Naga dailies carry blank editorials after Assam Rifles rap

GIWAHATI: Three major English dailies in Nagaland — Eastern Mirror, Nagaland Page and The Morung Express — carried blank editorials on National Press Day on Monday in protest against a recent notification by Assam Rifles accusing five major Naga media houses of offering intentional or unintentional support to banned militant outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang).

The five media houses which received the Assam Rifles notification included the above mentioned papers, as well as Nagaland Post and Capi.

The move to carry blank editorials was the first of its kind since the inception of dailies in Nagaland. Editors and journalists said they observed National Press Day but refrained from celebrations.

"We resorted to such a move to protest against this action (by Assam Rifles) that seeks to stifle our voice and freedom of expression. We are waiting to see what happens next," said Monalisa Changkija, editor of Nagaland Page. "We have carried blank editorials earlier when only weekly newspapers were available in Nagaland. We as journalists are committed to ensuring freedom of expression and fair journalism," she added.

On October 25, the paramilitary force sent a notification to the five media houses expressing concern over how they, through their reporting of press statements issued by NSCN-K, were supporting the unlawful association intentionally or unintentionally. The notification accused the editors of violating the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

By publishing statements of the banned organization, the media houses were complicit in its illegal activities, the notification said.