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RELEASE: Radio Free Asia Launches Aung San Suu Kyi Weekly Q&A

by Rohit Mahajan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 6, 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 Launches Weekly Q&A With Aung San Suu Kyi On-air forum with freed Nobel laureate exclusive to RFA Burmese service WASHINGTON, DC - Listeners of Radio Free Asia's Burmese service will be able to engage Aung San Suu Kyi on topics of their choice in a weekly series on Friday evenings. "Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the People" invites RFA's audience to submit questions on any topic, which are then answered by the recently freed Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Burmese opposition party leader. The question-and-answer series is an exclusive engagement with Radio Free Asia. "After almost two decades under house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi remains a beacon of hope and strength to the world," said Libby Liu, President of Radio Free Asia. "But in her homeland, despite the deep admiration of her country men and women, her voice was stifled. Now, with this program, the Burmese people have a unique, public forum in which they can speak freely with their 'Lady'." "In Burma, there is no opinion or perspective expressed on official media apart from that of the ruling regime," said Nyein Shwe, service director of RFA Burmese. "Many Burmese people never in their lifetimes imagined they would be able to hear Aung San Suu Kyi discuss her views nor ask her their questions on the radio. For them, it's a first." In the series' first installment Suu Kyi answered questions from listeners on her time under house arrest, global sanctions against Burma, free speech and human rights, and democracy, among other topics. Since being freed on Nov. 13, Suu Kyi has been interviewed by outside, non-state-controlled media, but this series is the first media forum in which she is participating on an ongoing basis. To hear excerpts from the first installment of the series in English online, please visit http://www.rfa.org/english/women/conversation-aungSanSuuKyi/conversation 1-11302010121141.html <http://www.rfa.org/english/women/conversation-aungSanSuuKyi/conversatio n1-11302010121141.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 St. NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20036 Email: mahajanr(a)rfa.org Desk: (202) 530-4976 Cell: (202) 489-8021 www.rfa.org

14 years, 4 months

PRESS RELEASE: Radio Free Asia Responds to RSF 2010 Press Freedom Index

by Rohit Mahajan

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/

14 years, 6 months

PRESS RELEASE: Beijing-based RFA Contributor Wins Women's 'Courage' Award

by Rohit Mahajan

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/

14 years, 6 months

PRESS RELEASE: Radio Free Asia Wins at 2010 New York Festivals

by Rohit Mahajan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 27, 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 Wins at 2010 New York Festivals Services Take Gold, Bronze, and Earn Finalist Slots WASHINGTON, DC - Reporters from Radio Free Asia's Vietnamese Service and Burmese Service won gold and bronze medals respectively at this year's New York Festivals. Both winning entries produced pieces exploring the issue of human trafficking in Asia. Additionally, broadcasters from RFA's Mandarin and Korean services were named as finalists by the competition's judges. "The honors bestowed on Radio Free Asia at New York Festivals showcase the journalistic excellence for which our news services consistently strive to achieve in some of the world's toughest media environments," said Libby Liu, President of RFA. "Two of our winners reported on the trafficking of women and migrants in Asia, and we hope this recognition underscores the need to continue informing our audience and the world about this prevalent and nefarious issue." "We at RFA pledge to continue bringing accurate, objective news to people living in Asian countries that restrict and censor the press." Information about RFA's winners and finalists, and their entries follows. * Broadcaster Khanh An of RFA's Vietnamese service earned the top award in the category of Best Ongoing News Story for her three-part series "A New Form of Women Trafficking." The series, which aired in March 2010, documented an incident of a Vietnamese woman being trafficked to Europe. The series examined some of the local factors and people and their roles in facilitating the woman's victimization. * RFA Burmese reporter Kyaw Min Htun won a bronze award in the category of Best Coverage of Ongoing News Story for his stories on the human trafficking of Burmese refugees and migrants in Malaysia, which aired from January to May of this year. For his stories, the reporter interviewed ethnic Rohingya migrants, seeking asylum in Malaysia after being subjected to persecution in Burma. Many, however, once in Malaysia, faced exploitation by human-traffickers, abusive employers, and corrupt officials. * Park Songwu of RFA's Korean language service, was a finalist in the NYF category of Best Human Interest Story for his four-part series on North Korea's youngest defectors. The series focused on the difficulties and challenges these individuals face once living in South Korea. * RFA Mandarin's Tang Qiwei was also a finalist in the NYF History category for her piece on the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests, which aired on June 4, 2009. The short audio documentary, which was edited by Feng Xiaoming, used interviews with many leaders, activists, and officials involved with or connected to the Beijing student-led demonstrations. # # # 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. Radio Free Asia is in the process of improving our e-mail delivery system to better serve you. Please send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org to continue receiving releases and updates. 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/

