Press freedom across most parts of Asia has worsened, according to the latest Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders.
The media watchdog says Burma is a rare bright spot, and changes in Afghanistan are "precarious" as foreign troops withdraw.
Authoritarian countries like North Korea, China, Vietnam and Laos continue to appear at the bottom of the list, while Cambodia and Malaysia are regarded as drifting towards authoritarianism.
Sri Lanka is ranked 162 and has come up a notch from last year’s position (163).
Finland has come on the top of the list while Eritrea has hit the bottom place of the 179 country list.
In Asia, India (140th, -9) is at its lowest since 2002 because of increasing impunity for violence against journalists and because Internet censorship continues to grow. China (173rd, +1) shows no sign of improving.
The annual report noted a general decline in South Asia and Japanese restrictions on reporting the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The head of Reporters Without Borders in Asia and the Pacific, Benjamin Ismail, told Radio Australia's Connect Asia there is limited media freedom in North Korea and China, despite leadership changes.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comment as Anonymous - no need your name...