Date:12/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/12/stories/2007101261461300.htm

National

Manipur newspapers on strike

Correspondent

IMPHAL: Local newspapers here have decided to cease publication indefinitely from Friday. Cable networks will also stop telecasting news.

The decisions were taken at an emergency general body meeting of the All-Manipur Working Journalists’ Union and the Editors’ Forum Manipur at the Press Club building on Friday, in the wake of threats from militant organisations. Heavily armed policemen guarded the building during the meeting.

A faction of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak) issued a press release on Wednesday relating to the celebration of the raising day of the outfit. It warned editors of dire consequences if it was not published.

Journalists decided to publish the news portion of the lengthy release, though they had decided earlier not to use press releases of faction-ridden underground organisations. Police too had written to the editors on Wednesday night not to publish anything relating to the raising day celebration.

Meanwhile. the other Prepak faction rang up editors to say that if the press release was published all editors, reporters and staff would be shot dead. The editors then decided not to bring out newspapers on Friday.

On August 1, the newspapers had launched a strike after the two factions exerted pressure on editors. Publication resumed only when both the factions gave a written undertaking that the press would not be harassed.