The Shillong Press Club (SPC) held an online meeting to consider the “tone and tenor” of the statement made by the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), which claimed responsibility for today’s terrorist attack in Laitumkhrah.
The HNLC verbally attacked and threatened the press for not publishing the outfit’s bandh calls. Publishing such statements has been banned by the High Court of Meghalaya since 2015.
The SPC members “were categorical in reminding all that while freedom of expression applies to the journalist as well, obedience to the law of the land in letter and spirit is also an absolute responsibility.”
If the Meghalaya press disobeyed the High Court, it would not receive help from the HNLC, an SPC statement said. It added a request to the High Court to consider the repercussions caused by the 2015 order.
“The journalist fraternity of Meghalaya stands firm in solidarity with one another and will continue to endeavour to serve the peace-loving people of the state in the best possible manner it can, despite the many challenges and stumbling blocks throughout the journey,” the press club stated, adding a request to the HNLC to reconsider its choice of words in criticising the media.
