Blank space: Why Nagaland papers ran empty editorials By Vikas Pandey

BBC News, Delhi Published duration 17 November 2015

image copyright Special Arrangement image caption (From left to right) Akum Longchari, Witoubou Newmai and Monalisa Changkija want the press to be free in Nagaland

Three papers in north-eastern Nagaland state ran blank edit pages on Monday to protest curbs on freedom of speech.

The editors of the Morung Express, the Eastern Mirror and the Nagaland Page said they were protesting against a diktat from a paramilitary force.

The Assam Rifles in October had told editors to stop covering rebel group National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Khaplang (NSCN-K).

Newspapers in Nagaland often face accusations of taking sides.

Monalisa Changkija, the editor of the Nagaland Page, said that although they received the letter last month, she and her colleagues decided to use National Press Day (November 16) to protest.

"We work in a tense atmosphere, but we still try to give equal space to both the army, rebel groups and every section of the Naga society," she said.

image copyright Special Arrangement image caption Three Nagaland papers published blank edit pages on Monday

Nagaland rebels have been fighting for an independent homeland for more than 60 years in a bitter battle against Indian security forces.

The letter from the Assam rifles to newspaper editors said, "It is reiterated that any article which projects the demands of NSCN (K) and gives it publicity is a violation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, and should not be published by your newspaper."

Various factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) have negotiated and signed ceasefire deals with the Indian government since 1997.

But the NSCN-K has refused to sign a peace deal. The Indian government declared it a terror organisation on Monday.

Dr Akum Longchari of the Morung Express told the BBC that Naga newspapers are accused of favouritism by both the army and rebel groups.

"If we are accused by both sides, then we must be doing the right thing," he said.

'Strong signal'

Dr Longchari added that the media should be trusted and left alone to take a call on editorial matters.

"Nagaland has seen insurgency for a long time and it's not easy for journalists to work. So it's important that they are not put under such pressures," he told the BBC.

Publishing blank edit pages is a method of protest that has been used in India in the past as well.

Some Indian newspapers resorted to the action after then prime minister Indira Gandhi imposed a state of emergency in 1975, which was marked by massive media censorship and restrictions on civil rights.

Ms Changkija said she fully supported such means of protest.

"Publishing blank pages sends a very strong signal that we can't be put under pressure. We don't take any side in the conflict and rely on facts," she told the BBC.

image copyright EPA image caption The Indian army has struggled to contain a violent insurgency in the country's north-east

Witoubou Newmai of the Eastern Mirror said the Assam Rifles' letter was "unwarranted".

"We live in the world's largest democracy, but when the army behaves like this, we feel like we are living under a junta. Such actions are akin to dismantling the democratic framework of the country," he told the BBC.

He stressed that the media has to "walk a tight rope" between the army and the rebels.

'Bigger message'

Other journalists in the state have also backed the three editors.

"The blank editorial columns have conveyed a bigger message... it shows that the media in Nagaland is suppressed and it can't exercise its rights," local journalist Yupangnenla Longkumer told the BBC.

Ms Changkija said the army has been trying to become "the friends of the people" in Nagaland and it needs to continue on that path.

"The security forces still have protection from the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). They can look at removing this controversial act," she added.