The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins partners and
affiliates in India in condemning the attempt on the life of Tonggam Rina, Associate
Editor of the Arunachal Times, in
Itanagar, capital of the north-eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, on
June 15.
According to information received from the IFJ-affiliated Indian
Journalists’ Union, Rina was shot, sustaining a serious abdominal injury, as
she entered her office that evening. She was taken to a local hospital for
treatment and her condition was described by the head of the state police force
as “out of danger”.
Rina has reportedly
faced threats in the recent past over her reporting. One such instance followed
her reporting on certain irregularities in the functioning of the public
distribution system for food and other essential commodities in the state.
There were also threats made against her after she reported on the factional
rivalries within an armed underground group in two districts of the state. The
office of her newspaper was ransacked on April 16 this year, with the assailants
remaining at large. Two other female journalists in Itanagar have also received
telephoned threats from unknown callers recently.
“The IFJ wishes
Tonggam Rina a swift recovery and an early resumption of her professional
activities”, said the IFJ Asia-Pacific.
“We extend our
support to the journalists of Arunachal Pradesh who are observing a day-long
work stoppage in protest against the attempt on Rina’s life”.
“We call on the state
authorities to thoroughly investigate this attack, as well as all previous
instances of overt threats being made to journalists, which may all be linked”.
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0950
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