumnam Rupachandra went to meet the DIPR Director in connection with a document related with the guild.
As told by the Director, the duo went inside the office room of APO (Press) Th Shyamo after meeting some officers one after another.
The moment Mobi and Rupachandra stepped inside, Shyamo shouted in offensive words as to why Editors were telling all kinds of lies to the Governor and the Chief Minister about DIPR.
The two Editors then clarified that they were speaking in support of the new endeavour to convert DIPR into a major department.
APO Shyamo insisted that one of the two (Mobi and Rupachandra) talked disparagingly against DIPR to the Governor.
Even as the two Editors denied having said anything bad about DIPR, Shyamo called out one DIPR staff who was also present in the particular meeting with the Governor.
The staff clarified that it was not Rupachandra nor Mobi but another Editor who censured DIPR.
The next moment, Shyamo accused the EGM of blackmailing the Government with boycott threat after taking a substantial amount of money from the Government.
At this, Mobi banged Shyamo's table and clarified that the EGM never took a single penny from the Government.
Just like no media persons including Editors have the right to bang the table of an officer, no Government officer is given authority by the Indian Constitution to hurl unfounded, defamatory allegations against Editors or for that matter any individual, said a statement issued by EGM.
Shyamo's statement that he stopped short of physically assaulting Mobi because he respects law deserves appreciation.
But the fact is, Shyamo stopped short of physically assaulting Mobi not on his volition but at the intervention of Rupachandra.
The DIPR Director expressed regret over the incident on the same day at the office of the Editor, the Manipur This Week which also serves as EGM's office.
EGM Manipur and its president A Mobi have no personal enmity with any officer but the guild has been demanding replacement of APO (Press) Th Shyamo in the larger interest of DIPR and potential damages that can be done to Govt-media relationship in case a personality like Shyamo is kept in charge of key post like APO (Press) any longer, it added.
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