Imphal, dec 22: In protest against the attempt on the life of the editor and publisher of the Kangla Pao, Paonam Labango on Wednesday night, Imphal-based newspapers suspended publication for a day and state journalists staged a day-long sit-in protest at Keisampat yesterday.
The dharna commenced from around 10 am and went on till 4 pm. Over a hundred working journalists participated in the dharna.
Banners with slogans such as "Journalists are not scapegoat","We condemn threat to the freedom of the press", "respect the fourth estate of democracy", "we have no friend or foe" etc. were displayed at the protest site.
Journalists of various local newspapers who participated in the dharna pointed out: "Journalists in the state are still targeted despite repeated appeals not to interfere in the freedom of press".
"Many a time, journalists have been victims of underground elements and from law enforcing agencies," they said recalling the life attempt earlier on Ratan Luwangcha, general secretary of the All Manipur Working Journalists` Union.
At the dharna, the media fraternity, while condemning the attack, decided to register a police case and set the legal machinery in motion to bring the attackers to book.
The media fraternity also decided to ask the government to take necessary steps to ensure that the editor and staff of the Kangla Pao are able to function in a secure environment.
It was also decided to ask the particular individual/s or group/s responsible to publicity clarify the reasons for the attack within a period of five days.
The gathering also reiterated its appeal to all concerned to abide by the code of conduct (local adjustment) framed by the All Manipur Working Journalists Union, AMWJU, for the resolution of disputes involving media persons or media organisations.
It may be recalled, unidentified gunmen had fired upon Paonam Labango, editor of the Kangla Pao, on Wednesday night around 9:10 pm as the latter was coming out from the Kangla Pao office. Fortunately the bullet missed him, while the gunmen escaped under cover of darkness.
In the meantime, a number of civil society organisations have joined in condemning the attack upon the Kangla Pao editor.
The All Manipur United Clubs Organisation, while denouncing the incident, appealed to all sections to refrain from threatening or intimidating the journalist community.
The Ethno-Heritage Council, hericoun, described the incident as very unfortunate, and urged that such attacks should not be repeated in the future.
International Peace and Social Advancement, IPSA, in another message condemning the incident, said it unequivocally opposed such unreasonable resort to violence, particularly against the journalist community. IPSA also expressed its regret over the killing of one Lourembam Basanta and causing of injury to another by unidentified persons on the night of December 15 at Taothong under Lamsang police station and sought the cooperation of all in bringing the killers to book.
Ex-MP W Kulabidhu, in another statement, described the life attempt on Paonam Labango, as an attack on all citizens of Manipur and of India, and highly condemnable.
The Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur, DESAM, said it took the incident very seriously, and said it was time for all sections to stand together against such terrorist activities.
The United People`s Front, UPF, Manipur Public Grievances Committee, Federation of Regional Indigenous Societies, All Manipur Muslim Organisations Coordinating Committee, among others, also condemned the attack and extended solidarity to the journalist community.
