IMPHAL, September 25: “Journalists in Manipur are working under pathetic conditions” said Kosuri Amarnath, Convenor of the sub-committee on safety of Journalists Press Council of India (PCI) at Imphal today.
The convener gave his comment during an interview with this reporter after an interaction program held at the Hotel Classic with scribes of Manipur.
The convenor was reacting on AMWJU’s report on journalists who got killed since 1993. The report clearly indicated that of the seven fatal cases, no charge sheets were framed against anyone.
“Journalists in Manipur are working in a pathetic situation and not even a single charge sheet has been filed for any journalist killed in the state” opined Kosuri Amarnath.
Prior to the starting of the interaction, the All Manipur Working Journalist Union, AMWJU presented a memorandum and reports on fatal cases and assault cases in the state.
Kosuri Amarnath further expressed the need to focus on the issues of the North Eastern region by sensitizing the mainstream national media which is often ignored.
He further lamented on the lack of co-operation of the government with the media.
Further during the interaction, representatives of media houses presented their views on issues ranging from attacks and intimidations upon working journalists by the state and non-state actors to pitiable working conditions of the journalists in the state including meagre salaries.
The constant attempt by various insurgent outfits of the state to use the media as a tool for propaganda and closure of media houses due to frequent threats as well as harassment of journalists of the state by security forces were also deliberated extensively during the session.
The visiting convener of the PCI Sub-Committee on safety of journalists also asked the media persons regarding problems faced by media persons due to imposition of AFSPA in Manipur and deliberated over the matter.