EMN
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 19
ACAUT Nagaland has expressed deep concern and strongly condemned the notification issued by Colonel Rajesh Gupta, Colonel General Staff on October 25, 2015.
“ACAUT Nagaland feels it is nothing short of an attempt to curb freedom of press and a direct attack on the fourth pillar of democracy for which India as a nation of boast of,” a statement from ACAUT said. “Freedom of speech and of the press lay at the foundation of all democratic organizations, for without free political discussion no public education, so essential for the proper functioning of the process of popular government, is possible,” it also stated while adding, “The Naga people under The Preamble of the Indian Constitution have the liberty of expression.”
ACAUT statement then said that freedom of the press has been included as part of freedom of speech and expression under the Article 19 of the UDHR. The heart of the Article 19 says, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” ACAUT then said that everyone has duty to uphold the freedom of press and invalidate all laws and administrative actions that abridge that freedom. Freedom of press has three essential elements, it added. “They are freedom of access to all sources of information, 2. Freedom of publication and 3. Freedom of circulation. Thus the notification issued to the press is in direct contravention to the very fabric of our democracy,” the ACAUT press note mentioned.
