Imphal: Alarmed by the fate of the media and media persons in neighbouring Myanmar, the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) today asked the Manipur state government to provide safe passage for three journalists to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in New Delhi, where they can seek official refugee status under the international convention on refugees.
These three journalists belonging to Mizzima – an independent media organisation of Myanmar, who the AMWJU said, had fled Myanmar fearing persecution by the junta. They were learnt to have taken shelter in Moreh – a town in Manipur bordering Myanmar where many refugees from Myanmar are seeking refuge after having illegally crossed the border with India since the February 1, 2021 military coup in Myanmar.
“The Mizzima is an Independent media organisation of Myanmar locals, and the journalists now taking shelter in Moreh are living in fear that they may be pushed back to Myanmar where their life and security would be in great danger. They are also fearful of harassment by Indian security establishment,” Bijoy Kakchingtabam, President of AMWJU, said in a statement.
“As a journalist body, we are especially alarmed by the fate of the media and media persons in the country,” the AMWJU stated.
After the February military coup in Myanmar, the military had taken away the license of Mizzima, arrested several of its journalists, and raided the Mizzima offices in Yangon and even frozen its bank account there.
People watching Mizzima inside bunkers in Myanmar
The AMWJU pointed out that in 2018 Mizzima signed an Agreement with the Prasar Bharati for content sharing. This was the first time Prasar Bharati had signed an agreement with a private media house.
Terming the news organisation as “India friendly”, the AMWJU further recalled that in June 2020, the Mizzima promoted a musical evening of music from all parts Northeast led by Guru Rewben Mangsaba, and the Manipur Government gave its full backing to them.
The Journalists’ Union referred to a letter sent by the Union Ministry of Home (North East Division) to the Northeast States bordering Mayanmar stating that no illegal migrants must not be allowed to enter the country. “The Memo No 19/2/2020 – NE II dated 10,2021 is with reference to illegal migrants but the Mizzima journalists at Moreh are obviously refugees seeking asylum within India due to persecution in their own country,” the AMWJU stated and appealed to the Manipur Government to make necessary concessions to allow the journalists to come to Imphal and all facility be extended to them so they can proceed to Delhi to seek the protection of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
“We appeal to the Government of Manipur to give them the respect that journalists are accorded anywhere in the world,” the AMWJU stated.
– global bihari bureau
