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Reporters Without Borders Spotlights Major Decline In Media Freedom In US

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The 2014 World Press Freedom Index spotlights major decline in media freedom in the United States. The US has been listed along with countries such as Central African Republic and Guatemala in the Index, which was published on Wednesday by Reporters Without Borders (RWB).

The United States has gone 13 positions down to 46th in this year's index, which covers 180 countries.

RWB head of research Lucie Morillon said: "This year, the ranking of some countries, including democracies, has been impacted by an overly broad and abusive interpretation of the concept of national security protection."

Several factors, including armed conflicts, political instability and national security, restrict media freedom in many countries, according to the Index.

In countries where the rule of law prevails, security arguments are misused as grounds for restricting freedom of information. "Invoked too readily, the protection of national security is encroaching on hard-won democratic rights," the France-based non-profit organization noted, referring to the recent developments in the U.S.

"The trial and conviction of Private [Chelsea] Manning and the pursuit of the National Security Agency analyst Edward Snowden were warnings to all those thinking of assisting in the disclosure of sensitive information that would clearly be in the public interest," RWB says.

Both American and British authorities "seem obsessed with hunting down whistleblowers instead of adopting legislation to rein in abusive surveillance practices that negate privacy, a democratic value cherished in both countries."

The United Kingdom is ranked 33rd, three places down, distinguishing itself by its harassment of The Guardian.

In August last year, US Army Private Manning was sentenced to 35 years in jail for handing classified US government documents to the Wikileaks website.

American authorities charged US whistle-blower Edward Snowden with espionage and theft of government property after he stunned the world last year by leaking details of several secret mass electronic surveillance programs run by the United States.

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Reporters Without Borders Spotlights Major Decline In Media Freedom In US

Netizens abusing press freedom

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There is too much press freedom and freedom of expression in Malaysia that many have failed to appreciate and are abusing it.

GEORGE TOWN: If there is no press freedom in Malaysia then how is it that netizens keep slamming the Barisan Nasional federal government for anything and everything, asked Centre for Political Awareness (CPA) president Huan Cheng Guan.

Huan was commenting on the Malaysias press freedom hitting a historic low in the 2014 World Press Freedom Index of 147 out of 180 countries.

He said even an innocent reference to kangkung by the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had been distorted to make international headlines.

If this is not a clear evidence of free press and freedom of expression, what else can it be? asked Huan said his statement to FMT here today.

Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire had said the World Press Freedom Index was a reference tool based on seven criteria: the level of abuses, the extent of pluralism, media independence, the environment and self-censorship, the legislative framework, transparency and infrastructure.

I would ask Reporters Without Borders to relook the situation in Malaysia. The truth is there is too much press freedom and freedom of expression.

Many failed to appreciate it, indeed have been abusing it, said Huan.

He criticised DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang for practising double standard and being absent-minded in his habitual haste to blast Malaysias press freedom index.

He said Kit Siang had forgotten that it was his son, Guan Eng, and other DAP members, including Teresa Kok, who have been fervently suing the media and activists for reporting issues.

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Netizens abusing press freedom

After Freedom Industries, West Virginia Now Polluted By ‘Patriot’ Coal Waste Spill – Video

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After Freedom Industries, West Virginia Now Polluted By #39;Patriot #39; Coal Waste Spill
After Freedom Industries polluted the water in West Virginia, Patriot Coal is the latest company seemingly out to destroy West Virginia... This clip from the...

By: Sam Seder

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After Freedom Industries, West Virginia Now Polluted By 'Patriot' Coal Waste Spill - Video

Libya: Three years on, Gaddafi-era laws used to clamp down on free expression

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Mounting curbs on freedom of expression are threatening the rights Libyans sought to gain by overthrowing Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi, said Amnesty International ahead of the third anniversary of the 2011 Libyan uprising.

In the latest move to stifle dissent across Libya, the authorities have consolidated a Gaddafi-era law that criminalizes insults to the state, its emblem or flag. The amended version of Article 195 of the Penal Code outlaws all criticism of the 17 February Revolution or insults to officials. An almost identical law drafted under al-Gaddafi banned all acts regarded as an attack against the Great Fateh Revolution and its leader.

Three years ago Libyans took to the streets to demand greater freedom, not another authoritarian rule, said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director at Amnesty International.

What is the difference between not being able to criticize al-Gaddafis Al-Fateh Revolution or the '17 February Revolution? Behind both is the idea that expression is limited and some issues of taboo.