14 years, 7 months

Radio Free Asia Wins Major Environmental Reporting Prize

by Sarah Jackson-Han

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 28, 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 Wins Major Environmental Reporting Prize Mekong River series takes top honors Washington, DC - The Society of Environmental Journalists today awarded Radio Free Asia (RFA) First Prize for Outstanding Online Reporting on the Environment for its 2010 multimedia series "The Last Untamed River." The prize, in recognition of RFA's investigative reporting trek down the Mekong River, will be awarded in Missoula, Montana, on Oct.13 at the SEJ's 20th annual conference, the nonprofit organization said. "This award is a tremendous honor," RFA President Libby Liu said. "We know from our listeners that the health of the Mekong River is of paramount importance to their quality of life, and in some cases, to their very existence." The Mekong River-the least developed of the world's major rivers-sustains more than 60 million people from the Tibetan plateau to the South China Sea. RFA's series, with original reporting in English adapted into seven Asian languages, comprises 22 high-quality videos, along with blogs, graphics, slideshows, and other social media releases. It addresses climate change and melting glaciers, urbanization and industrialization, the decline of forests and fisheries, and finally the development of China's dams and control over water flow, as seen by ordinary citizens-from nomadic herders and fishermen-as well as regional experts and analysts. RFA's videographers traveled for nearly 3,000 miles along the Mekong River from Tibet to Vietnam and the South China Sea. RFA's Mekong River series is online in English at www.rfa.org/english/multimedia/MekongProject. # # # 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 news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org. To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org

