Imphal, April 17: The journalists community of Manipur today came out strongly against the KCP (City Meetei) for luring five Editors of different newspaper establishments and the News Editor of ISTV to a designated destination and holding them hostage for a night to get its press release published.
The Editors were released today morning.
Strongly reacting to the incident a joint meeting of all Editors, reporters and sub-editors was held at the premises of the Manipur Press Club wherein seven resolutions were adopted.
The resolutions included;
1) Leaving the editorial space for the April 18 edition blank to protest the incident.
2) To give a detailed report on the circumstances and facts leading to the incident.
3) To stage a protest rally tomorrow and suspend the April 19 edition.
4) To submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister to ensure safety of journalists and stop harassments after the rally tomorrow.
5) To continue the demand to produce a white paper on the life attempt on the general secretary of AMWJU Ratan Luwangcha.
6) To seek the help and co-operation of different NGOs and voluntary organisations.
7) Oppose the ban imposed on the Imphal Free Press as it amounts to banning the whole media in Manipur and to extend solidarity to IFP and take up the issue unitedly.
Giving a detailed account that led to the Editors being held hostages by the KCP Mobile Task Force headed by City Meetei, the journalists community in a statement today said that on April 14, the newspapers of Manipur published a statement issued by the publicity secretary of the KCP, Pibarel Mangang on the occasion of its 26th foundation day.
On the same day, the chief commander of the Mobile Task Force of KCP, N City Meetei also issued a statement in connection with the outfit's 26 foundation day.
However the statement was not published as it violated the code of conduct (local adjustment).
Since the statement was not published immense pressure was mounted on the newspaper establishments by the MTF chief commander and a number of resolutions were adopted.
Despite the resolutions adopted the chief commander of the Mobile Task Force City Meetei contacted the press through the telephone and it was agreed that the statement would be published as the KCP was on its way to unify.
Following the telephonic talk, the newspapers carried a news story the next day that City Meetei is also for the unification of the KCP.
After the news item was published, City Meetei expressed his gratitude and conveyed that he wanted to interact with Editors as he wanted to say something about the internal affairs of the KCP.
Accordingly the six Editors left to meet City Meetei on April 16 at about 7 pm for a destination spelt out by him.
As soon as the Editors reached the place, some cadres of the MTF came out and took the Editors to a nearby building.
On entering a room, the cadres then locked the door and started questioning why such a news item was published in the first place.
"Who asked you to publish such a news item ?" "How was such a news item published," they countered and started threatening the Editors.
They then demanded that the press release issued by City Meetei be published in its full text.
The cadres also said that there is no such thing as an invitation from the Chairman to the MTF but there was some telephonic talk, they said.
Since the Editors had misquoted City Meetei they should issue a clarification and to stop publication of all KCP statements until a prior permission from City Meetei is received, they demanded.
The cadres also said that a three month ban has been imposed on a daily newspaper.
It is true that City Meetei did not inform the Editor who received the phone that he had received a formal invitation from the Chairman.
However City Meetei himself had earlier informed that he was in contact over the telephone for the unification of KCP.
The misquote occurred as the press release was drafted in a hurry late in the night and there was an over sight.
The 6 Editors had gone to meet City Meetei in good faith but were rudely told that four of them may return for the night while two will have to stay back as hostages.
The MTF placed before the Editors that the two would be released the next day once his conditions are fulfilled.
The Editors however stuck to their stand that either all of them are freed or all of them will stay back.
Finally the six Editors were forced to stay over night as hostages in the custody of the Mobile Task Force.
The six Editors were set free today morning.