At this rate the Libyan authorities are headed down a dangerous path. The amendment is nothing more than a semantic alteration - substituting the name of one revolution with another. It is a copy and paste job of legislation from the Gaddafi-era and a flagrant attempt to undermine freedom of expression. The article should be repealed immediately.

Following the end of the Libyan conflict, Article 195 remained in force until its amendment on 5 February. Under the amended provision anyone who publicly insults the legislative, executive or judicial authorities can be punished with a prison term ranging from three to 15 years.

The law also criminalizes insults against members of the General National Congress (GNC), Libyas interim parliament, who voted on the amendment.

Muammar al-Gaddafi routinely used repressive legislation to silence his critics and political opponents. To replace these with carbon-copy laws is a clear betrayal of the aspirations of the 17 February Revolution, said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

In a constitutional declaration adopted shortly before Colonel al-Gaddafis ousting in August 2011 Libyas transitional authorities promised to guarantee the right to freedom of expression.

Instead of strengthening protections for freedom of expression the authorities have persisted to use al-Gaddafis repressive laws. Last year the previous version of the same article was used to prosecute Amara al-Khattabi, a journalist who published a list of 84 judges whom he alleged were corrupt. His trial is ongoing.

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Libya: Three years on, Gaddafi-era laws used to clamp down on free expression

PH drops anew in press freedom rankings

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by Angela Casauay Posted on 02/12/2014 5:13 PM |Updated 02/12/2014 8:32 PM

AT A GLANCE. Reporters Without Borders ranks the state of press freedom across the world. Image by Reporters Without Borders

MANILA, Philippines For the 2nd year in a row and against the backdrop of unsolved media killings and the President's refusal to endorse the Freedom of Information bill, the Philippines dropped in press freedom rankings across the world.

Out of 180 countries surveyed by Paris-based organization Reporters Without Borders or Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), the Philippines ranked 149th in the 2014 World Press Freedom Index. It dropped even further from 147th in 2013 and 140th in 2012.

The results of the survey come two months after the killing of 3 media practitioners within just two weeks. (READ: Gov't probes media killings)

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said the government "acknowledges" the Philippines' "slight decline" in the rankings.

Coloma told reporters: "We are committed to pursue and prosecute assailants of slain journalists so that we may obtain justice for those who were killed in the practice of their profession. We will continue to ensure that there are no prior restraints to the exercise of press freedom. This is in keeping with the spirit of EDSA People Power as we commemorate this month the 28th anniversary of the struggle that ensured the triumph of democracy over dictatorship and martial rule."

Factors

In this year's press freedom index, armed conflicts and abusive surveillance practices were some of the major factors that contributed to the repression of press freedom.

Even countries known for being democratic suffered drops in rankings. The United States (46th) fell 13 places due its handling of the trial and conviction of Private Bradley Manning and the pursuit of NSA analyst Edward Snowden.

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PH drops anew in press freedom rankings

Sliding press freedom: Best democracy in the world?

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Malaysia hit an historic low in the World Press Freedom Index ranking 147 out of 180 countries in the latest index produced by Reporters Without Borders.

PETALING JAYA: DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang made a snide remark against Prime Minister Najib Tun Razaks best democracy in the world claim after Malaysia was ranked 147 in the World Press Freedom Index, out of a total of 180 countries.

Shame of shame! This is the worst setback to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razaks best democracy in the world claim with Malaysias 2014 Press Freedom Index falling to the lowest point in nations history, even below that of Myanmar, Lim said in a statement today.

In 2013, Malaysia was ranked 145 out of 179 countries, falling 23 rungs from the previous year.

Malaysia already plunged last year to a historic low of No 145 ranking out of 179 countries in the 2013 World Press Freedom Index the worst since the start of the annual index by Reporters Without Border (RSF) in 2002.

In the latest 2014 World Press Freedom Index just released, Malaysia fell further to 147 out of 180 countries, two places behind Myanmar which climbed from 151st ranking to 145th position this year, he added.

There are nine other South East Asian countries ranked higher than Malaysia in this latest index.

Asean nations which outperformed Malaysia include Brunei (117), Thailand (130), Indonesia (132), Cambodia (144), Myanmar (145), Philippines (149), Singapore (150), Laos (171) and Vietnam (174), Lim added.

Lim also stressed that the Malaysian ranking has plummeted ever since Najib took over the administration.

Malaysia was in a respectable ranking of 92nd position in 2006 but under Najibs premiership, Malaysia is now locked into the worst position, in the bottom quarter of 180 countries assessed.

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Sliding press freedom: Best democracy in the world?


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