14 years, 9 months

RFA News: Tibetan Gets 15 Years

by Joshua Lipes

Tibetan Gets 15 Years A Chinese court convicts a prominent environmentalist and activist, who vows to appeal. HONG KONG, June 24, 2010-A court in China's troubled northwestern region of Xinjiang sentenced a prominent Tibetan businessman-turned-activist to 15 years in jail and a heavy fine on Thursday on theft-related charges that were initially dropped in 1998, his wife and lawyer told Radio Free Asia (RFA). Karma Samdrup, 42, denied the charges and will appeal, his lawyer, Pu Zhiqiang, said in an interview with RFA's Tibetan service. "The verdict was unfair," his wife, Dolkar Tso, said. "I asked for some time to meet and talk to my husband but I was not allowed." "I just want to let him know all his relatives are proud of him and he shouldn't worry about us. But I wasn't given the chance." Pu, the lawyer, said that in addition to 15 years in jail, Karma Samdrup was sentenced by a court in Yanqi county, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), to five years' deprivation of his political rights and a fine of 10,000 yuan (U.S. $1,500). "He denied the charges in court and expressed his intention to appeal," Pu added. The appeal must be filed within 10 days, according to Chinese law. Karma Samdrup, an environmentalist and art collector, went on trial Tuesday. Dolkar Tso said her husband appeared to have been drugged and beaten and had lost some 40 pound (20 kilos) in detention. Pu said Karma Samdrup was tortured in 1998 and again this year. "The Bazhou Prefecture PSB [Public Security Bureau] tortured him and tried to get a forced confession from him. He lost 20 kilos in prison from over 90 kilos (198 pounds) and he owes 660,000 yuan (U.S. $97,000) to the prison and other inmates for food and water," he said in an interview. "In China, on top of laws we have leaders. So you never know what will happen," Pu said earlier this week. "There are clear signs of torture and forced confession through torture," as well as an obviously forged confession, he added. Detained in 1998 Karma Samdrup was taken by authorities from his home in the southwestern province of Sichuan back to Xinjiang in January, on charges resurrected from a 1998 case against him which was dropped by order of Xinjiang's Supreme Court. Pu said the accusation against Karma Samdrup related to an incident in 1998, when he acquired, as an art collector, cultural artifacts that later turned out to have been stolen by grave-robbers. Several men were convicted in connection with the robbery by the Yanqi County High People's Court, but the charges against Karma Samdrup were dropped. Karma Samdrup comes from a family of prominent Tibetans, many of whom have already fallen foul of the Chinese authorities. His elder brother, Rinchen Samdrup, was detained in August 2009 on charges of subversion and "splitting the motherland." At the time of his detention, Karma Samdrup was in the process of setting up a museum of Tibetan culture, and was judged by other Tibetans to own the largest private collection in the world of Tibetan art and artifacts. Several artists and intellectuals have been detained or have disappeared in recent months in what activists say amounts to the broadest suppression of Tibetan culture and expression in years. Tensions have frequently risen in Tibetan areas of China since deadly rioting broke out following days of peaceful protests by Tibetans in their capital, Lhasa, in March 2008. Security is also very tight in the XUAR ahead of the anniversary of deadly ethnic violence in the regional capital, Urumqi, which was sparked on July 5, 2009 by a demonstration by the mostly Muslim Uyghur ethnic group whose homeland is in Xinjiang. At least 200 people died in the violence, which Beijing has blamed on incitement by U.S.-based Uyghur exiled dissident Rebiya Kadeer. Original reporting in Tibetan by RFA's Tibetan service. Tibetan service director: Jigme Ngapo. Translated from the Tibetan by Karma Dorjee. Translated from the Chinese and written in English by Sarah Jackson-Han. ######################################################################## ###### 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. Please take a brief survey <http://www.surveymonkey.com/s_thankyou.aspx?sm=e0a5xCaMqY2toSXwVfP3Ua0G nBy%2fw8WatWPWMjdH6bU%3d> to help us improve your experience on www.rfa.org If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org. To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org ##### Joshua Lipes Online Copy Editor, English News Radio Free Asia lipesj(a)rfa.org T (202) 266-4094 F (202) 530-7798 www.rfa.org

14 years, 10 months

Renegade Thai General Vows 'Civil War' Before Being Shot

by Sarah Jackson-Han

Renegade Thai General Vows 'Civil War' Before Being Shot Ousted major general who led protesters is struck by a bullet to the head. Go to www.rfa.org for more. BANGKOK-A renegade Thai general shot here Thursday as the military planned to encircle barricaded antigovernment demonstrators predicted that the protests would become "civil warfare," in an interview with Radio Free Asia (RFA) just hours before he was struck in the head with a bullet. "It is an insurgency warfare that will be developed into civil warfare. The mobs are flaring and other demonstrators from other provinces will join in," Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawatdiphol, 59, known as Seh Daeng, said in one of his last interviews before the shooting. "So they won't care if their tap water and power are cut off. They have their own supplies. They don't care about the sky train. They have abundant food supplies and they can even sneak out to get them," said Khattiya, who claimed to be in direct contact with ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra. "There is no question of what next. They don't know. The People's Army are programmed to demand the dissolution of Parliament. If the tanks come in-if anything comes in to bother them-they will fight, and they don't need training from me." "They removed the bolts [from military armored personnel carriers or APCs], stomped on them, sprayed fire extinguishers into the APCs, and the soldiers fled like pigs. When the protesters were shot and fell down, they stood up and picked up the shields, and sprayed the soldiers with curry and hot water," he said. News agencies quoted an aide as saying Khattiya was shot in the head by a sniper, but this couldn't be independently confirmed and police couldn't be reached to comment. Local media reports said he was taken to Hua Chiew Hospital after Chulalongkorn Hospital refused to treat him. Khattiya is a renegade army major general whom the government has branded a "terrorist" and a mastermind behind violence from anti-government protesters. He was suspended from the army and became a fugitive from justice, although he continued to move freely about the capital. Khattiya, 58, was struck in the head by a bullet during an interview with the International Herald Tribune at about 7 p.m. on the street in central Bangkok, the newspaper reported. After a loud bang, "the general fell to the ground, with his eyes wide open, and protesters took his apparently lifeless body to the hospital, screaming out his nickname," the newspaper said online. Crackdown expected The report of Khattiya's shooting came after sounds of gunfire and at least four explosions. Khattiya, who helped build the barricades paralyzing downtown Bangkok, was accused of creating a paramilitary force among the anti-government protesters and had vowed to fight the army in the event of a crackdown. A reporter for TNN television said electricity went out late Thursday in the Red Shirt protest zone in Rajprasong, an upscale retail and residential area they have occupied since April 3. The Red Shirts, many from the rural poor, are demanding an immediate dissolution of Parliament, alleging that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's coalition government came to power illegitimately through manipulation of the courts and support from the powerful military. Original reporting and translation from the Thai by RFA staff in Bangkok. Additional reporting by news agencies. Executive producer: Susan Lavery. Written and produced in English by Sarah Jackson-Han. 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 news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org. To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org #####

