With the slogan “Journalists deserve justice, not silence” echoing across newsrooms, the joint protest by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) has entered its second week, as the state government continues to remain silent over the Gwaltabi incident that obstructed free press movement in Manipur.
The protest, marked by the wearing of black badges and the dissemination of weekly protest slogans, was sparked after a team of journalists officially invited by the Government of Manipur to cover the Opening Ceremony of the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul were stopped multiple times at Gwaltabi in Imphal East.
The team, travelling in a DIPR-arranged MST bus, was subjected to harassment by security personnel, including the Mahar Regiment, who went so far as to demand that the word “Manipur” be covered on the vehicle before allowing it to proceed.
AMWJU and EGM have since submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Manipur, calling for an impartial inquiry and action against those responsible. However, no concrete response or remedial step has been taken by the authorities so far.
In protest against this inaction, AMWJU and EGM have decided to continue the symbolic black badge protest and slogan campaign.
Editors of all media houses have been urged to carry the weekly slogans prominently in their publications and bulletins, while members are requested to wear black badges during duty hours.
