Publication of newspapers and broadcasting of news by local cable networks will remain suspended indefinitely once again as journalists resumed their cease work strike on Friday even as the state government appealed to the state media not to resort to news blackout.
The journalists resumed the cease work strike following a fresh to the office of the Poknapham and its sister publication People’s Chronicle by the militant group behind the recent failed bomb attack.
Suspected militant(s) had recently lobbed a hand grenade at the office of the Poknapham on February 13 evening which did not explode. Denouncing the bomb threat, journalists under the aegis of All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) resorted to an indefinite strike the same day.
As no armed underground groups owned up the attack in the 48-hour deadline set by the journalists’ bodies, the state media resumed to work from February 19 last, assuming that they had not committed any mistake that would hurt the interest of any armed groups.
However, on Wednesday, the same media house (Poknapham) and its sister publication Peoples’ Chronicle received fresh threats from a militant group that owned up the failed bomb attack.
They further asked to suspend publication for six months. AMWJU and EGM have condemned the threat strongly while resolving that the journalist fraternity of the state will fight together .
A joint meeting of the AMWJU and EGM convened on Thursday resolved to ask the group to provide detail of the charges they levelled before taking any action against the media house.
While resolving to cease work by journalists indefinitely, the bodies set yet another 48-hour deadline to provide the detail of the charges from Friday at 6 am.
Until the threat persists, publication of all newspapers will remain suspended. Local cable networks will also suspend broadcasting of news in their channels as resolved by the scribes’ bodies.
The AMWJU and the EGM have also expressed strong resentment over the non-arrest of the perpetrator(s) behind the recent bomb attack even after 10 days of expiry of the deadline it had set.
On the other hand, authorities of the Manipur government today appealed to AMWJU, EGM and media houses not to resort to news blackout or shutdown of services in the interest of the general public.
The appeals were made through the deputy commissioners of twin capital districts –Imphal West and Imphal East districts – while reacting to resolutions passed by a joint meeting of AMWJU and EGM.
In the appeal note, Imphal West DC convinced that police were putting in all possible efforts and investigation was going on in full swing in order to nab the miscreant(s) behind the February 13 bomb attack at Poknapham office in Imphal.
The DC stated that the media is considered to be the fourth pillar of democracy and there is always the need to keep the general public informed about the news from the state , more so in the wake of COVID-19.
The role of media houses in the state in the fight against COVID-19 cannot be over emphasized and there was still the need for the media houses to take a pivotal role in spreading information and messages to the general public for sensitization, containment and other preventive measures regarding the pandemic.
As such, putting pen down and a stop on publication and circulation of news will lead to deprivation of information on issues and events, thereby affecting public life and causing inconveniences to the public at large, the DC added, in the appeal note.