The socio-political history of the region, which is marred by insurgency movement starting with the Nagas in 1940s and 1950s, is responsible for some of these inherent limitations. Media in states like Nagaland, Manipur or even in Assam has been thus trapped in myriads of conflicts that have been sweeping the region for about seven decades now.

Over the decades it has been found that the problem with the media in the northeast is not with the media per se or with the freedom of the fourth estate; the real problem has been all confronting parties involved in these conflicts (that is insurgency movement) have been involved in suppressing ‘news’ - the sole goal being to gain control over the crucial media space.

The socio-political history of the region, which is marred by insurgency movement starting with the Nagas in 1940s and 1950s, is responsible for some of these inherent limitations. Media in states like Nagaland, Manipur or even in Assam has been thus trapped in myriads of conflicts that have been sweeping the region for about seven decades now.

Nagas believe that the “first instance” of media manipulation was in 1946-47 when the Naga National Council (NNC) under Naga rebel doyen A Z Phizo’s telegram addressed to leading newspapers informing about proclamation of Naga independence was never wired. Allegedly, the Kohima Deputy Commissioner Charles Pawsey had prevented Kohima Post Master to send the telegram to New Delhi and to various newspapers across the country. (R Vashum ‘Nagas Rights to Self Determination....’)It happened after independence, it’s happening now under both the government agencies and also the insurgent outfits and in fact it had happened even prior to independence.

Sandwich syndrome:

Talk to working journalists in the region and they would tell that the situation has hardly changed. Others too agree.

“Around 20 different insurgent outfits operate in Manipur and thus there is no coincidence that many editors and journalists have been killed in Manipur. In short, media persons have to more often face the wrath of both the underground outfits and government agencies,” says one army officer who studied in detail the role of newspapers in the northeast India for his thesis paper for The Military College of Combat.

But the vital part is that similar story is experienced and heard about journalists working in all northeastern states.

However, what has importantly changed over the last two decades is that the insurgent outfits have become extremely media savvy.

This might have helped journalists to get email information about the version of various outfits from their camps, overt and covert; however, closer scrutiny suggest things remain complex as on the other side the official apparatus or army and state government machineries have not improved their media understanding and handling.

The state government officials and military authorities often give the impression that they are still 50 years back in time space and believe journalists would report only the so called ‘official version’. Thus content wise the press releases of army or state governments have not changed much. In other words, they are still very boring and dry stuff with “monotonous and dull figures on numbers of militants killed and the number of arms and ammunition recovered”.

“The police and army officials still need to appreciate what makes news and what does not. We find similar problems with officials working in Jammu and Kashmir and in northeast but so far to my knowledge, the army officials, various police academies in the country have not created any module by which the military and police officials’ knowledge on media handling actually improves,” says senior journalist Vidyarthi Kumar. He maintains this can come only if a conscious policy decision is taken at the political leadership. “Police reform, something pending for decades, is one such necessary corrective step,” he told Eastern Panorama.

On the other hand, Guwahati-based journalist Teresa Rehman says, “there is a marked change on how cyber-savvy militants operate. Internet is being largely used by militants now to use as a tool. Of late, it has also become fashionable for media persons to be invited to militant camps”.

Media’s Mission:

So, where do we go from here in terms of evolving strategies and the role of the media in bringing peace in the conflict-hit northeast India?

Dr KH Kabi of Mass Communication Department, Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar has a relevant question.

“Should it be media’s mission to promote peace, democracy and development?,” he asks.

Various arguments can be dished out on this. Some would say in the initial days of insurgency in northeast India, the “absence of a strong media” in 1950s and 1960s had helped government of India and army authorities to commit gross excesses. Thus, points out L Sailo (media adviser to Mizoram chief minister) that heartless bombing of the Lushai hills in 1966 wherein even hospitals and schools were reduced to ashes was hardly reported in media.

But media persons also feel strongly that media should not be given any ‘extra responsibility’. The refrain is simple and straight forward reporting ought to be media’s only mission. Freedom means freedom for the media to set their own agenda, argues this school of thought.

The conviction is journalists perform best when they are left with their ‘liberty’ to air the debates, tensions and contradictions over an incident or state of matters.

“Some people do talk about ‘peace journalism’, but to me that’s a dangerous approach to the kinds of conflicts I have covered and still covering. My worst fear is if you see promoting peace as a goal or an objective, it is very easy to become biased. Then you would filter information and write only about what you think may serve the purpose of promoting peace,” remarked longtime northeast watcher Bertil Lintner at a media workshop.

Wrap up:

Another opinion generally is while the national mainstream media still neglects north east and only covers with a prejudiced mindset, the state-level provincial media like in Manipur and Nagaland are seriously concerned about the lack of freedom.

“The Manipur media must first ensure that its basic editorial freedoms are guaranteed. While there is a tendency over the years for government to relax the controls, it is the diktats from underground which has been the source of most media fetters or chains,” remarks journalist Phanjoubam.

But the crux of the problem is the divide between natives and outsiders in the region is very deep. And at times the developments suggest this gulf has only increased.

“Some people do talk about ‘peace journalism’, but to me that’s a dangerous approach to the kinds of conflicts I have covered and still covering. My worst fear is if you see promoting peace as a goal or an objective, it is very easy to become biased. Then you would filter information and write only about what you think may serve the purpose of promoting peace,” remarked longtime northeast watcher Bertil Lintner at a media workshop.

The irony is, the problem is more serious than comprehended easily. While the hatred mongers have sustained their game, on the other hand, from a primordial economy, the region is today a picture of progress and prosperity and modernity. In more ways than one, developments in northeast is far better than the poor tribals’ conditions in states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. This brings in a conflict by itself.

The media needs to project what are the contributing factors that can help a stagnant economy like in northeastern India to bounce back. The peace and conflict resolutions can thus come at a later stage.

The region will probably bounce back if it can exploit the natural resources, promote organic farming, horticulture and develop the cottage industry to tap the export market.

“But are we in the media doing enough on this? The media can help create market for finished products within the region and also jobs for locals,” says Vidyarthi Kumar. His views are readily endorsed by a retired army official from the north east who says,

“The media in the northeast region has not been able to force people to do deep soul searching on right issues. Media should raise the right questions to try get the right answers. This has somehow not happened in the northeast perhaps less than even in Jammu and Kashmir”.

Several BJP leaders endorse this. “Media must grow from the way it has covered the northeast region. India bashing has been often taken as a fashion. So we are not surprised with BJP bashing. The manner in which our printing mistake in Delhi polls manifesto shows what’s sensationalism,” says a BJP spokesman.

Thus the counseling is insurgency in northeast has been very much a product, if not an outgrowth of the historical, economic and political circumstances of the society. The analysis must be ‘objective and honest’, as they put it.