PCI team calls on HM, appeals for safety measures for scribes
Headlines 10:46
IMPHAL, September 26: The visiting PCI team led by its convenor, Kusori Amarnath, as a part of its scheduled plan today met Deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio, at his office chamber this evening at 4 pm.
AMWJU’s president Wangkhemcha Shyamjai and other representative of media houses and representatives of other government departments, also took part in the meeting that lasted for over an hour.
The convenor highlighting the growing insecurity amongst the journalist fraternity in the country pointed out that altogether 39 working journalists have been killed in India till date of which 24 scribes were from Assam and seven from Manipur.
In view of the growing threats, he urged the Home Minister, to look into the matter of the safety of the journalists.
While bringing to the notice of the Home Minister that Maharastra is the only state in the country having special legislation to enshrine the freedom of press, the convenor of the sub-committee expressed his desire that the Manipur Government adopt such a mechanism.
Representatives of the AMWJU apprised the Home Minister on the prevailing threat to scribes which has been ongoing for over one month old and expressed its resentment on the part of the government for not taking up any positive actions despite being informed of the threat.
In response to the grievances placed before him, Gaikhangam reassured the gathering that the government is doing its best and added that the authority are exploring avenues to curb such menace.
Meanwhile, the PCI team had an interaction with top security personnel including the DGP of Manipur, representative of IGAR (S) and GOC of the 57 Mountain divisions, and officials of the Home Department.
The visiting PCI team will leave Imphal tomorrow.
The PCI had constituted a 10 member sub-committee in its meeting convened on September 19, in the wake of growing threats to journalists across the country. The objective of the committee was to examine the matter in depth under its mandate by the Parliament to preserve the freedom of Press in the country.
The committee has been meeting authorities and media persons in different parts of the country including the north-eastern state. After visiting Assam, Tripura and Shillong and the six member sub-committee led by its convenor, Kurosi Amarnath reached Manipur on September 25.
AMWJU’s president Wangkhemcha Shyamjai and other representative of media houses and representatives of other government departments, also took part in the meeting that lasted for over an hour.
The convenor highlighting the growing insecurity amongst the journalist fraternity in the country pointed out that altogether 39 working journalists have been killed in India till date of which 24 scribes were from Assam and seven from Manipur.
In view of the growing threats, he urged the Home Minister, to look into the matter of the safety of the journalists.
While bringing to the notice of the Home Minister that Maharastra is the only state in the country having special legislation to enshrine the freedom of press, the convenor of the sub-committee expressed his desire that the Manipur Government adopt such a mechanism.
Representatives of the AMWJU apprised the Home Minister on the prevailing threat to scribes which has been ongoing for over one month old and expressed its resentment on the part of the government for not taking up any positive actions despite being informed of the threat.
In response to the grievances placed before him, Gaikhangam reassured the gathering that the government is doing its best and added that the authority are exploring avenues to curb such menace.
Meanwhile, the PCI team had an interaction with top security personnel including the DGP of Manipur, representative of IGAR (S) and GOC of the 57 Mountain divisions, and officials of the Home Department.
The visiting PCI team will leave Imphal tomorrow.
The PCI had constituted a 10 member sub-committee in its meeting convened on September 19, in the wake of growing threats to journalists across the country. The objective of the committee was to examine the matter in depth under its mandate by the Parliament to preserve the freedom of Press in the country.
The committee has been meeting authorities and media persons in different parts of the country including the north-eastern state. After visiting Assam, Tripura and Shillong and the six member sub-committee led by its convenor, Kurosi Amarnath reached Manipur on September 25.
Posted by Unknown
on 10:46.
Filed under
