Afghanistan: NF 21-28-20=69
The environment for Afghanistan's fledgling media worsened slightly in 2005 as journalists faced an increase in attacks and legal harassment during the year. Article 34 of the new constitution, passed in January 2004, provides for freedom of the press and of expression. The May 2004 press law guarantees the right of citizens to obtain information and prohibits censorship. However, it retains broad restrictions on content that is "contrary to the principles of Islam or offensive to other religions and sects" and "matters leading to dishonoring and defaming individuals." The legislation also establishes a government-appointed commission with the power to decide if journalists who contravene the law should face court prosecutions or fines. Critics of the law have alleged that its prohibition of "anti-Islamic" writings is overly vague and has led to considerable confusion within the journalistic community on what constitutes permissible content. Media diversity and freedom is markedly higher in Kabul, and some warlords display limited tolerance for independent media in the areas under their control. A number of journalists were threatened or harassed by government ministers, politicians, and others in positions of power as a result of their reporting. In one of several cases, two reporters working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty were arrested in July by intelligence services in Konar province and were detained for a week without charge. Many practice self-censorship or avoid writing about sensitive issues such as Islam, national unity, or crimes committed by specific warlords. In a high-profile case that was criticized extensively by both local and western groups, Ali Mohaqiq Nasab, editor of the monthly women's rights magazine Haqooq-i-Zan, was ordered arrested by the high court for publishing articles deemed to be "anti-Islamic." Despite the fact that the government-appointed Media Commission cleared him of blasphemy charges, he was sentenced by the high court to two years' imprisonment in October and also faced the threat of a court-issued fatwa that could have increased his sentence. Nasab was released in December, but the case is considered to have had a chilling effect on press freedom, with an accompanying rise in self-censorship. Religious conservatives also targeted the progressive Tolo TV, which had been criticized by clerics for airing programs that "oppose Islam and national values." In May, a popular female television presenter who had worked at Tolo was murdered, possibly by family members who did not approve of.her job, and other program hosts received threats or were forced off the air, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Although registration requirements remain in place, authorities have granted more than 250 publications licenses, and several dozen private radio stations and eight television stations are now broadcasting, with the expansion of independent print and broadcast outlets continuing in 2005. National and local governments continue to own or control several dozen newspapers and almost all of the electronic media, and reporting at these news outlets is generally balanced. International radio broadcasts in Dari or Pashto, such the BBC, VOA, Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Afghanistan, remain a key source of information for many Afghans. In the country's underdeveloped economic environment, the majority of media outlets remain dependent on the state, political parties, or international donors for financial support. However, in September 2004 the first independent radio station supported entirely by private sector funds was inaugurated in Ghazni province. Access to the Internet and to satellite TV dishes remains largely unrestricted.

Albania: PF 17-16-17=50
The legal system protects freedom of the press, and it is generally respected by the authorities. Press freedom advocates in 2006 continued to urge the government to decriminalize defamation, which could incur a maximum sentence of two years in prison under existing statutes. Although the parliament failed to act on draft amendments introduced in 2005, Prime Minister Sali Berisha in October of that year ordered government officials to use the right of reply rather than civil or criminal defamation suits to address perceived bias or inaccuracy in the media. No major libel cases were reported in 2006. The prospects for legal reform improved in June, when Albania signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union. The pact, which  capped more than two years of negotiations, was considered a key milestone on the path to EU membership, and EU officials said media freedom would be among their priorities as they pressed Albania to make additional structural improvements. The country’s parliament-appointed broadcast regulator, the National Council of Radio and Television (NCRT), continued to face accusations of political influence and incompetence. However, Berisha and Tirana Mayor Edi Rama, leader of the opposition Socialist Party, agreed in August to add two opposition appointees to the council’s membership. The plan came as part of a deal allowing municipal elections to proceed in early 2007.Independent media continued to be active and were generally able to criticize the government. Coverage by state-owned broadcasters had favored the incumbents in the run-up to July 2005 elections, and at least four cases of violence against journalists were reported that year, but the country largely avoided a repeat of such problems in 2006. The media played a prominent role in at least two new incidents that proved embarrassing to the government. In March, the Tirana-based television station Alsat broadcast a gaffe in which Foreign Minister Besnik Mustafaj predicted further regional border changes if Kosovo were partitioned between Serbs and ethnic Albanians. In September, an investigative television show aired recorded conversations in which a government official appeared to pressure two nephews of President Alfred Moisiu to convince their uncle to fire the attorney general, whom Berisha has accused of corruption in a politically charged standoff.  Albania has 66 private television stations, at least 45 private radio stations, and roughly 200 print publications in circulation. Many independent media outlets are hampered by a lack of revenue. Publishers and media owners tend to dictate editorial policy based on political and economic affiliations, which, together with the employment insecurity journalists face, nurtures a culture of self-censorship. The internet is a relatively unimportant source of information, since access is limited by a weak telecommunications infrastructure outside major urban areas. Despite the absence of government restrictions, barely six percent of the population is able to use the internet on a regular basis.

Algeria: NF 22-23-17=62
According to Algeria’s constitution, press freedom is a guaranteed right, but this has not stopped authorities from using legal and extralegal methods to harass the independent press. The laws were amended in 2001 to criminalize defamation of the president, the parliament, the judiciary, and the military. Algerian courts are subject to government pressure when adjudicating cases of libel and related offenses. Free expression was dealt another blow in 2006 as a result of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s plan for national reconciliation after the civil conflict of the 1990s. In February, the cabinet passed a decree that granted immunity to perpetrators of violence during the conflict, and authorized up to five years’ imprisonment for “anyone who by speech, writing, or any other act, uses or exploits the wounds of the National Tragedy to harm the institutions of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, to weaken the state, or to undermine the good reputation of its agents who honorably served it, or to tarnish the image of Algeria internationally.”  
The pattern of harassment aimed at critical or partisan Algerian journalists over the past several years continued in 2006. Journalists were arrested and charged with criminal violations in February after their newspapers published controversial cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, which first appeared in a Danish newspaper and sparked riots and demonstrations across the Muslim world. As was often the case in Algeria, the journalists were soon released, but the arrests illustrated the unpredictable nature of the authorities. In January, reporter Bachir Larabi of the independent daily El-Khabar was imprisoned for a month in the southwestern town of El-Bayadh after he was found guilty of defaming a local mayor. In June, journalist Mohamed Benchicou was released from prison after completing his two-year sentence for violating Algerian currency transportation laws. Benchicou’s case was politically motivated—his defunct newspaper, Le Matin, had published harsh criticism of the government, and Benchicou himself had written a book that pilloried the president. Bouteflika issued a pardon for journalists in July, but the laws used to punish them remained on the books and several other journalists were charged and sentenced to jail terms for their writing in the months after the pardon. Despite such persistent government harassment, Algeria’s newspapers remained feisty and assertive in their opinions. Columnists and editorial cartoonists skewer the authorities on a regular basis. 
Radio and television, two of the main sources of news, are largely under government direction. Popular pan-Arab satellite television stations, like Qatar-based Al-Jazeera, provide an alternate source of information. The government uses its control over the country’s printing presses and a state advertising agency to influence the independent print media. Internet penetration is still quite low at only 5 percent of the population, but access is not restricted by the government.

Andorra: F 1-4-8=13
Freedom of expression is protected under Article 12 of the Andorran constitution, which also allows for laws that regulate the right of reply, correction, and professional confidentiality. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is binding in Andorra, also ensures media freedom. No major incidents relating to press freedom were reported in 2006. Due to Andorra’s size and its proximity to France and Spain, its media landscape is partially shaped by foreign media; the majority of television transmissions are provided through technical accords with the Spanish and French government networks. Domestically, there are two daily papers, Diari d’Andorra and El Periodic, as well as two major weekly newspapers, Informacions and 7 Dies. There are approximately 15 radio and 6 television stations. The government also releases a daily news bulletin. Internet access is open and unrestricted, with an estimated 22,000 users. 

Angola: NF 17-24-21=62
Despite constitutional guarantees, freedom of the press is restricted in Angola. In February, the government approved a new Press Law which was enacted in May. The law is an improvement over previous legislation: it ends the state monopoly on television broadcasting, calls for the creation of a public broadcaster that ensures the “right of citizens to inform, seek information and be informed”, and allows journalists to use the truth defense in libel and defamation trials. However, the law includes several restrictive provisions and requires implementing legislation for the execution of some of the more positive reforms (including application for independent TV and radio licenses). Libel of the president or his representatives is still a criminal offense, punishable by high fines and possibly imprisonment (the wording of the legislation is vague). Authorities can suspend a publication for up to a year if it has published three articles that lead to defamation convictions within a three-year period. Particularly in the interior of the country, the judicial system has little independence to enforce legislation guaranteeing press freedom. The Law on State Secrecy permits the government to classify information, at times unnecessarily, and those who publish classified information are prosecuted. Private media are often denied access to official information or events. The new Press Law authorizes the creation—pending legislation—of an independent National Council for Media Communication. 
Although the government generally tolerates criticism from private media, government officials often pressure independent media to cover the government in a more favorable light. Although less common than in previous years, arbitrary detention, harassment, and attacks on journalists continued to take place. For fear of reprisals, many journalists practice self-censorship. In July, Reporters Sans Frontieres condemned the murders of two Angolan journalists, though it was unclear whether their deaths were related to their media work. Foreign media are able to operate with fewer government restrictions. However, journalists must first secure work visas to enter the country and then must receive authorization from the Ministry of the Interior to meet government officials or travel within Angola. 
The government continues to dominate both print and broadcast media. The largest media sources are state run and allow very little criticism of government officials. The official Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) is the only radio station with national  coverage; the state also controls the only non-satellite television station. While the new Press Law opens television broadcasting to the private sector and establishes principles prohibiting censorship and respecting freedom of the press and access to information sources, the effective promulgation and implementation of the Law is another matter. Four private radio stations operate under government license from Luanda, the capital. As of 2006, authorities continued to prevent the outspoken Roman Catholic radio, Radio Ecclesia, from broadcasting outside Luanda. The country’s seven private weeklies have low circulation and face financial constraints as well as high costs of production and distribution. Few outside the capital can afford private newspapers. Internet access is unrestricted and is available in several provincial capitals, though less than one percent of the population was able to make use of this new medium in 2006. 

Antigua & Barbuda: PF 10-14-14=38
The constitution of Antigua and Barbuda explicitly protects freedom of speech and of the press, and freedom of information legislation was passed in 2005. A major source of concern for media freedom advocates remained the legal action initiated in 2005 by Gene Pestaina, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), against the manager of the popular station Observer Radio. Lennox Linton was accused of defamation for verbally ridiculing the DPP’s office while on the air. In August 2006, a High Court judge ruled against Linton’s application to have the case thrown out, a ruling that opened the way for the issue to be heard in court. 
Relations between the United Progressive Party government and the media continued to be tense. In April, the Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Communications, Edmund Mansoor, publicly criticized what he called “special interests” in the media, stating that the content of commentaries, editorials and talk-shows “smack of…gutter journalism.” In February, the opposition Antigua Labour Party complained to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression about alleged government restrictions on access to state-owned media. In 2005, authorities arrested opposition ZDK radio announcer James “Tanny” Rose for misbehavior in public office, as chief information officer of the state-owned ABS Radio and Television Authority in 1994. In 2006, the prosecutor brought criminal charges against Rose, but he had not been tried by the year’s end.  There are 2 daily newspapers, 1 weekly paper, and 10 radio stations, including the state-owned Antigua and Barbuda Network (ABN) which also runs the islands’ only freely available television service; there is one cable television company. There are no government restrictions on the internet, which was accessed by 40 percent of the population in 2006. 

Argentina: PF 13-20-16=49
Local and national politicians followed President Néstor Kirchner’s lead in 2006, showing little tolerance for press criticism. Tactics used against critical media included control of government advertising and access to information; termination of programs on private and state-owned broadcasters; and use of authoritarian press laws, threats, and physical assault to intimidate journalists. 
While criminal insult and defamation laws no longer exist in Argentina, “crimes against honor” prohibit intentionally accusing someone of committing a crime, as well as impugning their honor. Civil laws call for the accuser to pay fines for any material or “moral” damages caused, while criminal laws carry jail time of up to three years. Both laws were used against journalists in 2006. Investigative reporter Mariano Saravia received a grant from the World Press Freedom Committee to fight charges of civil crimes against honor filed by a retired military officer and a former policeman who appeared in his book, La Sombra Azul. The journalist’s defense is that what he wrote was true. Prior to the charges, Saravia received death threats and was harassed. Although not used against Saravia, crimes against honor also exist in the federal Penal Code to which truth is a defense if the accusation is made in the public interest. The minister of culture in Rio Negro province filed criminal charges against journalist Angel Ruiz in 2006 after his reports linked the official to fossil smuggling. Prior to the charges, the journalist received threatening calls. Other criminal laws were used against journalists during the year. In Córdoba province, radio journalists Néstor Pasquini and Hugo Francischelli were jailed in December on charges of inciting violence and arson during a riot they covered. 
The press also faced various forms of political pressure. President Kirchner continued to criticize conservative journalists and publications for complicity with the 1976-1983 military dictatorship. These publications, especially the daily La Nación, provide the most critical coverage of his government. First Lady and Senator Cristina Fernández called journalists covering congress “ignoramuses” and “dimwits.” These comments seemed to have incited attacks on journalists, including threats made against La Nación columnist Joaquín Morales Solá and the publisher of the critical newsmagazine Noticias, Jorge Fontevecchia. On state-owned Channel 7 television, “irreverent” journalist Victor Hugo Morales’s program, Desayuno, was cancelled after a seven-year run. The order came after the station management’s replacement and unexplained dismissal of anchor Marcela Pacheca after she criticized a gathering that President Kirchner organized on the anniversary of his inauguration. Similarly, Radio Nacional discontinued José Eliaschev’s commentary program. Three current affairs programs on privately owned media suffered the same fate. 
Reporters Sans Frontieres reported that 34 Argentine journalists were physically attacked in 2006, often by politicians, bureaucrats or police. In the Quilmes town hall in Buenos Aires province, a local leader of the Peronist Party beat radio journalist Pedro Navarro unconscious. The mayor of Quilmes convinced the Federal Broadcast Commission to revoke the licenses of two local radio stations, Navarro’s Radio Quilmes 106.9 and Fan 103.9. The lower house of Congress unsuccessfully called upon the commission to restore their licenses. Furthermore, three well-known journalists’ email accounts were hacked, giving perpetrators access to names of confidential sources. 
The use of state advertising to reward or punish media outlets is considered the biggest threat to press freedom nationally. According to the U.S. State Department, national government spending on advertising increased from approximately $5 million (15.4 million pesos) in 2002 to approximately $47 million (127.5 million pesos) in 2006. Shows were cancelled on privately owned Radio Río Gallegos in Santa Cruz province, LT 24 radio in Buenos Aires province and on TV 5 in Tucuman after local authorities threatened to withdraw advertising. In May, Grupo Editorial Perfil sued the national government for discrimination after withholding official advertising from some of its publications. Legislation that would set market-based or program-oriented criteria for the distribution of state advertising was stalled in congressional committees. The media company Perfil, owner of Noticias, has sued over the government’s refusal to award state advertising or grant its reporters interviews with top officials. All print media in Argentina are privately owned. The internet was unrestricted by the government and utilized by 34 percent of the population.

Armenia NF 20-24-20=64
The Armenian constitution guarantees freedom of the press, although the government and those closely connected to the ruling party frequently fail to respect press freedom in practice. Libel remains a criminal offense. A coalition of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)—including the Yerevan Press Club, the Journalists’ Union of Armenia, Internews Armenia, the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, and the Investigative Journalists’ Association—drafted a proposal to abolish Article 318 of the Armenian Criminal Code, which establishes criminal liability for insulting a public official. Armenia adopted freedom of information legislation in 2003, but the law has been poorly implemented. 
In September 2006, Arman Babajanian, editor of the opposition daily Zhamanak Yerevan, was sentenced to four years in prison for falsifying documents to avoid military service. Although he pleaded guilty, media organizations expressed concern that the trial was politically influenced, since the sentence was unusually harsh for such an offense. The president appoints all the members of the National Commission for Television and Radio (NCTVR), the body that oversees the broadcast media. The commission’s actions are government controlled and not transparent. During the year, A1+, once a vocal and  politically independent television station, continued efforts to obtain a frequency license, but all 12 of its applications over the past four years have been denied by the NCTVR. In 2002, the NCTVR had revoked A1+’s license and subsequently gave it to a progovernment national television station. Since then, the station has remained vocal by producing television programs and internet publications. Each year, Armenian journalists organize protests on the anniversary of the station’s license revocation. The Armenian National Academy of Sciences filed a lawsuit in March 2006 demanding that A1+ vacate the building it had occupied for the past 15 years. The academy owned the building and won the lawsuit, and the journalists were given 24 hours to leave. Separately this year, the government proposed a draft law that would have changed the composition of the NCTVR, with half the members appointed by the parliament and the other half by the president. The legislation also sought to reduce television coverage of the parliament. However, lawmakers rejected the bill in September. 
While the government does not exert direct control or censorship over the media, it maintains a firm grip, particularly over broadcast media, through informal pressure on outlet owners. Print publications are typically free to report diverse views, partly because their low circulation and lack of presence in rural areas make them a less likely target for government pressure. The highest-selling daily, Haykakan Zhamanak, sells less than 6,000 copies a day. Since A1+ was taken off the air, most television stations have grown more politically aligned with the government, remain selective in their reporting, and routinely ignore opposition members. Armenian Public Television, which has national reach, avoids criticizing the government amid the evident climate of self-censorship in the broadcast media. Toward the end of the year, as the campaign for the spring 2007 parliamentary elections intensified, opposition figures faced discriminatory coverage and high prices for campaign advertisements. There were reports throughout the year of physical violence inflicted against members of the press. In July, Gagik Shamshian, a freelancer writing for the opposition weekly Chorrord Ishkhanutyun and the independent daily Aravot, was allegedly assaulted by the local government leader’s brother and other assailants, and Chorrord Ishkhanutyun’s offices were damaged by an arson attack. In September, Hovhannes Galajian, editor in chief of the opposition-sponsored Iravunk newspaper, was attacked and beaten. 
The print media are privately owned, except for the government-subsidized Hayastani Hanrapetutyun and its Russian-language version. But print publications struggle with financial difficulties, and few newspapers are able to function independently of economic or political interest groups. The government has further restricted the print media’s distribution ability with new legislation that requires delivery companies to apply for costly licenses. The legislation threatens to bankrupt smaller companies and force all print media to use either Armenia’s postal service or the main kiosk vendor, both of which are government-affiliated. In 2006, due to the Russian transportation embargo on Georgia, Armenia faced a shortage of newsprint. Most television stations are also privately owned, but the owners are most often progovernment politicians or government-affiliated business magnates. Internet access remains low at 5 percent of the population thanks to high connection costs, but there have been no reports of official restrictions imposed on its use. 

Australia: F 6-9-6=21
Press freedom in Australia operates by convention rather than by constitutional guarantees. However, in July the state of Victoria introduced a Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities which includes protection for freedom of expression. The Australian Press Council (APC) and the Media, Entertainment, and Arts Alliance (MEAA) monitor journalistic freedom and access to information. Both groups have expressed concern over a decline in press freedom in a number of areas in 2006. 
In spite of recommendations by the Australian Law Reform Commission, the Antiterrorism Bill of 2005, which imposes a blanket ban on reporting about people detained under antiterrorism legislation, has yet to be reformed. Journalists may be charged with sedition and face a seven-year jail sentence for reporting against the actions of the government, police, or judiciary. Additionally, the Telecommunications (Interception) Amendment Act 2006 was passed, which affords the right to police and other security agencies to monitor phone conversations as well as access email and text messages of people who have associated with those accused of crimes. The MEAA has expressed concern that this will lead to greater journalistic self-censorship and hesitancy of sources to reveal information to the press. 
In 2006, a judge upheld the decision to hold two journalists from the Herald Sun in contempt for refusing to reveal a source before a judge in Melbourne in 2005. In an assault on freedom of information in late 2006, the High Court of Australia voted three-to-two to deny access to documents requested by The Australian journalist Michael McKinnon. McKinnon requested documents on income tax and first-time home buyers grants but was denied by Treasurer Peter Costello, stating the documents were not “in the public interest.” Lengthy delays and high costs already impede access to information. In a victory for press freedom, Australia introduced uniform defamation laws which cap maximum damages, restrict action to one year after publication, bar legal action from large corporations, and introduce truth as a complete defense. 
Australia has a strong tradition of public broadcasting, though the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has faced dramatic funding cuts and in 2006 was stripped of its only staff-elected board position. Private media ownership is concentrated, with the majority of ownership by Rupert Murdoch’s News Ltd. and Fairfax group. Media ownership laws were further relaxed in 2006 when the minimum number of “voices” in a city was reduced to five, and in regions to four. Use of the internet is vibrant in Australia, utilized by 70 percent of the population. However, censorship concerns were raised when the prime minister’s office had a website satirizing Prime Minister John Howard closed down 36 hours after its launch.

Austria: F 8-8-5=21
The federal constitution and the media law of 1981 provide the basis for free media in Austria. Freedom of information legislation is in place and the government generally respects these provisions in practice. Libel and slander laws protect politicians and other government officials and in some cases lead to self-censorship. In November 2006, the European Court of Human Rights overturned decisions in three cases brought to trial by public figures on defamation charges related to articles published in the daily Der Standard. The Austrian courts’ reasoning “had not been relevant or sufficient to justify the interference in the applicants’ right to freedom of expression,” which was judged a violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. 
Any form of pro-Nazism or anti-Semitism is prohibited by law as is Holocaust denial. In February, British author David Irving, who had been charged with violating the law banning neo-Nazi activities, was sentenced to three years in prison. In April, John Gudenus, a former member of the upper house of parliament, was sentenced to probation for statements denying the events of the Holocaust. 
Since 2004’s broadcasting law amendments, Austria’s public broadcaster, which operates two television stations and four radio channels, faces growing competition for audiences from private broadcasters. Cable and satellite are widely available and are often used to watch German stations, some of which tailor programming for the Austrian audience. Daily newspapers, both national and regional, are very popular and contest fiercely for readers. Foreign investors have a solid presence in the predominantly privately owned print market, and ownership concentration is high. Many radio stations have ties to print outlets and additionally there is cross-ownership of daily and weekly newspapers. Press subsidies help newspapers survive and are designed to encourage pluralism. Internet access is unrestricted and was used by more than 50 percent of the population in 2006.

Azerbaijan: NF 24-29-22=75
Azerbaijan’s constitution guarantees freedom of the press, but the government hardly respects it and media freedom continues to decline in practice. Despite the completion of a draft law on defamation that would decriminalize libel, it remains a criminal offense punishable with large fines and up to three years’ imprisonment. Defamation lawsuits are the most common method of government intimidation aimed at opposition and independent media. The interior minister alone filed five lawsuits in 2006. In one such case in September, Eynulla Fatullayev, founder and editor of the Russian-language newspaper Realny Azerbaijan, received a suspended two-year prison sentence and a fine of $11,000 for libeling the interior minister. Fikret Faramazoglu, editor in chief of the weekly opposition newspaper 24 Saat, was also sentenced to a suspended one-year prison term in August for libeling the interior minister. In August, Shakhin Agabeili, editor of the magazine Milli Yol, was sentenced to one year in prison for defaming a leader of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party; he was pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev in October. 
Azerbaijan passed a freedom of information law in December 2005, but it has not been effectively implemented; government institutions continue to ban opposition and independent journalists from public hearings. The government wields significant control over the National Radio and Television Council (NRTC), the broadcast watchdog and licenser. In November, the NRTC suspended the transmission of the country’s first independent television and radio station, ANS, citing a series of legal and regulatory violations. After harsh international criticism, the NRTC allowed ANS to resume broadcasts in December. However, the station remained vulnerable due to outstanding problems with the regulator. The suspension disrupted local transmission of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Voice of America. On the same day as the action against ANS, a ruling by the Baku’s Economic Court on the 1992 lease of a city building forced the evictions of the newspapers Azadliq and Bizim Yol and the Turan information agency, as well as the headquarters of the main opposition party, the Popular Front. The news outlets were able to relocate and resume operations after about a week. Foreign broadcasts of Turkish and Russian media were suspended at the end of the year. 
Harassment and violence against journalists remains a serious concern in Azerbaijan. In October, members of the Azadliq opposition political bloc began a hunger strike to protest the government’s harassment of the media, and they were later joined by independent media representatives; it was the second time since 1999 that Azerbaijani journalists have gone on a collective hunger strike. In March, Azadliq journalist Fikret Huseynli was kidnapped and stabbed before being released. In May, Bizim Yol editor Bakhaddin Khaziyev was kidnapped, beaten, and ordered to stop reporting on sensitive issues, including corruption. His assailants reportedly ran over his legs with a car. Fatullayev ceased publishing both Realny Azerbaijan and its Azerbaijani-language sister publication in October, apparently to secure the release of his kidnapped father. Realny Azerbaijan resumed publishing in December. In June, authorities detained a prominent satirist for Azadliq, Mirza Sakit Zakhidov, on charges of narcotics trafficking and possession. He said the charges were fabricated, but was convicted of drug possession in October and sentenced to three years in prison. The 2005 murder of Elmar Huseynov, founder and editor of the opposition Monitor magazine, remained unresolved. 
While independent and opposition-affiliated media outlets exist in Azerbaijan, most private broadcast outlets are owned by ruling party supporters. The independent print media are generally able to express a wide variety of views but have minimal circulation outside Baku, unlike progovernment subsidized newspapers. Most print media are printed at government-owned publishing houses, and the owners of private printing presses also frequently have strong government connections. State-owned print and broadcast media, including a public television station established in 2005, toe the government line. The private and independent broadcast channels that are able to express diverse views are not available throughout the country. Independent and opposition media struggle financially because the government prohibits state-owned companies from purchasing advertising space from them and pressures private business to advertise in state-owned media. Internet access is generally unrestricted, although it is limited to less than 10 percent of the population primarily located in larger cities. In July, local media reported that a popular blog had been blocked due to its parodying of the president. 

Bahamas: F 2-9-6=17
The constitution guarantees freedom of speech and of the press, and although there is no freedom of information legislation, the government does generally support the public’s right to access to information. However, during 2006 there were indications that some members of the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) were exerting undue pressure on the media in response to less than flattering news coverage. In early May, PLP chairman Raynard Rigby publicly warned the publishers of the Nassau Guardian and the Bahamas Tribune–two of the four daily newspapers—that they should be careful to be objective when reporting news of political affairs. In June, the foreign minister, Fred Mitchell, publicly criticized the print media, accusing it of lacking “balance and fairness.” The following month, Managing Editor of the Tribune and British citizen John Marquis was informed that his work permit would not be renewed. Marquis and other media freedom advocates claimed the move was a response to several critical articles. After protests, the authorities issued a one-year permit. In February, prison guards outside the Carmichael Detention Centre in Nassau attacked four journalists from Miami-based television stations. The state-owned Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas operates a television station and the ZNS Radio Bahamas network. There are also numerous privately owned radio stations. The internet was unrestricted, and was accessed by 30 percent of the population.

Bahrain: NF 23-26-22=71
The government in Bahrain continues to restrict media reporting, including the internet, despite laws providing for freedom of the press and of expression. Despite claims to further the democratic processes, media restrictions were tightened in 2006. Articles 23 and 24 of Bahrain’s Constitution guarantee freedom of expression and the press. However, a suspended 2002 Press Law (No. 47) continues to be enacted to prosecute journalists based on 17 categories of offences. Offences against Islam, the king, and “the unity of the people,” as well as acts of inciting division or sectarianism are punishable with six months to five years in prison. Conflicting conservative and liberal efforts to reform the 2002 press law continued in 2006, with two emergency sessions for debate called in April. Despite government commitments to a more democratic society, three laws were passed in 2006 which have the potential to undermine the rights to free expression. On July 20, amendments to the association law (Law 18/1973) were ratified that forbade any speech or discussion infringing on “public order or morals.” A counterterrorism bill was signed into law on August 12 which contains excessively broad definitions of terrorism and terrorist acts, and which criminalizes advocating terrorist acts as well as the possession of documents promoting the same. An amendment to the Penal Code (Act 65/2006) in September made it a crime to publish the names or pictures of accused persons before a court verdict and without the permission of the public prosecutor. 
News regarding international issues, local economic and commercial issues, and opposition politics are generally less restricted than are issues concerning the royal family, the Saudi royal family, national security, and judges. Two reporters from local papers Al Mithak and Al Wasat received anonymous telephone threats in October for writing about the Bandargate scandal that centered on a report written by Sudanese-born British citizen Salah al-Bandar regarding alleged election fraud and involved members of the royal family and politicians. 
Despite governmental censorship and self-censorship among journalists, many local and foreign media outlets are able to cover a diversity of issues without restriction. Nevertheless, some subjects of local concern continue to be untouchable. Print media are privately owned and there are nearly 100 Bahraini newspapers and journals in circulation. A number of new Arabic daily newspapers have opened since the reforms of 2002, including Al-Watan, which debuted in December of 2005, and Al-Waqt which entered the market in 2006. While privately-owned, the government still retains the right to control publishing policies, appoint the paper’s officials, and dismiss journalists. All local radio and television stations are state-run; however, satellite television is widely available, providing access to international broadcasts. The country’s first private radio station, which began broadcasting from Manama in October 2005, was shut down in 2006 by the authorities, alleging irregularities. 
While the internet has provided journalists in Bahrain with greater freedom to report and more diverse access to critical forms of information, it has also served as yet another medium for the government to censor and regulate. The only internet provider in Bahrain is the government-owned Batelco, which reported that 135,000 persons used their service, about 21 percent of the population. Batelco prohibits user access to antigovernment or anti-Islamic websites, as well as human rights websites. On August 8, a government decree was issued to block access to Google Earth, Google Video, and Google Maps, but was lifted days later due to pressure from civil society. The media block on the scandal “Bandargate” extended beyond traditional media outlets to the internet, where blogs were forbidden to discuss the issue. In October, many websites and blogs were banned in the month leading up to the elections. On November 16, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahlawi and Husain Abdulaziz Al Hebshi were arrested for possessing publications downloaded from the internet calling for the boycott of the November elections. The two activists were charged with promoting an illegal change of the state and spreading false news and rumours, which would disrupt public security, and damage public interest. The two remained in prison at the end of 2006. By the end of the year, almost two dozen websites were blocked.

Bangladesh: NF 20-30-16=66
While an expanding number of privately-owned broadcast outlets provide greater diversity, media continued to face a number of pressures in 2006, the most striking of which is the high level of violence directed against journalists and the impunity enjoyed by those who attack them. Although the constitution provides for freedom of expression subject to “reasonable restrictions,” the press is constrained by national security legislation as well as sedition and criminal libel laws. Journalists continue to be slapped with contempt of court and defamation charges or arrested under the 1974 Special Powers Act (which allows detentions of up to 90 days without trial) in reprisal for filing stories that are critical of government officials or policies. Cases of criminal defamation suits against private newspapers by ruling party politicians reportedly increased in 2006. The case of journalist and writer Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, who was arrested in 2003 and prevented from traveling to a conference in Israel, charged with sedition, and spent 17 months in jail before being released on bail in 2005, remained open throughout 2006 as he awaited trial. Choudhury also received death threats, and in July the offices of his magazine were bombed. 
Authorities limit official access to journalists from certain publications. The government remained sensitive to international scrutiny; foreign publications are subject to censorship, while foreign journalists and press freedom advocates have encountered increasing difficulties in obtaining visas to enter Bangladesh and are put under surveillance while in the country. In an effort to tighten censorship laws, the government passed legislation in September that would enable officials to suspend the broadcast of any private satellite television channel “for the public interest.” 
Journalists are regularly harassed and violently attacked by a range of actors including organized crime groups, political parties and their supporters, government authorities, and leftist and Islamist militant groups. Most commonly, they are subjected to such attacks as a result of their coverage of corruption, criminal activity, political violence, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, or human rights abuses. Police brutality towards photographers attempting to document protests or other political events also remained a concern. Reporter Bellal Hossain Dafadar was murdered in September 2006, and several hundred others received death threats or were physically assaulted and injured. In several instances, the offices of news outlets were attacked by unknown assailants. Harassment of journalists intensified alongside the rise in political tension preceding the November handover to the caretaker government. Impunity for those who perpetrate crimes against journalists is the norm, and investigations into the cases of reporters killed in previous years generally proceed slowly if at all. However, in March, a fast-track tribunal sentenced one person to death and 11 others to life imprisonment for the 2004 killing of journalist Kamal Hossain. As a result, many journalists practice some level of self-censorship when covering sensitive topics. 
With hundreds of daily and weekly publications, the privately owned print media continue to present an array of views, although political coverage at a number of newspapers is highly partisan. The state owns or influences several broadcast media outlets, whose coverage sometimes favors the ruling party but which provided more balanced coverage during 2006 than previously. Private broadcasting has expanded in recent years, with six satellite TV stations now broadcasting. Private outlets are required to air selected government-produced news segments as a condition of their operation, and the new broadcast licenses that were issued in 2005 were allegedly given to those with close political connections, according to the U.S. State Department. Political considerations influence the distribution of government advertising revenue and subsidized newsprint, upon which many publications are dependent. Access to the internet is generally unrestricted; however, some journalists’ e-mail is reportedly monitored by police.

Barbados: F 3-8-6=17
Freedom of the press is constitutionally guaranteed, and media are generally able to operate without restrictions; however, Barbados does not have freedom of information legislation. Representatives of the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) occasionally criticized the media for spreading what they said was ill-informed criticism of the government. In February, Prime Minister and BLP leader Owen Arthur publicly criticized Harold Hoyte, the editor-in-chief of the Nation Publishing Company Ltd. Arthur said that the Nation newspaper—one of the country’s two dailies—ran articles that were driven by Hoyte’s “political agenda.” Of the eleven radio frequencies, three are run by the state-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, which also operates a television station. In August, the Barbados-based Caribbean Media Corporation launched CaribVision, a new 24-hour Caribbean TV channel. Caribvision is beamed to over 10 Caribbean countries and to North America. There are no government restrictions on internet access, utilized by 60 percent of the population in 2006. 

Belarus: NF 27-34-28=89
Belarus’s limited level of press freedom deteriorated further in 2006 as President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s government suppressed independent media during the March presidential election and ensuing protests against election fraud. Despite constitutional provisions for freedom of the press, criticism of the president and his government is considered a criminal offense, and libel convictions can result in prison sentences or high fines. During the 2006 election period, the courts halted the publication of numerous independent newspapers. The weekly Zgoda was shuttered for republishing contentious Danish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, although it had also reportedly drawn officials’ attention by covering an opposition presidential candidate. Another weekly, Nasha Niva, was informed that it could no longer be registered in Minsk after its editor in chief brought food to protesters in the capital’s main square and was temporarily detained on charges of hooliganism. Nevertheless, the paper reportedly continued to publish. 
The government in 2006 subjected the independent media to systematic political intimidation. Police confiscated hundreds of thousands of newspapers, blockading the print runs of such opposition newspapers as Narodnaya Volya and Communist Party newspaper Tovarishch. State media, focusing coverage on Lukashenko, issued propaganda warning Belarusians about violence at the polls. Meanwhile, police assaulted both presidential candidate Aleksandr Kozulin, when he tried to enter a meeting to hear the incumbent speak, and reporters attempting to cover the attack. The authorities also arrested and detained more than 30 Belarusian journalists and 12 foreign journalists from countries like Canada, Georgia, Poland, Russia and Ukraine for covering the elections and round-the-clock opposition demonstrations. In April, the authorities also prevented two groups of Polish journalists from entering Belarus to cover the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Also that month, a court sentenced 16-year-old Anton Filimonov, the son of murdered journalist Veronika Cherkasova, to a suspended prison term of two and a half years for creating counterfeit currency. He had been arrested in late 2005 and then released in March, and critics had accused the government of using the counterfeiting case to force him to confess to his mother’s 2004 murder, which remained unsolved. 
The state, which maintains a monopoly over the broadcast media and controls the content of television programming, uses a range of economic pressures to weaken independent media. Much of Belarus’s independent press has been run out of business and forced to close because authorities routinely pressure managers of state enterprises to advertise only in state media, banks to refuse deposits from readers into independent newspapers’ accounts, and distributors and printing presses to deny non-state media contracts. Newspapers such as Narodnaya Volya and Tovarishch had little choice but to use printing houses outside of Belarus, such as in Smolensk, Russia, until those printing contracts were terminated in 2006 as well. Many independent papers are also banned from sale at newsstands, forcing them to resort to underground distribution methods like selling directly from the newsroom and using volunteers to deliver copies. Because the internet in Belarus is in its infancy (with 35 percent of the population accessing the internet in 2006) and Belarusian websites are not yet obliged to register with the authorities, many print publications have moved online. However, the state-owned telecommunications company (Beltelecom), which owns all Belarusian servers, can still block access, and legislators have been considering a new law to regulate the internet. The government reportedly monitored internet communications and attempted to deny access to opposition or independent websites during the presidential election period.

