Newmai News Network
IMPHAL | DECEMBER 28
Various organisations have demanded the release of Manipur journalist Wangkhem Kishorchandra who has been detained under National Security Act (NSA).
The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF), while strongly condemning the detention of the journalist under National Security Act (NSA),demanded that the journalist be released immediately.
Centre for Research and Advocacy Manipur (CRAM) also condemned the detention of the journalist. CRAM then urged the government for the release of the journalist without further delay. CRAM said that the National Security Act 1980 should be repealed, while alleging that the government is misusing the act.
Also condemning the detention of the journalist, Women Action for Development (WAD) said that Wangkhem Kishorchandra has been detained under NSA 1980 for posting a video on social media on November 26, 2018“expressing his criticism the Centre and the state Government as well as theRSS”.
WAD then “humbly” appealed the Chief Minister of Manipur to “kindly” release Kishorchandra for the sake of the two minor children and his family members and for the “best interest” of his children.
“We appeal the Chief Minister of Manipu N Biren Singh to release the Journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem without delay”, WAD added.
Meanwhile, a report in an Imphal based newspaper saidtoday that some 87 “prominent journalists have written to the Union Homeminister, Rajnath Singh, ministers of State (Home), Hansraj Gangaram Ahir andKiren Rijiju, Union home secretary, Rajiv Gauba, Manipur chief minister, NBiren, Manipur chief secretary, Suresh Babu, Manipur DGP LM Khaute” in connection with the arrest of journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem.
According to Imphal Free Press (IFP), the joint letter ofthe 87 journalists said, “As journalists from across India, we are deeplydisturbed by the decision to subject Manipur journalist, Wangkhem Kishorchandra to one year of preventive detention over videos posted by him on Facebook criticizing you. We find the very invocation by your government of the draconian National Security Act 1980 in this context utterly arbitrary,highhanded and vindictive.”
The joint letter of the prominent journalists then said,“Thus, your government resorted to NSA even after the social media posts,however intemperate their language, has been found to be posing no threat to public order, let alone national security”, while adding, “Your disproportionate reactions betray, besides an intolerance to dissent, a disdain for the rule of law and the constitutional balance between free speech and reasonable restrictions”. The joint letter then urged the government to “end this gross abuse of power by dropping all charges against Kishorchandra and withdrawing immediately the action taken against him under NSA.”
