Taking into account the alleged continuous biased reportage during the ongoing conflict in Manipur by valley-based media platforms, the Committee on Tribal Unity, or the CoTU blamed such media platforms for inflaming animosity and mistrust in the already volatile conflict.
The committee vehemently slammed the news contents in the valley-based media platform in connection with the recent firing incident between the Kuki-Zo volunteers and the Meitei militants in the peripheral area of Kangpokpi and Imphal West district on December 30 where one individual from the dominant Meitei community was slain during the firing incident.
Alleging the news reports of valley-based media about the December 30 firing incident a well-concocted and one-sided narrative, the committee clarified that it [the December 30 firing incident] was rather a bid to lay another ambush on the Kuki-Zo by Meitei militants foiled by the Kuki-Zo tribal village volunteers, resulting in the killing of one of the Arambai Tenggol cadre, a private militia group of the Meitei.
While strongly condemning the incident, CoTU stated that there was ample peace in all areas dominated by the Kuki-Zo until shattered by attacks from the valley-based militants.
It also pointed out that the deceased on the December 30 firing incident Jamesbond Ningomba (35), from Mayang Langjing, a former news reporter, was a newly recruited PLA cadre and a member of the Arambai Tenggol, who trespassed into the Kuki-Zo area beyond the buffer zones and opened fired first at the Kuki-Zo village volunteers.
“The Kuki-Zo volunteers are well within their rights to defend their areas against any aggression, attacks, or trespassers as much as the Meitei are to defend their area”, CoTU stated.
CoTU also stated that valley-based media houses had reported that Jamesbond Ningomba was killed after Kuki militants opened fire at Kadangband Part-II under Imphal West district, which is completely false and baseless.
Therefore, the Committee cautioned the valley-based media platforms to refrain from biased reportage of news which can inflame animosity and mistrust in the already volatile conflict, rather urged them to be a platform to bridge the gap of mistrust and for the sake of journalistic ethics.