Belgium: F 2-4-5=11
The constitution guarantees freedom of speech and of the press which are generally respected by the government. The Belgian Chamber of Deputies voted unanimously in March 2005 to approve a law which protects journalists' sources. The vote came after police raids in 2004 on the home and office of a Brussels-based reporter, Hans Martin Tillack, which shocked the community of international journalists. The new law protects reporters from home searches and seizures, and gives them the right to silence if called as a witness. Journalists can only be forced to reveal sources to "prevent crimes that represent a serious attack on the physical integrity of one or several third parties." In October 2006, Tillack brought his case before the European court of First Instance where he argued that the action against him by Belgian police violated his rights. Although the court recognized that his complaints of mistreatment were legitimate, in the end it ruled that the case was out of its jurisdiction. 
Newspaper ownership concentration has increased since the 1960s as corporations have steadily been buying up papers. As a result, today a handful of corporations run most of the country's newspapers. As for the broadcasting sector, unlike most other European nations, Belgium has two separate public broadcasting organizations (one operating in French and the other in Flemish), each with its own domestic and international broadcasting network. The government does not limit access to the internet which was used by just under 50 percent of the population in 2006. 

Belize: F 8-8-5=21
The constitution of Belize protects the right to freedom of expression, although there are several legal limitations to that right. The government may fine up to $2,500 and imprison up to three years those who question the financial disclosures of public officials, though there were no reports of this law being exercised in 2006. Newspapers are subject to libel laws; furthermore, the Belize Broadcasting Authority (BBA) holds the right to preview broadcasts with political content and remove libelous material, but this right was not exercised during the year. In June, Prime Minister Said Wilbert Musa stated that media freedom may have gone too far. While not calling for direct restrictions, he encouraged the BBA to act on curbing abuses to press freedom such as instilling violence, hate and devious behavior. 
There are 8 television stations and 33 licensed radio stations, including 1 station affiliated directly with the United Democratic Party. There are no daily newspapers in Belize, though there is a vibrant market for weeklies. Papers are privately owned, with two weeklies directly affiliated with political parties. In general, reporting covers a wide range of opinions. Belize has approximately 40,000 registered internet users, and the internet is unrestricted by the government. 

Benin: F 10-10-10=30
Freedom of speech and of the press is protected by the constitution and the government has developed a reputation for respecting these rights in practice. However, in 2006 a number of worrying developments occurred that, if continued, could threaten Benin's status as one of the freest environments for the media in Africa. In December, a 1997 press law that criminalizes libel was implemented for the first time in two years. A court bailiff, Maxime Bankole, pressed charges against the private L'Informateur in December 2006 for refusing to retract a story accusing him of rape. The courts sentenced both the editor and a journalist at L'Informateur to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine. During 2005, in preparation for the March 2006 presidential election, the High Council for Audiovisual Media and Communications (HAAC) passed provisions mandating fair and balanced coverage of all presidential candidates. The provisions also restricted the amount of time a media outlet could devote to a particular presidential candidate and forbade opinion pieces on the election that might jeopardize "national unity." At year's end, as part of the new government's effort to "clean up the journalism sector," the HAAC instituted a requirement that all working journalists obtain a new press card; the conditions for obtaining one of these cards are strict and were intended to apply to less than 40% of those currently in the journalism business to weed out the nonprofessionals. 
During its final days in power leading up to the March election, Mathieu Kerekou's regime made a number of direct attempts to limit critical content in the media industry. In February, the managing editor of a daily newspaper, Panorama, was temporarily detained and charged with high treason after publishing an article describing an alleged coup attempt intended to keep Kerekou in power. Also, in early March Kerekou's Communications Minister fired two top officials at the state-run broadcast office after they refused to broadcast a government videotape allegedly proving the presence of electoral fraud due to doubts about the tape's authenticity. After the election, the newly-elected President Boni Yayi appointed a new minister of communications who immediately reinstated the fired ORTB officials. However, threats against the press did not entirely disappear with the resignation of Kerekou; in September three journalists with two separate privately-run newspapers were arrested and temporarily detained for articles critical of the police and the new president's family. 
Benin's numerous established media outlets have a history of providing aggressive reporting and robust scrutiny of both government and opposition leaders. However, the media market has recently become saturated by a number of publications that emerged for the first time in the month preceding the election, many of which receive direct political funding. The inability of most of Benin's media operators to garner a consistent profit further limits accuracy and fairness in reporting by making poorly paid reporters susceptible to bribery and blackmail. Internet access is available primarily through dial-up internet cafes that remain unhindered by government censorship, and at 425,000 users, Benin had one of West Africa's highest rates of access to this new media in 2006.

Bhutan: NF 19-23-20=62
Freedom of expression and of the press, as well as media diversity, continue to be limited in Bhutan despite some improvements in 2006. The Bhutan Information, Communications and Media Act, passed in July, is designed to regulate the information, communications, and media industries. Many observers have however expressed concern that the law, which is primarily concerned with technological specifics, licensing, and ownership, provides no specific protections for journalists and does not guarantee freedom of information, although it does contain general provisions for freedom of expression and of the press. Under the 1992 National Security Act, any criticism of King Jigme Singye Wangchuk and Bhutan's political system is prohibited. 
Bhutan's main print publication, the bi-weekly Kuensel-now funded entirely by advertising and subscription revenues-generally reports news that puts the kingdom in a favorable light but has increasingly been highlighting societal problems and carrying stories that are critical of the government. In 2005, Kuensel announced plans to open another printing press in Tashingang so that it could improve its distribution network. Two new private weekly newspapers, The Bhutan Times and The Bhutan Observer, were launched in April and June, respectively. Although the papers have published mainly pro-government articles, with the Times particularly supportive of the government stance toward refugees in Nepal, both papers have occasionally been critical of the government. A monthly periodical, Bhutan Now, started publishing in November. 
State-owned broadcast media, which consist of a radio and a television station operated by the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, carry broadly pro-government programming and do not air opposition positions and statements. In September Kuzoo FM 90, Bhutan's first private radio station, began operations. There are no private television broadcasters, but cable television services carry uncensored foreign programming. In 2005, in response to concerns voiced by authorities as well as by members of the public, the Association of Private Cable Operators resolved to limit cable access to 30 channels, with a complete ban on 12 music and other channels that provided "controversial" content such as wrestling. Internet access is growing and is unrestricted-two new internet service providers were licensed during 2005-and the daily online editions of several print publications provide somewhat livelier forums for discussion and debate. 

Bolivia: PF 10-16-11=37
Heightened political tensions resulted in a climate of increased hostility toward the press among both government and opposition supporters. Freedom of the press remains compromised by inadequate legal guarantees. The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, but Bolivia's penal code stipulates that journalists can be jailed for one month to two years if found guilty of slandering, insulting, or defaming public officials. When the infractions involve the president, vice president, or a minister, the sentence may be increased by half. In May 2006, in the face of increasing discussion regarding potential changes to the 1925 Printing Law which still governs Bolivian media, several journalists' groups combined to form a National Ethics Council. The Council's goal is to act as a self-regulator, establishing a code of ethics and journalistic standards and issuing resolutions regarding violations of these guidelines. 
Bolivia's journalists continued to face the challenges of reporting on their country's volatile politics. President Evo Morales, who took office in January 2006, used his inaugural address to criticize opposition media outlets, a scenario that was repeated on several occasions throughout the year. As political conflict between Bolivia's eastern and western regions mounted throughout the year, attacks on journalists increased as well. The state-owned television channel, Canal 7, was attacked on both September 8 and December 6 in Santa Cruz, an opposition stronghold. Meanwhile, opposition-aligned TV channel Unitel, whose owner was declared an enemy of the state by President Morales, was attacked in La Paz on October 12 and December 8. On November 13, police officers assaulted EFE reporter Martin Alipaz while he was reporting on a protest in Konani. The year's protests peaked in mid-December with rallies throughout the country; in incidents on December 12 and December 15 nearly a dozen journalists-both government and opposition supporters-were assaulted in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. According to the U.S. State Department, the newspaper El Nuevo Dia, with the support of the national press association and human rights groups, filed a complaint against Interior Vice Minister Ruben Gamarra after its journalist Jose Antonio Quisbert was arrested while investigating allegations of corruption in the immigration service. 
Print media are privately owned and diverse in their editorial views. The television industry is privately owned except for one government-owned TV network. Broadcast outlets express a variety of political views, but stations have been criticized for their overt partisanship in news coverage, with outlets from the eastern department of Santa Cruz among the most hostile to the new president. With the exception of one government-run outlet, radio stations are also privately owned. Radio is the major news disseminator to the countryside, with an estimated 800 stations nationwide. With Venezuelan financial support, the government embarked on an effort to establish a new set of community radio networks. One of the largest networks is Radio Erbol, operated by a consortium of 70 churches. Conflict between newspaper vendors and the newspaper La Razón resulted in violence when the daily's employees attempted to distribute the paper themselves. In recent years, Bolivia has experienced a growth in alternative media that includes radio along with new internet news operations. The internet is not restricted by the government but barely 5 percent of the population was able to access it in 2006. 

Bosnia-Herzegovina: PF 8-21-16=45
Freedom of the press in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is guaranteed by the constitution as well as the human rights annex to the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the country's 1992-95 civil war. Bosnia has one of the most liberal legal environments in the world for media freedom, but effective enforcement of these laws is largely absent due to an overburdened judiciary. Libel and defamation were decriminalized in 2003, but individuals and institutions can still bring civil suits for such claims. Government officials often file lawsuits against journalists, but instances of journalists suing their colleagues are also common. New legislation that would reorganize and unify the country's public broadcasting system, the first element of which had passed the BiH parliament in October 2005, was blocked by the Federation Constitutional Court in July 2006 amid complaints that the new system would violate Croats' vital interests. 
Journalism in both of the country's state entities-the Federation, made up of Bosniak (Muslim) and Croat cantons, and the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska-continues to be plagued by a relatively low standard of professionalism and the fact that most media outlets appeal only to narrow ethnic constituencies. During the 2006 general election campaigns, the media respected legal requirements guaranteeing candidates free airtime on public broadcasters. However, according to the October 2006 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) election monitoring report, most of the media devoted a disproportionably large amount of time to the activities of the authorities, thus creating an environment more favorable to incumbents. Journalists throughout BiH remain subject to violent threats and political pressure, and there is growing concern over the influence of organized crime on the media. From January through June 2006, the Free Media Help Line documented 41 reported violations of journalists' freedoms, including instances of pressure by politicians and law enforcement officials. A journalist from the public broadcaster BH1-TV received over a hundred intimidating telephone calls in November after airing an investigative report about an alleged prostitution ring involving a number of public officials whose names were not revealed. Some media analysts argue that the current prime minister of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has tightened control over the media in the entity, citing in part his government's July 2006 decision to replace the managing director of the state news agency, SRNA, with one of Dodik's party colleagues. 
Numerous independent electronic and print media organizations operate in BiH, but most are closely aligned to either economic or political interests. Some media owners perceive that their economic well-being depends on their good relationships with various political figures, and the government also strongly influences media coverage through its advertising subsidies. This most likely explains the lack of editorials critical of influential politicians among certain media holdings. Overtly critical media outlets tend to have difficulty attracting advertising revenue, which has led to self-censorship. Many journalists are inadequately paid and face challenging economic conditions. Managers at privately owned media outlets were responsible for the bulk of violations of journalists' employee rights in 2006; a number of journalists reported working without legally mandated contracts and health benefits. Internet access is unrestricted, and although the number of users in BiH has increased dramatically in recent years, it remains low at 17 percent of the population. 

Botswana: PF 8-16-11=35
Freedom of speech and of the press is provided for in the constitution, and the government generally respects these rights in practice. However, recent years have seen deterioration in freedom of expression in Botswana. Libel is a civil offense, and in past years publications have been charged with defamation and have had to pay large amounts of money in court-ordered damages or as part of a settlement. The National Security Act (NSA), enacted in 1986 during Botswana's conflict with apartheid South Africa, remains on the books and has been used to restrict reporting on government activities. In August, the government presented parliament with a draft version of the Botswana Broadcasting Bill. The Bill included plans to establish a new community broadcasting sector-though the number of licenses available to community radio and television stations was not specified-as well as a public entity to monitor the quality and objectivity of state-owned media. Botswana does not have a freedom of information law, and critics accuse the government of excessive secrecy. 
Journalists are occasionally threatened, harassed, or attacked in retaliation for their reporting. This was a particularly acute problem in 2005 when the government employed immigration legislation to deport two Zimbabwean journalists, Rodrick Mukumbira and Charles Chirinda, who had criticized state policies; both were not given specific reasons for their expulsion. Also in 2005, Kenneth Good, an Australian-born academic who criticized as undemocratic certain elements of Botswana's political system, was charged under the NSA and deported. 
Independent print media and radio stations provide vigorous scrutiny of the government and air a wide range of opinions, mostly without government interference. Several independent newspapers and magazines are published in the capital. However, the state-owned Botswana Press Agency dominates the media landscape via its Daily News newspaper and two nationally broadcast FM radio stations; radio remains the chief source of news for the majority of the population. Botswana Television, also owned by the state, is the country's only source of local television news. Government-controlled media outlets generally confine themselves to coverage that is supportive of official policies and do not adequately cover the activities or viewpoints of opposition parties and other critics. The government sometimes censors or otherwise restricts news sources or stories that it finds undesirable, and editorial interference in the state-owned media from the Ministry of Communication, Science, and Technology has increased in recent years. In September, press freedom advocates and opposition political parties condemned a government warning to state-owned media to exercise "maximum patriotic solidarity, collective responsibility, [and] allegiance to country and nation" in reporting about the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Radio Botswana's popular call-in segment of the morning show Masa-a-sele, suspended in 2003, began broadcasting again in 2006. Privately owned radio stations and the sole private television station have a limited reach, particularly within the rural districts; however, Botswana can easily receive broadcasts from neighboring South Africa. The financial viability of Botswana's independent newspapers is undermined by the fact that the Daily News is distributed nationwide at no cost. Internet access is unrestricted, though access is limited to approximately three percent of the population because of poverty and other financial constraints. 

Brazil: PF 15-16-11=42
Freedom of speech and of the press is protected by the 1988 Constitution and Brazil has a diverse and vigorous media system. Nevertheless, press freedom was affected by negative developments in 2006. In the legal front, lower courts and electoral tribunals have issued rulings that continued to criminalize defamation. In terms of social and political environments, the intensification of criminal activities by drug trafficking gangs has imposed a number of important constraints to the press. 
Articles 5 and 220 of the Constitution guarantee freedom from "restriction" of thought, process or medium; however, journalists faced some difficulties when reporting on the general elections of October 2006. Although the elections were free and fair, they were marked by several political scandals involving President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva's administration and his political party, Workers' Party or Partido dos Trabahladores (PT). For example, two weeks before the election, the Federal Police detained two PT members with about 790,000 dollars. According to investigations, the money was going to be used to purchase a "dossier" with photographs and videos that linked two leaders of the main opposition party, Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) to a corruption scheme. On October 31 three reporters of the country's leading weekly news magazine, Veja, were threatened by Federal Police officers while giving a deposition about the dossier scandal. Later, it was revealed that one of the telephones of the leading newspaper, Folha de S. Paulo, in the press committee of the Chamber of Deputies was tapped during Federal Police investigation of the same scandal. Although the judiciary had authorized the tapping, the contacts of the reporters were exposed, violating individual privacy rights, as well as the right of journalists to protect the anonymity of their sources. Also on October 31, Correio do Estado editor Fausto Brites was found guilty of defamantion and sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined approximately $875. 
Civil and electoral judges have also limited the ability of journalists to report on the activities of politicians and candidates. On May 8, the Civil Court of Campo Grande granted an injunction to a candidate for the governorship of the Mato Grosso do Sul state against the newspaper Correio do Estado. On May 17, the regional electoral court in the northern state of Amapá ordered the weekly Folha do Amapá to remove its May 12 online edition, following a petition by the party of the state's governor. The two cases involved the reporting of irregularities by public officials or candidates. The rise of criminal organizations and the general intensification of violence have affected the news media. In May, the criminal gang First Capital Command (PCC) organized a wave of attacks in the state of São Paulo, which included prison rebellions, bank robberies, and attacks on police stations and government buildings. According to some sources, more than 400 people died in the conflicts. On May 18, three heavily armed men invaded the daily Imprensa Livre in São Sebastião, in the state of São Paulo. The assailants set the building on fire and hit five employees, telling them to stop reporting on the PCC. A few months later, on August 12, reporter Guilherme Portanova and technician Alexandre Calado, both from the country's main television network, TV Globo, were abducted in São Paulo by PCC members. Calado was freed the next day with a recorded message demanding improved conditions for prisoners in Brazilian jails. The kidnappers announced they would kill Portanova if TV Globo did not broadcast the three-minute tape. The journalist was freed only after the network ran the criminals' message. Among other cases of attacks on the press, Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) reported the assassination of journalist Ajuricaba Monassa de Paula in the city of Guapirimim (Rio de Janeiro state) on July 24. According to RSF, he was beaten to death by town councilor Osvaldo Vivas after reporting on financial irregularities in the local government. 
As South America's largest media market, Brazil boasts dynamic and diverse media able to provide a lively array of views, including investigative reporting published through privately owned newspapers, magazines, and online periodicals. However, despite the pluralism of Brazil's media, ownership is highly concentrated, particularly within the broadcast sector. Globo Organizations, a large media conglomerate, continues to enjoy a dominant position, maintaining ownership of Brazil's primary television network, radio stations, print media, and cable television distribution. Several new community radio stations requested broadcast licenses during the year. There are no restrictions to the internet, which is accessible in 17 percent of the population; Brazil has the largest number of internet users in South America. 

Brunei: NF 28-26-22=76
The absolute monarchy of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and emergency laws-in effect for nearly half a century-continue to restrict journalists and limit the diversity of media content in Brunei. Since 2001, harsh press legislation has required that newspapers apply for annual publishing permits and that noncitizens obtain government approval to work as journalists. The government has the authority to arbitrarily shut down media outlets and to bar distribution of foreign publications. Journalists can be jailed for up to three years for reporting "false and malicious" news. The May 2005 Sedition Act further restricted press freedom by expanding the list of punishable offenses to include criticisms of the sultan, the royal family, or the prominence of the national philosophy, the Malay Islamic monarchy concept. Under the amended act, persons convicted of such crimes, or any publishers, editors, or proprietors of a newspaper publishing matters with seditious intention, face fines of up to B$5,000 (US$2,965). 
Media are not able to convey a diversity of viewpoints and opinions, and criticism of the government is rare. The private press is either owned or controlled by the sultan's family or practices self-censorship on political and religious matters. The country's main English-language daily newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, is controlled by the sultan's family and generally practices self-censorship to avoid angering the government, though it does publish letters to the editor that criticize government policies. A second English-language daily, the Brunei Times, was launched in July by a media company run by an group of prominent businessmen, after receiving permission from the sultan. While the paper is run out of an office away from the city center and covers a wider range of international news, its global focus is intended to help foster international investment in light of the country's depleting oil and gas reserves, thus falling in line with current government priorities. A smaller Malay newspaper and several Chinese newspapers are also published within Brunei. The only local broadcast outlets, including the country's one television station, are operated by the government-controlled Radio Television Brunei, but residents can also receive Malaysian broadcasts, and international news is available via satellite channels. 
With roughly 33 percent of the population accessing the Internet, Internet usage is growing and access is reportedly unrestricted. Yet, the primary internet service provider is state owned and the country's internet practice code stipulates that content must not be subversive, promote illegitimate reform efforts, incite disharmony or instability, or fall out of line with "Brunei Darussalam's religious values, social and societal mores." It also requires all sites that carry content or discuss issues of a religious or political nature to register with the Broadcasting Authority and makes failure to register punishable on conviction to imprisonment for up to three years and/or a fine of up to $200,000. The government stepped up Internet monitoring efforts in 2006 by calling on internet cafes to install firewalls to prevent users from viewing immoral content and, according to the U.S. State Department 2006 Human Rights report, monitoring private e-mail and Internet chatroom exchanges of citizens believed to be subversive.

Bulgaria: PF 10-12-12=34
The law provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and the government generally respects these rights in practice. However, the government's manipulation of media and the judiciary's lack of independence are causes for concern. Defamation is punishable by high fines, and many suits are filed in response to published reports detailing corruption of high-level officials. Although the courts usually decline to impose fines, the threat of legal action has led to some self-censorship. The government in 2006 moved to increase public access to the Communist-era archives of the state security service, which contain files identifying past informants and collaborators. Under the new policy, agreed to by the main political parties in October and passed by parliament in December, an independent commission would control the archives, which had previously been at the disposal of the interior minister. Except during a period of openness from 1997 to 2001, the government had often selectively leaked information on politicians and other public figures, including journalists. Critics of the new arrangement said the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party, the political heirs of the Communists, had agreed to open the archives only because the most damaging files had long since been destroyed. Others noted that current Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev was too young to fear exposure of any personal wrongdoing. 
Media outlets express a diverse range of public and political views, in most cases without government interference. Although the state-owned media are often critical of the government's actions, they remain vulnerable to political influence. Bulgarian National Television (BNT) was drawn into the October 2006 presidential campaign when the ultimately unsuccessful candidate of the nationalist Ataka party, Volen Siderov, pledged to eliminate content for the ethnic Turkish minority. The country's journalists continue to face pressure and intimidation aimed at protecting economic, political, and criminal interests. In April 2006, a bomb exploded outside the apartment of Vasil Ivanov, an investigative reporter for the private Nova TV station. The blast caused serious property damage but no injuries. Ivanov had previously received death threats linked to his work, which involved organized crime, prison abuse, and other topics. 
There are a large number of private media outlets as well as publications disseminated by political parties and interest groups. However, state broadcasters BNT and Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) continue to dominate their respective markets, and have yet to be fully transformed into public-service broadcasters. At the end of 2005, the parliament included provisions in the budget that allowed the two broadcasters to air as much advertising as private stations, even though they would still receive state subsidies. The measure potentially violated European Union competition rules as Bulgaria prepared to join the bloc in January 2007. It also threatened the fragile economic prospects of private outlets, since commercial sponsors would likely shift ad funding to the larger stations. Internet access is not restricted by government, and is use by almost 30 percent of the population. 

Burkina Faso: PF 12-14-13=39
Freedom of speech is protected by the constitution under Article 8, and this right is usually respected by the government in practice. However, under the 1993 information code, media outlets may be summarily banned if they are accused of distributing false information or endangering national security. Libel laws are also unfavorable to the press and put the burden of proof on the defendant. No law exists to guarantee equal access to information. The Supreme Council of Communication-which operates within the presidential office with limited independence-acts as the regulatory body for the media. 
The most significant event for freedom of the press in Burkina Faso in 2006 involved the high profile investigation of the 1998 murder of prominent journalist Norbert Zongo. In July, the presiding judge dismissed the case against a presidential guard, the only person ever formally charged in the murder. A month later, the appeal made by Zongo's family was also dismissed. This effectively closed the case until new evidence could be submitted that might strengthen existing charges found to be insufficient. An attempt in October by Reporters Sans Frontieres to submit such evidence and reopen the case also proved unsuccessful. In another example of judicial disinterest in protecting the principles of press freedom, the policemen who beat a journalist covering the Hajj pilgrimage in February 2005 have yet to be formally accused by a court. In addition, Burkinabe journalists experienced occasional instances of harassment in 2006. During a January 16 demonstration, police confiscated the camera of a reporter with L'Independent and held it for the duration of the demonstration; and in April security forces detained and questioned a journalist for the private Le Pays following an interview he conducted with former soldiers accused of attempting to stage a coup. 
A very open media regularly reports on the activities of the executive branch, and criticism of government action or inaction is regularly voiced. Although the state-operated media function with a noticeable pro-government bias, the media is generally free of overt censorship, and several newspapers were openly anti-government. The state-run television station, TNB, accepted funding, for remodeling the station headquarters, from a number of major private sources, including the wealthy entrepreneur Oumarou Kanazoé whom many consider to be a suspect in the Zongo case. TNB denies that this funding will influence coverage. Access to international print and broadcast media and the internet remains unrestricted by the government, but infrastructure limitations and poverty have held the percentage of the population able to access the internet at less than one percent. 

Burma (Myanmar): NF 30-38-28=96
The Burmese media environment remained among the most tightly restricted in the world in 2006. The ruling military junta zealously implements a 1996 decree banning speech or statements that "undermine national stability," and those who publicly express or disseminate views that are critical of the regime are subject to strict penalties, including lengthy prison terms. A number of journalists and writers continued to serve lengthy sentences as a result of expressing dissident views. Other laws require private publications to apply for annual licenses and criminalize the use of unregistered telecommunications equipment, satellite dishes, computers, and software. 
Private periodicals are subject to prepublication censorship under the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Act, which requires that all content be approved by the authorities. As a result, coverage is limited to a small range of permissible topics, publications are sometimes forced to carry government-produced articles, and most publications are forced to appear as weeklies or monthlies. A new Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD), under the control of the Ministry of Information, was established in April 2005, at which time all publications were required to reregister with the PSRD and provide detailed information about staff, ownership, and financial backing. Under new censorship rules that came into effect in July 2005, media are ostensibly allowed to offer criticism of government projects as long as it is deemed "constructive" and are allowed to report on natural disasters and poverty as long as it does not affect the national interest. Several favored publications were able to take advantage of this greater leniency during the year, although others that aroused the ire of censorship authorities were banned from distributing editions or carrying stories by certain writers. 
Both local and foreign journalists' ability to cover the news is restricted. Two Burmese photojournalists who photographed buildings in the new capital were arrested in March and sentenced to three year prison terms. A few foreign reporters are allowed to enter Burma only on special visas; they are generally subjected to intense scrutiny while in the country and in past years have occasionally been deported. However, some foreign correspondents were invited to cover the October session of the National Convention. A number of Burmese journalists remain in exile; many work for Burma-focused media outlets based in the neighboring countries of India, Bangladesh, and Thailand. The Burma Media Association reported in February that the government had launched a campaign to track down and imprison people who gave information to international and exile-run media outlets. Several journalists, businessmen, and civil servants have reportedly been interrogated in relation to the program. 
The government owns all broadcast media and daily newspapers and exercises tight control over a growing number of privately owned weekly and monthly publications. While official media outlets serve solely as mouthpieces of the state, private media generally avoid covering domestic political news, and the vast majority of journalists practice extensive self-censorship. Many nominally private outlets are owned either by government agents or supporters. A stagnant economy, increased prices for newsprint, and a limited market for advertising revenue (following a 2002 ban on advertising Thai products) continue to threaten the financial viability of the private press. Authorities restrict the importation of foreign news periodicals, and although some people have access to international shortwave radio or satellite television, those caught accessing foreign broadcasts can be arrested, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Nevertheless, as the only source of uncensored information, foreign radio programs produced by the Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and Democratic Voice of Burma services are very popular. 
The internet, which operates in a limited fashion in the cities, is expensive, tightly regulated, and censored, with the government controlling all of the several dozen domestic internet service providers. Authorities have upgraded filtering and surveillance technologies, and actively engage in blocking access to websites run by Burmese exile groups and to international email services such as Yahoo, Hotmail, and Gmail. 

Burundi: NF 22-31-24=77
Burundi has missed a unique opportunity to improve its press freedom status following the 2005 democratic election-the first since 1993-and the September 2006 signing of a ceasefire agreement with the last remaining rebel organization. Instead, the government abused its consolidated power and began a targeted crackdown on critical media outlets. The transitional constitution does provide for freedom of expression, but most media legislation is vague about the offences for which a journalist may be charged. For example, the 1997 Press Law forbids the dissemination of "information inciting civil disobedience or serving as propaganda for enemies of the Burundian nation during a time of war." The November 2003 Media Law also provides for harsh fines and prison terms of up to five years for the dissemination of information that insults the president or is defamatory towards other individuals. However, according to the International Crisis Group, a new law is being drafted which would more accurately define the responsibilities and duties of the media. 
With the control that the Hutu-dominated ruling party has over government institutions and the disunity of the rival political parties, much of this year's opposition originated from within the media and civil society. This fact, along with the alleged Tutsi dominance of the media elite, has propelled the government's harassment and detention of media personnel in 2006. After the exposure of an alleged coup attempt and the subsequent arrest and torture of several prominent opposition leaders, the government directly targeted a number of media outlets that questioned the veracity of the supposed coup attempt. In November, two journalists with the privately-owned Radio Publique Africaine (RPA)-a frequent government target in recent years-and the director of Radio Isanganiro-a station backed by the American NGO Search for Common Ground-were all charged with "violating state secrecy" and sentenced to prison for publishing information about the alleged coup; all three journalists remained incarcerated at year's end. In September, following three months of illegal pre-trial detention, Aloys Kabura, a reporter with the state-run Agence Burundaise de Presse, was also sentenced to prison for five months for making critical comments about the police's temporary detention of 30 journalists at a news conference in mid-April. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, this made Burundi Africa's third leading jailer of journalists for 2006. 
Burundi's only daily newspaper, Le Renouveau, is controlled by the government along with the nation's sole television station and the only nationally-broadcasted radio station. Six private publications operate on a weekly basis while private radio stations broadcast only irregularly and most are restricted to Bujumbura. Private ownership tends to be highly concentrated, but outlets do represent a wide range of opinions and some, like RPA, manage to present diverse and balanced coverage. No government restrictions on internet access are apparent, though the National Communication Council bans websites from "posting documents or other statements by political organizations that disseminate hate or violence," and due to economic and infrastructure limitations, less than one percent of the population was able to access this new media in 2006.

Cambodia: PF 18-21-19=58
Status change explanation: Cambodia's status improved from Not Free to Partly Free to reflect the decriminalization of defamation in May 2006, as well as a reduction in harassment of journalists. 
The Cambodian media environment improved in 2006 as a result of changes to the defamation law and a continued decline in harassment and attacks on the press. The constitution guarantees the right to free expression and a free press, and while the 1995 Press Law also theoretically protects press freedom, the government has used it to censor stories deemed to undermine political stability. Under Article 12, the employer, editor, or author of an article may be subject to a fine of 5 million to 15 million riels ($1,282 to $ 3,846). The law also gives the Ministries of Information and the Interior the right to confiscate or suspend a publication for 30 days and transfer the case to court. Article 13 states that the press shall not publish or reproduce false information that humiliates or is in contempt of national institutions. In May the National Assembly dropped criminal charges for defamation, though civil suits with potentially onerous fines remain in law and in use by political figures. The law represents a significant step forward for the Cambodian press, as criminal defamation charges had been used frequently to harass reporters who published articles critical of public figures. The ruling should allow journalists greater freedom to report on sensitive issues without fear of reprisal. 
Press coverage in Cambodia is vigorous, and journalists regularly expose official corruption and scrutinize the government. Attacks against the press have declined significantly in recent years, although several cases of harassment and threats were reported in 2006. In January, two journalists and one journalist/activist who had been imprisoned for defamation in October 2005 were released on bail, though the courts refused to drop the charges against them. In July, the Deputy Prime Minister filed defamation charges against the publisher of the Khmer language newspaper Meneaskseka, following a June 13 article accusing the government of corruption. Another reporter for the occasional newspaper Samrek Yutethor was arrested while reporting on the eviction of squatters in a property dispute. On July 7, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a protest against death threats aimed at the editor of the bi-weekly Sralanh Khmer, which had published an article criticizing the nephew of the Prime Minister for corrupt land seizures in Cambodia's northeast Mondolkiri province. In August, the Cambodian Television Network was forced to pull a current affairs program, Cambodia Today, after the prime minister accused the program of damaging the nation's reputation. 
Journalists from more than 20 publications aligned with or subsidized by various political factions are unbridled in criticizing their adversaries and public officials but generally do not criticize the king. The ruling Cambodian People's Party, its coalition partner the Royalist Party (Funcinpec), and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party each has its own newspaper. Overall, approximately 20 Khmer language newspapers are published on a regular basis. However, the government dominates both radio and TV, the main media sources for the two-thirds of the population that are functionally illiterate, and broadcast programming generally reflects official viewpoints. Independent broadcast outlets' operations are constrained by the refusal to allocate radio and television frequencies to stations that are aligned with the opposition. In addition, the economy is not strong enough to generate sufficient advertising revenues to support truly neutral or independent media. Access to foreign broadcasts and to the internet is generally unrestricted although due to infrastructure and economic constraints less than 0.5 percent of the population was able to access the internet in 2006.

Cameroon: NF 20-25-22=67
The Constitution of the Republic of Cameroon provides for freedom of the press and of speech, but the government restricts these rights in practice. Criminal libel laws are regularly used to silence criticisms of the state and government officials. Although much of the independent press did persist in reporting critically about the government in 2006, a number of critics were prosecuted under the libel laws, and the threat of prosecution led many, particularly within the broadcast media, to self-censor their material. The most high-profile instance of such criminal libel convictions was when a number of newspapers published a list of supposed "secret homosexuals" within the government in January and February. Although this list was potentially offensive and insulting, the punishments of imprisonment and exorbitant fines that were handed out were disproportionate to the crimes committed. In March, Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, publisher of L'Anecdote was sentenced to four months in prison and a $2,000 fine, while Ayissi Biola, publisher of Nouvelle Afrique was sentenced to six months imprisonment and order to pay a total of $6,000 in damages to two separate plaintiffs. Separately, many other journalists were convicted of libel by the courts; most received suspended prison sentences. These included Dieudonne Mveng, publisher of La Meteo; Socrate Dipanda, publisher of Le Constat; Peter William Mandio, publisher of Le Front; Henriette Ekwe, a Le Front columnist; and Georges Gilbert Baongla, publisher of Le Dementi. 
Journalists were arbitrarily arrested, detained, harassed, intimidated and physically abused in 2006, while some publications were confiscated by the state. In January, unidentified assailants set fire to Freedom FM, a private radio station that had yet to begin operations. In 2003, the government had originally forced the station to close before it ever began operating and refused to lift the ban until 2005. In November, after receiving numerous threats leading up to a radio show asking listeners to offer their opinion about the Biya regime, Agnes Taile, the host of the popular program on the local Sweet FM, was abducted from her home, beaten, and left for dead. Other instances of harassment of journalists included the illegal 5 day detention of Duke Atangana Etotogo, the managing editor of L'Afrique Centrale by the military security in September after he published articles address corruption and incompetence within the army. 
There are about 25 regularly published newspapers; among them are the privately operating Mutations, La Nouvelle Expression, and Le Messager, as well as the state's Cameroon Tribune which toes the government line in the majority of its coverage. Many of the private papers freely criticize government policies and report on controversial issues, including corruption, human rights abuses, homosexuality, and economic policies. Distribution problems and high government tariffs on production ensure that newspapers remain a uniquely urban phenomenon. There are about 20 privately-owned broadcast stations, among them five are television stations. The state owned CRTV broadcasts on both television and radio and was the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster in the country. In general, the broadcast media is tightly controlled by the government and discussion or advocacy of secession is strictly prohibited. Several rural community radio stations were established by UNESCO in 2006, though they are all limited in the range of their broadcast capacity and prohibited from discussing politics at all. Foreign broadcasters, including the BBC and Radio France Internationale, are permitted to operate within Cameroon but they must partner with the state-owned CRTV. Despite the signing into law of the National Anticorruption Commission, corruption is rampant in many sectors of the media; many journalists expect and accept payment from politicians for writing articles containing unsubstantiated allegations against their opponents. Access to internet is not limited by the government although slow connections and high fees at cyber cafes serve to restrict access to only 1.5 percent of the population.

Canada: F 3-8-6=17
Canada's constitution of 1982 provides protection for freedom of expression, including freedom of the press. Defamatory or blasphemous libel remains a criminal offense under the federal criminal code. Access to information laws guarantee journalists' right to information, but in practice access can be hindered by bureaucratic delays, government interference, and numerous exemptions allowing government officials to reject requests. Although a 2006 accountability bill has expanded the number of government entities covered by information laws, the bill has been criticized for including several loopholes which will allow officials to decline information requests. In October 2006, a superior court judge struck down aspects of the security and information act. The act had prohibited unauthorized communication and possession of sensitive government documents; anyone found guilty of providing, receiving, or hearing "secret" information could be punished with up to 14 years in prison. The court deemed that the law was "vague, overbroad, and open to misuse," and in violation of the press freedom guarantee in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 
Journalists are free from violence or harassment, although under a 2004 law reporters can be forced to present documents to the police if deemed vital for a criminal case. In February, Hamilton Spectator journalist Bill Dunphy was ordered to hand over notes of an interview related to a murder case. The case is currently under appeal. In 2004 another reporter for the paper, Ken Peters, was fined C$30,000 for refusing to give up sources, a charge that was dropped when the source came forward independently. In February, two writers for the Canadian Medical Journal were fired after publishing a controversial article regarding the emergency contraceptive drug known as Plan B. The majority of the editorial board resigned shortly after, alleging editorial interference by the journal's owners, the Canadian Medical Association. 
Both print and broadcast media, which include the public Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), are generally free to express diverse views. CBC was initially established in the 1930s to counter the growing influence of American radio. Now it broadcasts in French and English, and provides TV and radio services for indigenous peoples in the north. Broadcasting rules stipulate that 30-35% of material must be Canadian. Nonetheless, the extent of media concentration and the influence of powerful media conglomerates such as CanWest Global Communications continue to limit media pluralism. The internet is generally free and is used by roughly 22 million Canadians; however in 2006 the Supreme Court refused to hear the case of Cheickh Bangoura. Bangoura, a former UN employee living in Toronto, had brought a libel case against the U.S.-based Washington Post for a report published on the internet accusing Bangoura of improprieties while serving with the UN in Kenya. The Supreme Court stated that anyone who publishes on the internet is aware of the "global reach" and must take the consequences into consideration beforehand. Critics claim the ruling will discourage a "free flow" of information.

