Media in Nagaland

Published November 25, 2015
The Assam Rifles
The Assam Rifles

IT is ironical that the media in Nagaland had to come out with blanked editorials and placards on National Press Day (Nov 16) to protest against what it claimed was an attempt by the Assam Rifles to gag the press. On Oct 25, a colonel of the paramilitary force issued a notification to five Nagaland newspapers accusing them of “encouraging collection of funds” by the Khaplang faction of NSCN (a Naga insurgent group) and “providing support to an unlawful association” and directed the state government to take suo moto action against them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.

If the Assam Rifles’ intention was to please their bosses in the Union home ministry and gag or control the media in Nagaland, they have not only embarrassed themselves, but also the home ministry and insulted the state government, and by doing so turned the media, public and human rights activists against them. What they achieved was to betray their attitude of arrogance and prove that they are a law unto themselves.

The Assam Rifles comes under the Union home affairs ministry and is fighting insurgency under the army command. And since army officers on deputation come under the home ministry, their actions get reflected on the ministry concerned.

In this case, the Assam Rifles decided to not only interpret the intentions of the home ministry but also the constitution, including fundamental rights guaranteed by it and the finer relations between the executive, legislative and judiciary and take the fight to the media.

Second, the Assam Rifles insulted the Nagaland government by instructing it to take action against the media. The paramilitary force is here not to instruct the government but to assist it in maintaining law and order. What they have done is nothing short of an attempt to undermine and usurp the powers and functions of the state government. Instead of reprimanding the media, the state government should issue a strong stricture to the Assam Rifles and tell the home ministry in no uncertain terms that it will not tolerate such unseemly behaviour in future.

The Naga political issue has perhaps become the longest unresolved dilemma in the world today. Generations have lived through this conflict situation. Countless people, including defence personnel, have died in the conflict. People have undergone unimaginable sufferings and are longing for peace. So, when there is some semblance of peace they reach out for it.

Understanding and reconciliation are the need of the hour, not mere misunderstandings and frictions. In a pot-boiling situation, the action of the Assam Rifles has managed to further fan the flames.

In decades of armed conflict, the media in Nagaland has been playing its role fearlessly and with as much fairness and objectivity as possible. Giving information and supporting are two totally different things. Without adequate accurate information, the public cannot make informed decisions and judgments. It is because of the press reports that the public has come out against the Naga political groups’ imposition of taxes on goods.

The rights to freedom of speech and expression enshrined in the constitution must be protected at all cost. The Assam Rifles has taken umbrage because the newspapers in Nagaland have published news about the proscribed Khaplang faction of NSCN. They know, at the same time, that the Naga people have been working tirelessly to bring them back to the dialogue process. The Centre cannot be unaware of the fact that some Naga teams tried to meet Khaplang even after his outfit was banned. Is the Assam Rifles against peace and settlement?

The media houses have responded to the Assam Rifles’ attempt to silence them with maturity, calmly but clearly explaining their position and how they have been functioning in a difficult situation. They did not like what the paramilitary force was trying to do but they gave full coverage to its notification. If the media houses wished they could have simply ignored it with the contempt it deserved. They took their time, studied the notification and gave a reasoned response on Nov 16.

They took the opportunity to reaffirm their rights to be free and responsible to play their role in society. “We remain open to critical feedback, and believe that the free flow of information and ideas is essential for contributing to mutual understanding and peace in Nagaland.” They listed a number of rights, responsibilities and values they were committed to, including reporting without fear of or favour from any quarter and stated their openness to enter any dialogue to resolve any issue with anyone. There was not a word of anger against or castigation of the Assam Rifles.

We have just heard of the horrific terror attacks in Paris. Because the USA and other governments, including India, have declared the militant Islamic State group a terrorist group, have they asked any media organisation not to write or report about them? And if they had tried to do this what an uproar there would be the world over! No government would dare face the kind of backlash that would be unleashed in such an event.

In this instance, too, if there is any objection, it is for the state government to take action and work things out with the media houses. The state government has done this in the past and it can do so again. It is not for the Assam Rifles to go around interpreting the law and the intentions of the home ministry and to issue instructions to the government. There is also the matter of Centre-state relations and law and order is a state subject that the Assam Rifles seems totally unaware of. Its only mandate for being in the region is to assist the government. Period.

But in Nagaland and other states in the northeast, the army and paramilitary forces have been given bulletproof vests in the guise of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, and other undemocratic legislation for too long and committing criminal acts with impunity has become a way of life for them. They seem to have mistaken their own identity and think they are the real rulers of the place. The public has been cowed down for far too long that even now many would keep quiet when they witness a crime and the leaders are mostly interested in pleasing Delhi. These traits have further emboldened the soldiery.

But, perhaps, this time the Assam Rifles may have bitten more than it can chew.

The Statesman/India

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2015

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