AFTER Iraq, Pakistan and the Philippines were the deadliest for the press in 2008, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders reported today.
In its Press Freedom Round-up for 2008, Reporters Without Borders recorded six journalists slain in the line of duty in the Philippines and seven in Pakistan. Fifteen journalists were killed in Iraq this year.
Worldwide, a total of 60 journalists and one media assistant were killed this year compared to last year’s 86 journalists and 20 media assistants.
But the media watchdog said: “The figures may be lower than last year’s but this should not mask the fact that intimidation and censorship have become more widespread, including in the west, and the most authoritarian governments have been taking an even tougher line. The quantitative improvement in certain indicators is often due to journalists becoming disheartened and turning to a less dangerous trade or going into exile. We cannot say that 60 deaths, hundreds of arrests and systematic censorship offer grounds for optimism.”
Reporters Without Borders cited Africa as an example. The lower death toll—from 12 in 2007 to three in 2008—“is due above all to the fact that many journalists stopped working, often going into exile, and to the gradual disappearance of news media in war zones such as Somalia,” it said.
It noted that it has become “almost routine” for journalists in Africa to be jailed for upsetting government officials or covering “off-limits” subjects.
The media organization also said the handling by the U.S. military of the security situation often led to Iraqi journalists, including those working for foreign news media, being imprisoned.
Reporters Without Borders expressed alarm over the arrests of journalists in China, especially for their reports on the Olympics, and of journalists and bloggers during a crackdown by the Burmese military government.
A total of 673 journalists were arrested, 929 were physically attacked or threatened, 29 were kidnapped and 353 were media outlets censored this year.
Reporters Without Borders also an increasing number of governments have trained their “predatory activity” on the Internet. These include Thailand, China, Burma, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt and Morocco.
A blogger was killed, 59 were arrested, 45 were physically attacked and 1,740 websites were blocked, shut down or suspended in 2008.
“The growth in the Internet’s influence and potential is being accompanied by greater vigilance on the part of some governments with already marked security concerns. Every year, repressive governments acquire new tools that allow them to monitor the Internet and track online data,” said Reporters Without Borders. “The Internet is gradually becoming a battleground for citizens with criticisms to express and journalists who are censored in the traditional media. As such, it poses a threat to those in power who are used to governing as they wish with impunity.”–Yvonne T. Chua