Cape Verde: F 5-10-14=29
Status change explanation: Cape Verde's rating improved from Partly Free to Free as a result of the continued consolidation of democratic trends leading to greater opening in the media environment and a decrease in the number of cases of legal harassment of, and attacks on, journalists. 
The constitution directly provides for freedom of the press, as well as confidentiality of sources, access to information, and freedom from arbitrary arrest. In recent years, the government has consistently demonstrated its ability to respect and protect these rights in practice, making Cape Verde an exemplary country in Africa. A 1999 constitutional amendment still excludes the use of freedom of expression as a defense in defamation cases; however there have been no such libel cases since 2002. While the law requires a formal licensing mechanism for mass media, there have been no reports of the government refusing such licenses for political reasons and no government authorization at all is needed for the establishment of a print publication. There were also no reported cases of political or extra-judicial intimidation or violence in 2006. 
Much of the media is state operated, although there are a growing number of private publications and broadcast outlets. There are three privately-owned newspapers and one run by the state. While there are six independent radio stations that broadcast regularly in Cape Verde, the government owns a national radio station as well as the only national television station. The government does not generally restrict access to the media that it controls; nonetheless, a number of opposition political candidates reported having trouble accessing air time on the state broadcasters for the February presidential election. Self-censorship is also widely practiced among journalists and has been one of the largest obstacles in Cape Verde to the creation of a truly free press. Geographical barriers and harsh terrain in a country made up of several islands also constitute impediments to the distribution of newspapers and other media products. Access to the internet is not restricted by the government, and email messages and foreign broadcasts are uncensored.

Central African Republic: PF 18-21-19=58
Status change explanation: Central African Republic's rating improved from Not Free to Partly Free as a result of improvements in the environment for the media following the government's adherence to, and enforcement of, the new press law and constitution passed in 2005 respecting freedom of expression and decriminalizing libel. 
The 2005 constitution provides for freedom of the press, though authorities have used intimidation and legal harassment to limit reporting, particularly on sensitive topics such as official corruption. In December 2005, an overwhelming majority of voters approved this new constitution, which recognizes the freedom to inform and express opinions as fundamental rights of the country's citizens. In addition, a new press law decriminalizing many press offenses, including defamation and slander, was approved by President François Bozize in early 2005; criminal penalties remain for incitement to ethnic or religious hatred, and for the publication or broadcast of false information that could "disturb the peace." In 2006, the government generally respected these new laws-a noticeable improvement from the previous year when the security forces arrested, detained, and threatened journalists. 
Maka Gbossokotto, one of the CAR's most prominent journalists and a correspondent for Reporters Sans Frontieres, led the struggle to decriminalize press offenses after his own imprisonment for defamation in 2004. No journalist was imprisoned in 2006, but Gbossokotto, who edits the independent daily Le Citoyen, received threats in January from a former member of the presidential guard after Le Citoyen reported on an outbreak of violence between factions of the military police in the capital, Bangui. The same month, Bozize dissolved the executive board of the newly created High Communications Council (HCC), in what appeared to be an attempt to strengthen the government's control of the media regulatory body. However, in July the president agreed to pass a new decree mandating parity between representatives of the private and public media within the Council, a move supported by local journalists' organizations. 
More than 30 newspapers published, with varying degrees of regularity, in 2006. Many of these were privately owned, including at least three independent dailies, and most were able to report on political issues such as government corruption and economic policies. Nonetheless, meager salaries and real or self-imposed censorship in a less than dynamic media market continue to hamper the editorial freedom of news organizations. The CAR's private press is restricted almost entirely to the capital, the result of financial constraints as well as the danger of working in the countryside, where anti-Bozize rebels as well as militias connected to the ongoing conflicts in neighboring Sudan and Chad operate with impunity. The state remains dominant in the broadcast sector, and private radio stations, reined in by legal and financial restrictions, are often intimidated by the powerful. A prominent exception is Radio Ndeke Luka, a joint initiative of the United Nations and the Switzerland-based Fondation Hirondelle, which broadcasts on FM in the capital and on short-wave in the rest of the country. Internet access is open and unrestricted, though communications infrastructure is almost non-existent outside of Bangui and less than 0.5 percent of the population was able to make use of this medium in 2006.

Chad: NF 23-30-21=74
The constitution allows for freedom of expression, but authorities have routinely used threats and legal provisions criminalizing defamation and vaguely defined "incitement" to imprison journalists and censor critical reporting. In Chad's conservative, ethnically polarized society, many subjects are considered off-limits for the press, including the armed rebellion on the border with Sudan and recurring tensions between tribal clans. The High Council of Communication (HCC), the official media regulatory body, has the authority to suspend publications and broadcast outlets for defamation or excessive criticism of the government, particularly President Idriss Déby. On November 13, 2006, amid worsening violence in the volatile east which borders Darfur, the government instituted a state of emergency in six regions of Chad including the capital, N'Djamena. The state of emergency included a ban on newspaper and radio coverage of issues and events "likely to threaten public order, national unity, territorial integrity, and respect for the republican institutions," and required radio stations to submit their recorded material to government censors. 
In the lead-up to presidential elections held on May 3, the government arrested Tchanguis Vatankah, president of the Chadian Union of Private Radios and director of an independent radio station in the remote southern town of Moissala, over a radio union press release criticizing HCC restrictions against broadcasting live political debates (Deby was reelected in a poll boycotted by the opposition). Vatankah was held for three weeks and released only after he pledged to stay out of politics, and to step down as head of the radio union. An Iranian national who has resided in Chad for decades, Vatankah has been a frequent target of government ire in the past in connection with his work for Radio Brakos in Moissala. Also in April, a journalist working FM Liberté in central Chad was briefly held by rebels as they advanced towards N'Djamena. In the months that followed, government censorship increased amid heightened civil conflict. Journalists in Chad are restricted from discussing Darfur or Chad's confrontations with the Sudanese government. In October, a journalist for the private weekly Notre Temps was detained for four days over an editorial critical of the government's conduct in the war. 
Private newspapers, many of which were critical of the government before the state of emergency was imposed, circulate freely in the capital, N'Djamena, but they have little impact on the largely rural and illiterate population; radio is the primary means for mass communication. The only television station, Teletchad, is state owned, and its coverage favors the government. Despite high licensing fees for commercial radio stations, there are over a dozen private and community-run stations on the air, some operated by nonprofit groups (including human rights groups and the Roman Catholic Church). These broadcasters are subject to close official scrutiny, and those that fail to pay annual fees to the state are threatened with closure. Access to the internet is limited by the high level of poverty in Chad to less than 0.5 percent of the population, but the government refrains from restricting access to those who can afford it. Nonetheless, according to the U.S. State Department, the government does occasionally engage in monitoring e-mail through the main post office server. 

Chile F 10-12-8=30
Chilean law provides for freedom of speech and of the press, but laws in the Penal Code, Code of Military Justice, and the State Security Law prohibit insulting state institutions such as the presidency, the legislature, and the judicial bodies exist and are applied. 
Although violence towards journalists persists, there was at least one legal improvement during the year. 
Post-Pinochet governments have generally respected the constitutional right to freedom of expression, but the definitive reform of the legal code has been more problematic. Desacato (disrespect) laws, which impede reporting on the government and military authorities, were eliminated from the penal code in 2005 and the same year Congress also reformed the constitution to eliminate defamation as an offense against public persons. However, desacato remains in the Code of Military Justice and can be applied against civilians. In addition, the ambiguously worded criminal prohibition of threats against public officials allows the law to be interpreted in much the same way as desacato, according to the Inter-American Court for Human Rights. While constitutional provisions allowing censorship have been eliminated, at least two books remain banned under judicial order, Humberto Palamara's "Etica y Servicios de Inteligencia," and Francisco Martorell's "Impunidad Diplomática," both since 1993. Supreme Court rulings have never equated judicial bans with censorship. The government did not act on a 2005 Inter-American Court ruling calling for the state to end the Palamara ban and modify prohibitive laws. On a brighter note, for the first time, the Inter-American Court ruled that access to information is a fundamental human right. The court ruled in September in favor of Chilean activists who were denied government information about Trillium Ltd., a U.S. company backing a controversial logging project. The court ordered Chile to release the information and adopt legal and other measures to guarantee effective access. Again, government compliance has yet to occur. 
Investigative reporting and the expression of leftist viewpoints in the mass press continued to be difficult because of the concentration of state and private advertising in just two center-right newspaper companies. The newspaper Diario Siete, whose editor, Mónica González, won the 2005 Fundación Nuevo Periodismo prize, as well as the literary-political criticism magazine Rocinante, both closed for financial reasons. Some demanded state support for alternative publications, but the proposition is controversial. Chilean reporters, in part because of their experiences during the dictatorship and the narrow choice of viable employment, are considered among the hemisphere's most passive. Chile is considered a safe place to practice journalism. However, police or violent crowds injured several reporters last year. Six journalists were injured or detained by police during a student strike in August. President Michelle Bachelet called the attacks "unacceptable," and dismissed the head of the force responsible for the attacks. In May, two photographers were wounded and four media vehicles destroyed during a union march. Police arrested 70 suspects related to the attacks. In December, pro-Pinochet crowds insulted, beat or threw objects at reporters around the time of the former dictator's funeral. 
Press ownership is highly concentrated in the hands of two companies that received preferential treatment during the conservative military dictatorship that left power in 1989. Left-oriented, investigative publications have trouble surviving financially and receive little or no government advertising. Chile's television system is a mixed public-private system and is considered among the Americas' most diverse; even those stations owned by the state are considered to be independent of government influence. However, indigenous voices are not fairly represented in the mainstream Chilean press. After an incident at the beginning of the year in which Jorge Molina, a reporter for the online daily El Mostrador, was forced from his job after posting the names of former torturers, there were no further reported government restrictions on the internet in 2006. More than 40 percent of Chileans were able to access the internet in 2006.

China: NF 28-34-22=84
The year 2006 was marked by an increased crackdown on press freedom in China. President Hu Jintao's administration effectively silenced the Chinese press by introducing new media regulations, jailing outspoken journalists, and restricting coverage of breaking news. Article 35 of the Chinese constitution guarantees freedom of speech, assembly, association, and publication. However, other articles subordinate these rights to the national interest, which is defined by party-appointed courts. The Communist Party maintains direct control over the news media through the Central Propaganda Department (CPD), especially with respect to topics deemed by the party to be politically sensitive. This control is reinforced by an elaborate web of regulations and laws, which are vaguely worded and interpreted according to the wishes of the party leadership. Press freedom was further undermined in 2006 by two new regulations aimed at controlling the distribution of foreign news and media coverage of unforeseen events. In July, the Chinese government proposed fines of up to $12,500 for domestic and foreign news organizations that report "sudden events" such as protests, disease outbreaks, or natural disasters without government authorization. Two months later, the official Xinhua News Agency announced in a surprise move that all foreign news would be distributed solely through a Xinhua agent. The new measures allow Xinhua to censor news products from international news agencies if they "undermine national unity" or disrupt China's "economic and social order." While the distribution of news by foreign agencies in China was already tightly restricted, these new regulations extend the government's control over the distribution of economic and financial news by major foreign news providers such as Reuters and Bloomberg. 
Throughout 2006, the Chinese government increased the pressure on the media to ensure compliance with the propaganda standards of the Communist Party. The efforts to control the domestic press reflected a rising number of public protests, the growing importance and availability of independent online news, and the nation's march toward a market economy that forces the Chinese media to become profitable. In January, the Propaganda Department shut down Bing Dian (Freezing Point), a weekly news supplement of the China Youth Daily known for its investigative reports and critical opinion pieces. While Bing Dian reopened in March, the weekly's editor and his deputy were removed from their posts and demoted. In April, the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), China's publishing authority, decided to step up controls over "illegal" foreign publications and to freeze the granting of publication licenses to joint ventures. 
According to international media freedom watchdogs, 32 journalists and 50 internet-based "cyber-dissidents" were in prison in China at year's end. Two journalists, Wu Xianghu and Xiao Guopeng, died due to police violence in 2006. Wu was attacked in October 2005 by traffic police who were angry over a recently published exposé. He died in February 2006 following several months of hospitalization. Xiao was attacked and killed by a police officer in July 2006; press freedom groups said the attack might have been linked to a recent article that was critical of local police. 
The convictions of two Chinese journalists working for foreign publications in China increased concern that the government was attempting to intimidate foreign correspondents and newspapers. According to Reporters Sans Frontieres, there were at least 25 incidents of arrests, threats, or assaults against members of the foreign press in 2006. The most prominent victim was Zhao Yan, a researcher working for the Beijing bureau of the New York Times who had been jailed in 2004 on a charge of leaking state secrets. While Zhao was acquitted of that charge in early 2006, he was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison in August on a lesser fraud charge related to his work as an investigative reporter for a Chinese magazine in 2001. In a similar case, Ching Cheong, a resident of Hong Kong who worked as a correspondent for Singapore's Straits Times in China, was convicted of espionage and sentenced in August to five years in prison. Ching had been detained during a visit to the southern city of Guangzhou in 2005 and accused of gathering information for an academic organization in Taiwan that China said was a front for the Taiwanese intelligence agency. 
A large number of Chinese reporters and activists were convicted for using the internet to protest human rights abuses or call for greater democracy in China. In January, Li Changqing, a journalist for the Fuzhou Daily, was sentenced to three years in prison for "spreading false and alarmist information" with a report about a 2004 dengue fever outbreak for the U.S.-based online news service Boxun News. Four other online journalists were charged with "inciting subversion to state authority" and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. In March, Ren Zhiyuan was sentenced to 10 years in prison for an internet article holding that people could rightfully overthrow tyrannical governments by violent means. In May, internet essayist Yang Tongyan (also known as Yang Tianshui) was sentenced to 12 years in prison for posting articles on overseas websites in which he called for the release of Chinese dissidents. In July, Li Yuanlong, a reporter for the Bijie Daily, was sentenced to two years in prison after he posted essays on foreign websites in which he discussed the harsh living conditions of peasants in Guizhou province. In October, Guo Qizhen and Li Jianping were sentenced to four and two years in prison respectively, for writing essays on foreign websites that criticized the Communist Party leadership and expressed concerns about China's human rights situation. 
Encouraged by the nationwide crackdown on journalists in 2006, local authorities also responded to embarrassing news stories by arresting and imprisoning independent-minded journalists. In January, Zhu Wanxiang and Wu Zhengyou, editors of the magazine Zhonghua Xin Qingnian (New China Youth), were jailed for 10 and 6 years respectively, for reporting on protesting villagers and a violent demonstration in the city of Lishui. Similarly, Yang Xiaoqing, a reporter for China Industrial Economy News in Sichuan province, was sentenced in June to one year in jail after reporting on alleged corruption among officials in his home county of Longhui. 
In an attempt to quell possible concerns over censorship during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Chinese government announced in December that it would not impose travel restrictions on the foreign media. Foreign journalists would be free to travel around China during the 2008 Games and to interview organizations and individuals without prior government consent. The new regulations, effective through mid-October 2008, include Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan reporters, but do not apply to mainland citizens. Ironically, the former editor of the popular but now closed news website Aegean Sea, Zhang Jianhong, had been arrested in September and charged with "inciting subversion" for posting an essay criticizing China's human rights record and the poor treatment of journalists ahead of the Olympic Games. 
Media reforms have allowed for the commercialization of media outlets without the privatization of ownership. All Chinese media are owned by the state, but the majority no longer receive state subsidies and now rely on income from advertisement revenue, which some argue has shifted the media's loyalty from the party to the consumer. The CPD disseminates directives to media nationwide concerning mandatory use of state propaganda and indicating topics to be barred from reports. To avoid running afoul of the CPD, journalists often engage in self-censorship, a practice that is reinforced by frequent ideological indoctrination and a salary scheme that pays journalists only after their reports are published or broadcast. When a journalist writes a report that is considered too controversial, payment is withheld, and in some cases the journalist must pay for the cost of news-gathering out of pocket. A small number of elite media outlets combat such deterrents to aggressive reporting by paying journalists for reports that are subject to censorship. This has resulted in a few outlets championing popular causes and printing embarrassing exposures of official malfeasance. Nevertheless, media personnel who engage in such journalism are often fired or arrested. 
China has the world's second-largest population of internet users after the United States, with an estimated 137 million people online by the end of 2006. The government employs an extensive surveillance and filtering system to prevent Chinese users from accessing material that is considered obscene or politically subversive. Internet censorship increased sharply after the government introduced new regulations in 2005. The so-called 11 Commandments of the Chinese Internet bar websites from distributing information that, among other offenses, violates the Chinese constitution, endangers national security, encourages illegal strikes, contains pornographic or violent content, or promotes religious sects. Foreign internet companies have largely cooperated with the Chinese government on censorship enforcement. In January, U.S.-based Microsoft closed the site of a well-known Chinese blogger who used its MSN online service in China to discuss a high-profile newspaper strike at the Beijing News. The Chinese-language search engines of the U.S. firms Yahoo!, MSN, and Google filter search results and restrict access to information about controversial topics such as the Falun Gong, Tibetan independence, and human rights. In a positive development for internet freedom, Chinese authorities in November unblocked the Chinese-language version of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, which had been blocked for about a year.

Colombia: PF 13-29-15=57
Status change explanation: Colombia's status improved from Not Free to Partly Free due to the increased willingness of journalists to report critically on political issues including high-level corruption scandals, as well as a gradually improving security situation. 
Freedom of the press is guaranteed by the 1991 constitution, but journalists have trouble exercising their rights in a country wracked by a complex armed conflict involving left-wing guerrilla organizations, drug traffickers, paramilitary groups, and government security forces. Human rights organizations expressed concern about comments made by high-ranking government officials, including President Alvaro Uribe, who have chastised journalists for their reporting on the war. Journalists believe that such commentary stigmatizes them and puts them at risk for retribution. Though legal actions against journalists declined in 2006, criminal complaints and civil lawsuits continue to be filed against media outlets and reporters. Colombia's penal code does not contain provisions allowing journalists to be charged with contempt, but it does allow for slander and libel to be filed as criminal charges. The criminal procedure code also allows prosecutors to execute searches in advance of securing a warrant; this provision could make it easier for prosecutors to seize notes or information kept by journalists. 
Colombia remains the most dangerous country for journalists in continental South America, and violence and harassment of journalists by state and non-state actors are the primary impediments to a free media. The Bogota-based watchdog Fundacion para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP) reported a significant (37 percent) increase in violations of press freedom in 2006, with the greatest number of incidents occurring during March and May, months in which Colombia held elections for Congress and the presidency, respectively. Three journalists were killed in Colombia in 2006. In Cordoba, radio host Gustavo Rojas Gabaldo was shot and killed on February 4 in an incident that the IAPA attributed to demobilized paramilitaries angered by his criticism of links between local government and paras. Community radio host Milton Fabian Sanchez was killed on August 9 in Valle del Cauca after denouncing local-level drug trafficking. Atilano Segundo Perez was killed on August 22 in Bolivar; the motive for the slaying remains undetermined. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that at least seven journalists were forced to flee their homes due to threats and intimidation. Additionally, the journalists' group Media for Peace, along with several dozen other NGOs, received a series of emails during the summer and fall threatening physical attacks against organizations deemed pro-FARC. However, according to the U.S. State Department, in the case of threats against Daniel Coronell, a well-known director of a television news show, a Bogota court found Luis Fernandez Uribe Botero guilty of making the threats and sentenced him to 16 months in prison and a fine of $3,520 (8.16 million pesos). 
Numerous threats against journalists occurred throughout the country. Security forces were implicated in over 20 violations of press freedom, often in the context of protests against state policies, including a free-trade agreement with the United States. Government investigations and prosecutions for crimes against journalists have been slow and inconclusive, contributing to an atmosphere of impunity. According to CPJ, none of the 39 cases of journalists murdered since 1992 has been fully resolved. In 2005, the government established a special unit in the Office of the Public Prosecutor to deal specifically with cases involving the assassination of journalists, but the unit has been hamstrung by insufficient personnel and budgetary resources. Since 2000, the Ministries of Justice and the Interior have operated the Journalist Protection Program to assist journalists who become targets with security, transportation, financial aid, and assistance to leave the country if necessary; this program covered 94 media representatives during the year, compared with 46 during the previous year. 
Politicians, especially on the local level, frequently denounce members of the press as enemies. In 2006, President Uribe mixed firm rhetoric regarding the need to protect provincial journalists' right to report with a display of anger toward national press outlets, notably the weekly magazine Semana, regarding reports on the burgeoning "parapolitica" scandal concerning links between paramilitaries and the government. Generally, however, Colombian reporting on the parapolitica scandal was persistent, demonstrating that the security improvements of the last five years opened space for journalists to report on high-level scandals involving dangerous and powerful actors. 
Most of the country's media outlets are controlled by groups of private investors. The government operates two commercial and one educational television station along with a national radio network. The Ministry of Communications has been active in promoting the development of community radio stations, and over 400 stations are currently in operation. In October, the transmission of Senate hearings regarding the parapolitica scandal was temporarily blocked in two northern departments. After pressure from civil society groups, in October the government announced that frequencies would be issued for community radio stations in cities across the country. Government advertising is an important source of revenue since local media depend heavily on advertising by provincial and municipal agencies in order to stay in business. This financial dependence creates a powerful incentive for collusion among media owners, journalists, and officials that affects editorial views and news coverage. There is a widespread perception that journalists accept bribes in exchange for biased coverage. There were no reported cases of government monitoring or censoring the internet, though internet usage remained fairly low, at around 13 percent of the population in 2006.

Comoros: PF 12-21-15=48
Freedom of speech and of the press are protected under the preamble to the 2001 constitution. These rights are generally respected by the government, but journalists are subject to harassment and harsh defamation laws. In March, paramilitary police detained Aboubacar M'changama, editor of the private weekly L'Archipel, for printing two articles concerning discontent within the military. M'changama, who also heads the Comorian Print Media Organization, was held for 54 hours, exceeding the legal 48 hour maximum detention limit. Several radio stations were targeted prior to the May 2006 presidential elections. Radio Ngazidja, the official government station of Grand Comore, and private station Moroni FM were ransacked and temporarily forced off the air by armed assailants. Equipment was confiscated from Radio Mohéli by the local military commander. Two journalists claim the Radio Mohéli censorship was the result of having aired protests against the director of a state-owned agency. Comoros has several independent newspapers and one state-owned weekly, Al-Watan. Of the two national radio stations, one (Radio Comoros) is run by the government, and the other (Radio Tropique) is run by the opposition. Private local radio and television stations have proliferated in the last few years and are funded predominantly by donations from locals as well as from citizens living abroad. Although available and unrestricted by the government, poverty, illiteracy, and poor telecommunications infrastructure severely limited access to the internet, which was utilized by only 3 percent of the population in 2006.

Congo, Republic of (Brazzaville): PF 17-17-17=51
The constitution provides for freedom of the press, but several types of expression are considered to be criminal offenses, including incitement to ethnic hatred and violence. Following legal reforms in 2001, many press offenses are punishable by fines rather than imprisonment, including libel and publishing "false news." Nonetheless, these fines are often excessive and quickly handed down to publications critical of the government. Local stringers for international media outlets, as well as those employed by the state-run media, have in the past had their accreditation revoked if their reporting was perceived to portray the government in a bad light. 
In April, authorities detained the director of a private newspaper, Thalassa, overnight and charged him with defamation, insulting the president, and publishing false news, after the paper published a report accusing the president of poisoning a retired general. A judge later imposed a six-month ban on Thalassa. Also in April, two prominent local anti-corruption campaigners were arrested and detained for three weeks after they contributed to a Global Witness report criticizing the government's misuse of oil revenues. In a subsequent trial condemned by the World Bank and others, the two were given suspended prison sentences and fines of $600 each. 
In 2006, over 15 private weekly newspapers published in Brazzaville and provided some scrutiny of the government, though few were readily available in rural areas. Officially, the state does not publish its own newspapers, but a number of publications are believed to be allied with the regime of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. Radio remains the best means of reaching large audiences nationwide. The government has been slow to loosen its grip on the broadcast sector and continues to run three radio stations and one television station. Political parties are not permitted to own radio stations or television channels; and although several private radio and television stations have won permission to broadcast in recent years, they rarely criticize the government. In 2006, little more than one percent of the population was able to access the internet, amounting to 50,000 people, few of whom resided outside of urban areas; the government is not known to restrict online traffic or content. 

Congo, Democratic Republic of (Kinshasa): NF 24-32-24=80.
The law provides for freedom of speech and of the press, but this right is limited in practice by President Joseph Kabila's government and various non-state actors. Officials used an array of prohibitive licensing and criminal libel laws to restrict free speech and suppress political criticism by imprisoning journalists under the country's repressive defamation laws, shutting down broadcast operations, and seizing copies of newspapers critical of the authorities. Several Congolese journalists spent time in jail in 2006, including a newspaper publisher in the capital, Kinshasa, who was arrested in November 2005 and held for nine months on charges of publishing "false rumors," insulting the head of state, and "insulting the government." Patrice Booto was finally freed after being sentenced to six months in jail and a fine, but many such cases never go to court. Local media outlets are also subject to regulation by the High Authority on Media (HAM), a public agency created under the 2002 peace accords that formally ended the DRC's civil war. The agency's mandate is to ensure freedom of expression, but it has the authority to temporarily suspend media outlets for hate speech and other serious ethical transgressions. The HAM targeted several media outlets owned by politicians opposed to Kabila in 2006, prompting allegations that the sanctions were politically motivated. 
Multiparty presidential elections were held on July 30, 2006, for the first time since independence from Belgium in 1960. Kabila, who had led the country's transitional government since 2002, won in an October run-off against his main rival, former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. In July, the government expelled a respected Radio France Internationale (RFI) correspondent after repeatedly denying her accreditation to cover the elections. During the pre-electoral period, journalists faced physical abuse, imprisonment, and threats from all parties to the country's debilitating internal strife. Instances of harassment and physical intimidation of journalists were particularly severe in the eastern Ituri, Kivu, and Kasai provinces, where the government in Kinshasa exercises little control and armed groups continue to terrorize journalists and the civilian population. On July 8, unidentified gunmen killed Bapuwa Mwamba, a Congolese journalist who worked for several local publications, in his home in Kinshasa. Authorities charged a soldier and two civilians in connection with the murder, saying that Mwamba was killed in an attempted robbery; however, the local press freedom group Journaliste en Danger (JED) ruled out robbery as a motive, based on their own investigation. The trial of three soldiers accused of murdering another prominent Congolese journalist in November 2005 began in July, but remained unresolved at year's end, and members of JED reported that they had received threats in connection with their inquiry into the incident. 
The people of the DRC are largely illiterate and depend upon radio broadcasts for the news. Nonetheless, many private newspapers exist, and although not always objective, they are often able to be highly critical of the government. Multiple privately owned radio and television stations also operate in tandem with two state-owned radio stations as well as a state-owned television station. The state-owned broadcasters operate with a pro-government bias but permitted other major political parties represented in the transitional government to gain access to airtime. Together with the Swiss-funded Fondation Hirondelle, MONUC operates an independent countrywide radio network, Radio Okapi, which has set new standards for reporting and media objectivity in a volatile political scene. Journalists in all major media outlets are usually poorly paid and lack sufficient training, making them vulnerable to bribery and political manipulation. The government refrains from any overt internet censorship. However, only a tiny portion of the population (less than 0.5 percent) was able to access the internet due to financial constraints and the volatile political situation. 

Costa Rica: F 7-7-6=20
Costa Rica's press environment is considered to be among the freest in Latin America. Freedom of communication is guaranteed under Article 24 of the constitution, which also reserves the government's right to seize private documents. However, Costa Rica continues to have strict libel laws that provide for penalties of up to three years' imprisonment in cases of insult of a public official, though these have been under review since 2004. 
On May 3, the Costa Rican constitutional court upheld a press law that makes libel and slander a crime. Article 7 of the 1902 statute known as Ley de Imprenta imposes a prison sentence of up to 120 days for defamation in print media. A petition to strike down the law was filed in February 2004 by the lawyer of the San Jose-based daily Extra, after three of its journalists were convicted under Article 7 and given suspended prison sentences. The court rejected the appeal. Also in May, a bill was introduced in Congress seeking to regulate journalism. The same bill would limit press freedom by introducing the notion of "truthful information". But the government has shown support for a bill in Congress that would ban all these restrictive press laws. 
While violence against journalists is not common in Costa Rica, on February, Jose Gatgens, a correspondent with "La Nacion", was fired upon by security guards as he left a shopping mall in the town of Guápiles. Gatgens, who was not hurt in the attack, was preparing a report on alleged irregularities in the licensing of casinos. In November, human rights groups and press freedom advocates expressed concern over the impunity surrounding the murder of journalists Parmenio Medina and Ivannia Mora, both killed in 2003. Also in November, judges in the Mora case dropped the charges against all of the six alleged suspects, saying "essential" evidence for the case was inadmissible in court. 
Access to official information remains a challenge for journalists. Costa Rica has a vibrant media scene, although private media ownership is highly concentrated and generally conservative. Radio is the most popular outlet for news dissemination, though several daily newspapers are widely circulated. Access to the internet is unrestricted and more than 20 percent of the population made use of this medium in 2006. 

Cote d'Ivoire NF 19-30-19=68
The constitution provides for freedom of the press, but since the 2002 rebellion that divided the country into government and rebel-held portions, the government has reduced press freedoms in the name of patriotism and national unity. Parliament scrapped criminal libel and other punitive laws for press offenses in December 2004. However, these legal improvements were disregarded in June 2006 when the editor and the publications director at the opposition daily Le Font were sentenced to three months in prison and large fines on charges of defamation. The journalists have not yet served their time in prison, hoping to overturn the ruling in the appeals court. 
Journalists remain vulnerable to physical and other abuse by police and extra-legal militias and many journalists, particularly those involved in media outlets expressing dissenting views, were subject to direct attacks and intimidation efforts throughout the year. However, the primary threat to the media in 2006 came from the blatant attempts made by President Gbagbo and pro-government militias to control media content, particularly that of the state-run media. In January, following the UN's announcement that the mandate of the National Assembly did not extend beyond 2005, hundreds of members of the militant progovernment group, the Young Patriots and other government supporters rallied in front of the offices of the state-run media outlet, Radiotelevision Ivoirienne (RTI) eventually using force to gain access to the station and broadcast messages inciting violence and instructing protesters to target specific buildings including UN headquarters and the French embassy. This incident has intensified international concern about xenophobia and hate language in the Ivorian media. During the occupation of the outlet, which was aided by state security personnel and a number of senior broadcast officials, demonstrators threatened to kill or rape journalists who were unwilling to cooperate. Many other journalists were harassed, attacked, and threatened amid the wider violence that month, and a number of media outlets were intimidated into temporarily closing their offices. 
As a further direct assault on the independence of the state media in general, and RTI in particular, in November Gbagbo dissolved the entire board of directors and fired the director general of RTI replacing him with Brou Amessan, who had served as the government's news anchor during the Young Patriots takeover in January. This move came during a period of heightened tension between Gbagbo and his Prime Minister after RTI aired one of the Prime Minister's press releases which condemned Gbagbo's actions following the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan. In the same move, the director of the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin was also replaced with someone more favorable to the administration. 
Little changed in 2006 for media practitioners in the northern rebel-held territory. Only one incident of media harassment was reported in which an independent journalist was allegedly beaten by security forces while leaving an interview with a rebel spokesman. The rebels operate at least one television and two radio stations in their zone and continue to allow the circulation of progovernment newspapers and the broadcasting of government television and radio programs. 
The government controls two major radio stations, one of which is the only national station and key source of news in the country. Private print and community radio stations do present diverse views and frequently scrutinize the government, but they are regularly harassed for these reports. Since 2002, pro-government media have led an ultra-nationalistic campaign against France, which they accuse of backing the rebellion; this campaign, supported by Gbagbo, has increasingly included calls for the removal of the UN mission and its peacekeeping troops stationed in Cote d'Ivoire. Following a 10 month ban on its FM radio transmissions, in May 2006 French government-owned RFI was allowed to resume its broadcasting in return for an $18,000 fine and the reappointment of a permanent RFI correspondent in Abidjan. Internet access, though severely constrained by poverty and infrastructure limitations (only 1 percent of the population was able to access the internet in 2006), is unrestricted by the government. 

Croatia: PF 9-14-14= 37
Freedom of the press is enshrined in the constitution, but media outlets are still influenced by various political and economic interests. Amendments to the criminal code that were passed in June 2006 and took effect in October eliminated imprisonment as a punishment for libel, leaving fines as the only sanction. If a person convicted of libel does not pay the fine, the court is authorized to seize his or her assets, and in the absence of adequate assets the individual is obliged to perform community service. Government officials occasionally use libel laws against the media. In August, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic sued the daily Vecernji List for running a reprint of an article claiming that Mesic had a supervisory role in the former Yugoslav secret service. Although the paper also printed the president's response to the claims, Mesic proceeded with the suit, arguing that the paper had attacked him for political reasons. 
Political interference and undue pressure on the media persists in Croatia. In July, the Croatian Journalists' Association protested the government's appointments to the advisory board for the state news agency Hina, alleging that the new appointees-who included a veterinarian, a recent law-school graduate, and an owner of a political marketing firm-lacked qualifications and were essentially political lackeys. However, the government in October asked the parliament to dismiss the board after a disagreement over its selection of a general manager, and lawmakers complied with the request in December. Also in December, two journalists from the state-owned Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) were temporarily suspended for broadcasting a speech from the early 1990s in which Mesic appeared to speak favorably about Croatia's fascist past. Following the incident, Mesic publicly condemned the journalists' suspension. The two journalists were later reinstated following a decision by HRT's Ethics Council that they had not violated the HRT code of conduct. Journalists in Croatia remain exposed to physical threats and violence. In particular, the issue of war crimes remains a sensitive topic, and journalists face pressure and intimidation if their reporting challenges the virtue of Croatia's role in the 1991-95 Balkans conflict. At least in some instances, these attacks are instigated by local officials. Drago Hedl, a journalist for the weekly Feral Tribune, received death threats in May linked to an article accusing local officials of committing war crimes. In response, police granted Hedl protection and later arrested two individuals, one of whom was a local politician. In another incident, a reporter from Nova Television was allegedly attacked both physically and verbally in July by the mayor of Novalja, who sought to prevent her from reporting on water shortages on the island of Pag. 
Approximately 140 radio stations and 15 television channels operate in Croatia, and two out of three national television stations are privately owned. Many Croats also have access to various European channels via satellite. HRT is the market leader at the national level, and the state remains the single largest media owner. The press has increasingly been used as a tool by media owners to promote their business and political interests. Several prominent journalists expressed concerns in 2006 that the media were becoming increasingly subverted to the interests of powerful advertisers, who were able to control content by threatening to redirect their sponsorship. The state does not restrict the foreign press or internet use and more than 30 percent of the population accessed the internet in 2006.

Cuba: NF 30-39-27=96
Cuba has the most restrictive laws on free speech and press freedom in the hemisphere. The constitution prohibits private ownership of media and allows free speech and press only if they "conform to the aims of a socialist society." Cuba's legal and institutional structures are firmly under the control of the executive. The country's criminal code provides the legal basis for the repression of dissent, and under the guise of protecting state security, laws criminalizing "enemy propaganda" and the dissemination of "unauthorized news" are used to restrict freedom of speech. Insult laws carry penalties of three months to one year in prison, with sentences of up to three years if the president or members of the Council of State or National Assembly are the objects of criticism. The 1997 Law of National Dignity, which provides for jail sentences of 3 to 10 years for "anyone who, in a direct or indirect form, collaborates with the enemy's media," is aimed at the independent news agencies that send their material abroad. 
The few journalists who do work for independent news agencies, write articles for foreign websites, or publish underground newsletters are routinely monitored, harassed, detained, interrogated, or imprisoned. At best they are accused of giving the Cuban revolution a "bad name," at worst of working as counterrevolutionaries for the United States government or Cuban exiles. During the year, two journalists were released from prison, but two more were imprisoned, leaving a total of 24 journalists in long-term detention. One of those released, Lamasiel Gutierrez Romero, correspondent for the website Nueva Prensa Cubana, was freed on March 22 after serving a seven month sentence for "civil disobedience and resistance." She returned to her home on the Isle of Youth under heavy police surveillance and was forbidden to leave the island. The two journalists who received lengthy prison sentences in 2006 were Armando Betancourt, a freelance journalist and editor of a small underground magazine, and Raymundo Perdigon Brito, who together with his sister had recently established a small news agency. At the beginning of August, six foreign journalists hoping to enter the country to cover reactions to the temporary transfer of power from President Fidel Castro to his brother, Raul, were interrogated by agents of the Interior Ministry and required to return to their country of departure. They were told that they did not have the work visa needed to practice journalism in Cuba. 
The Communist Party controls all national media, including all print and electronic media outlets, apart from one or two unauthorized Catholic Church newsletters. Cubans do not have access to foreign media, although some international papers are for sale in hotels. The government continues to jam transmissions of the U.S. government-sponsored Radio and Television Marti. Although Telecommunications Minister Ignacio Gonzalez Planas has repeatedly stated that the internet is essential for the country's development, the government does its best to restrict access, and less than 2 percent of the population was online in 2006. An investigation carried out by Reporters Sans Frontieres revealed that the government has banned most private internet connections and has installed software in all internet cafes and leading hotels that triggers an alert message whenever 'subversive' keywords are entered. This strict control is backed by the threat of 5 years in prison for connecting to the internet illegally, and 20 years for writing "counter-revolutionary" articles for foreign websites. 

