[Imc-india] alternative editorial policy, etc

[Sanat Mohanty]

Folks
I do not remember whether this is a written guideline; however, it is asked 
that each indymedia be run by local activists. It was for that reason that 
while India-Indymedia was started by a few expats living in the US, it 
gained its recognition as a full fledged site only after it was handed over 
to folks in India. I think while we living abroadstay in the loop and 
influence its working, folks in India should be running the site and making 
decisions on policy matters.

One could argue about ones connections to India even after having moved but 
clearly moving was a choice and in moving, one changed what communities one 
is actively part of, which communities one is affected by and affects, etc.

While advise to the madurai community should be welcome and even help with 
resources would be useful, we expats should resist taking over. However, 
other groups/individuals living in India should get on board decision 
making.

I would also request some appreciation of the work the Madurai collective 
has done. At a time when few others were willing to help, and often at 
personal costs to themselves (as I understand) they have done a marvelous 
job of setting this structure up and keeping it going.

Indymedia is about free media. It does not belong to the left, or the right 
or the communists or the greens or the gandhians or any other ists. That is 
the strength of Indymedia. It also means, however, that those are the terms 
we have to work with. While we can have guidelines that hide hatemails, to 
suspend the site till one comes to a state where one can counter the other 
is counter to the very basis of the indymedia movement.

Regards
Sanat (with Twin Cities IMC)



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