14 years, 11 months

Radio Free Asia Responds to Freedom House's Media Freedoms Survey Results

by Rohit Mahajan

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. RFA Twitters - Follow Radio Free Asia's breaking news happening throughout East Asia via Twitter. Please visit https://twitter.com/RadioFreeAsia <https://twitter.com/RadioFreeAsia> to sign up now. 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 Desk: (202) 530-4976 Cell: (202) 489-8021 Email: mahajanr(a)rfa.org http://www.rfa.org/

14 years, 12 months

Radio Free Asia Responds to China Blocking Google Searches with the Letters 'RFA'

by Rohit Mahajan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 30, 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 China Blocking Google Searches with the Letters 'RFA' Washington, DC - Radio Free Asia President Libby Liu issued the following statement today in response to the news that China's Great Firewall temporarily blocked all Google searches in China, due to an unintentional association with the long-censored term "rfa." According to Google, the phrase "gs_rfai," which began appearing in the URL's of Google searches globally, triggered the problem. Google's statement went on to explain that in China these search results are being blocked due to the presence of the letters "rfa," because they are associated with Radio Free Asia. "This development is a stark reminder to the world of China's repressive control of the Internet and free speech for its citizens," Liu said. "The sensitivity of China's Great Firewall to filter any searches with the letters 'rfa' shows the extent to which online censors will go to restrict the Internet. "It's time for China to stop exerting draconian control of its cyberspace, and allow accurate and objective information to flow freely within its society." # # # 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 Desk: (202) 530-4976 Cell: (202) 489-8021 Email: mahajanr(a)rfa.org http://www.rfa.org/

15 years

Press Release: Radio Free Asia Praises Acquittal in Cambodia Disinformation Case

by Rohit Mahajan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 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> Radio Free Asia Praises Acquittal in Cambodia Disinformation Case WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Radio Free Asia President Libby Liu praised the acquittal of four men, including RFA broadcaster Sok Serey, on charges of disinformation stemming from a report about a Cham Muslim community leader in Takeo province. "We at Radio Free Asia are pleased that our reporter has been acquitted of the baseless charges against him," Liu said. "We hope this ruling will reverse the growing pattern of using Cambodia's legal system to suppress free speech and freedom of the press." The Trial's Background Serey, a journalist with RFA's Khmer language service, was among the four men charged with disinformation. Last year, authorities charged the men following the broadcast of Serey's report in late 2008 that contained comments from the three other defendants regarding a dispute between Cham Muslim community leader Rim Math and more than 200 villagers from his mosque. In a complaint filed with leaders of the Cham Muslim community in late 2008, villagers from Borei Cholsar district's Kampong Yol village, called for the dismissal of Rim Math on the charge of mishandling donations (10 million riels, valued at 2,400 USD) intended for a local project. In addition to Serey, the other men acquitted were one villager and two activists from the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights. The men's trial was held on Feb. 9. # # # 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.

15 years, 2 months

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