Cyprus: F 5-9-8=22
Freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed under article 19 of the constitution, and is generally respected in practice in the Greek part of Cyprus, where the independent press is vibrant and frequently criticizes authorities. In August, Cypriot media imposed a 15-day blanket ban on covering the Turkish controlled north of the island, protesting the frequent number of arrests there of Greek Cypriot journalists. 
Some laws are in place for freedom of the press in the northern, Turkish part of Cyprus, but authorities are overtly hostile to the independent press, and journalists can be arrested, put on trial, and sentenced under the "unjust actions" section of the Criminal Code. Although Turkish Cypriot journalists can enter the south, Turkish journalists based in the North are often denied entry across the border. Harassment of Turkish Cypriot journalists by Greek Cypriot border guards and ultranationalist Greek Cypriot groups has been reported by the US State Department. Several local daily newspapers are available, but the broadcasting service is controlled exclusively by the Turkish Cypriot administration. In November, two French journalists were arrested and accused of filming at a restricted military site while working in the city of Varosha. They were later freed and fined 300 Cyprus pounds ($665). Independent newspapers have frequently been targeted by the government; in December, the editor of the Kibrisli paper was charged with the defamation of the Attorney General following the publication of critical article. The case was pending at the end of the year. 
Cypriots have access to Greek and Turkish broadcasts. There are seven major dailies, two weekly newspapers, and six major magazines. However, most daily newspapers belong to or are linked to political parties or other groups. A few private television and radio stations compete effectively with government-controlled stations, but only the state broadcaster has sufficient funds to produce its own programming. Ownership is highly concentrated. Approximately 33 percent of Cypriots are able to access the internet on a regular basis and are not subject to any known government restrictions on internet use. 
[The numerical rating for Cyprus is based on conditions on the Greek side of the island.] 

Czech Republic F 4-7-7=18
Freedom of the press is constitutionally guaranteed, though the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms prohibits speech that might infringe on national security, individual rights, public health, or morality, or that may evoke hatred based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. Press freedom has long been secure in the Czech Republic, but observers have raised concerns over quality and depth of reporting, as well as weak accountability and increasing cross-ownership of media outlets. The news media are occasionally accused of political or economic bias, and such allegations were renewed in the context of the 2006 parliamentary elections. 
Libel remains a criminal offense, but prosecutions were rare. The Press Law provides a sound basis for independent journalism, and media protections were bolstered by a 2005 Constitutional Court ruling that journalists do not have to disclose their sources. However, a 2006 wiretapping scandal revealed that police had monitored the telephone conversations of two reporters in order to identify their sources on a story linking civil servants and politicians to organized crime. Media freedom advocates have also warned against recent legislative efforts to restrict the use of hidden cameras. 
Most major media outlets are privately owned, and they are generally able to represent diverse views without fear of government or partisan pressure. Public broadcasters supplement private media and have the confidence of a large majority of society. The internet continues to develop rapidly, with just over 50 percent of the population enjoying regular and unrestricted access. 

Denmark: F 2-4-5=11
Freedoms of speech and of expression are protected in Section 77 of the constitution, and the government generally respects this in practice. Nevertheless, there are certain legal restrictions for libel, blasphemy, and racism which were at the center of a number of incidents in 2006. In fact, press freedom was once again put to the test this year when an international furor continued over 12 cartoons of the prophet Muhammad that were published in the Copenhagen daily Jyllands-Posten in September 2005. Several Muslim countries boycotted Danish goods and Danish embassies came under attack. Death threats were made against the cartoonists, bomb threats against the headquarters, and hackers attempted to shut down the daily's online site. Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen refused to intervene in the matter stating that it was an issue of free speech. In February, Jyllands-Posten publicly apologized for offense caused to Muslims. However, anger flared again in October when two Danish television channels aired a video of activists drawing cartoons of the prophet. 
In 2006, two journalists were indicted for the first time in the country's history on account of leaking state secrets. In 2004, Michael Bjerre and Jesper Larsen of Berlingske Tidende published a series of articles based on leaked reports from the Danish Defense Intelligence Service questioning the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The two journalists, along with Editor-in-Chief Niels Lunde were brought to trial in November 2006 and all three were acquitted in December. According to the US State Department, radio announcer Kaj Wilhelmsen was given a suspended two-week prison sentence for violating the country's antiracism law. Similarly, in November, Radio Hoger's license was suspended for refusing to supply a copy of an August broadcast to the Radio and Television Board that allegedly contained racist programming. Both Wilhlmsen and Radio Hoger continued to broadcast via the internet for which a license is not needed. 
The private press is vibrant in Denmark though many papers have political affiliations. Government subsidies are available to the press as well as low-interest loans for struggling newspapers. State-run television and radio broadcasting is financed by an annual license fee. TV2 is a privately run television network, and satellite and cable television is also available. Access to the internet is not restricted by the government, which was utilized by 70 percent of the population in 2006. 

Djibouti: NF 23-25-21=69
Although Article 15 of the constitution affords the right to express and disseminate "opinions by word, pen, or image" the government imposes restrictions on the independent press. Free speech is limited by prohibitions on slander and the dissemination of "false information" as well as difficulties in obtaining broadcasting licenses, arrest and detention of journalists, seizure of newspapers, and high court fines for "offensive" reporting, according to the BBC. The U.S. military presence in Djibouti creates additional pressure for self-censorship as journalists are encouraged not to report on soldiers' activities. On May 30, a journalist for the Radio and Television of Djibouti was suspended for three months for broadcasting a story on a child who reportedly had avian influenza and whose mother denied the illness accusing the Ministry of Health of creating the story to try and obtain foreign assistance. Because of extreme poverty, radio is the most popular news medium, as few can afford newspapers or TV sets. Television and radio broadcasts are controlled by the government and report favorably on government activities; however, the BBC World Service, Radio France International, and the Voice of America are also accessible. The largest newspaper is the bi-weekly government-owned La Nation, though opposition parties also print two weekly papers- Le Renouveau and Le Republique. The only internet service provider is government-owned. In January, the website of the Association for Respect of Human Rights in Djibouti (ARDHD) was blocked. The ARDHD is often critical of the government, who denied involvement in the blocking. Barely 1 percent of the population was able to access the internet in 2006. 

Dominica F 4-10-6=20
The constitution guarantees freedom of the press. The media is often critical of the government and, as a result, relations with the ruling Dominica Labor Party continued to be strained. Representatives of the government issued forthright criticisms of unfavorable coverage. In August, a dispute arose over media coverage of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit's relationship with a Bahamian businessman with an allegedly dubious past causing Skerrit to denounce sections of the media for their "sensationalist" reporting. In September, the printing house of The Sun newspaper refused to print an issue containing an article about the controversy. The owner took the decision to stop the print run after receiving a warning from a lawyer claiming to represent the prime minister. The Media Workers' Association of Dominica expressed its concern that the incident would increase media fears of the application of existing libel and defamation laws. In November, following the expulsion from the parliament of a journalist with the Chronicle newspaper, the leader of the opposition United Workers Party called for the publication of clear guidelines on the rules regarding reporting procedures at the National Assembly. There is no daily newspaper, but there are several weekly publications. Dominica has four radio stations, including the state-owned Dominica Broadcasting Corporation and two television stations. The internet, used by approximately 36 percent of the population, is neither restricted nor censored by the government. 

Dominican Republic: PF 8-18-14=40
The law provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and the government generally respected these rights in practice; however during 2006 there was a troubling deterioration in the media environment. Three journalists were murdered, one kidnapped, and another the target of an alleged assassination plot. Although there is no incontrovertible evidence that these attacks were directly linked to the victims' work, there are indications that some of the attacks were connected to their profession. 
In April, Johnny Martinez, the 30-year old director of Equilibrio magazine and a producer of a television program by the same name, was found stabbed to death near his hometown, San Cristobal. Two men-both of them former policemen-were later found guilty of the murder. In late August, Domingo Disla "Diaz" Florentino, a radio and television commentator, was shot dead in Boca Chica. On September 25, Facundo Labata "Lavatta" Ramirez, a correspondent for Radio Comercial and several other radio stations, was shot dead in Los Alcarrizos. He had recently been reporting on crime and drug trafficking in the area where he lived, and his daughter told the media that he had recently received threatening letters. In March, Roberto Sandoval, host of critical opinion programs on Radio Comercial and Telecable Nacional's Canal 10, was abducted by gunmen and wounded as he escaped from a moving vehicle. In late December, veteran journalist Julio Martinez Pozo denounced an alleged plot against his life orchestrated by a senior government official. Martinez Pozo, who hosts a popular radio program on Z-101, claimed that Jose Venegas, a man rumored to have been involved in the disappearance and presumed murder of journalist Narciso Gonzalez in 1994, had been hired to kill him. Investigations into the case continued through the year's end. 
There were numerous other reports of journalists being threatened and intimidated, and the Inter-American Press Association denounced an increase in wiretapping and other forms of spying on journalists and executives at various media outlets. There was little progress made on judicial investigations into attacks on journalists from previous years. In November popular journalist Adolfo Salomon was fired from news agency Color Vision after complaints were filed by high-level officials in the Catholic Church and the armed forces that Salomon had asked inappropriate questions. 
There are five national daily newspapers and numerous local publications. The state-owned Radio Television Dominicana operates radio and television services. Private owners operate over 300 AM and FM radio stations and more than 40 television stations, most of them small, regional broadcasters. No government restrictions on internet access were reported in 2006 though only 16 percent of the population was able to take advantage of this due to the high costs. 

East Timor: PF 12-17-13=42
Political violence led to continued deteriorations of the press environment in East Timor in 2006, as widespread unrest hampered the media's ability to disseminate news. Although the 2002 constitution guarantees that the state shall protect "the freedom and independence of the public mass media from political and economic powers," Section 40 states that the right to freedom of speech and information "shall be regulated by law," thereby opening the door to criminal penalties for defamation. In December 2005, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri signed an executive degree approving a new Penal Code that contains severe penalties for defamation of public figures. Under Article 173, anyone could be jailed for up to three years and fined for publishing comments seen as defaming public officials. The code sets no limits on fines or other penalties for defamation. President Xanana Gusmao neither signed nor vetoed the bill, and in February 2006 sent it back to the Ministry of Justice for reconsideration, where it remains. A 2004 Court of Appeals Ruling suggested that until a new Timorese Penal Code is passed, the Indonesian law (which contains criminal penalties for defamation) still applies. 
A power struggle between Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and his political opponents in April resulted in civil unrest, gang violence, the deaths of at least 37 people and the internal displacement of 15% of the population. Many journalists were among the displaced, and for a period of several weeks each of Dili's three newspapers was temporarily unable to publish. Media outlets seen to be supporting either side in the political struggle were at risk of attacks by opponents. The offices of radio and television station TVTL were raided by anti-government forces in June following the airing of speech by Alkatiri, after which the station cut down its news output for fear of further reprisals. 
A small number of privately owned daily and weekly newspapers publish in a variety of languages and provide some diversity of views. The Public Broadcast Service owns and operates a radio station that reaches most of the population, as well as a television station that has a limited geographic range. However, severe economic pressures on the press continued to hamper the free flow of information. A majority of the community radio stations established after independence failed to function during the crisis. Owing to the technical limitations of public radio and television broadcaster RTTL, those Timorese who were outside of the capitol Dili had almost no access to news. Moreover, although RTTL is supposed to be an independent institution governed by an independent Board of Directors, the public broadcaster was reportedly under political pressure from the Fretilin-appointed president of the Board not to broadcast reports that were critical of the government. Approximately 1,000 East Timorese had access to the internet in 2006. 

Ecuador: PF 13-18-10=41
The constitution guarantees freedom of the press. However, given that defamation and slander remain criminal offenses punishable by up to three years in prison, these guarantees are often weak in practice. Concern about the implementation of such restrictive libel laws often results in self-censorship, affecting reporting on public officials and the armed forces. In October the Inter-American Press Association faulted the level of compliance with the 2004 Law on Transparency and Freedom of Information. 
Ecuadorian journalists were subject to occasional government harassment and other types of extralegal intimidation in 2006, though the level of attacks was low compared with the regional average. In February two journalists were killed in 24 hours in the Guayaquil area; no arrests were made, though the police described the murders as unrelated to the journalists' work. Under President Palacio, a state of emergency was declared in March in six provinces experiencing fierce social protests. In the following weeks several journalists were briefly detained, and one radio station was temporarily censored. On August 13 the building of the publisher of two Guayaquil dailies was sprayed with bullets, causing damage but no injuries. The presidential candidacy of banana magnate Alvaro Noboa caused serious tensions with the press. Noboa avoided the media and several times accused specific outlets of "dishonoring" journalism and being "accomplices to the destruction of the country." One critical journalist received a death threat and had the transmission of his television program interrupted, acts he ascribed to Noboa backers. 
Except for one government-owned radio station, broadcast and print media outlets are privately owned and express a broad range of editorial viewpoints. However, due to self-censorship and sensitive issues such as the military, the BBC reported that the media is generally non-confrontational. Most media outlets are heavily influenced by their financiers and often reflect the political perspectives of their sponsors. This proved to be a particularly volatile situation in the context of the 2006 elections; during the campaign, many commentators were accused of crossing the line between analysis and partisanship. The broadcast media are required to give the government free airtime; thus stations can be forced to show programs featuring the president and other officials. In 2006 airtime was granted to presidential candidates as well. Access to the internet is not restricted by the government but is used by only 8 percent of the population. 

Egypt: NF 22-22-18=62
Though journalists increasingly cross the "red lines" that previously constrained the media, press freedom in Egypt continues to suffer from repressive laws and extralegal intimidation of journalists. The Emergency Law, the Press Law, and provisions of the Penal Code regulate the press, despite constitutional guarantees of press freedom. Much-anticipated amendments to the Press Law were enacted in July 2006, but they did not alter provisions that criminalized the publication of "false news" and criticism of the president and foreign leaders. Publishing material that constitutes "an attack against the dignity and honor of individuals" or an "outrage of the reputation of families" also remains a criminal offense. In June, Ibrahim 'Issa, editor of the weekly Al-Dustur, and Sahar Zaki, a journalist at the same paper, were sentenced to one year in prison for "insulting the president" and "spreading false or tendentious rumors" after reporting on an antigovernment lawsuit. At year's end, 'Issa and Zaki were free on 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,700) in bail, pending an appeal. Shahinda Miqlid, author of From the Papers of Shahinda Miqlid; Shirin Abu al-Naga, the book's editor; and award-winning publisher Muhammad Hashim all faced criminal charges at the end of the year because of the book's portrayal of a prominent landowning family. 
Journalists continued to face harassment and violence in 2006. Over the course of the year, police detained over a dozen journalists and assaulted many more. Hussein 'Abd al-Ghani, the Cairo bureau chief of the Qatar-based satellite television channel Al-Jazeera, was detained in April while reporting on bombings in southern Sinai. He was accused of disseminating "inaccurate news harmful to the country's reputation" after mistakenly reporting violence between security forces and terrorists elsewhere in Egypt that had apparently never occurred; several other news outlets made the same error. Although he was freed, 'Abd al-Ghani was still barred from leaving Egypt at the end of the year. In May, riot police attacked more than a dozen local and foreign journalists at peaceful demonstrations in support of judicial independence. 
While there are more than 500 newspapers, magazines, journals, and other periodicals in Egypt, this apparent diversity disguises the government's role as a media owner and sponsor. The government owns shares in Egypt's three largest newspapers, whose editors are appointed by the president. Opposition parties may form their own newspapers, and in recent years the Shura Council-one-third of whose members are appointed by the president-has granted licenses to the Ghad and Karama parties to publish eponymous weekly newspapers. The Ministry of Information controls content in the state-owned broadcast media. Privately owned domestic broadcasters are not allowed to air news bulletins and focus instead on music and entertainment. However, Egypt permits the establishment of locally based private satellite television stations, and the government does not block foreign satellite channels. 
Thanks in large part to government efforts to aggressively promote internet use, the number of Egyptians with access to the internet has more than quadrupled over the past several years, but it still amounts to just 7 percent of the population. The Egyptian government does not engage in widespread online censorship, but in June, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the information and communications ministries had the authority to block, suspend, or shut down websites that were considered a threat to "national security." In November, blogger 'Abd al-Karim Nabil Suleiman, better known as Karim Amer, was detained for insulting Islam, the authorities at Al-Azhar University, and President Hosni Mubarak. He remained in pretrial detention at year's end, and was set to become the first blogger in Egypt to be prosecuted for his online writings, though others had been detained without charge. 

El Salvador: PF 10-18-14=42
Freedom of the press is protected through the constitution, and Salvadoran journalists are generally able to report freely on the news, including reports critical of the government and opposition parties. At the same time, press freedom is hindered by a lack of public transparency, reflected in the absence of freedom of information legislation. Although El Salvador is generally a safe place to practice journalism, 2006 saw an increase in the number of journalists who suffered physical attacks because of their work. 
Judges have the right to restrict media access to legal proceedings for cases they deem to be in the public interest or of national security. Despite reforms made in 2004 to the code of criminal procedure, defamation remains a criminal offense. A provision in the criminal code, which allows judges to close court proceedings if they determine that the publicity will prejudice a case, is considered by some media groups to limit press freedom, according to the U.S. State Department. 
More than 20 journalists were assaulted by politicians, protesters, or the National Civil Police while covering political events or riots on the streets in 2006. On February 27, cameraman Joel Martinez from the Telemundo newsmagazine, Al Rojo Vivo, was shot with a rubber bullet fired by the police who were tying to break up a protest against the free trade agreement with the United States. For three days in July, journalists were harassed and attacked with stones, sticks, and pepper spray during violent street protests against increases in electric and public transportation fees in San Salvador. Protesters wearing red shirts identifying them as FMLN supporters were seen attacking journalists. Journalists were being targeted as alleged supporters of the "right-wing" Salvadorian government, according to protesters. On July 5, reporter Ernesto Landos and cameraman Carlos Durán of the San Salvador-based television station TeleDos suffered bruises and cuts when they were attacked with sticks and stones. The same day, journalist Ivan Perez of Radio YSUCA was threaten near the University of El Salvador while Carlos Henriquez from the private daily La Prensa Grafica was attacked by a group of high school students participating in the street violence. During the same incident protesters also took away a memory card with pictures belonging to photojournalist, Felipe Ayala from El Diario de Hoy. 
Employees of La Presna Grafica were also targets of violent attacks on a number of other occasions throughout the year. On July 7, four of the paper's photojournalists were physically attacked. Most serious of these incidents took place in August when Douglas Hernández, another La Prensa Grafica reporter, was murdered in the department of Santa Ana. Douglas was killed along with three other people in what initially appeared to be an act unrelated to his work. The case is currently still under investigation and no one has yet been investigated for the murders. Finally, in November, reporter Evelin Machuca from La Prensa Grafica was verbally attacked during a press conference held by the Labor Union of the Social Security Institute. 
There are five daily newspapers that each have a circulation of approximately 250,000, but most of the country depends on television and radio networks for the news. Limited resources prevent many media outlets from producing to their full capacity, and self-censorship is often exercised to avoid offending media owners, editors, and government officials. Access to information from the Supreme Court is still restricted. There were no reported government restrictions on the internet in 2006 and access has grown by more than 1,000 percent in the last 5 years to just under 10 percent of the population. 

Equatorial Guinea: NF 27-35-27=89
Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are legally guaranteed, but these rights are severely restricted in practice. The 1992 Press Law gives the government unusually extensive authority to restrict press activities through official prepublication censorship. All domestic journalists are required to register with the Ministry of Information, and equally strict accreditation procedures are in place for foreign correspondents. In 2006, the Committee to Protect Journalists listed Equatorial Guinea as one of the world's most censored countries, noting that almost all local coverage is orchestrated or tightly controlled by the government. 
Local journalists, including the few who work for foreign news outlets, were subject to systematic harassment and surveillance. Mild criticism of infrastructure and public institutions is allowed, but nothing disparaging about the president or security forces is tolerated. In the past, foreign journalists have been closely monitored and occasionally deported if their coverage is deemed to be sensitive. 
Equatorial Guinea is one of the few African countries to have virtually no independent media. Given the high level of poverty and illiteracy throughout the country, the most influential form of media is radio, but all domestic radio and television stations are owned directly by the government or by the president's family. The state-owned media is dominated by elegiac coverage of the government and the president. Applications to open private radio stations have been pending for several years but have thus far not been approved. One opposition newspaper continued to appear occasionally throughout the year but practiced self-censorship because of government intimidation. A dozen other private newspapers are licensed to publish but function primarily as opposition mouthpieces and are therefore tied to the political fortunes of their sponsors. According to the U.S. State Department, foreign celebrity and sports publications were available for sale, but there were no foreign newspapers, bookstores, or even newsstands in the country. Foreign broadcasts are allowed, including Radio France Internationale and Radio Exterior, an international shortwave service from Spain. Through its interviews with opposition politicians, Radio Exterior operates as the only means by which opposition voices can reach rural populations. Internet access is limited to just over 0.5 percent of the population by the level of poverty in Equatorial Guinea but is not directly restricted by the government. Nonetheless, government operatives are believed to monitor citizens' e-mail and internet use.

Eritrea: NF 30-40-24=94
In an already inhibiting media environment, the situation for the Eritrean press further deteriorated in 2006 as the government tightened restrictions for foreign reporters traveling within the country. Eritrean law guarantees freedom of speech and of the press. However, since a government ban on all privately owned media was imposed in September 2001, Eritrea remains one of the harshest environments worldwide for the press and is a leading jailer of journalists in Africa. Following the official ban, an unknown number of government critics were detained, including many journalists. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 13 journalists remained behind bars in 2006, with two more enduring prolonged forced labor euphemistically called "national service." Many of the jailed journalists are being held incommunicado in undisclosed locations, without access to their families or the Red Cross. Most have been incarcerated since the crackdown in 2001, and despite Eritrean legal guarantees, they were never formally charged. In response to queries from a number of press freedom organizations, the president and senior government officials have accused the journalists of espionage and threatening national security, but they have declined to provide details or evidence in support of these accusations. 
The 1996 Press Law prohibits the establishment of private broadcast media outlets and foreign ownership of media and requires all newspapers and journalists to be licensed. It also stipulates that publications be submitted for government approval prior to release and prohibits reprinting articles from banned publications. The tiny handful of local and foreign independent journalists who continue to operate in the country on behalf of international media are constantly harassed, detained, and threatened. In June 2006, the government tightened restrictions on foreigners seeking to travel inside the country. According to CPJ, the new restrictions were partly intended as a means for preventing foreign journalists from reporting outside of the capital. The restrictions were imposed after Eritrea expelled several international aid groups that had provided food assistance in the countryside. An article in the Economist noted that the expulsions "may be one way of muzzling reports of any impending humanitarian disaster." 
There is currently no independent or privately owned press. Only three newspapers, one television station, and one radio station operate, and they all remain under state control. Journalists working for the state-owned media operate under strict surveillance and severe pressure to report positively on government programs. The importation of foreign periodicals is forbidden. Internet use is extremely limited (just under two percent of the population was able to access it in 2006), and authorities are believed to monitor private email communication. 

Estonia: F 5-5-6=16
The constitution provides and the government respects freedom of speech and of the press. Numerous media outlets operate in Estonia, and legal protections for press freedom are enforced. Libel has been removed from the penal code, but it is still treated as a criminal offense. There are no legal penalties for "irresponsible journalism." The independent media express a wide variety of views without government interference. The two main commercial television stations, which have nationwide reach, are owned by Scandinavian companies. The country's public broadcasters are Eesti Televisioon (ETV) and Eesti Raadio. Residents have access to a number of private radio stations and regional television channels, as well as cable and satellite services. Various public and private media outlets provide Russian-language news to the country's sizeable Russian-speaking population. There are dozens of newspapers in the country, most of which are financed not by advertising revenues, but by readers or owners. However, according to the Tallinn-based marketing research and consulting company TNS Emor, Estonia's advertising market grew by nearly 18 percent from 2005 to 2006; the largest measure of growth occurred in newspapers, followed by television, magazines, and radio. The government allows unrestricted access to the internet, and the country has an unusually high rate of internet usage, with about 52 percent of the population active online. 

Ethiopia: NF 27-30-20=77
Following a November 2005 crackdown on opposition political parties, as well as on the civil society groups and media outlets that were perceived to support them, press freedom in Ethiopia remained extremely limited during 2006. The constitution guarantees freedom of the press, but this right is often restricted in practice. Authorities frequently invoke the 1992 Law on the Press regarding publication of false and offensive information, incitement of ethnic hatred, or libel in order to justify the arrest and detainment of journalists. Court cases can drag on for years, and journalists often have multiple charges pending against them; at the end of 2006, three reporters who had been sentenced under the press law remained in jail. A 2003 draft press law, which has been widely criticized by the private press and by press freedom groups, remained under consideration in 2006, although certain provisions of the law were included in the new penal code that took effect in May 2005. Issues of concern include restrictions on who may practice journalism; government-controlled licensing and registration systems; restrictions on print and broadcast cross-ownership; harsh sanctions for violations of the law, including up to five years' imprisonment; excessively broad exceptions to the right of access to information held by public authorities; and the establishment of a government-controlled press council with powers to engage in prior censorship. The Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Association (EFJA), one of the most vocal opponents of the draft press law, continued to face harassment from the government, and EFJA president Kifle Mulat remained in exile by year's end. The administration has traditionally denied access to the independent press, limiting coverage of official events to state-owned media outlets, although these restrictions were loosened on several occasions during 2006 for the first time in more than a dozen years. 
The broader political crackdown which began in November 2005 continued to have extremely negative implications for the media. Of several dozen journalists arrested alongside civil society activists and politicians, a number were charged with treason, genocide, and attempts to subvert the constitution, all charges that carry prison terms and the possibility of the death penalty. However, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the government has not yet produced any evidence convincingly demonstrating that the work of these journalists was intended to incite violence or encourage ethnic tension or genocide. While the charges against some, such as a group of reporters who work for the U.S.-based Voice of America (VOA) service, were dropped in early 2006, at least 15 journalists remained jailed on these charges. Their trial began in February and could last for months or years, and meanwhile the accused are incarcerated, some in harsh conditions. Numerous other journalists fled the country to avoid arrest in late 2005 and remained in exile throughout 2006. Foreign journalists have generally operated with fewer restrictions than their local counterparts. However, they also faced official pressure during the year; in January, AP correspondent Anthony Mitchell was expelled for his reporting, and in February another foreign reporter was denied accreditation. As a result of the crackdown, those journalists still able to work are increasingly practicing self-censorship on sensitive topics, and face regular threats and harassment from authorities. 
The state controls all broadcast media and operates the only television station. A 1999 law permits private radio stations, and although licenses were finally awarded to two private FM stations in the capital in February, neither was operational by year's end. Dozens of print outlets publish regularly and offer diverse views, although many are firmly aligned with either the government or the opposition and provide slanted news coverage. Following the November 2005 crackdown, only a limited number of newspapers, including those English-language papers that are viewed as being relatively unbiased such as the Reporter and Fortune, were allowed to continue publishing without interruption. Authorities targeted the Amharic-language private press, banning or shuttering more than a dozen opposition-inclined papers that together accounted for more than 80 percent of total Amharic circulation. Fewer than 10 papers, most Amharic- or English-language weeklies with relatively small circulation figures, are now publishing in Addis compared to more than 20 in 2005. Most private newspapers struggle to remain financially viable and to meet Ministry of Information requirements that newspapers have a minimum bank balance in order to renew their annual publishing licenses. Printing presses are all government owned and frequently refuse to print some private publications, citing the fact that they are held accountable for the content of what they publish. 
Access to foreign broadcasts is sometimes restricted, with VOA signals being sporadically jammed. Owing to an extremely poor telecommunications infrastructure, internet access is limited primarily to the major urban areas (less than 0.5 percent of the population) but is growing in popularity with the proliferation of internet cafes. As more citizens, faced with an increasingly restricted print and broadcast media environment, turned to the internet to get information, the government responded accordingly. Starting in 2006, access to some blogs and websites was blocked, including news websites run by members of the Ethiopian diaspora that were critical of the government. By year's end, the state telecommunications agency distributed regulations requiring that internet cafes register their users, and threatened to jail owners of cafes that served unregistered users.

Fiji: PF 12-19-8=39
Status change explanation: Fiji's press freedom rating dropped from Free to Partly Free in 2006 due to a government crackdown on the media following the military coup during which time the bill of rights protecting press freedom was suspended. 
Press freedom in the Fiji Islands suffered a major reversal as the year closed. The country suffered its fourth coup in almost two decades when military chief Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama formalized his "creeping putsch" on 5 December 2006 and ousted the democratically elected government of Laisenia Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party. Claiming his coup was a "clean-up" campaign against corruption and on behalf of all citizens in the multiracial Pacific country, Bainimarama quickly clamped down on the media and critics of his regime. The day after the coup, on December 6, he declared a state of emergency. While Bainimarama promoted an image of a bloodless and benign coup, the military commander had zero tolerance of media criticism. While the legal framework in Fiji generally gives journalists considerable freedom as guaranteed by the 1997 Constitution, the judiciary was in disarray and the status of the constitution unclear at the end of 2006. The Bill of Rights provisions under s. 187 (3) were suspended, including s. 30, which guarantees freedom of speech. 
The International Press Institute, International Federation of Journalists, Reporters Sans Frontieres and other media freedom bodies protested against a pattern of intimidation and censorship in the days following the coup. Both the leading national daily newspaper Fiji Times and smaller Fiji Daily Post temporarily closed publishing operations in the face of threats. State-owned Fiji Television also dropped news bulletins for one night. The editor-in-chief of the Daily Post, Dr Robert Wolfgramm, an Australian citizen and previously a strong critic of the military and perceived to be an apologist for the Speight coupsters, was threatened with deportation. News media continued to defy the political pressure. Violations of press freedom continued into the newyear. 
Earlier, in August 2006, news media had condemned a draft Broadcast Licensing Bill, saying it was an attempt to control news organizations. The bill provides for a government-appointed six-member Broadcasting Licensing Authority with powers related to programming and content. The authority would be empowered to fine broadcast companies F$500,000 for "breaching" their licensing agreement or revoke licences. A Fiji Sun editorial said Fiji would become "little more than a banana republic, a pariah Mugabe-like state". 
In spite of the coup, the economic climate for the independently owned media continued to prosper. The state-run Fiji Broadcasting Corporation operates three main radio stations in English, Fijian, and Hindustani; the state also runs three national newspapers. These compete with two private national newspapers, the Fiji Times and the Fiji Sun, as well as a privately owned FM broadcaster, Communications Fiji Ltd. The Fijian investment group Yasana Holdings holds a controlling 51 percent stake in Fiji TV, while the government owns 14 percent but plans to sell its stake. According to the U.S. State Department, the government has been known to direct advertising to media outlets in which it has a stake. Approximately 7 percent of the population was able to access the internet in 2006 which was not restricted during the coup.

Finland: F 2-3-4=9
Finland maintained its position as one of the most democratic countries in the world, with strong freedom of the press that is respected by the Finnish government. Freedom of expression and access to information are guaranteed under article 12 of the revised constitution, adopted in March 2000. 
Finland has an impressive newspaper readership, ranking third in the world for newspaper circulation in relation to population. 200 newspapers are published, including 31 dailies, according to the Finnish Newspaper Association. The government provided grants for 15 Finnish newspapers and an additional 8 million euros for political party presses in the autonomous territory of Aland. The majority of advertising subsidies was spent on print media in 2006. Media ownership is concentrated, with Alma Media and SanomaWSOY controlling most newspaper distribution. Broadcasting was once dominated by the public broadcaster Yleisradio OY (YLE) and commercial MTV but two new broadcasters have since emerged. Included in the 67 commercial radio stations are three national public stations in Finnish, two in Swedish, and one in the Sami (Lapp) language. Finland is transitioning to a digital infrastructure and plans to discontinue analog transmissions in 2007. 
The internet is open and unrestricted, and more than 60 percent of all citizens had regular access to the internet making this new media an important and growing source of news information in the country. Since 2004, internet traffic logging is no longer required, and online discussion groups are beyond the scope of the law. However, web publications must name a responsible editor in chief and archive published materials for at least 21 days. In addition, Finnish law, which gives every citizen the right of reply and to have false published information corrected, includes internet publications.

France: F 5-9-7=21
The constitution and governing institutions support an open press environment. The law provides for freedom of speech and of the press although a law adopted in October makes it a crime to deny the Armenian genocide. Freedom of information legislation exists but it can be restricted to protect the reputation or rights of a third party and the majority of requests are being denied. 
Cases of formal questioning of journalists, searches of media premises, and the courts' tendency to put pressure on journalists to reveal their sources all continued to be prominent issues in 2006. In June, the Minister of Justice proposed that the protection of journalistic sources be written into the country's press freedom law. However, less than a month later police raided the daily Midi Libre in order to obtain confidential information about a Regional Council; an official investigation was launched into the incident but it remained open at the year's end. Also in contravention of the government's promises to amend the press law, two reporters with the independent daily L'Equipe were formally placed under investigation for "helping to violate the confidentiality of a judicial investigation." The two journalists had originally published an investigative report concerning the alleged doping of a cycling team that the courts had been investigating in 2005. In addition, in late October the Public Prosecutor's office announced its intention to investigate Denis Robert, a former journalist with Liberation, for the "possession of confidential material" and libel of the finance house Clearstream. Robert, who is also the author of two investigative reporting books on Clearstream implicating a number of high-ranking government officials of fraud, was found guilty of libel in December. 
French courts have increasingly been applying Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which protects for freedom of expression. In November for examples, charges were dropped against both a lawyer accused of revealing details of a judicial investigation into alleged corruption in school meal contracts as well as the journalist who had been accused of abetting him. In this case, the court disregarded Article 38 of the domestic press law which states "it is forbidden to publish indictments or any other criminal procedural document" and chose instead to refer to Article 10 of the ECHR. In July, also citing the ECHR, the Supreme Court struck down a judgment which convicted Le Monde journalists of racial defamation for a 2002 article criticizing Israel. 
In a separate incident in February, after the daily France-Soir re-published the Danish Mohammed cartoons, which sparked an international furor, the paper became the victim of a bomb hoax and the editor-in-chief was forced to resign. 
Most of France's over 100 newspapers are privately owned and are not linked to political parties; however, newspaper circulation continued to decline in 2006. After 2004's consolidation of the newspaper market, newspaper ownership is becoming more concentrated and France is facing increased foreign investment. In addition to Italian investors at Libération and Spanish investors at Le Monde, the German Axel Springer group plans to launch daily tabloid priced at only 50 cents. In May, the Prime Minister called for increased investments in newspapers to maintain their financial viability as well as tax reductions for newspaper producers also intended to help ease the financial burden. The French broadcasting market continues to be dominated by TF1, although the growth of satellite and cable and the launch of digital terrestrial television in March 2005 have led to a proliferation of channels. This trend has been accentuated by the approval of the merger between two of the biggest satellite pay-TV operators, CanalSatellite and TPS. France strictly enforces guidelines requiring 60 percent of broadcast content to be of European Union origin. The internet is generally unrestricted and used by approximately 50 percent of the population. However, in 2006 a court decided to open an investigation against the editor of a left-wing website in response to a libel suit over a controversial union press release that he had posted. The case was unresolved at year's end but if the court rules against the editor, the website may be forced to close. 

Gabon NF-24-23-22=69 
The constitution guarantees freedom of expression and of the press, but authorities use legal harassment, threats, and financial pressures to curb critical reporting. While the imprisonment of journalists by the state is relatively rare, local media professionals face repressive press laws that allow for prison penalties for defamation-including a minimum sentence of three months for a repeat offense-particularly with regards to the president, his relatives, or members of his cabinet. A government agency charged with upholding journalistic standards, the National Communications Council (CNC), has a history of using intimidation tactics against the independent press and has forcibly shut down more than half a dozen publications in the last three years. In May, the independent website Gabonews commented that many journalists resort to self-censorship as coverage of corruption or mismanagement within the government is seen as incitement to political upheaval. At least three news outlets remain banned since 2003 for allegedly defaming the president and "attacking the dignity of the institutions of the Republic," among other charges. 
In June, the CNC lifted a ban imposed in December 2003 on the private bimonthly L'Autre Journal, though no reason was given publicly for the decision. However, in September, the CNC banned the private weekly Les Echos du Nord for three months over an article criticizing the pro-government press for reports that several government officials had tried to sell a disputed offshore island to neighboring Equatorial Guinea. In October, the government arrested Norbert Mezui, director of the independent weekly Nku'u Le Messager, and held him for 21 days on the pretext of a three-year-old defamation verdict that was pending appeal. The arrest, which appeared to violate Gabonese procedural law, occurred after Mezui's newspaper ran a similar article criticizing the pro-government press over the scandal. 
Gabon has over a dozen private radio stations and four private television stations, while as many as twenty private weeklies and monthlies circulate in the capital, Libreville. However, the state-affiliated L'Union is the country's only daily newspaper, and local journalists complain that many nominally private publications are controlled by political factions. Much of the private press appears irregularly because of financial constraints and frequent government censorship. Almost all Gabonese private newspapers are printed in Cameroon because of the high cost at the only local printing company, and publications printed outside the country are subject to review before distribution. The government owns two radio stations and two television stations that are able to broadcast nationwide. Private broadcasting tends to be nonpolitical. The government does not restrict access to, or use of, the internet for the 4.6 percent of the population wealthy enough to have access, and foreign publications and broadcasts are widely available.

