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Curbs on free expression

PARIS: Governments and organisations around the world have made gestures of support for journalists on World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday, but at least one reporter was killed and dozens of leaders came under fierce criticism for infringing on free expression.

The global media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF — Reporters Without Borders) in Paris displayed a rogues' gallery of photographs of 37 world leaders it accused of abusing journalists' rights.

RSF Secretary General Robert Menard denounced ``acts of violence, imprisonments, assassinations'' of journalists, saying 2005 saw the most killings of journalists in any year since 1995. Iraq had the highest media death toll, he added, with 90 journalists killed there since the start of the war three years ago.

In the Philippines — ranked by RSF as the second-most dangerous country for journalists amid ongoing political instability — another media worker was killed on Wednesday. Police said freelancer Nicholas Cervantes was gunned down outside his home in a Manila suburb.

Groups in several countries urged the release of journalists held in detention and challenged their national governments over press freedoms. Swedish organisations called for the release of Dawit Isaac, a Swedish-Eritrean journalist held in Eritrea since 2001 on charges of being a traitor and spy for Ethiopia.

India ahead

India has fared better than its neighbours in South Asia and the U.S. in the annual press freedom index prepared by the media watchdog. The index placed India in the press freedom scale at the 106th position while its neighbour Pakistan was ranked 150 and the U.S. was at 137. India's other neighbours were also low down the order in the index which rated 167 countries, with Sri Lanka placed at 115, Afghansistan at 125, China 159 and Nepal 160.

While Denmark retained its "numero uno" position, North Korea was adjudged the country with least press freedom. — Agencies, PTI

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