The South Garo Hills district administration today said that it decided to issue a summon issued to a YouTuber, Tatu Marak as it wanted to seek clarification from him on his recent news report on flood relief in affected areas under Chokpot C&RD Block.
The district administration was reacting to a statement issued by the Garo Hills Press and Media Association (GHMPA) which had condemned the alleged interference of the district administration of South Hills in the functioning of an independent media, in relation to a summon issued to the YouTuber, Tatu Marak.
“It is hereby stated that the summons issued to Tatu Marak is to seek clarification from the said YouTuber on his recent news report on flood relief in affected areas under Chokpot C&RD block, South Garo Hills District. Tatu Marak presented a very one sided story by interviewing affected individuals but did not seek any clarification from the government officials or the district administration to corroborate the statements given by the people who were interviewed,” South Garo Hills deputy commissioner Richard Yanthan said.
Yanthan said that the statements given by the individuals uploaded in the YouTube channel ‘Neig News’, do not concur with the efforts on ground “and as such it undermined the effort of the government and efforts of the district administration and also questioned the sincerity of the government machinery in providing succour to the people of the affected areas at the time of such natural calamity of devastating scale”.
“It is hereby reiterated that the action of the district administration of South Garo Hills in summoning Tatu Marak is not to subvert the voices of independent media reporting, but rather, following the principles of natural justice, the opportunity was given to Marak to further clarify on his actions, which at the time had caused great distress and confusion to the ongoing relief effort,” the deputy commissioner added.
It may be mentioned that the GHPMA which is a body of newspersons from Garo Hills had yesterday condemned the summons issued to the YouTuber and termed it as interference of the executive and the administrative organ of South Garo Hills in the functioning of the independent voice of the people.
“Media is the most important organ of a democratic setup and is the backbone of citizenry as being the fourth pillar of democracy. However, such act of obstruction in independent reporting and threat by the administrative and executive organ of the State to the media house and journalists of Garo Hills associated with fair and transparent reporting, is highly condemnable and needs immediate action,” GHPMA said in a statement issued by its president Sanggra M. Marak and general secretary Dalseng A. Sangma.