The Gambia: NF 24-33-20=77
Conditions for media practice in The Gambia worsened in 2006 as President Yahya Jammeh swept into office for a third consecutive five-year term following elections in September 2006. Media practitioners were already operating under severe constraints ahead of national elections as Jammeh maintained an iron grip on the media despite a 1997 constitution that, in theory, guarantees freedom of expression. At the end of 2004, the Parliament passed two bills intended to impose harsh penalties on the media, including mandatory prison sentences of at least six months, for media owners or journalists convicted of publishing or broadcasting defamatory or seditious material or "false news." Jammeh signed these bills into law at the end of 2005. Following dissolution of a government-controlled media commission by Parliament in 2005, additional oppressive gag laws were passed making all press offenses punishable by imprisonment. 
Jammeh's electoral victory did not signal the likelihood that he was willing to make any concessions for relaxing the restrictive media environment, his inauguration taking place on the second anniversary of the still unsolved murder of journalist, Deyda Hydara. At the time of his murder, Hydara was managing editor of the private weekly The Point and a correspondent for both Reporters Sans Frontieres and Agence France-Presse. Asked about press freedom at a news conference following his election victory, Jammeh responded that the whole world could "go to hell," that he could ban any newspaper he wished to "with good reason," and that he wanted to rule Gambia for at least three more decades. Jammeh showed in 2006 that his disdain for press freedom was backed by continuing intimidation, imprisonment, and exile of journalists and political opponents. Ten journalists were arrested in 2006, many others fled into exile. Prominent cases include those of Malick Mboh, a journalist of the pro-government Daily Observer who was detained illegally by the National Intelligence Agency for 139 days and then fired from his job after his release. He was one of five journalists arrested for sending damaging information to a U.S.-based online publication, Freedom Newspaper. Another reporter employed by the state-owned Gambia Radio Television Services, Doudou Sanneh, was freed and then fired after one week detention by the National Intelligence Agency. 
The government owns a daily newspaper, a national radio station, and the only national television station. Political news coverage at these outlets favors the official line. In the period leading up to the presidential election, the government did provide time slots for opposition candidates on the national television station, although the ruling APRC party received the most coverage. The Gambia has 3 private newspapers that publish bi-weekly or thrice weekly, and 4 private FM radio stations. These outlets are subject to considerable pressure from the government, but a few of them are able to provide critical coverage of the administration. A premium television network operates as a satellite station. The Internet is not as tightly regulated and over three percent of the population was able to access this new medium in 2006, which is among the highest rates of internet access in West Africa.

Georgia: PF 13-27-17=57
The Georgian constitution and the Law on Freedom of Speech and Expression guarantee freedom of expression, but throughout 2006, the government increasingly restricted press freedom. The restrictions rarely took the form of direct pressure, although there were reports of harassment and physical abuse of journalists by government officials. Instead, the government has failed to properly implement legislation, including freedom of information laws. The Georgian National Communications Commission and the Liberty Institute in 2006 prepared a controversial draft broadcasting law that in its original form would have made ethical standards, including a dress code and use of language, legally binding on journalists. The draft law also required journalists to receive formal permission before airing live footage and limited journalists' ability to use anonymous sources. The vote on the bill was postponed until April 2007. If adopted, it would pose a serious threat to press freedom in Georgia. 
While there is still a diverse range of media outlets in Georgia, including a number that openly criticize the government, media owners and managers continue to exert pressure on journalists in an effort to maintain amicable ties with the authorities. As a result, journalists frequently practice self-censorship. The government in turn remains particularly critical and intolerant of the media, leading to an overall decrease in media independence since the 2003 Rose Revolution. For example, Rustavi-2, formerly known as an independent and investigative television station, has become less critical and cut back its political programming. Much of the friction between the government and journalists in 2006 involved coverage of the January murder of bank official Sandro Girgvliani, in which interior ministry employees had been implicated. A Rustavi-2 talk-show host, Eka Khoperia, resigned on the air in July, citing government attempts to influence her treatment of the story. In August, Rustavi-2 staff staged a boycott and strike to protest the reportedly political dismissal of the station's general director and the appointment of a government ally to replace him; several journalists resigned in September. The station's owner sold Rustavi-2 to a little-known company in November, leaving its future editorial position in doubt. Imedi, Rustavi-2's main competitor, maintained a critical, independent stance. Ahead of the October local elections, several government officials refused to do interviews with the station and deemed its journalists irresponsible and uncooperative. Separately, the ministry of defense continued its practice of banning critical journalists from public events. There were reports of harassment and violence against journalists, and a sense of impunity prevailed in the country, particularly with regard to crimes committed against journalists. Media freedom is legally guaranteed in the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but the separatist authorities in both areas restricted media outlets and journalists. 
Media outlets' low profitability and lack of economic independence left them vulnerable to economic and political pressure, and print publications were particularly at risk. Government officials have attempted to channel advertising away from critical independent outlets. Very few independent newspapers were commercially viable, and most papers depended on subsidies and patronage, but print media on the whole presented a diverse range of views. U.S.-based News Corporation became a majority owner of Imedi television in 2006, which was expected to increase the station's independence. The independent television station 202 suspended broadcasting in October after a 2005 extortion scandal damaged its reputation and income. There were no restrictions on internet usage but the percentage of the population using this new medium was low at less than 5 percent. 

Germany: F 6-6-4=16
The constitution guarantees freedom of expression and of the press, although there are exceptions for hate speech, Holocaust denial, and Nazi propaganda. The Freedom of Information legislation finally went into force in January 2006, containing extensive exemptions and requiring the payment of high fees in advance of every request. The press was critical of the government throughout the year and extensively covered Germany's alleged participation in or knowledge of America's Central Intelligence Agency's detention and transfer of terrorist suspects. In October, the private newspaper, Bild, widely circulated pictures that appear to show German soldiers in Afghanistan posing with a skull, which initiated investigations into the incidents. 
In March, journalist Bruno Schirra and the head of the foreign section of the Swiss weekly SonntagsBlick, Johannes von Dohnanyi, were charged with "complicity in divulging a state secret;" but their case has yet to go to trial. Schirra is alleged to have divulged information contained in a confidential German police report about the Al-Qaeda network that was passed to him by von Dohnanyi. In 2005, the newsroom of Cicero magazine and Schirra's home were raided under the authorization of Interior Minister Otto Schily, again citing "betraying state secrets" as the rationale. 
In May, the German Parliament posted on its website part of a report revealing that the country's external intelligence service has been spying on journalists. The post was in reaction to the 2005 scandal involving journalists who were paid by the federal intelligence agency to spy on their colleagues. After the singer Robbie Williams imposed restrictions on photographers while on tour, German media boycotted his concerts. In 2005, journalists were concerned about proposed restrictions on media coverage of the 2006 World Cup which included mandatory clearance chicks on journalists before they could be accredited to report on matches from the stadium. Nonetheless, most of these restrictions were eventually lifted prior to the event. 
The private media are diverse and independent. Each of 16 regions is in charge of its own public radio and television broadcasters, and there are many private stations as well. The printed press is dominated by numerous regional papers. Only a handful of national papers are published. A small number of centralized editorial offices control most content, and only a few commercial groups, which are some of the largest in the world, dominate the media market. Internet access is open and largely unrestricted and was used regularly by over 60 percent of the population in 2006. However, German law bans internet access to the aforementioned prohibited material. Search engines in Germany have subscribed to the "Voluntary Self-Control for Multimedia Service Providers" filtering web sites based on a list created by Germany's Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons. 

Ghana: F 8-9-9=26
Freedom of the press is guaranteed by law, and the Ghanaian government has a reputation within the region for respecting it in practice. In recent years, President John Kufuor's administration has demonstrated its desire to expand freedom of expression by repealing the criminal libel laws. A subsequent spate of civil libel cases brought by former public officials and private citizens against media outlets with cripplingly high fines-often in excess of $100,000-took the place of criminal defamation convictions. Nonetheless, despite a number of new libel suits during the year, this trend abated slightly in 2006 as no new convictions were reported. 
A proposal in Parliament for the establishment of a presidential commission for reforms that would strengthen the editorial independence and guarantee the funding of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) under an Act of Parliament was unlikely to gain much traction. The proposal was made by Member of Parliament Haruna Idrissu, who argued that access to information leads to greater public transparency, accountability, and good governance. But the minister in charge of government sector reform responded that whilst reform was necessary at the GBC; there was no need for a presidential commission to do so and that such reforms could be addressed under the Subvented Agencies Bill which covers the GBC. Ghana has yet to pass legislation protecting freedom of information. A civil society initiative in 1997 brought the need for such a bill to the nation's attention, but neither the president nor the parliament has taken any action as yet. 
The press is generally free to function independently in Ghana, with private newspapers and broadcasters operating without any significant restrictions. The environment includes a lively private press which often carries criticisms of the government. Animated phone-ins on local radio broadcasts are also a staple of daily life in Ghana. However, the Media Foundation of West Africa did report an increase in the number of cases of harassment against journalists by non-state actors; eighteen such cases were reported by the foundation in 2006. In particular, a number of journalists were targeted by supporters of drug barons on trial for large cocaine scandals and a few other journalists were the victims of violent harassment at the hands of police offices while covering the news. 
More than 135 newspapers, including 2 state-owned dailies operate in Ghana while approximately 110 FM radio stations function nationwide, 11 of which are state-run. As of September 2005, the national media commission reported that more than 90 newspapers, 27 television stations, and over 140 radio stations were registered in Ghana. At least 11 of the radio stations are owned by the state, while most of the newspapers with national distribution are government controlled as well. Opponents of the government complain of biased coverage in the state-owned press, but independent and critical reporting is pervasive in the private sector. Radio remains the most popular medium in Ghana. Poor pay and unprofessional conduct, including newspapers that invent highly sensationalist news stories remain problematic. The ethical lapses are condemned by professional media bodies because they undermine media credibility. Limited revenue from advertising and reader subscriptions threatens the financial viability of private media outlets. Foreign media presence is highly visible, most notably through broadcasts from the BBC, Radio France Internationale, and the Voice of America. Access to the internet is available to less than two percent of the population, primarily through internet cafés, and remains unrestricted by the government. 

Greece: F 8-12-5=25
The constitution includes provisions for freedom of speech and the press. There are, however, some limits to speech that incites fear, violence, and disharmony among the population, as well as publications that offend religious beliefs, that are obscene, or that advocate the violent overthrow of the political system. Under a new press law, media companies are required to have registered shares held by individuals. The law, which also limits foreign ownership of Greek media, has been cited by the EU for possible incompatibility with the provisions of the European Community Treaty dealing with the free movement of capital and freedom of establishment. Defamation remains a criminal offense under Greek law, but defendants have typically been released on bail and have not served time in jail. However, a number of journalists faced defamation charges throughout the year including a journalist and cameraman with the private television channel Super B who were both sentenced to eight months in prison and a $37,000 fine for interviewing an Albanian immigrant who was facing trial for drunk driving in a stolen vehicle. 
Journalists face an unsafe working environment, as many have been the target of violent attacks in recent years. In August 2006, two Greek journalists were arrested in Turkish Cyprus while covering a story about a Turkish Cypriot politician and the president of the Turkish Cypriot chamber of commerce. 
There are many independent newspapers and magazines, including those that are critical of the government, and many broadcasters are privately owned. Greek law places limits on ownership of broadcast frequencies. The media, both public and private, are largely free from government restrictions, but state-owned stations tend to report along the official line. However, politically sensitive issues-such as the status of Macedonians and other ethnic minorities in the country-still provoke government pressure and lead to self-censorship. Broadcasting is largely unregulated, and many broadcast stations are not licensed. In June 2006, journalists working for the Greek Public Broadcasting service went on strike demanding job security for colleagues working with short-term contracts. Internet access is not restricted by the government, but the percentage of the population that accessed this new media in 2006 was one of the lowest in Western Europe at only 33 percent of the population. In February 2006, an internet artist who had created a satirical website about corruption in civil service hiring was arrested for internet fraud. 

Grenada:F 8-9-6=23
Although freedom of the press is guaranteed by law, the government is accused of using both the threat of libel laws and its right to grant broadcast licenses to apply pressure on the media. One incident of particular concern during 2006 involved George Worme, the editor of the Grenada Today newspaper. Worme-who has clashed with the authorities over libel issues in the past-was detained by police for several hours on March 14 in relation to a possibly libelous article published the previous month. No charges were made against him, but media freedom advocates claimed it was another indication of the ruling New National Party's efforts to limit media criticism. According to the U.S. State Department, in June the prime minister won a libel case he brought against the editor of a newspaper, and the editor was ordered to pay approximately $37,000 (EC$100,000).On several occasions, members of the government publicly criticized the print media for running critical articles. At a meeting of the Media Workers Association of Grenada in June, the organization's president, Michael Bascombe, again complained that authorities' selection for granting radio licenses was guided by political considerations. Grenada has 5 television stations, 11 radio stations, 4 newspapers, and 5 periodicals. The government does not place restrictions on the internet, accessed by nearly 20 percent of the population in 2006. 

Guatemala: PF 17-26-16=59
Guatemalan journalists work under difficult conditions, threatened by rising violence from simple and organized crime, as well as premeditated attacks on human rights workers that spill over into the work of independent journalism. Reporters say obtaining access to government information is difficult. In 2006 Guatemala decriminalized press offenses. Articles 411 and 412 of the press code were declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court, which said the articles contradicted Article 35 of the Guatemalan Constitution, which allows for freedom of expression. 
Nine community radio stations were closed in 2006 for reportedly having no licenses, and some of the directors were arrested and briefly detained. According to Reporters Sans Frontieres, the closures were ordered by the Prosecutors Office for Crimes against Journalists and Unionists with the support of the Telecommunications Authority and the National Broadcast Commission. 
While the situation is far better than during the country's protracted civil war, several attacks on journalists this year drew concern from international press advocates. The U.S. State Department reported that 67 incidents of intimidation of journalists were recorded in 2006, a significant rise over the reported 26 incidents in 2005. This included the murder of one journalist as well as the attempted assassination of another. The murder occurred in September when Eduardo Maas Bol, a journalist working for three different newspapers and radio stations, was shot outside the city of Coban. One possible suspect has been arrested in connection with the crime and Maas' journalism is still believed to be a possible motive. Separately, in August, Vinicio Aguilar Mancilla, a presenter on Radio 10, survived an assassination attempt by two gunmen. Two other journalists received death threats, one during a live call-in radio show. Moreover, the Prosecutors Office for Crimes against Journalists and Unionists has only solved one case involving the killing of a journalist since it was created in 2001, adding to an atmosphere of impunity. These attacks seem linked to the general lack of guarantees for those denouncing abuses of all kinds. However, work linking police to extra-judicial killings reminiscent of the death squad era were especially dangerous. The psychological effect is taking its toll, advocates report. 
Electronic media ownership remained concentrated in the hands of Mexican Angel Gonzalez, a politically connected entrepreneur who favors conservative perspectives and holds a monopoly on national television. Newspaper ownership is concentrated in the hands of business elites with centrist or conservative editorial stances, with one company-Prensa Libre-dominating the newspaper market although facing two weaker national competitors. Only one cable newscast, with a professional if somewhat cautious staff, contrasts an open-air news monopoly. In a nation where only 60 percent of the population can speak Spanish, the paucity of indigenous language programming is a severe constraint on freedom of expression and the press. Indigenous languages are rarely heard in national media and the government continued to repress independent community broadcasters in 2006. The resolution of their legal status was part of the 1996 peace accords, but has not been addressed. There are no reports of government limitations on internet usage, although the internet is only used by approximately 6 percent of the population.

Guinea: NF 22-29-16=67
Overall, press freedom in Guinea remained largely unchanged primarily because the aging regime of President Lansana Conte frequently resorted to old habits in launching reprisals against the press. But important qualitative changes did take place in 2006. The constitution guarantees freedom of the press, but this right is not respected in practice and has been widely abused in the past, including the enforcement of restrictive press legislation that considers defamation and slander criminal offenses and permits the authorities to censor publications. While there were fewer arrests and detentions than in previous year, the government did suspend a number of publications. In 2005, President Conte signed a media liberalization decree that finally permitted the establishment of private radio and television broadcasting. The decree limited ownership by political parties and religious institutions but did not restrict programming on these subjects. 
The number of attacks on the press diminished during the year, in large part due to last year's media liberalization decree. However, this concession to the press did not come without cost. Four separate newspapers were suspended by the National Communications Commission (CNC) in 2006 for publishing excessively critical or contentious information. In February, Les Echos was banned for two months for publishing allegedly false information about a government minister; in April, L'Enqueteur was also suspended for two months for an article highlighting government corruption; and in October, the managing director of the state-owned and -published Horoya received an indefinite suspension after he refused to publish a picture of the president. Finally, in November, the Kalum Express, a private weekly based in Conakry, also received a two month suspension for publishing an editorial accusing the government of dishonesty in its dealings with a prominent businessman. The paper was accused of "damaging the reputation of the state;" the editor was forced into hiding and was later recalled and demoted to the rank of a reporter. 
The independent journalist and respected newspaper editor, Boubacar Yaccine Diallo, now serves as chairman of the CNC. Following his appointment, Diallo initiated programs to increase professionalism in the practice of journalism and implemented a requirement that journalists must meet higher professional standards to obtain press credentials. State-owned media provide extensive, mostly favorable coverage of the government but also criticize local-level officials and increasingly report on opposition activities. The liberalization of the airwaves in August 2005 has led to the emergence of privately owned radio broadcasting, with four private stations broadcasting alongside Radio Television Guinea (RTG). The state-owned RTG is still the only television broadcaster. Within the private print media, newspapers openly criticize the president and the government. Ten private weekly newspapers publish in Conakry while a dozen others publish sporadically. Last year, the government gave financial subsidies of around $100,000 to private newspapers through the Guinea Association of Independent Editors, which divided the money among various press organizations. The government does not directly restrict access to the internet although there was a previous case of reprisal against a journalist in response to an article he had published online about economic corruption. Less than 1 percent of the population had the financial means to access this new media in 2006. 

Guinea-Bissau: PF 14-19-15=48
Guinea-Bissau's recent gains in the legal and political environments for the media, following a 2005 law that provided for freedom of speech and freedom of the press, appeared to be holding fast by the end of 2006. The return to power of President Joao Bernado "Nino" Vieira, the former military ruler and exile has been accompanied by economic and political crises that have both fractured the governing coalition and led to a number of troubling cases of press intimidation. Media practitioners have also occasionally been caught in the crossfire of partisan political wrangling. 
In November, the Media Foundation of West Africa reported that sympathizers of President Vieira besieged the privately owned station, Radio Bombolom, and forced a reporter, Antonio Iaia Seidi to disclose a source of information used in a report he had filed earlier. The angry group also forcibly broadcast a rejoinder to the story. In June, another radio journalist of Bombolom FM was detained and severely beaten in custody after being accused of broadcasting "false news" for accusing a police officer of violence against a woman in one of his reports. 
While the country's only television station remains state run, three private radio stations, Bombolom FM, Radio Pindjiguiti, and Voice of Quelele, compete with the state-run radio broadcaster, Radio Nacional, as well as the Portuguese-owned public broadcaster, RTP Africa. Three privately run newspapers operate alongside the state-owned weekly No Pintcha. Owing to considerable financial constraints and government control of the sole functioning printing house, newspapers publish only sporadically. The impact of such financial constraints has been particularly severe for the state-owned media because of a lack of government ability to earmark adequate operational funding, as well as the fact that private advertising funds are directed primarily toward the private media sector. No government interference with or attempts to censor the internet were reported in 2006, and the rate of access to this new media was estimated to be just over two percent of the population this year. 

Guyana: F 7-13-9=29
The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and media are generally allowed to operate without interference. Legislation to facilitate the distribution of private radio licenses has been promised, but has not yet been introduced. Private media outlets experience great difficulty in persuading government officials to comment on issues, and instead of being granted interviews, journalists are referred to press releases issued by the Government Information Agency. There is no freedom of information bill. An electoral campaign that culminated in the August re-election of the People's Progressive Party, led by President Bharrat Jagdeo, was free of the violence that has marred previous elections. Credit for this may in part be due to the creation and reasonably successful application of a code of conduct for media organizations covering the election campaign. The code was agreed upon by 14 media organizations at the start of the year. 
Two serious and deadly attacks on media workers during the year cast a cloud over the media scene. On January 30, Ronald Waddell, the 57-year old host of a recently cancelled television program, was shot dead at his home in a suburb of the capital, Georgetown. An active member of the opposition People's National Congress and a well-known campaigner for the rights of Guyanese of African descent, Waddell often criticized the government on his talk show on HBTV Channel 9. On August 8, five pressroom workers at the Kaieteur News printing plant were shot dead by a group of unidentified masked men. Following the arrests of some of the alleged attackers, it was suggested that the aim was to take guns from the plant's security guards. While the killings seem not to have been related to the newspaper's work, it created an environment of fear among media workers in the county. Representatives of media organizations called for heightened security for the press. 
The government maintains a long-established radio monopoly and operates the country's only 2 radio stations. There are 23 television stations, 6 national newspapers including the government-owned daily the Chronicle, and 6 periodicals, all of which are allowed to operate freely. According to the U.S. State Department, in the month before elections, the government-run television and radio stations tripled the cost for political advertisements, effectively denying access to less well-funded opposition parties. There are 160,000 internet users in Guyana (18 percent of the population), and the government does not place any restrictions on its access. 

Haiti: PF 16-24-19=59
Status Change Explanation: Haiti's press freedom rating improved from Not Free to Partly Free as a result of improvements in the legal and political environment in which journalists operate, resulting from a new, more media-tolerant government elected in April and a reduction in overall political tensions. 
After several years during which media freedom was severely compromised by the actions-often violent-of both state and non-state actors, there was a welcome improvement in the situation during 2006. Following elections in February and April, a new coalition government led by President Rene Preval and Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis was formed. A subsequent reduction in political tensions and the new government's expressions of tolerance of a freely operating media were significant changes. No journalists were killed and there were far fewer attacks on journalists than in previous years; however, many journalists remained too afraid to venture into certain parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, where, after a lull of several months following the presidential election in February, armed clashes between gunmen and the authorities resumed from earlier in the year. Simultaneously, a wave of kidnappings for ransom in and around Port-au-Prince again posed a serious problem affecting all social sectors. A number of journalists were kidnapped, but there were no indications that they had been targeted because of their profession. 
Some of the main Port-au-Prince-based media houses-members of the National Association of Haitian Media (Association Nationale des Medias Haitiens, ANMH)-continued to take a hostile editorial position with regard to the residents of certain shanty-towns where support for the exiled Lavalas Family party leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide was believed to remain strong. However, the previously stark political divisions within the media community began to diminish during the year, and news coverage and analysis took on a more neutral tone. With the new government making notable efforts to provide greater coverage-particularly regarding the economy and development issues- the media as a whole, and the print media especially, were able to provide more detailed and informative news. Throughout the year, a new media rights organization, SOS Journalistes, was active in support of media workers and in trying to improve the quality of media coverage. The re-launch in August of the previously moribund Syndicat National des Travailleurs de Presse d'Haiti (SNTPH, National Union of Haitian Media Workers) was another sign of an improving media environment. 
The continued presence of corrupt elements in the national police force and the judiciary, and the persistence of a climate of impunity-particularly in the context of the murders of journalists in recent years-remain serious obstacles to further improvements in the media environment. A police reform program to identify and remove corrupt and abusive officers has begun, but no judicial reform process has been established. There has been no progress with judicial investigations into the cases of Jean Dominique or Brignol Lindor, two journalists murdered in recent years. In September, a gang leader in the Solino neighborhood of the capital and one of the suspected murderers of journalist Jacques Roche, kidnapped and killed in July 2005, was handed over to the Haitian police after he turned himself in to UN troops and requested participation in a national disarmament and reinsertion campaign. However, no information about a trial or charges against him has been released. 
There are two newspapers published several times a week and four weeklies, all privately owned. Television Nationale d'Haiti is government owned, and there are several private stations, including Telemax, purchased by the Haitian-American music star Wyclef Jean in November 2005. The illiteracy rate is over 50 percent, making radio by far the most popular medium. There are more than 30 stations broadcasting to the capital and surrounding areas, and scores more in the provinces. News coverage is heavily reliant on the output of foreign news agencies and a handful of the more powerful Port-au-Prince-based media outlets. There were no government restrictions on internet access, and usage has increased to just over 7 percent of the population. However, the illiteracy rate and the extent of poverty prevent the internet from being a widespread source of information. 

Honduras: PF 15-22-14=51
Freedom of speech and of the press is constitutionally protected, and the government generally does not restrict these rights in practice. Despite the fact that Honduras banned desacato (disrespect) or criminal defamation laws aimed at protecting the honor of public officials, restrictive press laws are still often used to subpoena journalists for reporting on official corruption, drug trafficking, and human rights abuses. In a positive step, the controversial Access to Information and Transparency Law was approved by congress but it will only take effect in 2008 when a new regulatory institution will be created. Local press freedom advocacy groups are still concerned about the effectiveness of the new law because it leaves open to interpretation the terms "national security" and "confidential information." The law also adds another ambiguous term, "secret information", and does not specify when such information can be made public. Nonetheless, for the first time in Honduras the new transparency law also protects journalists from having to reveal their sources. 
President Manuel Zelaya usually criticizes the media when he perceives news reports as being unfriendly to his government. He has accused journalists of exaggerating the government's mistakes and minimizing its accomplishments. During the year journalists faced a number of legal prosecutions from political figures. On September 4, Ernesto Rojas, a reporter for Radio San Pedro, was sued by city council member Guillermo Villatoro Hall while Francisco Romero, a reporter on the program "Hablemos de Noche de Honduras," was sued by Yansen Juarez, the national coordinator of programs and projects in the Public Education Ministry. Both suits were considered to be on charges of harassment. 
The number of threats and physical attacks against journalists diminished in 2006 but some incidents did occur following the publication of articles on organized crime or corruption. Liberal Party representative Romualdo Bueso Melghem tried to strangle community journalist, Martha Vasquez, during a public meeting in April. Vasquez is a contributor for the website, Indymedia. Journalists Roberto Marin Garcia and Dina Meza, of the website Revistazo.com, an online publication of the Association for a Fairer Society (ASJ), were followed and hounded after revealing fraud and labor violations at security firm Delta Segurity. On August 1, while they were covering news about health, reporter Fanny Velasquez and cameraman Geovanny Mendez of the news show "TVC" of Corporacion Televicentro, were verbally and physically attacked by Guillermo Villatoro, director of Pediatric Medicine at the Materno Infantil hospital. In April journalist Wendy Guerra, the host of Copan city-based Channel 49 news program, Denuncias 49, was fired due to political pressure felt by the station's manager, who is a member of the Liberal Party. In May, Guerra was rehired after the public outcry. 
Although both print and broadcast outlets are predominantly privately owned, media ownership is concentrated in the hands of a few powerful business conglomerates with intersecting political and economic ties; this has led to self-censorship. Corruption among journalists also had an unfavorable impact on reporting. In addition, the government influenced media coverage through bribes, the granting or denial of access to government officials, and selective placement of official advertisements. The government did not restrict access to the internet; however, less than 5 percent of the population used the internet in 2006. 

Hong Kong: F 11-11-8=30
Although freedom of expression is provided for under the law, press freedom in Hong Kong continues to deteriorate due to legislative pressures and a perceived increase in self-censorship in the mass media. In March, the government introduced new regulations for covert surveillance in Hong Kong, which would make it a criminal offense to trespass on private premises with the intention of obtaining personal information of individuals or to employ any sense-enhancing or recording devices in order to do so. The Hong Kong Journalist Association warned that these regulations could turn journalists into criminals and damage Hong Kong's reputation of a free press. 
Outright attacks on the press are rare. In March, however, four men armed with hammers broke into the office of The Epoch Times, a newspaper known for criticizing the Chinese Communist Party and reporting China's persecution of the outlawed Falun Gong movement. The intruders damaged computer and printing equipment, but left without attacking the staff. In November, Hong Kong journalists came under increased pressure to self-censor their reports from China after a Chinese court upheld a five-year jail term given to Hong Kong journalist Ching Cheong on charges of spying for Taiwan. Ching, the chief China correspondent for Singapore's Straits Times newspaper, was arrested in April 2005 during a visit to China's Guangdong province and charged with taking payoffs in exchange for gathering information for Taiwan. The Hong Kong government said it was concerned about the case but could not comment on the judgment handed down by the Beijing court under the "one country, two systems" policy that outlines China's relationship with Hong Kong. A survey conducted among Hong Kong journalists found that about 58 percent of the journalists think that press freedom in Hong Kong has deteriorated since the end of British rule in 1997 and that self-censorship is more prevalent now. About a third of the interviewed journalists also admitted to self-censorship in their work. 
Despite widespread self-censorship, the Hong Kong media remain outspoken, and political debate can be vigorous in the extremely diverse and partisan press. Hong Kong has 49 daily newspapers (including 23 in Chinese and 13 in English); four of them are funded by pro-Beijing interests and follow the Chinese Communist Party's lead on political and social issues. International media organizations operate freely in Hong Kong, and foreign reporters do not need government-issued identification to operate. In April, a government review of the public service broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) prompted fears that RTHK could be turned into a government propaganda channel. The review highlighted RTHK's poor financial controls, management problems and its failure to comply with government rules and procedures. In the past, RTHK has come under pressure on several occasions for not defending or promoting government policies and its coverage of Taiwan. The internet in Hong Kong remains free of censorship and is used by about 68 percent of the population, which represents a slight increase compared to 2005. 

Hungary: F 5-8-8=21
Hungary's constitution protects freedom of speech and the press, and a wide selection of competitive media outlets generally operate without interference from the state. However, the Media Law of 1996 has been widely criticized, partly because it has not facilitated the much-needed transformation of the public service media. Instead it has reinforced entrenched interests and institutionalized political interference, including in political and civic appointments to oversight bodies. In one step forward in August 2006, the board of Hungarian public radio managed to elect a new president, filling a position that had been in dispute for about two years. Libel remains a criminal offense, and the Hungarian criminal code holds journalists responsible not only for their own words but for publicizing libelous statements made by others. State secrecy laws have also raised press freedom concerns in Hungary. Rita Csik, a journalist for the daily Nepszava, had been acquitted of state secrecy violations in 2005. The government appealed, but a higher court upheld the verdict in May 2006. The Hungarian media landscape is dominated by private companies, with high levels of foreign investment in both national and local newspapers. Independent news outlets operate freely in Hungary, though they clearly reflect the divisions of the national political scene. Diversity is on the rise in both print and electronic media. The internet is widely accessible (over 30 percent of the population accessed it in 2006), and has been governed by a voluntary code of conduct introduced by a professional association of internet content and service providers. 

Iceland: F 1-4-4=9
Freedoms of the press and of expression are protected under Article 72 of the constitution and the government generally does not interfere in the independent media's expression of a wide variety of views. There are limitations to these rights, including fines or imprisonment for people who belittle religious doctrines of officially recognized religious groups. Additionally people may face fines and up to two years imprisonment for assaults against race, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation. 
In January 2006, Gísli Hjartarson took his own life after DV, an Icelandic tabloid paper, printed a photograph and ran a cover story accusing him of sexually abusing teenage boys. As a direct result, members of parliament proposed a bill to increase damages in libel cases. Public outrage and certain shareholders have pushed for the tabloid's closure and in April, its circulation was reduced to weekends only. 
A wide range of publications includes both independent and party-affiliated newspapers. An autonomous board of directors oversees the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV) which runs both radio and television stations funded by a license fee and advertising revenue. According to the BBC, RUV is obliged to promote Icelandic history, culture, and language. In 2006, RUV switched from being a state-owned institution to a public limited company in an attempt to strengthen its autonomy. Media concentration is a concern in Iceland, with the company 365 controlling much of television and radio broadcasting as well as one of the major national newspapers and several magazines. A media concentration bill was reintroduced during the summer of 2006 which caps ownership at 25 percent for individuals who own shares in companies that control more than one-third of media markets, though the bill was still pending at the year's end. In 2006, 87 percent of the country's population was reported to use the internet, which is unrestricted by the government. 

India: PF 9-16-10=35
India's media continue to be vigorous and are by far the freest in South Asia, although journalists face a number of constraints. The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of expression, and although there are some legal limitations, these rights are generally upheld. In recent years, the government has occasionally used its power under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to censor security-related articles or prosecute members of the press, but no cases were reported during 2006. State and national governments have also on occasion used other security laws, contempt of court charges, and criminal defamation legislation to curb the media and other critical voices. A Right to Information Bill was passed in May 2005. The Press Council of India, an independent body composed of journalists, publishers, and politicians, serves as a self-regulatory mechanism for the print press through its investigations of complaints of misconduct or irresponsible reporting. In June, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expressed concern regarding a proposed Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, which would give the government greater power over the media, restrict media cross-ownership, and introduce greater content regulation for news channels. 
Intimidation of journalists by a variety of actors continues; on a number of occasions during 2006, reporters were attacked by police or others while attempting to cover the news, and others were abducted or threatened by right-wing groups, insurgents, local-level officials, or criminals. Members of the press are particularly vulnerable in rural areas and insurgency-wracked states such as Chhattisgarh, Kashmir, Assam, and Manipur. Two journalists were killed, including Prahlad Goala, a young journalist apparently murdered in Assam after writing a series of articles accusing a forest warden of misconduct and corruption. Conditions are particularly difficult in the insurgency-racked state of Jammu and Kashmir, where the fact that militants routinely issue death threats against local media personnel has led to significant levels of self-censorship. In May, the main cable TV operator withdrew some programming after threats from insurgents. Pressure to self-censor has also been reported at smaller media outlets that rely on state government advertising for the majority of their revenue. In late November, a journalist and his wife were arrested and detained, accused of harboring insurgents; police refused to release his wife even when ordered to by a judge. Photojournalist Maqbool Sahil has been detained since September 2004 under the Public Safety Act despite October 2005 and August 2006 high court decisions calling for his release. 
Most print media, particularly the national and English-language press, are privately owned, provide diverse coverage, and frequently scrutinize the government. The broadcast media are predominantly in private hands, but the state retains a monopoly on AM radio broadcasting, and private FM radio stations are not allowed to broadcast news content. In November, the government announced a new policy designed to legitimize community radio and enable non-profit groups and others to apply for station licenses. Doordarshan, the state-controlled television station, has been accused of manipulating the news to favor the government, and some private satellite TV channels also provide slanted coverage that reflects the political affiliation of their owners, according to the U.S. State Department. Foreign media are allowed to operate freely. Internet access is unrestricted, although some states have proposed legislation that would require the registration of customers at internet cafés, and the government retains the right to censor the internet, particularly on the grounds of morality or national security. Following the Mumbai train bombings of July 2006, an official attempt to block several controversial web pages led inadvertently to a temporary ban on access to thousands of blogs. 

