From: "Prakash Waman Kamat" <[email protected]> Subject: GUJ pressnote
Press Note May 3, 2011. Panaji, Goa. The Goa Union of Journalists(GUJ), in a press note issued after an executive committee meeting held in Panaji on Tuesday, condemned in strong words the high handed action of security staff of mining company in Cauverm on Tuesday to detain, ill-treat, manhandle Goan Observer journalist Gary Azavedo who had gone to cover the on-going agitation against mining companies at Cavrem. It is all the more shocking that this incident was taking place in south Goa on a day when the GUJ members where busy in a function to celebrate the International Freedom of the Press Day in Panaji. It raises the serious question of freedom of press in the State. If the mining company security felt that the journalist had trespassed, the most legitimate course of action should have been to lodge a police complaint and not to “shove the journalist in a jeep by security personnel by force, manhandle him, threaten him to off-load his camera, tear his bag, confiscate his cell and then leave him stranded to walk back from the site office where he was taken for enquiry,” as has been mentioned into his police complaint lodged by Mr. Azavedo at the Quepem police station. The GUJ has demanded that the Goa Government and the police should take cognizance of the complaint and take immediate action so that the freedom of media while covering people’s movements and agitations is protected. The GUJ executive has made it clear that the media will not be cowed down by such intimidating tactics deployed by vested interests against media-persons but GUJ will work to unite media-persons and mobilize people to fight such tactics which are dangerous to democracy. The GUJ has noted the promptness with which Inspector General of Police Sundari Nanda acted when the GUJ President brought the incident of "missing of a journalist who was on an assignment at Carvem mines" to her notice on Tuesday afternoon and hoped that she will take firm action on the complaint lodged by the journalist. (eom) Prakash W. Kamat, President, Goa Union of Journalists, Panaji. Prakash Waman Kamat Special Correspondent, Goa The Hindu, 6th Floor, Bldg No. 11, Kamat Royale, Caranzalem, Tiswadi, Panaji Goa. 403 002. Mobile: +919422443093. Phone Nos: 2465797 and 2462590
