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NEW
DELHI: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today
condemned the attempted bombing of an English-language newspaper
in Manipur, which has resulted in media outlets throughout
the region stop work.
Following
the attempted attack of The Sangai Express on 31 July by a
suspected militant group, a media meeting was held at the
Press Club in Manipur as a protest on the incident by immediately
ceasing publication of all cable broadcasts and newspapers
for an indefinite period of time.
IFJ
Asia Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said the IFJ supports the media organisations
who have taken a stand against the attempted attacks and in defence of their safety.
"Journalists
have to be able to work free from fear of violence. These
journalists have taken an admirable stand in the face of very
real threats to their lives," Park said.
Wrapped
as a mobile handset package and addressed to the editor, the bomb was delivered
to the editor’s office before a journalist identified it as a mortar bomb
and alerted police and co-workers to the danger. The mortar shell was subsequently
removed by a state bomb expert and diffused harmlessly. The
same evening other unidentified intruders entered the offices of the daily newspapers
Huyen Lanpao and Naharolgi Thoudang brandishing guns and threatening staff.
According to
local reports, two opposing factions of the militant group have been threatening
media outlets with death if they publish the press releases of the other. Following
the use of the media by another militant group engaged in factional warfare last
year, the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editor’s
Forum Manipur (EFM) resolved to stop publishing releases from factional groups,
but have been threatened by the groups. In
response, the journalists have initiated a sit-in protest at the Keishampat area
of Imphal, insisting the protest will continue until the militant factions provide
a written agreement that they will not interfere with the press in the future.
"These
groups must understand that it does them no good to try and
use the press in their factional warfare," Park said.
"Instead,
the media should be left to do their work freely. By reporting
the situation factually and fairly the media will help build
understanding between rival groups, and hopefully help facilitate
peace," she said.
Following
the attempted attack on The Sangai Express, journalists started a rally from the
Manipur Press Club to the home of the Chief Minister, insisting he provide security
for the homes of media workers who had been threatened. The Chief Minister assured
the journalists he would provide assistance.
"The
IFJ welcomes the assistance of the authorities who must provide
protection for these journalists," Park said.
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