Assam Rifles order to newspapers pernicious: Editors Guild

New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India on Thursday voiced concern over a recent order of the Assam Rifles to newspapers, saying it could "severely curtail freedom of Nagaland-based media houses" and asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to intervene.

Terming as "pernicious" the order by Assam Rifles, which had "warned" newspapers against carrying statements by militant groups, especially National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), since it had been declared a terrorist organisation by Centre, the Guild said it supports newspapers, which demonstrated their unwillingness to follow it.

Any restrictions on coverage of legitimate news or efforts to silence the media is an assault on freedom of media, which the Editors Guild condemns, it added.

It is "reprehensible" that the Assam Rifles sought to "censor" the newspapers by threatening to punish them under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967, if they violated the order, the Guild statement signed by its President Raj Chengappa, General Secretary Prakash Dubey and Treasurer Seema Mustafa said.

The senior journalists, in the statement, added that it is common knowledge that in newspapers being published in zones having unresolved issues and conflict, there are many views and opinions that are expressed.

"While everyone appreciates that police has a role to play in maintenance of law and order, it is important for newspapers in the spirit of fairness and objectivity to report divergent opinions after due diligence and with responsibility," the Guild said.

Five newspapers had yesterday published blank editorials as a mark of protest against the Assam Rifles order.

It urged the Home Minister to intervene and lift the order in the interest of press freedom.

"The Guild views positively the offer of Nagaland media houses to work with the democratically elected Government of Nagaland on issues that would enable the media to function freely and address any objections in a peaceful and constructive manner," the statement said.

Yesterday, the Assam Rifles had denied that it had issued any "gag order" to the media and that at no stage had the media been asked to dilute their free reporting.

In a statement issued in Kohima, it had, however, said Assam Rifles had written the letter to the editors of five media houses of Nagaland on October 24 highlighting the fact that NSCN(K) has been notified as an unlawful association under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 by MHA and amplified some of the clauses of the Gazette Notification which have its own legal implications."

Publishing an "extortion notice" of a "banned organisation" against business establishments is akin to abetting the "banned organisation" in collection of funds which will be used to carry out subversive activities against government agencies and security forces, IGAR(N) said.

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