FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 29,
2010
Contact:
John Estrella 202 530 4900 estrellaj@rfa.org
Rohit Mahajan 202 530 4976 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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Rohit Mahajan
Media Relations Manager
Radio Free Asia
Desk: (202) 530-4976
Cell: (202) 489-8021
Email: mahajanr@rfa.org