Indonesia: PF 17-22-15=54
The legal environment for the press improved in 2006 due to several important court decisions that signaled what the Jakarta Post daily called "a seismic shift in the Indonesian judiciary." On February 9, the Supreme Court unanimously overturned the criminal defamation conviction and one-year prison sentence of Tempo magazine chief editor Bambang Harymurti, stating that the 1999 Press Law should be used in defamation cases instead of the Penal Code. The editor had been convicted of defaming Tomy Winata in a March 2003 article that linked the business tycoon to a suspicious fire in the Tanah Abang textile market. In September, a South Jakarta District Court similarly agreed to use the Press Law when Rakyat Merdeka editor Teguh Santosa was charged with insulting Islam and the Prophet Mohammad. Later, presiding Judge Wahyono dismissed charges against the editor, who had posted three of the controversial cartoons on the newspaper's website. The judge stated that "what the defendant did was not based on disrespect. The pictures only appeared as background to the news." Despite these developments, the question of whether the 1999 Press Law should be used as lex specialis in cases involving the press remained up in the air, with outcomes seeming to depend largely upon the educational background of the presiding judge. At the end of 2006 there were at least four defamation cases that were still being tried under the Penal Code. On December 6, 2006, the Indonesian Constitutional Court made a landmark ruling that declared as unconstitutional the articles of the Penal Code (134, 136, and 137) that criminalize the dissemination of insults against the president and vice-president of Indonesia. The Court ruled that these articles violated Indonesia's 1945 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of "verbal and written expression." Nevertheless a new draft Penal Code now under consideration contains 49 articles pertaining to defamation, including criminal penalties for libel, insulting public authorities and state institutions, disseminating news that could lead to social disorder, leaking state secrets, and spreading communism or Marxism-Leninism. 
In the area of broadcast journalism, new regulations came into effect in February that prevent the direct relay of foreign broadcast content by local private radio and television stations, confining them to short-wave radio and cable television networks. The regulations were greeted with considerable protest from those who argued Indonesians' access to news and information would be severely limited. An article that transferred the power to issue broadcasting licenses from the independent National Broadcasting Commission (KPI) to the Ministry of Communications and Information likewise raised concerns that the process of obtaining licenses would be politicized. 
Violence against journalists continued in 2006. In April, supporters of the political party Golkar attacked striking Timika Pos journalists in West Papua. That same month freelance journalist Herliyanto was found dead of stab wounds in East Java, his camera and notebook stolen. Local police officials said that Herliyanto's murder was directly related to a newspaper report concerning official corruption in a nearby bridge project. The launch of the Indonesian version of Playboy magazine on April 7, 2006 sparked "sweepings," intimidation, and threats of physical violence against the magazine's Jakarta office, as well as acts of vigilantism in other Indonesian cities. Rightist Islamic elements demanded the banning of the magazine. Although the magazine contains no nudity, the magazine's editor, Erwin Arnada, was charged with indecency. If convicted, he could face 32 months in prison. 
In 2006, the Indonesian government continued to ban foreign journalists from entering West Papua. Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono explained that their presence would "encourage Papuans to campaign on issues of human rights." In April, U.S. journalist William Nesson, who had written about the war in Aceh from the rebels' perspective, was denied entry into Indonesia on grounds that his reports were "hostile to Indonesia." In September, five Australian television journalists were expelled from Papua for traveling on tourist visas. 
Indonesia is home to a large independent media that is generally able to provide a wide variety of opinions and perspectives. The broadcast market includes some 60 private radio stations in the Jakarta area alone and 10 private television networks nationwide that operate in competition with the public Televisi Republik Indonesia. Strict licensing laws have created more than 2,000 illegal television and radio stations that operate on a regular basis without a license. Internet use is on the rise with over 10 million users and no reported government restrictions on its access. 

Iran: NF 29-34-21=84
Press freedom in Iran continued to deteriorate in 2006 as the regime's conservative leaders cracked down on critical publications and journalists through arrests, detentions, closures, and the establishment of new restrictions on internet media. At the same time, a striking contrast has emerged between government efforts to restrict information and the public's efforts and ability to access it, particularly through satellite and other foreign broadcasts that remain beyond government control. 
The constitution provides for limited freedom of opinion and of the press. While it protects individuals from punishment for holding a certain belief, Article 24 of the charter, along with the vaguely worded 2000 Press Law, forbids the publication of ideas that are contrary to Islamic principles or detrimental to public rights. The government regularly invokes vaguely worded legislation to criminalize critical opinions, and punishments for violations are harsh. Article 500 of the penal code states that "anyone who undertakes any form of propaganda against the state...will be sentenced to between three months and one year in prison"; the code leaves "propaganda" undefined. Under Article 513, offenses deemed to be an "insult to religion" can be punished by death or up to five years' imprisonment, with "insult" similarly undefined. Other articles provide sentences of up to two years in prison, up to 74 lashes, or a fine for those convicted of intentionally creating "anxiety and unease in the public's mind," spreading "false rumors," writing about "acts that are not true," or criticizing state officials. Iran's judiciary frequently denies accused journalists due process by referring their cases to the Islamic Revolutionary Court, an emergency venue intended for those suspected of seeking to overthrow the regime. The Preventive Restraint Act is used regularly to temporarily ban publications without legal proceedings. 
Critical journalists are deterred by a range of obstacles in the legal system. Charges against journalists, bloggers, editors, and publications are often arbitrary; prosecutions, trial dates, and sentences are delayed; and bail sums for provisional release while awaiting trial are substantial. While fewer journalists are imprisoned today than in the past, laws prohibit editors and publishers from hiring journalists who have previously been sentenced, and imprisoned journalists have complained of solitary confinement and torture. 
In 2006, many of those targeted by the Office of the Supreme Leader and the Iranian judiciary, led by Tehran prosecutor-general Saeed Mortazavi, were well known for their critical stance toward the government or advocacy of human rights and freedom of expression. In one of the year's more prominent cases, reformist intellectual and journalist Ramin Jahanbeglo was arrested in April, presumably in response to an article in which he challenged President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust. Jahanbeglo was held in northern Tehran's Evin prison without charge until his release in August. In July, the minister of intelligence accused Jahanbeglo of "taking part in a U.S. attempt to carry out a velvet revolution in Iran," prompting rights groups to view the case as the beginning of an intensified crackdown. Later that month, Hassan Hadad, a judge with a record of prosecuting journalists and personally torturing prisoners at Evin prison, was made deputy prosecutor for security issues. He was assigned the task of "forcefully cracking down on threats to overthrow the regime." 
Ali Akbar Monsavi Khoini, a former member of parliament who was critical of the country's detention practices and prison conditions, was detained in June for participating in a peaceful women's rights demonstration. In another strike against human rights advocates, the Interior Ministry in August closed down the country's leading human rights organization, the Center for Defense of Human Rights, founded by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, claiming that it did not have the proper permit. In a more positive development, Akbar Ganji, a well-known writer sentenced in 2001 to six years in prison for "spreading propaganda" and "collecting confidential state documents to jeopardize state security," was released in March. 
The Iranian government has forcibly closed or banned more than 100 publications since 2000. This trend continued in 2006, with a particular focus on critical media outlets. The most significant closure of the year occurred in September, when the Sharq daily, the country's most prominent and last remaining reformist newspaper, was shuttered for failing to heed Ministry of Islamic Culture and Guidance orders to replace its managing director. The director had been charged with more than 70 wide-ranging violations immediately after the paper ran a satirical report on the president. Sharq had previously come under pressure from the authorities for its editorial stance and particularly for criticizing the rulings of the Supreme National Security Council, which oversaw Iran's nuclear negotiations with the international community. Another daily, Rouzegar, was banned in October after taking in many former Sharq staff members. 
The government continued to intimidate and harass journalists who covered ethnic minority issues in the country, where the dominant Persian ethnic group made up just over half of the population of roughly 70 million. In May, the Ministry of Islamic Culture and Guidance invoked Article 12 of the Press Law to close Iran Friday, a state paper, and arrest an editor and a cartoonist for "fomenting discord" by publishing a cartoon deemed insulting to the Azeri minority; Azeris made up about a quarter of the population. The editor was ultimately acquitted and the cartoonist fined, and the ban of the paper was lifted in September; it has since published under a largely new staff. In December, one of Iran's leading ayatollahs, Fazel Lankarani, issued a fatwa calling for the death of an Azeri journalist and his editor after the publication of an article claiming that European values were superior to those of Muslim countries. 
The country's numerous legal restrictions and successive closings and arrests make self-censorship common. However, critical reporting was particularly prevalent in 2006 before and after the elections for the Assembly of Experts and municipal governments in December. Criticism of the government among the hard-line and conservative press notably increased following the poor electoral performance of Ahmadinejad's allies, with some publications questioning the president's stance on the nuclear issue. Some observers attribute this development to a growing rift between Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 
Iran is home to more than 20 daily newspapers, though most Iranians do not read newspapers on a regular basis. The most widely distributed paper is the government-supported Keyhan, with a circulation of 350,000. More than 80 percent of residents receive their news from television, and the government directly maintains a monopoly over all domestic broadcast media, which present only official political and religious viewpoints. The Islamic Republic News Agency is the chief supplier of news to radio, television, print, and internet media. It falls under the authority of the Ministry of Islamic Culture and Guidance, headed by Mohammed-Hossein Saffar-Harandi, a former Keyhan employee with a long history of cracking down on the reformist press. 
Although satellite dishes that receive foreign broadcasts are forbidden, an increasing number of people own them, allowing many of Iran's more prosperous city dwellers to access international news sources. Satellite radio allows a larger portion of the population to hear international broadcasts. Radio Farda, a joint initiative of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America, broadcasts news twice an hour, seven days a week, along with popular Persian and Western music, in an effort to reach Iran's growing youth population. According to the Washington Post, a survey conducted in 2006 found that roughly 13.6 percent of the adult population listened to Radio Farda each week. 
Internet usage continues to increase, with more than seven million Iranians able to access the internet in 2006, but the press freedom watchdog Article 19 maintains that the government's heightened online censorship campaign has left fewer citizens willing to challenge the status quo. Still, websites continue to express opinions that the country's print media would never carry. Moreover, the internet provides a forum for political debate, with both conservatives and reform advocates using it to promote their political agendas. The internet has also provided a key platform for international initiatives-such as Article 19's Persianimpediment.org, Freedom House's Gozaar, and Rooz Online-to promote freedom of expression and inform the Iranian public on human rights issues. 
Iran has roughly 100,000 bloggers, most of whom oppose the regime and publish anonymously to avoid detection, reflecting the extent to which journalists and dissidents have turned to the internet in the last several years in an effort to circumvent official control. The judiciary began targeting online journalists, bloggers, and technical support staff in 2004, and all of those detained in 2004 and 2005 were held in solitary confinement at a secret detention center, subjected to torture, and denied access to lawyers and medical care. Most of those imprisoned in 2004 were released in 2005. In January 2006, Arash Sigardi, a blogger who actively campaigned for the promotion of diverse viewpoints through internet journalism, was sentenced to three years in prison for "insulting the Supreme Guide" and publishing "propaganda against the regime." A number of other online activists received jail sentences for critical online publications during the year. 
There was a hike in internet filtering in the name of morality over the summer, followed by a series of new restrictions aimed at preserving Islamic culture, especially for Iran's younger generation, according to Britain's Guardian newspaper. Sites dealing with the condition of women were targeted in particular. According to Information and Technology, the company responsible for internet filtering, 90 percent of filtered sites are proscribed due to immoral character, and 1,000 new online publications are added to the blacklist each month. Public use of high-speed internet connections was banned in October, and a cabinet decision in November ordered all websites dealing with Iran to register with the authorities. The decision also officially outlawed all sites that insulted Islam and monotheism in general, disseminated separatist ideologies, published false information, or threatened individual privacy. While the registration of the country's tens of thousands of websites would be difficult to implement, the new edict established an ominous legal pretext for arbitrarily banning more sites. YouTube, the New York Times website, and the English version of Wikipedia were all blacklisted in December. 

Iraq: NF 22-32-16=70
Restrictions on the press took new forms in 2006 as the new Iraqi government for the first time took action against reporters. The 2005 Iraqi constitution outlines a legal framework concerning the activities of the press, including provisions guaranteeing freedom of press and expression "in a way that does not violate public order or morality," according to Article 38. In addition, Articles 101 and 102 outline a financially and administratively independent National Communications and Media Commission. However, like many other articles in the constitution, they do not specify the commission's mandate or define the implementation of regulations and legislation. Legal analysts have noted that some archaic laws dating from Saddam Hussein's rule remain on the books, including restrictive insult, anti-defamation, and state secrets laws. 
In 2006, Iraqi authorities imposed restrictions on the media that could endanger news diversity. Iraqi security forces detained at least 30 journalists over the course of the year, with four still held without charge at the year's end. Moreover, the US military arrested eight media workers. Four were still in custody at the end of the year. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government threatened to close media outlets for "inciting violence" and TV stations were banned from showing violent footage of events within Iraq. In November, the government shut down two television stations, Al-Zawra` and Salah al-Din, for showing footage of Iraqis protesting Saddam Hussein's death sentence. Neither had been allowed back on air at the end of the year. The Interior Ministry established a monitoring unit tasked with requesting that journalists broadcast corrections of "false news." Local and regional officials have been particularly aggressive in bringing charges against critical journalists. In January, the Kurdish regional government upheld a thirty year prison sentence for Kamal Syid Qadir, who was charged with defaming public institutions. Two editors and a journalist for the Kurdish weekly Hawlati were also charged with defamation in May following an article critical of Kurdish political parties. The government placed restrictions on foreign media as well: In October, authorities briefly closed the Baghdad bureau of satellite news channel Al-`Arabiya for inciting "sectarianism" and "violence," and Al-Jazeera's Arabic service was still barred from opening a bureau in Baghdad. In 2005, it was revealed that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) had hired a public relations firm to place stories with media outlets in Iraq that were written by U.S. military officers and depicted conditions in the country in a favorable light. In December 2006, during an internal investigation, the DOD concluded that the program had been legal under the rules of psychological warfare. However, the U.S. faced criticism from international watchdog groups for trying to manipulate press coverage and spread propaganda in the Iraqi media. 
Ongoing instability and violence remain the biggest threats to press freedom, with Iraqi insurgent groups conducting targeted kidnappings and attacks on the media. Several dozen journalists and media workers were killed in 2006, many in deliberate attacks. Reporters Sans Frontieres reported that armed groups kidnapped twenty media workers, and executed seven. Gunmen in the `Adil neighborhood of Baghdad kidnapped US journalist Jill Carroll on January 7 and released her three months later. The fate of two Iraqi reporters, Rim Zaid and her colleague Marwan Khazal of Al-Sumariya TV was still unknown at the end of 2006. Armed groups have targeted local journalists who work with foreign media and have accused them of being spies. Self-censorship increased as a result of intimidation from violent groups, including sectarian militias. Much of the violence against journalists in 2006 occurred during the last months of the year, as hostilities among insurgent groups increased significantly. In the deadliest incident of the 2006, gunmen raided the offices of the radio station Al-Shaabiya in October, killing six journalists and four guards. The station, owned by the National and Justice Party, was created in July but had yet to broadcast. 
Iraq has more than 100 daily and weekly publications, and dozens of new private television and radio channels have emerged throughout the country. The financial viability of these outlets is severely threatened by the security situation. Nearly all media outlets are privately owned and operated, but most of these outlets are affiliated with ethnic, sectarian, or partisan groups. Satellite TV is watched by around 70% of Iraqi viewers; the pan-Arab news stations Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera are popular. Iran's Al-Alam TV, which broadcasts in Arabic, can be received in Baghdad without a dish. Access to foreign satellite television, previously banned in all of Iraq under Saddam Hussein (except in the northern Kurdish regions since 1991), grew in 2006. Internet usage also increased during the year, with many internet cafés opening up in Iraqi cities and no direct government restriction on access to, or operation of, the internet. 

Ireland: F 4-7-5=16
Press freedom is constitutionally guaranteed and generally respected in practice. Archaic defamation laws are still in place under which journalists remain guilty until proven innocent, but a new defamation law was proposed at the end of 2006 following a growing movement to enact new media legislation. The law will decriminalize most forms of defamation and bring Irish laws into closer conformance with international standards. However, the bill has drawn criticism for a clause criminalizing the publication of "gravely harmful sentiments," and allowing summary convictions for "minor" transgressions. The proposed law incorporates a proposal for a press ombudsman and an independent press council-an independent watchdog which will deal with public complaints and regulate the media under a new code of conduct covering areas such as accuracy, fairness, privacy, and incitement to hatred. The law will also introduce the defense of "reasonable publication," under which a journalist will not be held liable for a statement-even if it is subsequently proven to be false-if they acted in accordance with professional ethics and public interest justified publication. A new privacy law was proposed alongside the defamation law, but was met with less enthusiasm both in the press and government. Journalists argued that overly broad clauses in the law could allow everyday journalistic activity, such as telephone calls, e-mails, and approaches to sources, to lead to allegations of harassment and trespass. Some speculated that the law was introduced to counterbalance the more liberal defamation bill. Both laws were under discussion at the end of 2006. 
In late 2006 Irish Times editor Geraldine Kennedy and senior correspondent Colm Keena were accused of publishing classified information in an article disclosing details of the investigation of Bertie Ahern by the Mahon tribunal, a government anti-corruption body. Following their indictment, the journalists destroyed all relevant documents in order to protect their source. In November, the tribunal announced plans to obtain an order from the High Court forcing Kennedy and Keena to reveal their sources or face up to two years in prison or a $300,000 fine. 
The national public broadcaster, Radio Telefis Eireann, dominates the radio and television sectors, but the growth of cable and satellite has begun to weaken the state broadcaster's monopoly over the industry. British public and private TV offers the main competition to Irish programming. According to the BBC, cross-media ownership is permitted within limits-press groups may own no more than 25% of local TV and radio. Internet access is unrestricted by the government, and 50 percent of Irish citizens use the internet regularly. 

Israel: F 6-13-10=29
Press freedom is generally respected in Israel, and the country features a vibrant media landscape. Journalists are occasionally subject to official restrictions, but an independent judiciary and an active civil society adequately protect the free media. Hate speech and publishing praise of violence is prohibited, and the 1948 Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance prohibits expressions of support for terrorist organizations or groups that call for the destruction of Israel. In 2004, the Supreme Court denied a government appeal seeking to uphold a ban on granting press credentials to Palestinians. Israel's Government Press Office (GPO) had earlier ceased issuing press cards to Palestinians on security grounds, claiming that some Palestinians posing as journalists used the cards to enter Israel and carry out or abet terrorist attacks. Israeli press freedom organizations have since accused the GPO of continuing to restrict press credentials for Palestinians. 
While newspaper and magazine articles on security matters are subject to a military censor, the scope of permissible reporting is wide and there is a broad range of published material. Editors may appeal a censorship decision to a three-member tribunal that includes two civilians, and publications cannot be shuttered because of censorship violations. Arabic-language publications are censored more frequently than those in Hebrew, and Arab Israeli journalists are subject to greater restrictions than their Jewish counterparts. In 2005, the daily Ha'aretz, Channel 2 television station, and BBC News were made to apologize to the government for failing to submit stories containing "sensitive" information for review. In July 2006, Al-Jazeera reporters Walid Al-Omary and Elias Karram were briefly detained by Israeli security forces while covering Hezbollah rocket attacks in northern Israel; Israeli officials claimed that the reporters were assisting Hezbollah by revealing the locations of rocket hits. The 2004 release of Mordechai Vanunu, an Israeli citizen imprisoned for 18 years for espionage and disclosing information about Israel's nuclear weapons program, was conditioned on a series of restrictions on his speech and movement; these restrictions have been condemned by the International Federation of Journalists. 
A wide variety of newspapers, reflecting a broad range of political viewpoints and religious outlooks, is available in Israel. All newspapers are privately owned and freely criticize government policy. Newspapers must be licensed by the locality in which they are published. A diverse selection of broadcast media is also available. The Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) operates public radio and television services, including the popular Kol Israel radio station. There are also commercial television networks and radio stations, and most Israelis subscribe to cable or satellite television. Internet access is widespread and available to approximate 50 percent, and it is not restricted by the government. 
[This rating and report reflect the state of press freedom within Israel proper, not in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which are covered in the following report on the Israeli-Occupied Territories and Palestinian Authority.] 

Israeli-Occupied Territories and Palestinian Authority: NF 28-34-22=84
Events in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are covered extensively by international media, but both Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) severely restrict press freedom and often impede journalists' ability to report safely and accurately. The Palestinian Basic Law provides for freedom of the press, and a 1995 Press Law calls for free and independent media, but the latter statute also stipulates that journalists may be punished and newspapers closed for publishing material deemed harmful to national unity or that might incite violence. The Palestinian Legislative Council's 2005 deliberations on a draft law on access to information were stalled after legislative elections in January 2006 resulted in an upset victory for the Islamist party Hamas. 
Israel's army and security services continued to commit a range of press abuses in 2006. Journalists were subject to gunfire, physical abuse, arrest, and substantial limits on their freedom of movement. In April, Israeli soldiers were accused on two separate occasions of firing at journalists covering unrest in the West Bank city of Nablus. During a major Israeli military incursion into the Gaza Strip that began in June, several journalists were wounded by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) gunfire: in early July, two photographers, Hamid al-Khur and Mohammad Az Zanoun, were shot and wounded; later that month, Palestinian television cameraman Ibrahim al-Atlah was seriously wounded by Israeli tank fire; in August, an Israeli tank fired on a marked Reuters press vehicle in Gaza. In December, Reporters Sans Frontieres released a report accusing the IDF of attacking or threatening 16 journalists and destroying the facilities of three news outlets in 2006. In April, a British Coroner's Court declared the 2003 death of British journalist James Miller an unlawful killing on the part of the IDF, to which Israel responded with a promise to further examine the incident. Israel denies that it deliberately targets journalists and maintains that reporters covering the conflict bear responsibility for placing themselves in danger. 
Journalists reporting from the Israeli-occupied territories are required to carry Israeli-issued press cards; for Palestinian journalists and Arab journalists more generally, these cards are very difficult to obtain. In December 2005, Al-Arabiya reporter Bassem el-Jamal was denied entry to the West Bank for the third time that year by Israeli authorities, who cited his "contacts with hostile groups." For one day after an attack on Israeli troops in southern Israel by Gaza-based militants, the IDF closed the Erez crossing to Gaza to the media; while protests from foreign journalists led Israel to reopen the border, the IDF prohibited Israeli passport holders from entering Gaza for several days afterward. 
The Palestinian media have also faced pressure from the PA to provide positive coverage or forgo reporting on certain stories, and journalists who have filed stories considered unfavorable to the PA have been harassed. Threats, arrests, and abuse of journalists deemed critical of the PA, the president's Fatah party, and now Hamas have become routine. With the legislative victory of Hamas in January, Palestinian media outlets have become targets of factional violence between Hamas and Fatah. In June, about 50 members of Hamas's military wing (Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades) attacked Palestinian national television installations in Khan Yunis, destroying equipment and beating journalists. A Fatah-linked radio station in northern Gaza was attacked with light arms and destroyed in October by gunmen allegedly associated with Hamas. In November, a radio station associated with the militant Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) was attacked during a live broadcast; the attack was believed to have been spurred by an incorrect news report about a PA cabinet shuffle. In its December report, Reporters Sans Frontieres cited attacks on seven news outlets in 2006 by various Palestinian factions. 
The political instability that followed Israel's 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, greater internecine conflict between Hamas and Fatah, and the existence of renegade political factions all created dangerous conditions for journalists in the territories. Six foreign journalists were kidnapped by Palestinian militants in 2006. In March, reporter Caroline Laurent and photographers Yong Tae-young and Alfred Yaghobzadeh were briefly abducted by PFLP members in Gaza. In August, Fox News journalist Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig were kidnapped and held for nearly two weeks by a group called the Holy Jihad Brigades; they were released unharmed. Associated Press photojournalist Emilio Morenatti was kidnapped and held for a few hours in October. French journalist Didier Francois was shot and wounded while covering clashes between Hamas and Fatah gunmen in December. 
There are three Palestinian dailies in addition to several weekly and monthly periodicals, and the territories host roughly 30 independently owned television stations and 25 radio stations. The one television station and one radio station run by the PA function as government mouthpieces, though control of these outlets is being contested by Hamas and Fatah. Most independent media outlets exercise cautious self-censorship, particularly on the issue of internal Palestinian politics. Israeli checkpoints often prevent newspaper distribution in the territories. Access to satellite television is increasing, and unrestricted internet access is available to Just under 10 percent of the population. 

Italy: F 9-11-9=29
Status change explanation: Italy's rating improved from Partly Free to Not Free primarily as a result of Silvio Berlusconi's exit as prime minister. While the private broadcast media in Italy is still concentrated in the hands of the Berlusconi-dominated Mediaset, the public broadcaster, RAI, is no longer under his control. 
Freedom of speech and the press is constitutionally guaranteed in Italy. In April 2006, Romano Prodi's center-left Union bloc narrowly won parliamentary elections, putting an end to Silvio Berlusconi's long premiership. Under Berlusconi's rule, Italy suffered from a concentration of media power in the hands of the former Prime Minister, who, through his private media holdings and political power over the state television networks, controlled 90 percent of the country's broadcast media. 
In April 2004, the Senate adopted the Gasparri law on broadcasting, which ostensibly introduced a number of reforms, like the preparation for the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting; however, the law was heavily criticized for providing measures that served the interests of then Prime Minister Berlusconi's extensive media holdings. For example, the law removed a previous restriction on one person owning more than two national broadcasting stations, allowing Retequattro, one of three television stations owned by Mediaset, to continue terrestrial broadcasting. In July 2006, the EU Commission sent Italy a formal complaint that the law, because of its concessions to Mediaset, is not compatible with EU rules on competition in the markets for electronic communications networks and services and the New EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications. 
In April, Mario Spezi, a journalist working on a book about a series of murders in Florence from 1968 to 1985, was arrested and jailed for twenty-two days for allegedly obstructing the investigation of the murders. Spezi, who had his hard disk, notebooks and other materials seized by the police in 2004, has criticized the judiciary a number of times over the past several years for their handling of the case. In August 2006, police searched the homes and offices of newspaper reporters in connection with the investigation of the supposed kidnapping and extradition of an Imam by CIA agents in Italy in 2002. In February 2006, the Italian broadcast regulatory authority fined Mediaset for giving Berlusconi extra time on the air to promote his campaign for prime minister. Berlusconi was also criticized for appearing alone for a debate on the show "Liberi Tutti." Two additional fines were levied on two Mediaset stations for the same offense just a few days before the election. 
Despite Berlusconi's resignation from the presidency, the broadcast media in Italy remains concentrated with the state owned RAI and Berlusconi's Mediaset controlling 87.5 percent of the market share. Nonetheless, a Council of Europe report released in February 2006 demonstrated that despite the concentration of broadcast media in Italy, there is considerable diversity of content in the country's news and other media. Further, although the broadcast media remains concentrated in ownership, there is considerable pluralism in the press media. In fact, the print media, which consists of several national newspapers (two of which are controlled by the Berlusconi family), continue to provide diverse political opinions, including those critical of the government. The government generally does not restrict access to the internet and roughly 50 percent of the population accessed this new media in 2006. However, the government can block foreign-based internet sites if they contravene national law. After the London bombings in 2005 by Islamic extremists, Italy's Parliament approved a new antiterror law that includes surveillance of the internet and requires a license to operate an internet café. 

Jamaica: F 3-6-6=15
The constitution protects freedom of expression but does not explicitly mention the press. A process has begun to overhaul the constitution and replace it with a comprehensive charter of rights that the Inter-American Press Association believes will better serve to protect human rights. The Media Association of Jamaica, representing media owners and managers, consolidated a lobby to press for separate protection for freedom of the press and media in the charter. Following full application of the Access to Information Act in the previous year, in June the Information Minister, Senator Colin Campbell, announced the launch of a public education campaign to make people aware of how the legislation will work in practice. Some media freedom advocates continue to complain that existing libel and defamation laws are hindering freedom of expression. It is thought that media owners, wary of the possibility of facing financially damaging libel suits, are less inclined to encourage journalists to investigate corruption and other sensitive issues. The country has two national daily newspapers and a daily afternoon tabloid. There are a number of national and regional periodicals serving a variety of sectors and interests. The state broadcasting service was largely privatized in 1997, although the Kool FM radio station is still government owned. At the end of March, the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) was launched as a radio and television service to replace the state-run Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation. The PBCJ-funded by state and private sector contributions-will provide public education, information, and entertainment on radio and on television through cable transmission. There are over 1 million internet users in Jamaica (40 percent of the population) whose access is unrestricted by the government. 

Japan: F 2-13-6=21
Press freedom is constitutionally guaranteed and generally respected in practice. In 2005, the Niigata District Court upheld the right of journalists to refuse to reveal anonymous sources in a case in which a U.S. health food company asserted that inflammatory news reports dating from 1997 were based on a leak about the company's investigation for tax evasion. On March 17, 2006 and again on June 13 a Tokyo High upheld the ruling of the lower court that protection of news sources served the public interest and the public's right to know, and that journalists could protect the identity of their sources, even if the source was a public official. 
On July 21 an unidentified man hurled a Molotov cocktail at the headquarters of Japan's largest business daily, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, according to local and international press reports. No one was hurt in the attack, and the office suffered minor damage. Police are investigating possible motives, including the newspaper's exclusive story about the late emperor Hirohito's refusal to visit the war memorial, known as the Yasukuni Shrine, after it began honoring 14 convicted war criminals in 1978. 
Concerns continue regarding the lack of diversity and independence in reporting, especially in political news. This is facilitated in part by a system of kisha kurabu, or journalist clubs, in which major media outlets have cozy relationships with bureaucrats and politicians. Exposes by media outlets that belong to journalist clubs are frowned upon and can result in the banning of members from press club briefings. Smaller media organizations and foreigners are excluded from journalist clubs. Japanese journalist clubs have been criticized by Reporters Sans Frontieres and the European Union because the government gives club members exclusive access to political information. In return, journalists tend to avoid writing critical stories about the government, thereby reducing the media's ability to pressure politicians for greater transparency and accountability. Most of Japan's investigative journalism is conducted by reporters outside the press club system. In recent years, the rising number of journalists who do not participate in press clubs has slightly eroded their power to act as gatekeepers for news concerning government ministries and political parties. 
Japan has a vigorous and free media and boasts the highest daily newspaper circulation per capita in the world. Many national dailies have circulations topping 1 million and often produce afternoon and evening editions as well. More than half of the national newspaper market share is controlled by "the big three": Yomiuri, Asahi, and Mainichi. There is considerable homogeneity in reports, which relate the news in a factual and neutral manner. Television news content, once dominated by the public station NHK, has diversified considerably with the rising popularity of Asahi, Fuji, TBS, and satellite television. Japan boasts over 47 million registered internet users, representing almost 70 percent of the population. No government restrictions on access to the internet were reported in 2006. 

Jordan: NF 21-22-18=61
Although King Abdullah II has repeatedly pledged reform, the Jordanian government in 2006 again failed to enact a long-awaited new press law. The draft before the parliament at the end of the year did not eliminate jail sentences for journalists in connection with their work, and allowed for the enforcement of laws like Article 150 of the Penal Code, which bans all writing and speech that is "intended to, or results in, stirring up sectarian or racial tension or strife among different elements of the nation." While the Jordanian constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of expression and of the press, articles of the penal and press codes restrict criticism of the royal family, the National Assembly, public officials, and the armed forces, as well as speech that might harm Jordan's foreign relations. In practice, limited criticism of the Jordanian government and its allies is tolerated, as is speech in favor of Islamist movements, but criticism of the royal family is still taboo. Journalists must be members of the Jordan Press Association (JPA) to work legally. In the past, critical journalists have been excluded from the JPA and prevented from practicing their profession. 
Intelligence agencies watch journalists closely, and the government of Prime Minister Ma'ruf al-Bakhit has given free rain to these agencies, the police, and prosecutors to clamp down on legitimate speech. Editors and journalists report that they have received official warnings to refrain from publishing certain articles or to avoid certain topics, and that security officials have pressured printers to hold publications until editors agree to remove sensitive stories. Several journalists were arrested in 2006 for articles criticizing the government or detailing sensitive political information. In January and February, the Jordanian weeklies Al-Mihwar and Shihan published caricatures of the prophet Muhammad that had first appeared in Denmark's Jyllands-Posten in September 2005. The two papers' respective editors, Hisham al-Khalidi and Jihad Mu'mini, were charged with "offending religious feelings" and given two-month prison sentences in May; they were released pending their appeal. The death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian-born terrorist leader in Iraq, also proved contentious, as Jordanian authorities interrupted a June interview with his brother-in-law on the Qatar-based satellite television station Al-Jazeera and briefly detained the station's Amman bureau chief, Yassir Abu Hilala. Several members of parliament were arrested for consoling members of al-Zarqawi's family and charged under Article 150 of the Penal Code. A state security court in August sentenced two of the lawmakers to prison terms and fines, but they were pardoned by the king in September. In December, three photojournalists were assaulted in parliament after taking photos of an altercation between two legislators. 
The government owns substantial shares in Jordan's two leading daily newspapers, and all publications must obtain licenses from the state. There are high taxes on the media industry and tariffs on paper, and the government has been criticized for advertising primarily in newspapers in which it owns a stake. In 2003 the government officially gave up its monopoly on domestic television and radio broadcasting by creating a new Audiovisual Licensing Authority, which in 2004 began to license and regulate private radio and television outlets. No restrictions are placed on satellite broadcasts, and satellite dishes continue to proliferate. The Jordanian government is actively seeking to promote access to the internet and says it places no restrictions on access to information for 11 percent of the population with internet access. 

Kazakhstan: NF 26-28-22=76
Kazakhstan's constitution guarantees freedom of the press but also provides special protection for the president. The authorities allow limited press freedom but safeguard the existing power structure against the dangers that truly independent media might pose. There were fewer examples of government pressure against independent media in 2006 than in 2005, when the country held a presidential election, but new legislative restrictions were passed during the year. Amendments to media legislation signed into law by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in July imposed costly registration fees for journalists, broadened criteria for denying media outlets registration, required news outlets to submit the names of editors with their registration applications, and necessitated re-registration in the event of an address change. The amendments drew widespread condemnation from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and media watchdog groups. 
Journalists continued to face obstacles in the form of criminal and civil libel suits and even physical assaults. Kazis Toguzbayev, a journalist and activist in the unregistered opposition party Alga, faced criminal charges in 2006 under Article 318 of Kazakhstan's criminal code, which imposes penalties for "undermining the reputation and dignity of the country's president and hindering his activities." Toguzbayev had published two articles on the internet in April and May criticizing Nazarbayev's actions in the context of the February murder of opposition leader Altynbek Sarsenbayev. The cases against Toguzbayev, still pending at year's end, underscored the special protections Kazakh legislation extends to the country's leader. In April, Kenzhegali Aitbakiyev, an editor for the opposition newspaper Ayna-Plus, which had reported on corruption allegations against Nazarbayev, was badly beaten by unknown assailants. Despite calls from parliament for an investigation, prosecutors failed to take any substantive actions after the assault. Ayna-Plus had begun publishing as such after a court in February shut it down under its old name, Zhuma Times. 
As in previous years, prominent broadcast media were either state run or controlled by members or associates of the president's family. For example, Nazarbayev's daughter ran several television channels and controlled two of the nation's leading newspapers. Nominally independent media often had ties to the state through subsidies or holding companies. This had several deleterious effects. Media outlets avoided aggressive coverage of sensitive issues, in particular allegations of improper conduct by the president and his family, and provided tendentious coverage according to the interests of the groups that controlled them. This was evident after Sarsenbayev's murder, when various factions within the country's elite used media they controlled to leak compromising information of dubious veracity. Against this backdrop, Culture and Information Minister Yermukhamet Yertysbayev said in May that the state would restore full control over the Khabar media holding company, controlled by Nazarbayev's daughter. The state had not followed through on the move by year's end. Independent print publications were hampered by low circulation and government influence over printing and distribution facilities. In January, the printing company Dauir briefly refused to print seven Almaty-based opposition newspapers; Dauir's director was Svetlana Nazarbayeva, the president's sister-in-law. The internet provided a refuge of sorts for Kazakhstan's beleaguered independent press, although there were reports of government interference in the form of monitoring and blocking of opposition websites. Moreover, less than 3 percent of the Kazakh population had internet access, and, as the Toguzbayev case indicated, the authors of internet publications were as vulnerable to the country's strict libel laws as other journalists. 

Kenya: PF 20-21-18=59
Kenya's constitution does not explicitly guarantee press freedom. The Kenyan media continue to operate under Section 79 of the constitution, which guarantees citizens freedom of expression. Nevertheless, the government routinely restricts this right by broadly interpreting several laws, including the Official Secrets Act, the penal code, and criminal libel legislation. The Miscellaneous Amendment Act of 2002, which raised publishers' mandatory insurance bond to 1 million Kenyan shillings (about US$13,100), has had a negative impact on numerous independent newspapers that cannot afford to pay the increased fees. Although defamation remains criminalized in Kenyan law, in a 2005 defamation case the attorney general declared that the archaic law would no longer be used to suppress freedom of expression and no journalists were prosecuted for criminal libel in 2006. A freedom of information bill is still pending before the Parliament. 
Although the media scene in Kenya remained vibrant, there were continued instances of extra-legal intimidation of private media outlets in 2006. In February, the premises of the privately-owned Weekly Citizen and the Independent were raided by police after the papers carried articles about power struggles within the presidency. Also in February, and editorial cartoonist with The Daily Nation, Godfrey Mwapembwa (Gada) was threatened with legal action after featuring the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in cartoon about the Anglo-Leasing corruption scandal. In an unprecedented move, in March the offices of the independent daily The Standard-one of the oldest and most well-respected papers in Kenya-were raided and three journalists were arrested for questioning in connection with a story of political intrigue within the government. Approximately 20,000 copies of the March 2 issue were seized and burnt, printing equipment vandalized, and computers confiscated. A similar raid also resulted in the closure of the national broadcasting station, Kenya Television Network, which is also owned by the Standard Group. The police action provoked local and international outrage, and came two days after Information and Communication Minister Mutahi Kagwe issued a warning against media abusing press freedom. National Security Minister John Michuki told journalists that the raid was carried out to protect state security, commenting that "If you rattle a snake, you must be prepared to be bitten by it." The charges against the three journalists were later dropped. 
Although the number of private media outlets is rising, the government-controlled public broadcaster, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, remains dominant outside the major urban centers, and its coverage still favors the ruling party. The private media are generally outspoken and critical of government policies. There has been a significant expansion of FM radio, particularly ethnic FM radio stations, increasing public participation as well as commentary unfavorable to the government through call-in shows. Individual journalists continue to practice self-censorship either due to political pressure, or because of bribes. Foreign media is widely available, including FM radio broadcasts of the BBC, Voice of America, and Radio France Internationale. Access to the internet is unrestricted; however, only 3 percent of Kenyans were able to access the internet in 2006 owing to the high costs involved. 

