RSF is protesting the new press censorship decided by the Manipur government. According to RSF, during the first week of October 1998, the government of the state of Manipur (northern India) ordered the local media not to publish or distribute statements by the separatist guerillas.
The government's directive says that any newspaper which violates the order will be "severely punished under the rule of law." There is apprehension among local journalists that those who do not respect the censorship could be imprisoned, although the authorities did not say anything about this as a possible punishment.
