Discussion on Reporting Life and Death in the North East: Bruce K. Thangkhal

New Delhi, 16 Sept 2013: Senior media professionals, social activists, research scholars, and students gathered at Jamia Millia Islamia on Monday to discuss the pressures exerted on the media by both government forces and non-state armed groups. The discussion also reflected on the challenges of working, living, and reporting from conflict zones such as North East India.

Titled From the Frontlines: Reporting and Reflecting on Life and Death in the North East, the event was organised by the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research at Jamia. The discussion was chaired by the Centre’s Director, Prof. Sanjoy Hazarika, a former reporter for The New York Times and one of the region’s most prominent commentators.

“The media in North East India often reports on sensitive issues at considerable professional and personal risk, bringing local concerns and challenges to public attention as well as to policymakers and other media outlets,” said Hazarika. Despite criticism, particularly of ‘metro’ media for portraying the region negatively, he emphasised that some of the most ground-breaking and courageous stories have been highlighted by journalists based in the North East. Over the years, editors and media professionals in the region have frequently received threats, and several have been killed in the line of duty.

The session on Reporting from Conflict Zones featured speakers such as Subir Bhowmick, former BBC correspondent for Eastern India; Kishalay Bhattacharjee, former NDTV (North East) Bureau Chief; Pradip Phanjoubam, founder editor of Imphal Free Press; and Ms. Esha Roy, Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express in Imphal.

In the panel discussion on AFSPA: The Vanishing, human rights campaigner Babloo Loitongbam from Manipur led the panel, which included Ms. T. Lata Devi, whose son Onsojit was allegedly killed in a fake encounter by Manipur Police; Ms. Rosemary Dwuvichu, a leader of the Naga Mothers’ Association, which has worked towards peace in the region; a relative of a victim of state violence; and scholars from the North East Centre.

Ms. Dwuvichu recounted that women in Nagaland were dragged inside churches and raped in front of their husbands and brothers by Indian Army personnel. “Women have been sexually assaulted, raped, and killed. Until AFSPA is withdrawn from Nagaland, women will never feel safe from the hands of the security forces,” she said.

Ms. Lata Devi, speaking about her son Orsonjit, a 19-year-old allegedly killed by Manipur Police Commandos, said, “When I saw his body in the morgue, all the fingers on his right hand were completely crushed. They must have been smashed with a heavy object. There were 30 bullet marks all over his body. Why did they do this?” she cried.

According to Babloo Loitongbam, Director of Human Rights Alert, there have been 1,528 cases of alleged fake encounters in Manipur. “Twenty-seven independent inquiries have been conducted, including the case of Th Manorama Devi. The court has scheduled the next hearing for Tuesday, 17 September 2013,” he stated.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had ordered the Manipur government to submit copies of reports from various inquiries conducted on AFSPA by 10 September, with the next hearing scheduled for 17 September.

The discussion was also attended by P.P. Thawla, MLA and Founder-President of the Maraland Democratic Front (MDF); M. Laikaw, President of MDF; and C. Lawbei, MDC from Mizoram.

~ BRUCE K. THANGKHAL
Special Correspondent
THE MIZORAM POST | MANIPUR CHRONICLE | ZOGAM TODAY

 

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