Manipur scribes, distributors stage rally

IMPHAL, Sept 3 – Holding placards which read ‘pen is mightier than gun,’ ‘we want peace’, ‘let there be free press’, etc, media persons working in newspaper houses in association with newspaper distributors under the aegis of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union(AMWJU) staged a silent protest rally in Imphal on Monday.

The rally was organised to protest against the threat on the scribes and newspapers distributors here. The rally started from the Manipur Press Club at Majorkhul and marched towards the Chief Minister’s official bungalow after passing through the main routes in the State capital here.

On reaching Chief Minister’s Secretariat gate, a seven- member delegation led by AMWJU president Wangkhemcha Shyamjai and All Manipur Newspapers Sales and Distributors Association (AMNSDA) president K Ibotomba held a 30-minute meeting with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on the situation. He assured the delegation that the Government will look into the matter, sources said.

Later, the scribes and distributors rushed back to the Manipur Press Club and discussed the issue to bring about an amicable solution to the problem. It may be noted that expressing outrage at the newspaper houses for not publishing its press statement, an armed group has asked the newspapers houses in Imphal to stop publication and distributors to stop distribution.

Meanwhile, a joint meeting involving members of AMWJU, Editors Committee and AMNSDA held here this evening decided to stop publication of the Imphal-based newspapers for two consecutive days beginning from Tuesday, the sources added. The meeting also resolved to stage a sit-in demonstration at Keishampat here on Tuesday.

PTI adds:Newspapers in Manipur today failed to hit the stands following militants threat to the distributors in the State.

Sources in media houses said the militants wanted the dailies not to be distributed as some of them had allegedly failed to publish a press release issued by them.

All Manipur Newspapers Sales and Distributors Association said they should be allowed to distribute the dailies because publishing a news item is in the hands of the editorial staff.

Meanwhile, official sources said while the ultras, who are not yet identified, wanted the dailies not to be distributed, they made it clear that the publication of the dailies should not be “disturbed”.