(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing concern further to death threats received by two Assamese journalists. According to RSF’s information, in its 23 October 1998 issue, the daily “Amar Asom” said that two senior journalists of the newspaper were threatened with death by a former separatist militant after they enquired about his involvement with the police […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing concern further to death threats received by
two Assamese journalists. According to RSF’s information, in its 23 October
1998 issue, the daily “Amar Asom” said that two senior journalists of the
newspaper were threatened with death by a former separatist militant after
they enquired about his involvement with the police in an attack on a local
businessman. The article said that, after learning the names of the two
journalists from a police sub-inspector in Guwahati, the activist called the
newspaper office and offered a reward to anyone who could produce the
journalists.
On 26 October, the Assamese police foiled a murder attempt planned by
militants against D. N. Bezboruah, editor of the English-language daily “The
Sentinel”. Police arrested two militants after they found “incriminating
documents” near the journalist’s home. The militants, reported to be members
of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), denied any involvement. The
authorities reported that they had confessed to the plan and that they “had
planned to assassinate more journalists and intellectuals who have been
taking an anti-militant stand in their writings.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the Prime Minister:
journalists by separatist groups or guerrillas
Bezboruah
to court and
sentenced after a fair trial
their best to protect independent journalists from violent groups and ensure
that they can work freely
without fear
Appeals To
His Excellency Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
Office of the Prime Minister
New Delhi, India
Fax: +91 11 301 6857
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
