Guwahati, Nov. 16 (PTI): The Journalist Association of Assam (JAA) and the National Union of Journalists India (NUJI) today demanded a Journalist Protection Act to ensure safety of journalists.
JAA president Dhirendra Nath Chakravatty and its working president Dalim Phukan along with NUJI East Zone secretary-cum-general secretary of JAA Bhupen Goswami made this demand while conveying their greetings and wishes to the media fraternity of the state on National Press Day being celebrated across the country today.
A statement from the two unions said, “In the last 12 years seven media houses and 837 journalists have been attacked as reported by IFJ. So we need a protection act immediately. It is urgent that we create this legislation if we want to maintain our position as a world leader on press freedom”.
“Law enforcement agencies and our government are failing to protect the ability of journalists to do their job”, they asserted.
“The media is now the nerve centre of our society” and that it plays a vital role in disseminating information to the people. With its commitment to uphold truth, probity, and objectivity, media is helping in building up a just and corruption-free society,” they said.
NUJI and JAA also issued a statement calling for the state’s media fraternity to showcase and promote the rich cultural, religious, adventure and natural potentials of the state and its unique identity of unity in diversity.
Stating media is responsible for upholding the right to freedom of speech, they stressed on self-regulation by the Fourth Estate.
“Freedom of expression is a universal human right.
It is not the prerogative of the politician. Nor is it the privilege of the journalist. In their day-to-day work, journalists are simply exercising every citizen’s right to free speech”, they pointed out.
“A free press is fundamental to a democratic society.
It seeks out and circulates news, information, ideas, comment and opinion and holds those in authority to account. The press provides the platform for a multiplicity of voices to be heard”, they said.
“There is a need to enhance the punishment, as presently the accused in such cases can get bail easily.
The need of the hour is to ensure that honest officials work efficiently,” they added.
