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N-E militants train their guns on m



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N-E militants train their guns on media

The Hindustan Times (New Delhi)
February 1, 2001

Hoihnu Hauzel
New Delhi, January 31

SENKA AO, editor of Ao Milen, a vernacular paper in Nagaland which
publisher 5,000-6,000 copies, was abducted and handcuffed for 24 hours
in 1995. His crime was his 'refusal to publish five press releases given
by an underground out fit on the front page'. On another occasion, he
received a letter stating that 20 copies of his paper should be
delivered at insurgency camps in Nagaland.

In October 1999, Lalrohly, editor of a daily from Manipur, was killed by
rebels and in the next year, Brajamani Singh, editor of Manipur News,
was murdered. All because they dared to disobey the diktat of militants.

Media in the Northeast functions under more precarious situations than
this. At a day-long seminar on Sunday at the IIC, organized by the India
International Centre and Centre for North East Studies and Policy
Reserarch, more than 11 senior media persons from the Northeast attended
and spoke at length on their problems.

While each state has a unique problem, militant-prone areas like
Nagaland, Manipur and Assam have similar problems. "Insurgents have
realized that the media can be used to communicate their thoughts to the
public. So, on routine basis the print media receives news releases from
these organizations. Newspapers generally oblige to steer clear of
trouble," said Pradeep Phanjuban, editor of Imphal Free Press, an
English daily in Manipur. "However, at times, movements of insurgency
groups are of vital importance as it has direct bearing on lives of
people, who live in perpetual fear," he said.

Shillong, which has been peaceful so far, is also under pressure now. On
one occasion, Shillong Times, an English daily started in 1945, could
not function for 15 days because of pressure from students, who wanted a
letter to be published, but were not obliged. "At one time, our Tura
office was gheraoed by a students' group, who would not even let us
function," said Mnas Choudhury, the editor.

G D Wangsu, editor of the Dawn-Lit Post in Arunachal Pradesh, said,
"Everybody who gives a press release want to meet the editor. People
know more of their rights than responsibilities."



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<html>
<b><font size=+2>N-E militants train their guns on media</font></b>
<p>The Hindustan Times (New Delhi)
<br>February 1, 2001
<p><b>Hoihnu Hauzel</b>
<br>New Delhi, January 31
<p>SENKA AO, editor of Ao Milen, a vernacular paper in Nagaland which publisher
5,000-6,000 copies, was abducted and handcuffed for 24 hours in 1995. His
crime was his 'refusal to publish five press releases given by an underground
out fit on the front page'. On another occasion, he received a letter stating
that 20 copies of his paper should be delivered at insurgency camps in
Nagaland.
<p>In October 1999, Lalrohly, editor of a daily from Manipur, was killed
by rebels and in the next year, Brajamani Singh, editor of Manipur News,
was murdered. All because they dared to disobey the diktat of militants.
<p>Media in the Northeast functions under more precarious situations than
this. At a day-long seminar on Sunday at the IIC, organized by the India
International Centre and Centre for North East Studies and Policy Reserarch,
more than 11 senior media persons from the Northeast attended and spoke
at length on their problems.
<p>While each state has a unique problem, militant-prone areas like Nagaland,
Manipur and Assam have similar problems. "Insurgents have realized that
the media can be used to communicate their thoughts to the public. So,
on routine basis the print media receives news releases from these organizations.
Newspapers generally oblige to steer clear of trouble," said Pradeep Phanjuban,
editor of Imphal Free Press, an English daily in Manipur. "However, at
times, movements of insurgency groups are of vital importance as it has
direct bearing on lives of people, who live in perpetual fear," he said.
<p>Shillong, which has been peaceful so far, is also under pressure now.
On one occasion, Shillong Times, an English daily started in 1945, could
not function for 15 days because of pressure from students, who wanted
a letter to be published, but were not obliged. "At one time, our Tura
office was gheraoed by a students' group, who would not even let us function,"
said Mnas Choudhury, the editor.
<p>G D Wangsu, editor of the Dawn-Lit Post in Arunachal Pradesh, said,
"Everybody who gives a press release want to meet the editor. People know
more of their rights than responsibilities."
<p>&nbsp;</html>

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