FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 29, 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 Freedom House's Media Freedoms Survey
All six RFA broadcast countries 'Not Free': Report
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Radio Free Asia President Libby Liu responded to
the findings released in the Freedom House's 2010 Freedom of the Press
survey that classified all six RFA target countries as "Not Free."
"This year's edition of Freedom House's Freedom of the Press survey is
an urgent reminder of the need to empower citizens in Asian countries
that limit free speech and free media," Liu said. "Despite recent
economic gains, media freedoms throughout Asia have continued to decline
and worsen, as confirmed in this index.
"It is especially important for Radio Free Asia to keep carrying out its
mission to provide its listeners with timely, reliable information and
news happening within Asian countries that lack free media."
Liu participated in Freedom House's release of its annual report at the
Newseum as moderator of a panel of distinguished experts, including Bob
Boorstin of Google, Frank Smyth of Committee to Protect Journalists, and
Chris Walker and Karin Karlekar of Freedom House. Freedom House's
comprehensive report, which examines the media environment in 196
countries and territories, cites the governments of all six countries
into which RFA's nine language services broadcast - China, North Korea,
Burma, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia - as actively taking steps to censor
news and information in print, on television and radio, online, and
throughout all new media formats. These countries' governments also
intimidate and harass reporters, prevent public access to uncensored
news and information, and restrict media freedoms in general, earning
the survey's designation of "Not Free."
Most global press freedom rankings of RFA's target countries remain
consistent with previous surveys, with North Korea ranked at the top as
the world's worst free media environment. Notably, however, Cambodia's
ranking as a repressor of free press jumped up six places, after the
recent spate of criminal disinformation lawsuits by Cambodian government
officials against reporters, editors, and publishers to silence voices
of opposition.
# # #
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.
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throughout East Asia via Twitter. Please visit
https://twitter.com/RadioFreeAsia <https://twitter.com/RadioFreeAsia>
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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/
