Skip to content Skip to navigation

JFA urges Tuki for ending Arunachal media deadlock

By Nava Thakuria |

Expressing grave concern over the ceasing of publications of all seven daily newspapers in Arunachal Pradesh for successive second day on Sunday, the Journalists' Forum Assam (JFA) has urged the authority to resolve the matter for the sake of thousands of esteemed readers. The indefinite shutting down of all publication houses in Itanagar, the capital city of frontier State in northeast India, came into force since February 14 in protest against the authority's anti-media ruling.

The journalists based in Itanagar sat together in Arunachal Press Club (APC) on Saturday and decided to continue the movement that involved local newspapers and cable news channels. The meeting under the supervision of Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) also resolved to send another memorandum to the State chief minister Nabam Tuki.

Earlier both the media bodies took a strong decision on Friday to shut all newspapers down apprehending confrontations between the media persons and the members of Students' Union Movement of Arunachal (SUMA), which staged a demonstration on February 14 against The Arunachal Times, an Itanagar-based morning daily. The conflict began when the capital complex district magistrate Mige Kamki permitted the students' organization to stage the protest programme in front of Arunachal's first English newspaper. The development angered the media fraternity as the authority had virtually bowed down to the pressure of SUMA, which has a background of confrontations with the media.

The APC and APUWJ, had earlier sent a joint representation to the State chief minister's office asking for immediate suspension of the Itanagar capital complex deputy commissioner Mige Kamki for his permission to the SUMA, which had problems with The Arunachal Times from before, to hold the demonstration against the newspaper house. "The deputy commissioner's 'senseless' action of granting permission to the SUMA for the programme against The Arunachal Times could result in confrontation between the media employees and members of the students' body," said the representation, adding that, 'supporting the irrational demand of SUMA to stage demonstrations against a media house', Mige Kamki had signaled that the government was indirectly for curtailing the freedom of press.

However, Mige Kamki claimed through a press statement that he permitted SUMA 'for peaceful rally/dharna at the newly designated dharna/ rally ground near Tennis Court inside IG Park, Itanagar' and not 'staging rally/ dharna outside the Arunachal TimesoOffice on 14th February, 2014'. Denying the allegation against him 'as baseless, unfounded and irresponsible', the deputy commissioner also commented that the indefinite shutdown of all Itanagar based media houses is 'uncalled for and unwarranted'.

Meanwhile, condemning any kind of threats to the media houses in any case, the JFA, in a statement issued by its president Rupam Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria, asserted that the Arunachal Pradesh government should intervene on the matter and resolve the issue amicably such that the people do not get deprived from having their morning newspapers because of the conflict.

On the other hand, the Assam based scribes' body also appealed to the media fraternity of Arunachal Pradesh, which has neither any satellite news channel nor active news portals, to rethink on their decision to shut down the publications indefinitely keeping an eye on the denizens of the mountainous State, bordering Bhutan, Tibet and Burma.

  • 8682 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

EMFA meeting on January 2

A general meeting of Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) is convened at Guwahati Press Club on January 2. The meeting, starting at 1 pm, is expected to finalize the programs of EMFA Awards 2011 in the month of February. Meanwhile, the EMFA has invited the entries of the award, where the best television news and programs, telecast between January 1 to December 31, 2011, will be awarded.

National network for Human Rights defenders mooted

Various speakers at a consultation meeting on human rights in New Delhi emphasizes for a stronger and affective national network to pursue the movement for defending legal human rights. Reposing faith on the judiciary of India, most of the speakers argue that a systematic attack has been perpetuated by the authority and the situation is turning bad to worst. They have also insisted that National Human Rights Commission (of India) should be empowered to take timely actions to upheld the rights of the citizens of the country. Some speakers also advocated for enlightening the Press Council of India to properly monitor the activities of a section of newspapers that manufacture news with...

Women’s Panorama launched

A new monthly magazine named Women’s Panorama was launched on 11-11-11 at Guwahati Press Club. Published by the Shillong based Eastern Panorama group of publications, Women’s Panorama is the first comprehensive magazine (English) dedicated for the woman of northeast India. Inaugurating the first issue (November 2011) of Women’s Panorama, eminent film maker from Assam, Manju Bora expressed hope that the magazine will emerge as a trusted platform for all walks of women in the region. The award wining film director and also an acclaimed author, Ms Bora however rejected the conventional idea of a woman magazine to be confined to some recipes, make-up and fashion tips. She...