Kiribati: F 5-8-13=26
Freedom of expression is safeguarded under article 12 of the constitution, however there are some restrictions. Newspapers are required to register with the government under the Newspaper Registration Act. Additionally, the Newspaper Registration Amendment Bill gives the government the power to stop publication of newspapers that face complaints. There is no official censorship, although in August 2006 local media was accused self-censorship by not reporting on the government's controversial university scholarship allocations, although the story was covered by the foreign press. In March, former state radio journalist Taberannang Korauaba lost his appeal against the government for wrongful dismissal. Korauaba was relieved of his position at Radio Kiribati in December 2005 after refusing to reveal his sources for a report on corruption involving Kiribati's auditor general. The state-run newspaper, Te Uekera, and the privately owned Kiribati New Star operate on a weekly basis and offer diverse viewpoints. Newsletters from the Catholic and Protestant churches provide additional sources of information. There is one state AM and FM radio station and one private broadcaster in Tarawa. In 2006, the government hired Powercom group, a Tasmanian company, to set up the country's first radio contact between the coral islands. The internet is unrestricted, though with a single provider access is among the most expensive in the world. 

Kuwait: PF 19-21-16=56
The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press and Kuwait is frequently considered to be relatively free, but there are numerous limitations to these rights. A new law passed in 2006 was met with internal approval and displeasure. Freedom of the press is protected under Articles 36 and 37 of the constitution with the restriction that such rights be exercised within the limitations of the law. On March 6, after 20 years of debates, the country passed a new press and publications law. While the new press law ends the government's monopoly on licensing new media outlets, it retains many of the repressive laws used to prosecute journalists in the past. Journalists can no longer be detained without a court order, but they may still be prosecuted under the penal code for a number of offenses. Those found guilty of criticizing Islam may be imprisoned for up to one year and fined up to $70,000. The new law also criminalizes the publication of material that criticizes the constitution, the emir, or Islam, calls for the overthrow of the regime, or incites acts that will offend public morality, religious sensibilities, or the basic convictions of the nation; insulting the Emir is no longer punishable by jail terms but by staggeringly high fines. Slander is also considered a crime under the new press and publications law. A number of journalists were also arrested under the new press law. Hamid Buyabis was jailed on May 15 and released the next day for directly quoting criticism of the emir. Kuwaiti journalist, Khaled Obaysan al-Mutairi was arrested for an article published in the Kuwaiti daily Al-Sissya that praised Saddam Hussein and called upon the Arab League to support the Iraqi resistance. The Information Minister stated that the paper had been charged with "publishing reports that negatively impact Kuwaiti society," but the charges were dropped and al-Mutairi was released the next day. On November 18, journalist Aziza al-Mufarig of the daily Al Watan was fined 1000 dinars (US$3500) and given a three-month suspended sentence and three years probation for an article she had written that questioned the independence of a Kuwaiti judge. 
In general, the Ministry of Information (MOI) does not actively interfere or restrict access to local or international news, and the Kuwaiti media are known to provide more critical and outspoken coverage of the government and politics than the rest of the region. Nevertheless, given the on-going restrictions in the new press law, journalists continued to practice self-censorship. The MOI can also censor all books, films, and periodicals it deems morally offensive.. Although there are five Arabic and two English daily newspapers in Kuwait, all privately-owned, the last government-issued license was in 1976. The old press law of 1963 had limited the press to five dailies. While all publishers are required to obtain an operating license from the MOI in order to launch a daily under the new 2006 press law, the MOI must now issue the license or provide an explanation for its refusal within 90 days of application. Those denied licenses may also appeal in court. Nevertheless, the financial conditions required to establish a paper under the new press law make it very difficult; 250,000 dinars (US$950,000) is the required minimum capital. There are nine state-owned radio stations and television stations, and the government has finally granted licenses to a few private television and radio stations, such as satellite television channel Al-Rai and Marina FM radio. However, the content of these private stations tends to be more entertainment-oriented than critical news coverage. The government tried to shut down a number of satellite stations that were broadcasting programs related to the June parliamentary elections. 25 percent of the population accessed the internet in 2006, although the government has blocked websites considered to promote terrorism and political instability; several websites were blocked during the year. The U.S. State Department reports that internet cafe owners are required to obtain names and identification of internet users and must submit the information if required by the Ministry of Communication. 

Kyrgyzstan: NF 22-25-20=67
Kyrgyzstan's inability to make full use of the democratic opportunity afforded by the fall of President Askar Akayev in 2005 was compounded in 2006 by increasing government attempts to exert control over the country's media environment. The political situation remained unstable, leading the government to curb media outlets that threatened to undermine its position. While Kyrgyz law protects freedom of speech and prohibits censorship, it is ineffectively and unevenly applied. Libel is considered a criminal offense, although the practice of filing libel suits against obstreperous media outlets has become less common since Akayev's ouster. 
Throughout 2006, media outlets that provided coverage deemed undesirable by the authorities experienced a variety of difficulties, particularly in early November, when the opposition staged a large demonstration in Bishkek. At that time, the authorities blocked opposition leaders from appearing on state television, privately owned New Television Network (NTS) lost power to its antennae in Bishkek and Osh, and hacker attacks rendered the independent news websites akipress.org and 24.kg inaccessible for several days. 
Other efforts to exert control were more overt. In January, Prime Minister Feliks Kulov signed a decree dismissing Bakyt Orunbekov as editor in chief of the state-run Kyrgyz-language newspaper Kyrgyz Tuusu. Orunbekov, a critic of Akayev who had ascended to his post after the long-ruling president's departure, charged that his firing was retaliation for articles critical of Kulov. Also in January, journalists at Kyrgyz state television and radio staged a protest over the appointment of an ally of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev as deputy director. A concerted campaign targeted privately owned Pyramid TV, which had been the object of a forcible takeover attempt in late 2005 amid allegations that current and former officials were behind the bid. In September, four men broke into Pyramid's offices and started a fire, causing $200,000 in damage, according to Pyramid producer Turat Bektenov. The government did not actively pursue an investigation of the attack. Pyramid, which provided critical coverage of Bakiyev, encountered harassment in a number of other forms, including an assault on Bektenov in November. The station managed to resume VHF broadcasts by the end of the year, however. 
Overall, the authorities, led by the presidential administration, seemed intent in 2006 on retaining a significant level of control over the broadcast media, which remain the primary source of news for most Kyrgyz citizens. After the fall of President Akayev, the opposition forces that came to power advanced plans to transform Kyrgyz state television into a public broadcaster. However, Bakiyev vetoed a bill passed by parliament in September that would have implemented that proposal. The government ended NTS's transmissions in a number of regions in May, citing the need to use the frequency for a new state channel, E1 TV. Although ostensibly a public broadcaster, E1 TV was reportedly subject to government control in practice. Kyrgyzstan has 40 to 50 regularly printed newspapers and magazines, most of them private but not all independent. Uchkun, the state-owned printing house, controls the primary means of publication in the country, but a U.S.-sponsored printing house (operated by Freedom House) established in 2004 provides publishers with an alternative. Foreign media are allowed to operate freely within the country, but foreign ownership of domestic media outlets is prohibited. The internet is available in just a few places in the country, and only 5 percent of the Kyrgyz population accesses the internet on a regular basis. Nevertheless, Kyrgyzstan has a lively and growing selection of internet news sites, blogs, and forums for political discussion. 

Laos: NF 26-31-24=81
The media in Laos remain tightly controlled by an authoritarian, one party state. Article 6 of the 1991 constitution guarantees press freedom and civil liberties, but only in theory. Few citizens actually feel free to exercise these rights because there are no legal safeguards for voicing dissent in public. Article 7 requires the mass media, particularly Lao-language papers such as Vientiane Mai and Pasason and the national news agency, Khaosan Pathet Lao, to "unite and mobilize" the diverse ethnic groups to support the ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party. The criminal code provides for up to one year prison terms for those found to be reporting on news which weakens the state. Although central censorship is no longer directly imposed on the press, the Ministry of Information and Culture continues to oversee media coverage and academic publishing, and self censorship is commonplace. Editors are government appointees assigned to ensure that media function as links between the party and the people. 
Military abuses against the Lao-Hmong people, as well as arrests of Christians for practicing their faith, go unreported in the Lao-language papers. To date, there are no international media agencies or journalism schools in Laos, except for UN development organizations. Thus, Lao journalists whose salaries are paid by the government are officiously guided by the editors' promulgation of the media as an instrument of the government. The media's role is to link the people to the party, deliver party policy messages, and disseminate political ideology. All editors are members of the Lao Journalists Association, presided over by the Minister of Information and Culture. Foreign journalists must apply for a special visa to enter the country, and are accompanied by official escorts throughout their stay. 
The majority of print and electronic media are state owned. The French weekly Le Renovateur and the English daily Vientiane Times, which are subsidized by the Ministry of Information and Culture, occasionally report on social and economic problems, framing their content primarily to attract tourists, expatriates, and investors to the country. Thai television stations can be accessed in border areas. Tourism has led to the proliferation of internet kiosks with unrestricted access to foreign news sites. However, language barriers and high monthly connection fees (approximately $300 to $400 compared with the average monthly salary of $20 to $30) limit regular internet use for all but wealthy individuals, expatriates, and business organizations. Internet service providers must submit quarterly reports to the government to facilitate monitoring. 

Latvia: F 6-6-7=19
The constitution protects freedom of speech and the press, and the government upholds these rights in practice. In 2004, criminal liability for the defamation of government officials effectively ended. Libel, however, remains a criminal offense. In a high-profile case, the daily newspaper Neatkariga Rita Avize published transcripts in September 2006 of a television journalist's private mobile telephone conversations. An investigation by the prosecutor's office revealed that a judge had given permission for the wiretapping to the financial police as part of an organized crime probe, and the police had then leaked the transcripts. The judge received a disciplinary sanction, and the investigation continued at year's end. Neatkariga Rita Avize is widely believed to be controlled by Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs, who is under criminal investigation for corruption. In another case, LTV received a court order in September to reveal its sources for a story about the Lembergs investigation. LTV refused, and an appeal in the case was pending at year's end. 
Latvian media are diverse and competitive, offering a wide range of political viewpoints. The print media are independent and privately owned. There are four national terrestrial television channels: two public channels, LTV 1 and LTV 7, and two private stations, LNT and TV3. Primary broadcast media are required to use Latvian, while secondary broadcasters may reserve up to 20 percent of their airtime for Russian-language programming; these requirements apply to terrestrial services only. Foreign companies, including Swedish and Polish firms, own or control a substantial portion of Latvia's print and broadcast media, as well as media distribution and printing facilities. According to the World Association of Newspapers, newspaper advertising revenues in Latvia increased by nearly 10 percent in 2005 and more than 43 percent from 2001 to 2005. The government does not restrict access to the internet, which was used by an estimated 45 percent of the population during the year. 

Lebanon: PF 19-25-15=59
While the media has more freedom in Lebanon than in other countries in the region, they still face political and judicial obstacles. The constitution provides for freedom of the press, and while the press does not face direct interference from the government, recent political developments have resulted in an increase of self-censorship among journalists. Under law, pornography or political and religious material deemed a threat to national security can be censored by the government. Security services are authorized to censor all foreign magazines, books, and films before they are distributed in Lebanon. Journalists and publications accused of press offenses may be prosecuted in a special publications court. In March, criminal libel charges were brought against two journalists accused of insulting and defaming the president. However, in general government efforts to limit journalists are much less effective than previously, as the diversity of media outlets and the momentum of political events have made it increasingly difficult to restrict press coverage. 
The most significant development of 2006 was the July military conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Israeli strikes killed two journalists and injured 10. Israeli warplanes bombed Al-Manar television, which is funded and operated by Hizballah, and destroyed the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC)'s transmission tower in Fatla, temporarily taking the station off the air, killing LBC technician Sleiman Chidiac and injuring two other employees. Press photographer Layal Najib, 23, was killed while covering Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon when a missile exploded near her car in Qana. Significant damage to roads and bridges limited journalists' ability to travel within the country throughout the conflict. Increased tension as a result of the violence also led to greater dangers for journalists covering the news; there were several cases late in the year in which journalists covering Hezbollah demonstrations were attacked and injured. 
No significant progress was made in the investigations of the 2005 attacks on media workers who spoke out against Syria's role in Lebanon. All victims of car bombs, Samir Kassir, and Jibran Tueni were both killed, while May Chidiac survived but lost an arm and a leg as a result of the attack. French prosecuting Judge Jean-Louis Bruguière, known for his prosecution of high-profile terrorism cases, went to Beirut in July to investigate the death of Franco-Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir, who was killed on June 2, 2005. On June 17, a prosecuting judge was assigned to pursue the murder case of Jibran Tueni, managing editor of the daily paper Al-Nahar. Those responsible for all three attacks have yet to be identified or prosecuted. 
Lebanon features dozens of newspapers and hundreds of periodicals, many of which publish criticism of the government. Because almost a dozen daily newspapers are published in Lebanon, competition for readers is quite stiff. Newspapers have experienced a dramatic drop in advertising revenues since the beginning of the conflict with Israel over the summer. All national daily newspapers are privately owned, as are most television and radio stations, including six independent television and satellite stations and nearly three dozen independent radio stations. However, many media outlets are linked to political and/or confessional interests that exert significant influence over content. Access to satellite television has grown substantially over the last decade, and unrestricted internet access is widely available. 

Lesotho: PF 13-15-14=42
The government generally respects freedom of speech and of the press, both of which are provided for in the constitution. However, a 1938 proclamation prohibits criticism of the government and provides for penalties for seditious libel. In recent years, extremely high fines have been handed down by the courts in libel cases against publications and radio stations known for criticizing the government, forcing some to the verge of closure. In August, the editor-in-chief of the Lesotho Police Service tabloid Leseli Ka Sepolesa, Clifford Molefe, received a $422,000 defamation claim issued by former Lesotho Football Association Mohau Thakaso. Last year, the English-language weekly Public Eye was ordered to pay a private businessman, Lebohang Thotanyana, 1.5 million maloti (about US$220,000) for alleged defamation. Journalism groups have urged the government to create a media council or other regulatory body empowered to mediate defamation disputes before they end up in court. 
The government periodically attempts to pressure the independent press, and journalists have suffered occasional harassment or attack. Beginning in October, Thabo Thakalekoala-a prominent journalist and president of the Media Institute of Southern Africa-received daily death threats aimed at himself and his family. The threats are believed to be motivated by Thakalekoala's coverage, for international news agencies, of the October split in the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy, as well as his advocacy for a more independent state broadcasting sector. Several independent newspapers operate freely and routinely criticize the government, while state-owned print and broadcast media mostly reflect the views of the ruling party. There are four private radio stations, and extensive South African radio and television broadcasts reach Lesotho. Journalists reportedly have trouble gaining free access to official information, and media development is constrained by inadequate funding and resources. In 2006, fewer than 2 percent of the population accessed the internet, which remains unrestricted by the government. 

Liberia: NF 19-24-22=65
Liberia's 1986 constitution guarantees that citizens enjoy freedom of expression, "being fully responsible for the abuse thereof." This opaque clause helped the Charles Taylor regime harass the media with a semblance of legitimacy during his presidency. Under the transitional government and the newly-elected Johnson-Sirleaf administration, respect for freedom of the press has noticeably improved. Nonetheless, strict libel laws are still in place and in March 2006 the private bi-weekly newspaper, The Independent, was banned for two days by the government in response to the publication of compromising photos of the ex-presidential affairs minister. In April, the directors of three separate newspapers were required to appear before the Senate on accusation of publishing "false and misleading" information in response to allegedly defamatory articles claiming that Senators received exorbitant salaries. Constitutional guarantees for access to information are vague; access to budgetary and financial information, in particular, remains difficult owing to bureaucratic inefficiencies and frequent requests for additional payment from civil servants involved. Decades of civil war and mismanagement also mean that there are very few public records to access. A media reform bill and a more progressive freedom of information law are currently being debated in the legislature; although this is a promising improvement from years past, in the last year little progress has been made in passing or implementing these bills. 
Journalists frequently reported unfavorably on government behavior, and 2006 saw a noticeable deterioration in the relationship between the government and the media from the improvements made in 2005. In fact, a number of journalists were harassed, beaten, or detained while covering the news in 2006. In June when returning from a trip, President Johnson Sirleaf announced that she would only talk to three reporters of her choosing. The rest of the press corps became angry and a number of journalists were harassed by the president's security personnel. A week later, four journalists were hassled and briefly detained by security personnel at the president's executive mansion while attempting to authenticate reports of the dismissal of five senior security officers. 
Nevertheless, for these and other incidents the government has often made visible efforts to investigate the perpetrators; even so, many journalists claim that these investigations are often more image than substance. On a number of occasions, government representatives accused the media of acting unprofessionally. The most high-profile of these instances was when, while speaking at a university graduation, President Johnson Sirleaf accused many journalists of sensationalizing the news and often replacing accuracy and truth with lies and half-truths. 
There are now approximately a dozen newspapers publishing in Monrovia with varying degrees of regularity. However, newspaper distribution is limited to the capital and most Liberians rely on radio broadcasts to receive news due to low literacy rates. There are now 15 different independent radio stations in Monrovia, 24 local radio stations outside of the capital, and one radio station run each by the government and UNMIL, all of which generally operate without excessive government influence. However, in May 2006 the Liberian Broadcasting System announced that all journalists working for state-run outlets would be required to obtain clearance before publishing articles accusing government officials of corruption. The independent media has grown significantly since the removal of Taylor, though the number of outlets has decreased over the last year typically due to financial difficulties. Such financial constraints, inevitable in the operation of a news outlet in such a poor country recovering from war, cause some of the largest problems for unbiased accurate journalism. Reporters commonly accept payment from individuals they file stories about and even the placement of a story in a paper or a radio show can often be bought and influenced by outside interests. Access to foreign broadcasts and the internet is unrestricted by the government but is severely limited by the dire financial situation of most Liberians. 

Libya: NF 29-38-29=96
Libya's press remains tightly controlled despite the regime's continued efforts to curry favor with the west by presenting Libya as a changed nation. Libyan law provides for freedom of speech and of press within the confines of the "principles of the Revolution." The government strictly controls these freedoms, especially criticisms of the government. The press laws are draconian and regime opponents face punishments as harsh as death for crossing the government. All unsanctioned political acts are illegal, and therefore many forms of expression are illegal as well. Foreign publications are censored and occasionally outlawed. Any criticism of Qaddafi can lead to prison sentences. The General Press Office, a branch of the information ministry, owns three of the major newspapers, while the fourth is owned by the Movement of Revolutionary Committees, the state-supported ideological organization. 
Much of Libya's local press is moribund and pro-government party newspapers publish Soviet-era regime praises daily. Editors and journalists who want to keep their jobs are close to the regime. There is no independent press. Challenging the regime in any meaningful way is not part of public discourse in Libya. A vast network of secret police and informers exists to ensure that state-critics are known to the regime. The same is true of broadcast media. Television and radio are state-controlled and popular pan-Arab station like Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya do not have local correspondents covering Libya. The only person to offer harsh criticism about the lack of democracy is Qaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, who in August admitted that there is "no press" and "no democracy" in Libya and recognized that this fact was known by all. 
Internet use is reported at only 3 percent, and internet usage is carefully monitored. Few have access to news and information from outside the country, but more people are turning to the internet for information, to which authorities have responded by cracking down on online dissent. Most critics of Libya are political activist Libyans living outside the country. These critics publish information about human rights abuses and other domestic events on the internet. But the government is well aware of these activities and Libyans who take public positions critical of the regime can be imprisoned if they travel to Libya. The General Press Institute supposedly installed a web-proxy blocking access to certain websites, severely restricting the ability of the journalists from the Press Institute-financed newspapers to access papers from outside of Libya. Cyber-dissident Abd al-Raziq al-Mansur, arrested in January 2005 for publishing critical articles on a London-based website, was released in March 2006. However, another cyber-dissident, Idrees Mohammed Boufayed, has not been heard from since November, when he was required to attend a meeting with the Internal Security Agency. 

Liechtenstein: F 1-5-8=14
Freedom of expression is guaranteed under Article 40 of the 1921 constitution and no major press freedom violations were reported in 2006. When posters put up under a government organized anti-discrimination campaign were disfigured the government recognized the right to free expression but noted that it should not be used in this way. Laws currently being prepared by the Liechtenstein government concerning press freedom include a law on electronic communication to foster media and to promote smaller media outlets. 
Liechtenstein has two publicly owned daily newspapers, Liechtensteiner Vaterland and Liechtensteiner Volksblatt, one Sunday paper, Liewo as well as the monthly Der Monat. Since it encountered financial troubles in 2004, the former private radio station Radio Liechtenstein is now owned by the government and funded by some commercial revenue. The local TV-Channel Landeskanal broadcasts official information over the cable-network. Anyone can submit a request to broadcast material of national relevance. All content has to be authorized by the government. Satellite television is widely viewed. Because of its small size and shared language, Liechtenstein relies heavily on media from neighboring Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Internet access is open and unrestricted and more than 60 percent of the population accessed this new media on a regular basis in 2006. The government started to publish information online and established feedback mechanisms. 

Lithuania: F 5-7-6=18
The constitution provides for freedom of speech and the press, and those guarantees are respected by the government. According to the criminal code, libel or defamation is punishable by a fine or imprisonment, though few journalists have been convicted of such crimes in recent years. In September 2006, agents from the State Security Department briefly detained the editor of the Laisvas Laikrastis newspaper, seized all 15,000 copies of the latest issue, and confiscated computers from the newsroom and the editor's home. Government agents maintained that the issue in question, which included a story about alleged political corruption, contained information classified as a state secret. President Valdas Adamkus, the Lithuanian Journalists' Union, and press advocacy groups condemned the action. 
The media in Lithuania freely criticize the government and express a wide variety of views. There are a large number of privately owned newspapers, and several independent and public television and radio stations broadcast throughout the country. However, media ownership has undergone increased concentration over the last few years, leading to concerns about the possible effects on media independence and quality. Investors in the country's media market include both domestic firms and foreign companies, mainly from Scandinavia. Lithuania saw a decline in newspaper advertising revenues of about 7 percent in 2005, according to the World Association of Newspapers. The government does not limit access to the internet. Some 36 percent of Lithuanians accessed the internet in 2006, the lowest percentage among the three Baltic countries. 

Luxembourg: F 2-3-7=12
Freedoms of speech and of the press are safeguarded under Article 24 of the constitution and are respected in practice, although no freedom of information legislation is currently in place. An independent press council deals with press complaints and ethical questions. Due to an extremely liberal media policy and a long tradition of providing TV and radio services to European audiences, Luxembourg has a rich and diverse media whose influence goes beyond its borders. Dailies are printed in Luxembourgish, German, and French, and one weekly publishes in Portuguese. Newspapers represent diverse viewpoints and are privately owned, though state subsidies protect presses from closing. Broadcast media are highly concentrated, dominated by the local group RTL. Luxembourg is also home to the largest European satellite operator. There is only one public broadcasting station, CLT. Many broadcasters operate only a few hours a day. There are two national and four regional broadcasters as well as several local radio stations. The internet is open and unrestricted, with an estimated 300,000 users. 

Macedonia: PF 11-18-16=45
The Macedonian legal framework contains most of the basic laws protecting freedom of the press and of expression, and government representatives generally respect these rights. In January 2006, the parliament approved a freedom of information law that required government agencies to release information so long as the public interest is greater than any harm that might result. The law gave some protection to whistle-blowers, limiting punishments for public employees who reported corruption or a significant threat to human health or the environment. A special commission would hear disputes related to the law, but appeals of its decisions would go to the normal court system. The parliament in May 2006 passed legislation that eliminated imprisonment as a penalty for libel and defamation. Nevertheless, investigative journalist Zoran Bozinovski was sentenced that month to three months in jail for defamation in a December 2003 newspaper article. He spent several days behind bars in November before being released, reportedly as a result of intervention by the European Union. Bozinovski, who still faced the possibility of a retrial as well as numerous other pending libel cases, had been physically attacked in the past for his reporting. 
While the number of libel and defamation cases are of particular concern to press freedom advocates, Macedonian journalists have been relatively free from physical harassment and abuse since 2001. Nonetheless, most of the country's numerous and diverse private media outlets are tied to political or business interests that influence their content, and the state-owned media tend to support government positions. In early 2006, the newspaper Vreme reported that a number of journalists at major news outlets were moonlighting for a public relations firm, working on speeches and talking points for government ministers. Most other outlets failed to cover the ethics scandal, which added to widespread distrust of the media. 
Macedonia has a high density of media outlets for its population, including five private nationwide television broadcasters, more than 50 local stations, some 160 radio stations, and nearly 20 newspapers. The resulting competition for advertising revenue and audiences has led to low pay, small staffs, and a general lack of professionalism. Observers have noted the prevalence of speculative reporting and anonymous sources. Financial constraints hindered pluralism in 2005, when the closure of two publications left only one Albanian-language newspaper, the daily Fakti, to serve the ethnic Albanian minority. Minority-language media have relied primarily on foreign aid, which has not proven to be sustainable. There are no major state-controlled print media, but private ownership is concentrated, with the German group WAZ owning the three major dailies. Even though the government does not place any restrictions on access to the internet, its usage remains relatively low, at just under 20 percent of the population, owing to lack of access and high prices. 

Madagascar: PF 14-21-15=50
The Malagasy press celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2006. Although freedom of speech and of the press is protected by the constitution, strict libel laws and other restrictions are occasionally used to muzzle the media. In June, the government media regulatory body DIRM proposed a measure to regulate guests invited to appear on radio and television broadcasts. In November, higher fines and maximum prison sentencing of up to five years were proposed for journalists convicted of libel or "disturbing the peace." 
Unlike the previous year, no journalists were convicted of libel in 2006. However, several attempts to muzzle the media occurred prior to the December presidential elections. In October, a journalist from the daily L'Objectif Malaza was arrested for covering protests in Toamasina. Days later, a female journalist was harassed by security forces and reporter Eloi Ravalonjato was arrested at a welcoming rally for candidate Pierrot Rajaonarievelo. Radio Don Bosco and TV Plus were warned by government officials to cease reporting on the failed coup attempt by "General Fidy" in November. President Ravalomanana additionally issued a public warning following the coup for journalists not to publish unchecked news, or face action against them, according to the U.S. State Department. The government continued to refuse to renew a work permit for Radio France Internationale correspondent Olivier Peguy. The agency assigned a new correspondent to cover Madagascar. 
There are 14 major privately owned dailies and several weeklies and monthlies; however, because of the low literacy rate, print media are aimed primarily at the French-educated urban elite. The majority of the population receives news through the broadcast media, which the government continues to monopolize nationwide. There were nonetheless over 200 radio stations, 137 of which were licensed, and 20 licensed television stations. Due to low pay, journalists are subject to bribery. Occasionally the government also employs strong-arm tactics to pressure private media outlets to curb their coverage of political issues, causing many journalists to practice self-censorship. The internet is unrestricted by the government but was accessed by less than 1 percent of the population in 2006. 

Malawi: PF 16-20-17=53
Freedom of speech and of the press aisre constitutionally guaranteed, although these rights are occasionally restricted in practice. The government does not exercise overt censorship, but freedom of expression in Malawi is threatened in more subtle ways, resulting in some self-censorship. The Protected Emblems and Names Act prohibits insulting the president and threatens violators with fines and prison terms. A case was filed by Capitol Radio to declare the Act unconstitutional; however, the case has been pending since September 2005. Journalists are also subject to occasional restrictions and harassment. 
In May 2006, President Bingu wa Mutharika fired his Attorney General Ralph Kasambara, two days after the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi asked Mutharika to protect the good relations he has with the media. Earlier Kasambara had made headlines after he moved police to arrest three journalists at The Chronicle for defaming him. The journalists had published a story exposing MISA Malawi's suspended National Director Charles Simango as vending a laptop that was stolen from a Reuters photojournalist. Throughout the year, a number of other journalists faced harassment at the hands of security personnel, primarily for defamation of public officials. A number of unofficial attempts at censorship occurred surrounding the visit of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in May. Reporters from The Chronicle were barred from attending Mugabe's arrival ceremony upon fear that their coverage would reflect badly on the administration. 
The print media represent a broad spectrum of opinion; 10 independent newspapers are available, and of the 8 major papers in circulation, 6 are privately owned and most are editorially independent. However, the independent media have come under substantial political pressure. The state-owned Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) operates the country's 2 largest radio stations, and there are approximately 15 private radio stations with more limited coverage operating mainly in urban areas. State-owned Television Malawi (TVM) is the country's only television station. State-run media generally adhere to a pro-government editorial line and grant opposition parties more limited access. In 2006, the Malawi parliament approved only half of the funding for the MBC and Television Malawi, accusing the two state broadcasters of bias towards government and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The House said the rest of the funding for the two institutions will be approved only if they improve their coverage. 
Independent radio broadcasters receive no support from the state in terms of advertising revenue, and all equipment must be imported and paid for in dollars. Import duties and high taxes imposed by the state threaten the economic viability of independent commercial broadcasters. There are no restrictions on access to the internet, although with access at less than 1 percent of the population, it is not widely used. 

Malaysia: NF 24-25-19=68
Malaysian media-traditionally constrained by significant legal restrictions and various forms of intimidation-was further restricted in 2006 as a byproduct of government attempts to suppress public discussion of divisive and potentially explosive issues. The constitution provides each citizen with "the right to freedom of speech and expression," but allows for limitations on this right. The government imposes these limitations in practice, ostensibly to protect national security and public order. The 1984 Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) requires all publishers and printing firms to obtain an annual operations permit, and gives the prime minister-as the minister of internal security-the authority to revoke licenses at any time without judicial review. The PPPA has been used by authorities to shut down or otherwise circumscribe the distribution of pro-opposition media outlets and was invoked in early 2006 to indefinitely suspend the Sarawak Tribune and temporarily suspend the Guang Ming Daily for reproducing the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi invoked the act again in mid-February to prohibit the publication, distribution, or possession of any materials relating to the Danish caricatures. The government's handling of the cartoon issue and use of the PPA fostered fear of a selective crackdown on the press and led the media to self-censor its coverage of major fuel price hike protests in April, some of which were brutally put down by the police. 
Among other legal restrictions is the 1988 Broadcasting Act, which allows the information minister to decide who can own a broadcast station and the type of television service suitable for the Malaysian public. The Official Secrets Act, Sedition Act, and harsh criminal defamation legislation continue to impose restrictions on the press and other critics. Local media watchdog groups such as Charter 2000 continue to campaign for the repeal of these and other laws that repress freedom of expression, including the Internal Security Act, the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance, the Essential (Security Cases) Regulations, and the Universities and University Colleges Act. The country has no access to information legislation, and the government denies sharing controversial data. In October, government leaders refused to publicize the data and analysis behind the official bumiputera corporate equity calculations used to uphold the country's affirmative action quotas after forcing the withdrawal of a study that challenged them. 
The threat of expensive defamation suits, sackings, media closures, media bans, and unannounced interrogation by the Ministry of Internal Security for any "mishandling" of information generally inhibits investigative reporting. Moreover, self-censorship has been entrenched by a history of political interference in media coverage of issues considered by the government to be against the national interest or "sensitive." This trend culminated in mid-July 2006 when heightened tensions related to the perceived "Islamization" of Malaysia led the prime minister to ban all reporting on the issues of race and religion. On July 28, the information minister issued a sharp warning that the government would take action against all media outlets that did not comply, threatening a recurrence of the 1987 closure of three newspapers for their critical coverage and singling out journalists from the English-language dailies The Sun and the New Straits Times. A few days later, in violation of the 1998 Communications and Multimedia Act, which guarantees that the internet will not be censored, the prime minister threatened to detain those who "spread untruths and slander" on the internet and in text messages. The government issued yet another directive on media coverage in December, when editors were discreetly instructed not to play up the soon-to-be announced increase in highway toll charges and to "help manage the public outcry" expected to follow the announcement. 
The government directly censors books and films for profanity, nudity, and violence as well as certain political and religious material; the number of books banned has risen sharply under the Abdullah administration. The Ministry of Internal Security banned 18 books from mid-June to early July under the PPPA on the grounds they might "disrupt peace and harmony." Television stations censor programming according to government guidelines. A weekend newspaper, the Weekend Mail, and its editor were suspended for publishing a spread on what Malaysians think about sex in November. 
2006 also saw political parties and their closest business partners acquire even tighter control over print media. While they have traditionally owned all eight major daily newspapers, a business deal between the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and media tycoon Tiong Hiew King in October solidified a monopolization of the Chinese press with all top four Chinese dailies now concentrated in the hands of a firm political-business alliance. Despite a call for media law reform launched by 47 civil society organizations in response to the October merger, newspaper reports in late November indicated plans for a subsequent merger in the Malay print industry that would grant UMNO, the ruling party, direct ownership of most local media through a new partnership with Media Prima Bhd. Local media watchdog group, the Center for Indpendent Journalism, stated that the potential merger would "erode completely" the plurality of expression in Malaysia, as both the print and broadcast media's news coverage and editorials already generally support the government line. There has been somewhat greater criticism of official policy in the mainstream print press in recent years, however. Foreign publications are subject to censorship, and the distribution of issues containing critical articles is frequently delayed. 
With nearly 48 percent of the population accessing the internet, online media has helped minimize the government's monopoly of information in the past few years and bolstered the average Malaysian's access to alternative information sources. Highly critical blogs by Malaysian standards, such as Screenshots and Sangkancil, online news sites like Malaysiakini, and media watchdogs such as Aliran and the Center for Independent Journalism have been able to operate since Abdullah Badawi took over as prime minister in 2003, although they continue to be subject to repeated instances of harassment at the hands of authorities. The year's debate over Islam and minority rights prompted some government ministers to call for extending the PPPA to online media in 2006 and, in December, Science and Technology Minister Kong Cho Ha announced that the government planned to impose restrictions on the Internet to prevent bloggers from disrupting social harmony. Abdullah proposed the launch of an Internet exchange for Malaysia toward the end of the year that would make such controls easier to impose. 

Maldives: NF 23-27-18=68
Over the past several years, a modest expansion of media diversity has been met by official crackdowns and harassment of journalists. Freedom of expression and of the press is not provided for in the constitution and are generally not respected by the government in practice. The legal environment remains harsh: the penal code bans speech or actions that could "arouse people against the government;" a 1968 law prohibits speech considered libelous, inimical to Islam, or a threat to national security; regulations make editors responsible for the content of material they publish; and authorities are empowered by law to shut newspapers and sanction journalists for articles containing unfounded criticism of the government. The press council, which is composed of lawyers, media representatives, and government officials, is mandated with reviewing lapses of journalistic conduct. In a positive move, legislation passed in July 2005 liberalized the registration process for newspapers, and since then, six daily newspapers and eleven other publications, some with an oppositionist slant, have been registered. The Information Ministry, which is spearheading reform efforts, submitted four media-related bills to parliament in February 2006, including bills on freedom of information, press freedom, a proposed media council, and registration of print media. However, the government announced in November that it was retracting previously announced plans to allow private broadcasting. 
Journalists, particularly those who cover political events or demonstrations or who write critical stories, continue to be subject to arrest or other forms of harassment, including death threats, from government officials and allies of Gayoom. On May 3, international press freedom monitors were assaulted by riot police and local journalists were arrested during celebrations to mark World Press Freedom Day. In November, foreign journalists covering the arrests of opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activists were forced to leave the country, while cartoonist and MDP official Ahmed Abbas was arrested after being charged with criticizing police brutality in a cartoon. Due to Minivan News's overtly oppositionist stance, its management and employees have faced the brunt of official intimidation. A number of staff have been detained or subject to house arrest for extended periods, and others face criminal charges; journalist Abdullah Saeed was convicted of alleged drugs possession and trafficking in May and was sentenced to life imprisonment, while his colleague Mohamed Yushau was held on terrorism charges from May to July. Ahmed Didi, the founder and one of four employees of the internet magazine Sandhaanu who were arrested in 2002 and sentenced to lengthy prison terms, was released from house arrest and pardoned in February. In this environment, many journalists practice self-censorship and remain reluctant to overtly criticize official policies. 
All broadcast media continue to be government owned and operated, and while these outlets have recently provided more diverse coverage, they continue to generally reflect progovernment views. Most major print outlets are also owned by those connected to the government, but some publications, such as the weekly Adduvas and the newly-registered Jazeera and Hamma, have generally adopted a critical, balanced tone. The pro-opposition Minivan News, which started as an online publication, began publishing a print version in the Maldives in July 2005, but after the August protests, the printing house refused to continue publishing it under pressure from the authorities. 
Groups of Maldivian exiles run independent news outlets in the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka and attempt to transmit news into the Maldives via shortwave radio stations and websites. Although the country's sole internet service provider is state-owned, internet access is generally not restricted. However, the websites of the MDP and other pro-opposition news websites have been blocked by the government and are inaccessible from internet cafés in Male, and internet connectivity has occasionally been suspended altogether in the wake of political disturbances. 

