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Journalists and media employees under the banner of the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists protesting in Hyderabad on Saturday against the Tamil Nadu Assembly's order to arrest the Publisher, the Editor, the Executive Editor and two other journalists of The Hindu. - A. Roy Chowdhury

Chennai , Nov. 8

THE Tamil Nadu Assembly's order to arrest the Publisher, the Editor, the Executive Editor and two other senior journalists of The Hindu and the Editor of the Tamil newspaper, Murasoli, for alleged breach of privilege has been condemned by journalists from across the State and editors from other parts of the country.

Four journalists' bodies in Chennai - the Madras Union of Journalists, the Chennai Press Club, the Journalists' Action Group and the Network of Women in Media, Chennai - decided at a meeting today to protest the action, which they viewed as an infringement on the freedom of speech and expression.

The journalists' associations resolved to undertake a day-long fast on Sunday to protest the move and file supporting affidavit along with the petition moved by The Hindu and Murasoli to have the arrest order struck down by appropriate courts. They also decided to write to the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker to revoke the arrest order and also the 15-day ban on entry to the House. If the order were executed, the journalists would court arrest and boycott the proceedings.

In a statement, Mr Vinod Mehta, Editor-in-Chief, the Outlook Group, described the move to arrest the journalists as a direct assault on the freedom of the press and one that must be resisted by those who value democracy and the Constitution. "We urge the Tamil Nadu Assembly to revoke the arrest order and find some mutually acceptable route to resolve the issue," he said.

Mr M.J. Akbar, Editor-in-Chief, Asian Age, said, "Any attempt to use the legislature to suppress the media is as reprehensible as any form of censorship. The actions of the Tamil Nadu Assembly cannot find any support among those who value a civilised democracy."

Mr Aroon Purie, Editor-in-Chief, India Today, said, "I think this is a very serious attack on the freedom of the press and I strongly condemn it. I believe the whole media should be supporting a well-respected publication like The Hindu in its fight against such arbitrary action."

The All India Lawyers' Union, Tamil Nadu State Committee, described the order to arrest by the Assembly as "most shocking and revolting to our democratic polity." A "gag on the press is a gag on the people themselves." The right of privilege of the Legislature ought to be confined to cases where its members are prevented from discharging their function. No such threat can emanate from criticism of the legislators or the proceedings, it said.

The Network of Women in Media, Chennai, expressed support in the struggle against the threat to the freedom of expression of the media, while the Chennai Press Club condemned the decision as a "brutal assault on the freedom of the press." The Madras Union of Journalists urged the Government to give up its persecution of journalists and conform to a democratic system of functioning.

The DMK said it would organise a State-wide human chain on November 12 to protest the move. The MLAs and MPs of the opposition parties will leave for Delhi to meet with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to apprise them of the situation.

Protests all across

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) took out a rally from Press Club Hyderabad to Raj Bhavan here on Saturday in protest against the Tamil Nadu Assembly's order.

Holding placards and raising slogans, a large group of journalists proceeded to the Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to the Governor's office (in the absence of the Governor) seeking an end to the assault on press freedom by the Jayalalithaa Government. The memorandum urged the Governor to use his good offices to stop the harassment of the media.

Earlier, addressing the journalists, editors of various newspapers and APUWJ leaders condemned the unprecedented attack on the press by the TN Government.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Trivandrum Press Club has protested against the Tamil Nadu Assembly's order. A meeting convened by the club and attended by journalists and several prominent political and cultural leaders passed a resolution condemning the incident.

Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, Opposition Leader in the Kerala Assembly, in his address to the gathering said the orders issued by the Tamil Nadu Assembly and the subsequent police action posed a major challenge to the freedom of expression.

The Tamil Nadu Speaker's orders had no justification said Mr V.M. Sudheeran, Member of Parliament and a former Speaker of the Assembly. Speaking on the occasion he said the privileges of the legislature are to be used with propriety.

Mr Panniayan Raveendran, Assistant Secretary of the CPI and Mr M.S. Kumar, State General Secretary of the BJP were also among those who spoke on the occasion.

COIMBATORE: Journalists from various media organisations staged a demonstration in Coimbatore on Saturday to protest against the decision of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Gathering near the Red Cross building, the journalists wearing black badges raised slogans against attempts to trample upon the freedom of the press. The journalists demonstrated wearing black ribbons around their mouths and plastic ropes tying their hands to symbolise attempts to gag the press.

The State BJP President, Mr C.P. Radhakrishnan, who is the Coimbatore Lok Sabha member, met the agitating journalists to express solidarity with them.

Lauding the role played by the media in protecting democracy, he said people should take criticism with equanimity. As part of the State-wide agitation by journalists, the Coimbatore Press Club will be holding a day long fast here on Sunday.

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