Eastern Panorama condoles the demise of Bhupenda

Eastern Panorama group of publications, Shillong has expressed its profound grief at the demise of Dr Bhupen Hazaika, the legendary cultural icon of our country. Paying the heartiest tribute to the versatile genius, the house of Eastern Panorama had postponed the launching of Women’s Panorama, which was earlier scheduled for November 7, 2011. The monthly magazine will now be inaugurated on November 11 (Friday). The eminent film maker Manju Bora will grace the occasion as the chief guest. She will be assisted by the Women’s Panorama editor Sonata Dkhar and editor-in-chief Harsh Jhunjhunwala at the auspicious occasion. The function will begin at 3 pm in Guwahati Press Club...

Bhupenda will be cremated after some time

Dr Bhupen Hazarika will be cremated after some time. The legendary singer breathed his last on November 5 in a hospital in Mumbai. Next day Bhupenda’s mortal remains were brought to Guwahati. Hundred thousands paid respect to the creative genius on way to his residence at Nijarapar in the city. Bhupenda was sleeping in a glass covered box and for 36 hours uncounted number of his fans paid their tribute to him. Bhupenda will be cremated on the bank of Brahmaputra near to Gauhati University. His son Tej Hazarika has already arrived in Guwahati from his workplace New York.

Fourth Eastern Panorama Fellowship announced

The pioneer news magazine of North East India, Eastern Panorama has announced the Fourth Panorama Fellowship for the students of the region. Eastern Panorama, which is celebrating 20 years of its existence, invites students of any stream of the region to send a one-page synopsis on one of the proposed themes. Three students will be selected for the Fellowship and will be asked to write an article (around 3000 words) on that proposed issues. These students will be awarded a financial support of Rs. 10,000 each along with certificates. The proposed themes include: 1. ‘The fruitfulness of district councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram etc, are the common people being benefited...

ICRC-PII Humanitarian Reporting awards 2011

Journalists of The Hindu, Tehelka and Rashtriya Deepika shared the first three prizes respectively for the All India Journalist Competition for the best print media article on humanitarian issues. While Aman Sethi of The Hindu newspaper won the first prize of Rs 50,000, Umar Baba of Tehelka Magazine won the second prize of Rs 30,000 and the third prize of Rs 20,000 was won by Reji Joseph of Rashtriya Deepika, a regional newspaper published from Kottayam, Kerala, the consolation prize goes to Guwahati based journalist Anup Sharma. The winners were chosen from 44 published articles short-listed from nearly 80 entries received. The four prizes were given at a function held on Wednesday,...

Natwar Thakkar lauds Indian Civil Society Groups

Gandhian Natwar Thakkar appreciates the civil society groups, which render voluntary and self-less service to the society and argues that presence of a strong civil society has enriched the Indian democracy. Attending the ‘Guest of the Month’ program of Guwahati Press Club today (September 2) afternoon, Thakkar even argues that the forum comprising the spirit of voluntary social service should be recognised as the fifth pillar of democracy. Thakkar, 79, expresses his satisfaction over the service of local media in the country. He declared that the regional and local media in the Northeast has played an important role and many times it has helped the local habitants to get due...

Natwar Thakkar to attend GPC program

Gandhian Natwar Thakkar will attend the ‘Guest of the Month’ program of Guwahati Press Club tomorrow (September 2). The interactive program will begin at 3 pm. Member-journalists are requested to participate in the program. Natwar Thakkar, who was born to Gujarati parents at Dahanu, has made Nagaland (and Assam) his home place. He has dedicated his life for the mission of promoting goodwill and emotional integration through voluntary social service on Gandhian lines among various ethnic groups of the region. Thakkar, when he was only 23 years old, went to Nagaland in 1955 and established the Nagaland Gandhi Ashram under the auspices of Bharatiya Adimjati Sevak Sangha at...

Guwahatians defies diktat, observe I-Day

Guwahatians again defied the diktats of the militants today, held community functions and hoisted the National Tricolour with great enthusiasm at various places to celebrate the 65th Independence Day of India. On the Guwahati Press Club campus, the Independence Day was celebrated in a befitting manner and on the occasion, senior journalist Ranen Kumar Goswami hoisted the National Tricolour. Mentionable that Journalists Forum Assam earlier appealed to the people of Northeast India to celebrate Independence Day defying the diktat of the militants. In a press statement, issued by JFA president Rupam Barua and its secretary N. Thakuria, the forum argues that both I-Day and Republic Day are...