Threat to senior scribe condemned

From Our Correspondent
Itagar, May 10: Expressing shock over the threats issued to one of its senior members, the Aruchal Press Club (APC) has condemned the Adi Baane Kebang (ABK) for its recent behaviour. On May 6, the ABK East Siang District Unit issued its ‘minutes of meeting’ wherein it warned Tongam Ri, associate editor of Aruchal Times, “not to ignite/incite commul colour versions, comments in her column, press releases, write ups in Aruchal Times or any other vercular papers”.
Having examined the contents of the said newspaper and her recent articles, the APC has not found any matter which carries any commul overtones or undertones. The ABK East Siang District Unit further went on to warn her by writing, “Do not forget you are born and brought up in Bilat, East Siang District”. What further shocked members of the APC is the manner in which these threats have been issued. Not content with trying to muzzle the press, the ABK unit even put up posters on the gates and walls of her residence in Pasighat, East Siang. The APC is of the view that such behaviour is nothing short of crimil intimidation.
“While condemning such strong-arm tactics on part of the ABK’s district unit, we implore the people of state to examine and assess which path are we headed when ‘apex’ bodies take to such behaviour,” the APC said.
The APC and Aruchal Pradesh Union of Working Jourlists (APUWJ) have written to the ABK president seeking an explation on the matter. We would also like to remind the ABK and all other organizations that in the chance that they feel aggrieved by the press, they have every right to present a rebuttal. Such behaviour not only undermines the status of the organization in question but also raises serious questions on the status of press freedom in the state, the APC said.
The APC hopes that good sense will prevail and that the ABK president responds to our queries at the earliest, it added.