Two prominent media organisations in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday condemned the reported restriction of news reports and videos related to the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) on the social media platforms, describing it as a threat to press freedom and the public’s right to information.
In a joint statement, the Arunachal Press Club (APC) and Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) said several journalists in the state reported in recent days that their videos and other journalistic content on SUMP had either become inaccessible in India or faced restrictions.
“APC and APUWJ view these developments with serious alarm,” the organisations said. The media bodies said SUMP was an issue of significant public importance involving questions of development, environment, displacement, indigenous rights, national interest and the future of communities living along the Siang River.
Earlier reporting noted: Arunachal media bodies flag social media curbs on Siang hypropower reports Itanagar, Two media bodies in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday said several journalists in the state have reported that videos and other content on social media concerning the Upper Siang Hydropower Project have either become inaccessible in India or access to their accounts has been restricted. The organisations sought clarification from the state government on whether any directions were issued to social media platforms to restrict reports, videos, accounts or other journalistic content related to SUMP. “Reporting opposition is not opposing the government. Reporting a protest is not endorsing it. The statement came amid a claim by human rights lawyer and anti-dam activist Ebo Mili that his social media account had also been restricted in India.
They said restricting legitimate journalistic reports at a time when the proposed project was witnessing protests, public debate and dialogue between the government and affected communities could deprive people of information necessary for informed public discourse. “Journalism cannot be treated as an inconvenience merely because reports from the ground are uncomfortable, critical or contrary to an official narrative,” the statement said. Carrying the government’s position does not make a journalist its spokesperson,” the statement said. Earlier reporting noted: Expression “serious alarm”, the Arunachal Press Club Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists in a joint statement demanded immediately restoration of legitimate journalistic content restricted solely in connection with reporting on a project. Earlier reporting noted: “Journalism cannot be treated as an inconvenience merely because reports from the ground are uncomfortable, critical or contrary to an official narrative,” said the joint statement.
