Newspapers in Manipur failed to hit the stands for the second consecutive day on Friday as journalists continued their cease work strike against threat by armed rebel groups.
News broadcasting by local cable networks also remained suspended.
All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors’ Guild Manipur were on cease work strike following pressure from two groups of an internal-conflict ridden rebel outfit United National Liberation Front (UNLF) on publication of statements issued by them.
The cease work strike is likely to continue for the next few days as AMWJU and EGM reaffirmed their earlier decision to not entertaining any statements of the rebel outfit until the conflict within the outfit was resolved.
The apex bodies of journalists and editors reaffirmed the stand after hearing comments, suggestions and observations by leaders of civil society organisations (CSOs) and public leaders, during a joint meeting held at Manipur Press Club, Imphal.
Today’s meeting resolved a three-point resolution while denouncing pressure being given to the journalists because of the internal conflict within the United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
While the first resolution appealed to the rebel group to resolve the internal conflict through negotiation at the earliest, the second resolution reaffirmed earlier decisions of AMWJU and EGM regarding non-publication of any of the statements of the two groups within the outfit.
The third resolution appealed to all stakeholders to respect the “Code of Conduct (local adjustment)” framed by AMWJU and EGM and allow the media to work freely under the code.
However, the public meeting did not take any decision regarding suspension of the cease work strike of the journalists.