FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 20, 2010
Contact: John Estrella 202 530 4900 estrellaj(a)rfa.org
<mailto:estrellaj@rfa.org>
Rohit Mahajan 202 530 4976 mahajanr(a)rfa.org
<mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org>
Radio Free Asia Responds to RSF 2010 Press Freedom Index
Five RFA countries ranked in bottom tenth; Cambodia dips to lowest
showing
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, in response to the release of Reporters Without
Borders' 2010 World Press Freedom Index
<http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=classement&id_rubrique=1034> , Radio
Free Asia <http://www.rfa.org/english/> 's President Libby Liu said the
findings underscore the lack of free media and free speech in Asia, and
their continuing downward trend. The survey, which rates media freedoms
in 178 countries, ranked five of RFA's broadcast countries - North
Korea, Burma, China, Laos and Vietnam - in the bottom tenth of the
world's worst places for journalism. Also, Cambodia, RFA's sixth
broadcast country, posted its poorest showing in the annual survey since
it began in 2002.
"Free speech and free media continue to deteriorate in the countries to
which Radio Free Asia provides reliable news and information on a daily
basis," Liu said. "While we hope our work at RFA encourages emerging
traditions in journalism to take root, governments in many Asian
countries continue to censor news, intimidate reporters, and restrict
access to media - on the airwaves, in print, and online.
"This year's World Press Freedom Index is a sober reminder of how dire
this situation remains in Asia and much of the world."
In the survey, North Korea was ranked second to last at 177; Burma, 174;
China, 171; Laos, 168; and Vietnam, 165. Since Reporters Without Borders
began the survey, these five countries have consistently been ranked in
the bottom 10 percent in all consecutive eight indices. Notably,
Cambodia, which rose to 117 in last year's survey, fell to the 128th
place this year - its lowest rank ever. All six countries within RFA's
broadcast region were categorized as "Not Free" in Freedom House's
Freedom of the Press survey, which was released in April.
RFA <http://www.rfa.org/english/about> provides accurate, fact-based
news happening in these countries and information via short- and
medium-wave radio, satellite transmissions, and online through the
websites of its nine language services. They are RFA Mandarin,
Cantonese, Tibetan, Uyghur, Burmese, Khmer (Cambodian), Vietnamese, Lao,
and Korean.
# # #
Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and
publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian
languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news
media. RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of
opinion and expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and
impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers." RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board
of Governors.
If you no longer wish to receive RFA press releases, please send an
e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org <mailto:engnews-leave@rfanews.org> .
To add your name to our mailing list, please send an e-mail to
engnews-join(a)rfanews.org <mailto:engnews-join@rfanews.org>
Rohit Mahajan
Media Relations Manager
Radio Free Asia
2025 M Street NW
Washington DC 20036
Desk: (202) 530-4976
Cell: (202) 489-8021
Email: mahajanr(a)rfa.org <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org>
http://www.rfa.org/ <http://www.rfa.org/>
Rohit Mahajan
Media Relations Manager
Radio Free Asia
Desk: (202) 530-4976
Cell: (202) 489-8021
Email: mahajanr(a)rfa.org
http://www.rfa.org/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 19, 2010
Contact: John Estrella 202 530 4900 estrellaj(a)rfa.org
<mailto:estrellaj@rfa.org>
Rohit Mahajan 202 530 4976 mahajanr(a)rfa.org
<mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org>
Beijing-based RFA Contributor Wins Women's 'Courage' Award
But Chinese Authorities Bar Woeser from Accepting Honor in Person
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Radio Free Asia contributor and freelance
Tibetan blogger Tsering Woeser was honored with the 2010 Courage in
Journalism Award by the International Women's Media Foundation at a
ceremony in New York. However, Woeser, who is based in Beijing, has long
been denied a passport from the Chinese government, and could not attend
the ceremony held in New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to accept the
award in person.
"Courage is the defining trait in Tsering Woeser's life and work," said
Dan Southerland, Radio Free Asia's Vice President and Executive Editor,
who attended the ceremony. "If only she were here in person to receive
this distinguished award and know firsthand the recognition and respect
she commands among her journalistic peers."
Undeterred by orders and threats from official quarters, living under
constant police surveillance, and subject to repeated attacks on her
blogs and e-mail accounts, Woeser has persevered in reporting human
rights abuses in the Tibetan region. Woeser continues to publish
commentary on Radio Free Asia's website and break stories about
crackdowns in Tibet on her Chinese-language blog, Invisible Tibet
<http://woeser.middle-way.net/> . Because Woeser is a banned writer in
China, her website is hosted abroad.
In April 2009, The New York Times cited Woeser's blog as one of the few
reliable news outlets for those able to circumvent China's Great
Firewall. Unfortunately for Woeser, this recognition also means living
with risk. Sources and friends with whom she speaks are subject to
detention and interrogation.
Woeser originally was a reporter and eventually became an editor for a
government-controlled Tibetan literary journal. After the publication
of her best-selling book Notes on Tibet, which was banned in late 2003,
Woeser was told by authorities to change her point of view in order to
keep her job. She refused. Woeser then moved to Beijing and began
blogging. In a 2006 interview with Radio Free Asia, Woeser said she
would never stop writing.
She said, "While I was working in an office in Lhasa, I was paid well.
But I never felt free, and it bothered me ... When I was fired from the
job, the incident led me to the freedom to express myself in writing."
Here is a link to RFA's website slideshow on Woeser's life in pictures:
http://www.rfa.org/english/multimedia/WoeserSlideshow-10012008162026.htm
l
Here is a link to Woeser's most recent English-translated commentary for
RFA:
http://www.rfa.org/english/commentaries/languages-09222010105909.html
# # #
Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and
publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian
languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news
media. RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of
opinion and expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and
impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers." RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board
of Governors.
Rohit Mahajan
Media Relations Manager
Radio Free Asia
2025 M Street NW
Washington DC 20036
Desk: (202) 530-4976
Cell: (202) 489-8021
Email: mahajanr(a)rfa.org
http://www.rfa.org/
