EMN
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 24
EXPRESSING shock over the civil defamation suit filed against four Dimapur-based newspapers by Minister for Roads & Bridges Kuzholuzo (Azo) Neinu, the Nagaland Press Association (NPA) viewed the filing the defamation suit in which the said newspapers have been made proforma defendants and seeking a large amount of compensation for publishing the allegations of the contractors as an attempt to harass the newspapers. “This is also an attempt to suppress the fourth pillar of democracy and silence the voice of the media against publishing allegations of corruption by a person holding public office,” the NPA said in a statement issued by its vice president H Chishi and general secretary Along Longkumer today.
The minister filed the defamation suit against the newspapers for publishing a new item of a press conference wherein allegations were leveled against him by two prominent contractors of the State.
The NPA explained that as media houses, it is their duty to publish statements of public interest given by individual or organizations either by means of written documents, interviews and press conferences. It further said it is also the duty of the newspapers to publish any statement or rebuttals to the news item and added that the newspapers have fulfilled this by publishing the rejoinder from the Minister clarifying his position against the allegations.
The NPA opined the defamation suit seriously undermines the credibility and integrity of the four newspapers in particular and the media fraternity as a whole.
It demanded that the State government constitutes an Inquiry Committee to probe into the allegations leveled against the R&B Minister by the contractors immediately R&B if it is sincere in its stand against corruption. The credibility of the media fraternity can only be restored after an independent inquiry investigates into the allegations made, the association stated.
Also, pointing out that the fourth estate is a pillar of democracy, the NPA said if it is unable to function freely and with accountability, the principles of democracy are under serious peril.
Asserting that it is committed to the ethics of honesty, fairness, truth and justice, the NPA said it will continue to strive in reporting against corruption, bad-governance, nepotism, violations of basic human rights and the many other ills that plague Nagaland.