Mali: F 7-9-8=24
Mali is home to one of the freest media environments in Africa with a constitution that protects the right to free speech, and a government that generally respects this right in practice. Nevertheless, severe punishments for libel still exist under a 1993 law that criminalizes slander. Legislation passed in 2000 reduced the maximum penalty for those convicted, but the accused still remain guilty until proven innocent. These libel laws, though rarely implemented, were enforced in April 2006 when a weekly independent newspaper, L'Inter de Bamako, was ordered to pay Diacounda Traore, the chairman of an opposition political party, a $580 fine in response to an article published in February accusing Traore and fellow party leaders of corruption and mismanagement. In addition, two of the paper's editors were each fined $135 and ordered to publish the court's ruling in three local newspapers at their own expense. 
In 2005 a journalist with Radio Keledou was abducted and severely beaten by a group of unknown assailants. Although the investigation into the identity of the perpetrators continues, no charges had yet been filed at the end of 2006. In August 2006, the government chose to inflict a disproportionate punishment on a radio network when it was found to be operating one of its stations without a license. Police shut down the broadcasting capabilities of Radio Kayira's station in Southern Mali and arrested a number of station staff including the managing director, two station hosts and a station coordinator. Less than a week after their arrest, all were charged with "opposition to the authority of the State" and sentenced to, and served, a month in prison. Radio Kayira's defense claimed that they had submitted a license application as early as September 2005 but failed to receive a response from the authorities and many in Mali's media community believe that the lack of government response to the license request was politically motivated. 
Today there are more than 100 private radio stations and over 50 independent newspapers, many of which openly criticize the government. The country's only television station remains under the control of the government but provides balanced political coverage. Access to foreign media and to the internet is unrestricted by the government, though in practice both are accessible only to the very wealthy or well connected. 

Malta: F 2-6-9=17
The constitution guarantees freedom of speech and of the press but also restricts those rights under a variety of circumstances. Malta bases its laws on the European model but is one of only three European Union members not to have freedom of information legislation. According to a recent survey conducted in June 2006 by Ernst and Young, television broadcasting suffers from a lack of quality with "too much "teleshopping and not enough education," as well as "mediocre copying" of foreign programs. Alarmed at the low quality of children's programming on television, the government allocated 240,000 euros (US$327,824) to improve the local production of children's programs. Directives by the Culture Ministry were also issued, aiming to increase "program quality and offering better service to the public." In December 2006, Lou Bondi, a television journalist for the country's public broadcasting service (PBS), complained to the Institute of Maltese journalists that PBS forced him to change the subject of one of his shows. The subject of the show was former Finance and Foreign Affairs Minster John Dalli, who stepped down in 2004 over his alleged involvement in a scandal involving irregularities in the allocation of a hospital tender. The arrest of another individual in 2006 cleared the former Minister's name in this matter. 
There are at least five daily and two weekly newspapers operating in both Maltese and English. Political parties, private investors, and the Catholic Church all have direct investments in broadcasting and print media that openly express partisan views. The island also has access to Italian television, which many Maltese watch. The government does not block internet access which was accessed by 30 percent of the population in 2006. 

Marshall Islands: F 2-6-9=17
Freedoms of speech and of the press are safeguarded in the Bill of Rights, Article 2, of the constitution and the government generally respected these rights. There is no freedom of information legislation and no immediate plans to draft such legislation in spite of recommendations by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in August 2006. During the year, the government launched an investigation into "dissenting comments" made by members of the local Chamber of Commerce concerning a trip to the People's Republic of China by members of the Nitijela, the Marshallese parliament. The Chamber wrote a letter condemning the trip which was then published by the local press. Some fear the investigation will aggravate self-censorship which is practiced on occasion over politically sensitive issues. After broadcasting on a government-owned radio station in September, Women United Together in the Marshall Islands was later denied further broadcasting by the government. The Marshallese receive most of their news from the independent weekly Marshall Islands Journal and state-run V7AB radio. The government also releases a monthly, the Marshall Islands Gazette, and broadcasts MBC TV. United States broadcasts are also available via satellite. Blackouts occasionally interfere with radio and television broadcasts. The internet is unrestricted though accessed by only 2,000 users. The government launched a new website in October 2006 to facilitate online communication with the Marshallese. 

Mauritania: PF 18-20-17=55
Significant progress has been made in Mauritania's media environment since a bloodless coup in 2005 overthrew the existing authoritarian regime. The transitional military government has since followed through on a number of promises to reform archaic press laws; however, the government still maintains a monopoly over the radio and television broadcast sectors. In 2005 the military council established the "National Commission in Charge of the Reform of the Press and Broadcasting" which, in March 2006, submitted a report on the reforms the government should design and implement in order to democratize the media. An Ordinance based on the Commission's report was adopted in June eliminating the previous requirement for prepublication government approval of all newspapers, while still requiring publishers to submit a copy of each issue to the government prior to its distribution. The new law also transfers responsibility for journalists' registration from the Ministry of Interior to the Ministry of Justice and gives journalists the legal right to protection of sources. In addition, in October 2006 the government created the High Authority for the Press and Broadcasting (HAPA), the first independent media regulatory body in Mauritania. Nonetheless, HAPA's independence is far from certain as the president is responsible for appointing three of the body's six members, including the chair. HAPA has been tasked with monitoring public communications and ensuring equal access to the state-run media outlets. It is also intended to lead the process of creating independent, private television and radio stations; in 2006 it began accepting applications, though no new television or radio outlet was created in 2006. 
Although no journalists were formally arrested or changed in 2006, a few reporters, including international correspondents, did spend time in temporary detention. In one instance, security authorities detained a correspondent for the Iranian satellite channel Al-Alam who was also the chief editor for Mauritanian TV after a guest on the state-run television station accused the Malian government of carrying out extrajudicial killings against opposition Tuareg activists during an interview. After being accused of "aiding someone hostile to a friendly nation," the correspondent was fired from his position on Mauritanian TV. In April two journalists for the weekly newspaper Ahira complained that they were treated harshly by police while covering the president's visit to a local town. 
The government owns 2 daily newspapers, and approximately 40 privately-owned newspapers operate on a regular basis-nearly double the figure from last year. In the new press law passed in 2006, privately-owned newspaper operators and book publishers are exempt from all taxes on material used in their production. Nevertheless, a large and persistent impediment to a genuinely free press is the government's monopoly of all broadcast media. Internet access is available and has been unrestricted by the transition government, but less than .5 percent of the population has the means to access it. 

Mauritius: F 6-8-12=26
Freedom of expression is safeguarded by the constitution and these rights were respected in practice. In August, the government proposed a plan to diffuse the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), the media regulatory body, and replace it with a Media Commission. The Commission would have the power to sanction the press and impose stronger punishments for libel and sedition. Penalties for libel could reach Rs 2 million and a prison term of up to two years. An additional Broadcasting Compliance Committee would be established to respond to complaints against broadcasters, and would have the power to suspend or revoke licenses. These acts were pending at the year's end. Also pending is the proposed Freedom of Information Act, which would increase government transparency by giving journalists access to official documents. In September, 106 members of the press convened to establish the Mauritius Journalists Association to safeguard their rights. In December, the IBA sanctioned state-owned MBC-TV for biased political coverage. The sanctions were sparked by complaints by the Mauritian Militant Movement claiming that MBC-TV allowed the Republican Movement greater airtime. Mauritians receive the majority of their news from television, which is monopolized by the government. Radio broadcasts are dominated by the government's Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), which is funded predominantly through a TV license fee, though private stations also operate. The private press is vibrant but ownership is concentrated to two main media houses, Le Mauricien LTd and La Sentinelle Ltd. The internet is unrestricted by the government and is widely utilized compared with African nations, accessed by 14 percent of the population. 

Mexico: PF 12-23-13=48
The law provides for press freedom and there were improvements made in the legal sector, but violence against journalists, impunity for such crimes, and subsequent self-censorship overshadowed gains. A record nine journalists were killed in 2006, according to the Organization of American States, the majority of whose deaths were likely connected to their profession. The journalists were targeted for their coverage of drug trafficking, organized crime, public corruption, and police brutality. 
Legal gains were offset by the use of state-level defamation laws. A new federal law gave journalists the right to protect confidential sources and the Mexico City Assembly passed the first state-level shield law. The Assembly also became the first state-level authority to eliminate criminal defamation. The lower house of Congress passed a similar proposal and some expect a Senate vote to end federal criminal defamation in 2007; however, state-level defamation laws continued to pose problems for the press. A journalist was jailed in Chiapas under its criminal defamation statute and two lawmakers in Michoacán filed charges against a journalist. The 2005 case against journalist Lydia Cacho was thrown out by the courts on a technicality. Based on recorded conversations between Puebla businessman Kamel Nacif Borge-who Cacho alleged was indirectly involved in a child prostitution ring in her book, Los Demoios del Eden-and Puebla governor Mario Marín plotting the journalist's arrest, the Supreme Court ordered an investigation into the matter. Ironically, in 2006 a political ally of Governor Marín was named the new special prosecutor for crimes against journalists. 
In 2006 a new Radio and Television Law was also passed though a minority coalition of senators appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. Advocates of the two major TV networks, Televisa and TV Azteca, claimed that the law reduced political discretion for awarding broadcast concessions. Critics pointed out that it could solidify the two networks' duopoly status, give away lucrative digital rights, and offer no financial or legal assistance for non-commercial broadcasters. 
The Popular Assembly of the District of Oaxaca (APPO) attacked several journalists and overtook media outlets throughout the year. Political violence in Oaxaca led to the death of two journalists. Raúl Marcial Pérez from the regional newspaper El Gráfico was murdered on December 8 in Juxtlahuaca by gunmen who opened fire in the newsroom. Marcial's columns often criticized the local government. On October 27, a American cameraman for Indymedia, Brad Will, was gunned down while covering protests in Oaxaca City. The shots came from an area where the municipal police were located. Two suspects were detained but released a month later despite witness accounts of them firing in Will's direction. The special prosecutor's office failed to solve any major crimes against the press, but documented 108 complaints between February and November 2006. Self-censorship along the drug-plagued northern border was well-documented in testimonials. Attempts by media to investigate drug-related attacks were stalled by fear. 
There is a diversity of perspectives represented in the largest cities, less so in smaller states and the countryside. Television remains limited because of concentration of wealth inherited from the authoritarian era. President Felipe Calderón's administration announced plans to create a third national commercial television network as well as several regional networks. Coupled with measures to strengthen non-commercial radio, Calderón's six-year administration could increase diversity of media. The government does not restrict the internet, which was utilized by 19 percent of the population. 

Micronesia: F 1-8-11=20
Article 4, section 1 of the constitution states that no law may deny or impair freedom of expression, peaceable assembly, association, or petition; there are no specific safeguards for speech or the press. Lack of economic resources is the biggest constraint on Micronesian media. Micronesia has five newspapers; the broadest reaching is state-owned Kaselehlie Press which is published biweekly. In 2005, two new independent weeklies emerged, including the Sinlaku Sun Times and Da Rohng, which have quickly earned a reputation as being critical of the government. There is also an online daily, the Mariana Variety. Each of the four state governments has a radio station that broadcasts in the local language; however, broadcasting was down for much of the year due to weather-related damages to equipment. Pohnpei and Chuuk have commercial television and Yap has a government-run television station. Foreign television is available via satellite. The internet is unrestricted by the government but was accessed by only 13 percent of the population in 2006. 

Moldova: NF 20-25-20=65
The Moldovan government often infringes on legally guaranteed press freedoms. Libel is no longer punishable with imprisonment, and legislation was passed in July aimed at capping previously unlimited fines in libel cases. An existing Access to Information Law permits legal residents of Moldova to request information or documents from state entities without an explanation, but draft legislation affecting transparency in the decision making of public authorities was still under consideration in 2006. In March, after neglecting to involve civil society in the development of a draft Audiovisual Code, Moldova's parliament made the draft available for public comment, and passed it in July. Media watchdogs commended the Moldovan government for trying to bring Moldovan law in line with international standards. However, they also expressed various concerns, warning in part that the draft code's proposed broadcast regulatory body should not, as suggested, also act as a supervisory body for the public service broadcaster. In Moldova, any person has the freedom to become a journalist, but requires accreditation. A new Chisinau School of Advanced Journalism opened in September, offering a one-year program in print and broadcast journalism leading to certificates signed by the Independent Journalism Center and the U.S.-based Missouri School of Journalism. 
President Vladimir Voronin's government controls the public company Teleradio Moldova, which encompasses all public broadcast outlets under the new Audiovisual Code, and censorship is reportedly imposed on the stations. Owners of both state-run and private media continue to promote self-censorship, and many journalists avoid controversial issues, like Moldova's poverty and unemployment, that might cost them their jobs or draw libel suits. Journalists tend to be divided along political lines, reflecting the viewpoint of either the authorities or the opposition. In September, after the Romanian television station Pro-TV broadcast reports that were highly critical of the Moldovan interior minister, ministry officials arrested Ghenadie Braghis, a sales director of the Chisinau branch of Pro-TV. They denied him access to legal counsel, and accused him of seeking a $1,000 bribe from a client to seal an advertising deal. After publishing articles related to crime and corruption in Moldova's legal system, journalists from the Chisinau-based weekly newspaper Ziarul de Garda in October reported pressure from various state entities. 
Moldova's print media were able to express diverse political and public views throughout the year. Broadcast media were weaker, as there is little private local broadcasting and most programs are rebroadcast from either Romania or Russia. Foreign publications were available in limited quantities. Most private media are dependent on funds they receive through foundations created by foreign governments. The government frequently uses financial measures to harass the media, such as dissuading business owners from advertising in independent outlets. Authorities do not control internet access, although internet services are limited to roughly 15 percent of the population owing to an underdeveloped telecommunications infrastructure. 
In the separatist Transnistria region, media are sharply restricted and politicized. Most news outlets are controlled, owned, or funded by the Transnistrian authorities. Print media in Transnistria are required to register with the local Ministry of Information rather than the Moldovan government. 

Monaco: F 3-7-6=16
Freedom of expression is guaranteed under Article 23 of the 1962 Monegasque constitution. However, it is prohibited by law to publicly denounce the ruling family. This exception is generally observed by the media, leading to occasional self-censorship. No violations of press freedom were reported in Monaco in 2006. Monaco has no daily newspapers, but French dailies which cover news in Monaco are available, as are French television and radio broadcasts. Two domestic weekly newspapers, the government-produced Journal de Monaco and Monaco Hebdo, are also available. Monaco has one government-run television station, one privately owned English-language radio station, Riviera Radio, and the government-run Radio Monte-Carlo, which broadcasts in several languages both in and outside of Monaco. The internet is available and unrestricted and used by more than 50 percent of the population. 

Mongolia: PF 12-13-11=36
Freedom of speech and of the press is protected by law in Mongolia, and the government generally respects these rights in practice. However, media freedom deteriorated somewhat in 2006 due to an increase in attacks and harassment of journalists. Censorship of public information is banned under the 1998 Media Law, which also prohibits the government from owning or financing media outlets. The State Secrets Law limits access to government information to a degree, as many archived historical records have been given classified status. Government officials have at times filed libel suits against media or launched tax audits against publications in the wake of critical articles. Libel charges are hard to defend against, because Mongolian law places the burden on the defendant to prove the truth of the statement at issue. To avoid being sued for libel, many independent publications practice a degree of self-censorship. The government monitors media content for compliance with antiviolence, anti-pornography, and anti-alcohol content restrictions as well as compliance with tax laws. While no direct government censorship exists, journalists complain of indirect forms of censorship such as harassment and intimidation. 
The use of criminal and civil defamation suits remains problematic. In June, two journalists lost court cases brought by a plaintiff named in their articles. The journalists were spared fines due to an amnesty. Another journalist lost a suit brought by a bank after she wrote that the president might own shares in the bank. Journalists in 2006 were also subject to harassment and political pressure to reveal confidential sources. In early 2006 reporter Sh. Otgonjargal of the daily national Unen was harassed and threatened with arrest by a security official demanding to know the sources behind an article concerning official corruption. In October 2006, two journalists and two photographers from newspapers were beaten and detained covering a protest demonstration in Ulaanbaatar. In July, B. Tsevegmid, the editor-in-chief of Nomin television station, was assaulted outside the station. She was hospitalized for treatment. The beating followed the airing of a controversial investigative program on the mining industry. 
Although independent print media outlets are common and popular in cities, the main source of news in the vast countryside is the state-owned Radio Mongolia. However, state-owned media are generally free of political control. The government is slowly implementing a 1999 law requiring state broadcast media to be transformed into public corporations. In October 2005, the coalition government announced plans to convert Mongol TV and Radio into a public broadcasting entity, but the process is subject to multiple disputes. Mongolians have access to local, privately owned television stations, English-language broadcasts of the BBC and Voice of America on private FM stations, and, in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, foreign television programming via cable and commercial satellite systems. In this country of 2.5 million, only 220,000 people are internet users, a number calculated at slightly more than 10 percent of the population. Owing to widespread poverty in Mongolia, the internet has yet to serve as a significant source of information. 

Montenegro: PF 11-16-10 
The constitution of the newly independent state of Montenegro guarantees freedom of the press, but in practice the government has been known to restrict press freedom and interfere in the work of media outlets. Libel is punishable with fines of up to $18,400, and frequent lawsuits against journalists threaten to encourage self-censorship. A Podgorica court in February and April dismissed a libel case brought by the minister of education against the opposition daily Dan. The administration accused several media outlets of unprofessional reporting and inciting nationalist sentiment ahead of the May referendum on independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and the September parliamentary elections. In September, a Podgorica court fined a Dan columnist for ridiculing those who voted for independence. The television broadcaster Elmag was fined for airing viewer text messages mocking different ethnic groups. The members of the Radio and Television Council (RTVCG), the body that oversees the national broadcast media, are appointed by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and professional groups. The parliament twice rejected NGO nominations for RTVCG members in 2006, leading observers to speculate that the parliament was seeking to influence the council. The regulatory body in charge of issuing broadcast licenses is independent from the government. 
The media are active and express diverse views. There is no direct censorship, although certain government actions in 2006 suggested that officials were seeking to maintain a moderate level of control over major national media outlets. In January, a new television director was appointed by the director-general of the public Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG); the previous television director had been dismissed in 2005, and critics pointed out that the new appointee was a close government ally. Media are at times highly politicized and reflect the divisive nature of Montenegrin parliament, which remains split between pro-union and pro-independence factions. Although the ruling party received more air time than the opposition, most media acted professionally during the politically sensitive referendum and elections. There were a few reports of harassment and violence directed at journalists. The 2005 murder of Dan Director and Editor Dusko Jovanovic remained unresolved. In December, a man accused of participating in the killing was acquitted. 
The print media are privately owned, with the exception of one major national newspaper that is still state owned. The privatization process for that paper stalled in 2006. There are no restrictions on advertising or distribution, although smaller media outlets struggle to attract advertising and reach rural areas. There are a number of privately owned radio and television stations in addition to the public broadcasters, and Montenegrin stations routinely rebroadcast foreign content. There are no restrictions on internet access with 17 percent of the population able to access this new media in 2006. 

Morocco: NF 23-22-17=62
The Moroccan constitution offers freedom of expression, but the press law prohibits criticism of the monarchy and Islam and effectively bars material challenging the government's position on the status of Western Sahara. Government promises to reform the press law have largely gone unfulfilled. While some international human rights activists have pointed to evidence that Morocco is turning the page on its troubled past and moving toward more openness and democratization, the story of the country's press paints a somewhat different picture. Over the past decade, as the pioneering independent press continued to tackle taboo subjects despite the harsh press laws, the government began to adopt a subtler approach in its responses to critics who crossed the "red lines." Rather than imprisoning journalists, which would draw unwanted attention, the government now employs a series of tactics that make it nearly impossible for them to practice their profession. 
The state largely refrained from direct censorship and manipulation of the licensing process in 2006, but the imposition of punitive fines and suspended prison sentences, and the use of third parties to apply indirect pressure, served to encourage self-censorship in the media. Le Journal Hebdomadaire, published and edited by journalists Aboubakr Jamai and Ali Amar, respectively, suffered such government harassment throughout the year. In February, the weekly ran a small photograph of someone holding a newspaper that had published controversial cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. Within days, the magazine's office was besieged by protesters who were apparently bused in by the government. Meanwhile, progovernment media outlets attacked Le Journal in print and on the airwaves. Later in February, a Rabat court awarded security analyst Claude Moniquet a record 3 million Moroccan dirhams (US$340,000) in a defamation suit he brought against Le Journal. Moniquet's Brussels-based think tank, the European Strategic Intelligence and Security Center, had published a report on the Western Sahara, and Le Journal's editors questioned the study's independence. An appeals court subsequently confirmed the damages sum. The case appeared to have been a politically motivated effort to bankrupt the magazine. In order to save it, Jamai relinquished his position, which was taken up by Amar. In addition to Le Journal, several other publications suffered legal harassment during the year. The weekly Nichane was banned in December after it ran jokes about religion. The paper's editor and a reporter were charged with defamation of Islam and faced possible prison time; the publication would remain shuttered until their trial's completion. Foreign journalists can work with relative ease in Morocco, but face government pressure and even expulsion from the country if they report on the Western Sahara in a manner that offends authorities. 
Morocco is home to a large number of private print publications, many of them critical of the government. However, circulation is limited, and most papers receive some government subsidies. Broadcast media that report news are still dominated by the state, but as in most Arab countries, residents can access critical reports through pan-Arab satellite channels. The few Moroccans with internet access (roughly 15 percent of the population) also receive alternative viewpoints from online sources, though the government sometimes blocks certain websites. 

Mozambique: PF 11-15-14=40
Press freedom conditions continued to improve in 2006 due to fewer instances of physical harassment of journalists and limited progress in the key Cardoso murder case. The 1990 constitution provides for press freedom but restricts this right according to respect for the constitution, human dignity, the imperatives of foreign policy, and national defense. Reporters continue to face problems accessing official information. In August 2005, the government introduced a draft Freedom of Information law, the product of five years of consultations with journalists and press freedom advocates, but a final version had not been passed by the end of 2006. The 1991 press law, considered one of the more progressive in Africa, was reviewed in 2006 by Gabinfo, the government press office, which suggested possible "improvements" such as provisions for mandatory licenses for working journalists and which omitted the much-needed freedom of information legislation. Defamation of the president is illegal, and criminal libel laws are sometimes used to prosecute media outlets. In May, three journalists with Mabarwe, a community paper in Manica province, were arrested as a "preventive measure" after being sued for libel and were detained for a week. 
Journalists continue to be at risk of being threatened or harassed by officials or nonstate actors, although no such cases were reported during 2006. Developments concerning the 2000 murder of prominent investigative journalist Carlos Cardoso continued to unfold during the year. The retrial of Anibal dos Santos Jr. began in December 2005, and in January 2006, he was convicted for a second time of recruiting the men who killed Cardoso and was sentenced to almost 30 years in prison. After several years of refusing to investigate the role in the murder of former president Chissano's son, Nyimpine Chissano, who had been implicated in the testimony of several of the accused killers, authorities charged Chissano with "joint moral authorship" of the crime in May 2006, but he had not been arrested by year's end. Despite these positive steps, the chilling effect cast by Cardoso's murder remains; many investigative reporters are hesitant to examine sensitive topics, and self-censorship is an issue. 
The private media have enjoyed moderate growth in recent years, and independent daily and weekly newspapers routinely provide scrutiny of the government. However, publications based in Maputo have little influence on the largely illiterate rural population. The state owns a majority stake in the main national daily Noticias and the largest broadcast networks, Radio Mozambique (RM) and Televisao de Mozambique, although dozens of private radio and television stations also operate. While state-owned media have displayed greater editorial independence, the opposition still receives inadequate coverage and establishment views are favored. According to the Media Institute of Southern Africa's African Media Barometer, the development of private commercial radio continues to be hampered by the fact that state advertisements are broadcast exclusively on RM. Instances have also occurred where newspapers have had advertising from state-owned companies withdrawn after publishing unfavorable stories. The financial viability of many outlets is affected as well by a law limiting foreign investment in any media enterprises to a 20 percent stake. Internet access is unrestricted, though less than one percent the population has access because of a scarcity of electricity and computers. 

Namibia: F 8-10-12=30
Namibia's constitution guarantees freedom of speech and of the press, and the government generally respects these rights in practice. The country's press is considered one of the freest on the continent. Independent media routinely criticize the government, though government pressure and sensitivity to negative coverage have led to some self-censorship. The Freedom of Information Act, introduced in 1999 as a fundamental component of the government's anticorruption initiative, was only put into effect in 2005. 
In recent years, the most serious media restrictions in Namibia have been isolated incidents in which the government has canceled advertisements in a few newspapers for their supposedly critical coverage. In February, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) reported that a government ban on the English-language independent daily The Namibian-in place since March 2001-persists to date. In September, former president Sam Nujoma and head of the ruling South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) initiated a N$5 million (approximately US$ 650,000) defamation suit against The Namibian due to an August 2005 story implicating Nujoma in a corruption scandal. In addition, some restrictions have been sought in media coverage of the mass trials of accused secessionists from the Caprivi region. In December, the youth league of the ruling SWAPO party called for restrictions on "cancerous, racist, and parasitic media operators" after some newspapers reported critically on former president Sam Nujoma's role in a 1989 battle with South African forces. 
Eight newspapers are in circulation, six of which are privately owned. There are at least 11 private radio stations and 2 private television stations that broadcast in English and German. A subscription satellite television service broadcasts CNN, BBC, and a range of South African and international news and entertainment programs. Private radio stations and newspapers usually operate without official interference, but reporters for state-run media have been subjected to indirect and direct pressure to avoid reporting on controversial topics. While many journalists insist that the state-run Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) enjoys complete freedom to criticize the government, others believe that it is biased toward the ruling party. In February, the government attempted to allow only photographers from the NBC to cover the opening of parliament; after vocal protests from non-state media and press freedom organizations, the government granted access to a wide range of media organizations. There are no government restrictions on the internet, and several print publications have popular websites, but access to this new medium is limited to less than 4 percent of the population due to financial and infrastructure constraints. 

Nauru: F 4-11-13=28
Freedom of expression is safeguarded in Article 12 of the constitution, though there are limitations for libel and national security. There are no protections for freedom of information under the law and in the past the government has proven uncooperative in granting access to documents. The Freedom of Information Act 2004 was rejected and no comparable bills have been presented since. Environmental challenges, a poor communications infrastructure, and failing economy have limited the country's media scene. Nauru publishes no daily papers and there are no private newspaper companies, though the government releases the weekly Nauru Bulletin, the fortnightly Central Star News, and the Nauru Chronicle. A newsletter, the People's Voice is published by the opposition party. The state runs one radio and one television station which both carry material from foreign media. The internet is unrestricted by the government though access remains limited due to poor telecommunications infrastructure. 

Nepal: PF 17-27-14=58
Status change explanation: Nepal's status improved from Not Free to Partly Free as a result of a dramatic shift in the media environment that accompanied equally dramatic political change, including the overthrow of direct rule by the monarchy, the reintroduction of a parliamentary form of government, and the peace accords reached with the Maoist rebels. 
Media freedom dramatically improved in Nepal during 2006 as a result of equally dramatic political change in which massive street protests forced an end to King Gyanendra's direct rule in April. While the King agreed to step out of political life and restore the 1990 parliament, the Maoist insurgents agreed to a cease-fire and a restarting of peace talks designed to end the violence and bring them into the political process. Journalists, local press freedom organizations, and other civil society activists played a key role in restoring greater democratic rights through organizing a number of demonstrations in addition to pressing the Supreme Court to uphold media freedom. 
Nepali media started the year under heavy legal restrictions, including a state of emergency, overt censorship of news, and frequent arrests and detention of editors. In addition, an October 2005 ordinance gave the government the power to revoke journalists' press accreditation and to impose high fines for publishing banned items; permanently barred private radio stations from broadcasting news; criminalized criticism of the royal family; and restricted media cross-ownership. However, beginning in May, the interim government rescinded this and several other pieces of "anti-media" legislation. Parts of the Press and Publications Act, which allowed for restrictions on speech and writing that could undermine the monarchy, national security, public order, or interethnic or intercaste relations, was repealed by the parliament in May. Similarly, provisions of the 1992 National Broadcasting Act which gave the government the right to cancel the licenses of radio and TV stations was deemed to be incompatible with constitutional guarantees for press freedom. A high-level media commission was formed in June to further review media laws and practices. Antiterrorism legislation permitting authorities to detain for renewable six-month periods individuals suspected of supporting the Maoists had been used regularly to arrest and detain journalists suspected of pro-Maoist leanings for long periods. In July, the government announced that all prisoners held under the law would be freed, and that no new cases would be filed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Finally, the interim constitution signed in December provides for press freedom and specifically prohibits censorship or the closure of, or cancellation of, registration to print and broadcast media outlets. 
The media now functions in a less threatening environment than under Gyanendra's rule, when harassment, intimidation, and violence towards journalists were commonplace. Following the King's overthrow, the interim government as well as the Maoist leadership promised to respect press freedom, and an improvement in conditions was clear. However, journalists still face harassment from Maoist cadres, local level officials and politicians, police and military forces, and criminal groups, especially when reporting on sensitive topics. Although instances in which the government was directly responsible for attacks or threats towards the press were less frequent, there have been cases in which police or soldiers have mistreated journalists. Maoists continue to regularly intimidate, detain, kidnap, and assault reporters due to their coverage of the rebels or the peace process. Journalists also came under attack by activists or mobs when covering the news or reporting on sensitive topics; reporters covering the treatment of minority groups in rural areas have been threatened or attacked. With dozens of cases of threats and attacks documented in the latter half of the year by groups such as the Kathmandu-based Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and the Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES), their ability to operate freely, particularly in the rural areas, remains constrained. 
The government owns several of the major English-language and vernacular dailies; these news outlets generally provide pro-government coverage. Hundreds of private publications, some with particular political viewpoints, provide a range of diverse views, and many have resumed their critical coverage of sensitive issues such as human rights violations, the insurgency, and corruption. The government owns both the influential Radio Nepal, whose political coverage is supportive of official policies, and NTV, Nepal's main television station. Private FM and community radio stations, which together with the national radio network reach some 90 percent of the population, flourished prior to the 2005 coup and are a primary source of information, particularly in the rural areas. Under Gyanendra's direct rule, censorship and news bans caused the closure of many stations, forcing several thousand reporters out of work. However, this situation was reversed in 2006, with many radio journalists returning to their jobs. Requirements for registering broadcast stations were eased, and by October the government had awarded licenses for six new television channels and 50 FM radio stations across the country. A 2005 decision to ban official advertising in private news outlets was also reversed. Access to the internet is generally unrestricted. During 2005 and early 2006 some pro-Maoist or anti-monarchy web sites were reportedly blocked or monitored, but this surveillance ceased after the April transition. Restrictions on foreign broadcasts were similarly lifted. 

Netherlands: F 2-7-4=13
The country's media are free and independent. Restrictions against insulting the monarch and royal family exist but are rarely enforced. The Netherlands does not have legislation ensuring the right of journalists to protect their sources, although this right can be invoked under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In November, two respected journalists, Bart Mos and Joost de Haas, of the Netherland's largest newspaper, De Telegraaf, were imprisoned for refusing to reveal their sources in the case of the intelligence service agent who was suspected of leaking classified information to the underworld. After fierce protests from the media sector, Mos and de Haas were released a few days later and the court order to reveal their sources was dropped. Nonetheless, this is a worrying sign for journalists in the Netherlands many of whom now fear that potential sources will be deterred from confiding in them as a result of this case. De Telegraaf was also at the center of a separate debate over the legality of wire tapping when it was exposed that the Dutch intelligence service had been taping the phone conversations of two of De Telegraaf's leading reporters. In defense of the wire tapping, Interior Minister Johan Remkes told the Dutch parliament that journalists should not be given special protections and, like the rest of the population, ought to be subject to investigation and telephone tapping if necessary. 
In 2005, Mohammed Bouyeri, the radical Islamist who killed the controversial filmmaker Theo van Gogh, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. Although this particular case resulted in the trial and conviction of the perpetrator the legacy left by van Gogh's murder is a climate of fear among journalists and filmmakers interested in pursuing controversial topics, particularly those related to immigration and the increasing influence of Islam in the Netherlands. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Somali-born MP known for her outspoken criticisms of Islam and for the film Submission, on which she collaborated with Theo van Gogh, also received death threats during the year. 
Despite a high concentration of newspaper ownership, a wide variety of opinion is expressed in the print media. In a remnant of the traditional "pillar" system, the state allocates public radio and television programming to political, religious, and social groups according to their membership size. While every province has at least one public television channel, public broadcasting has faced stiff competition from commercial stations since their legalization in 1988. International news sources are widely accessable and the internet is unrestricted by the government and used regularly by roughly 75 percent of the population. 

New Zealand: F 3-5-5=13
While the New Zealand news media is generally free and vigorous, the country's first sedition case in more than 80 years prompted debate on the implications for the news media. Pamphleteer Tim Selwyn was jailed for two months in July 2006 under S. 81 of the Crimes Act. He had admitted to conspiring to commit willful damage when an axe was embedded in Prime Minister Helen Clark's electoral office window in November 2004. Selwyn had admitted in court to "having a hand" in media releases and pamphlets claiming responsibility for the attack and calling on other New Zealanders to take "similar action". 
The controversy over the publication of Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed early in 2006 had an impact in New Zealand with differences between leading news media on how the issue should be covered. The country's largest daily newspaper, The New Zealand Herald, opted not to publish a "gratuitous offence." Two other daily newspapers, the Dominion Post and Nelson Mail, published all 12 cartoons and defended their free speech action in the face of criticism by the country's tiny Muslim minority and fears of damage to New Zealand's growing trade with the Middle East. Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres initiated a dialogue with newspaper editors in February and "cultural diversity" guidelines were drawn up. 
Four companies, all foreign owned, continue to control a significant portion of the country's print media sector. Australia's John Fairfax Holdings owns almost 48 percent of New Zealand's daily newspaper circulation. The country's largest daily, the New Zealand Herald, and a significant slice of smaller provincial and suburban newspapers are owned by the rival Australian Provincial Newspapers group, while the Australian Consolidated Press dominates New Zealand magazines. The state-owned corporation Television New Zealand dominates television with two free-to-air channels and was increasingly at the center of controversy over management issues. Maori Television Service, a bilingual second public broadcaster, had a successful debut broadcasting in English and Maori. As of December 2005, there were a reported 3.2 million internet users, or roughly 75 percent of the population. The internet is open and unrestricted. 

Nicaragua: PF 14-16-12=42
The Nicaraguan constitution provides for freedom of the press but also allows for some forms of censorship. Although physical attacks upon journalists have been reduced, the possibility of harassment and death threats remains high. Legal actions to improve the situation for the media remains stagnate. The administration of President Enrique Bolaños, who took office in 2002, tolerates criticism and diverse views expressed by the media. Judges are often aligned with political parties and some have restricted reporters from covering certain stories; cases of judicial intimidation have also been reported. New initiatives to promote access to information were discussed during the year, but no laws were actually passed due to a lack of political will. At the end of the year, a Supreme Court ruling on an appeal on constitutional grounds against Law 372, which requires all journalists to register with the Colegio de Periodistas, was still pending. The 2005 conviction of Eugenio Hernandez for killing La Prensa journalist Maria Jose Bravo Sanchez was upheld in November. 
Politicians often criticize the media for trying to undermine their credibility and limit public debate. On February 23, approximately 250 supporters of Alvaro Chamorro Mora, the mayor of Granada, traveled to Managua, where they blocked the entrance to the privately-owned La Prensa. They demanded a meeting with the editors and insisted that the paper refrain from publishing news on alleged irregularities in City Hall. That same month, while attempting to cover a meeting of the Granada City Council La Prensa correspondent Arlen Cerda and photographer Guillermo Flores were surrounded, verbally insulted, and assaulted. At another political meeting in November, Canal 2 reported Martha Irene Sanchez was beaten and forcibly removed when she attempted to move closer to speaker Daniel Ortega. President Bolano also publicly asked the private daily El Nuevo Diario to fire reporter Oliver Bodan, who had investigated a corruption scandal at the Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry. 
Physical attacks against journalists have diminished, but a number of reporters received death threats or were harassed at gunpoint throughout the year. Although two of the recent killings were linked directly to the polarized political scene, threats against journalists from narcotics traffickers and corrupt police hindered press freedom in some of the more isolated regions of the country. 
There are 10 Managua-based television stations, some of which carry obviously partisan content, as well as more than 100 radio stations, which serve as the main source of news for most citizens. Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere, and its media rely on government advertising. There are still complaints about the political manipulation of government propaganda. Newspaper ownership is concentrated in the hands of various factions of the Chamorro family. The prominent Sacasa family similarly dominates the television industry. Angel Gonzalez, noted for his holdings in Guatemala and Costa Rica, also owns significant electronic media interests. The poor economic climate leaves journalists vulnerable to bribery. A new generation of journalists in Nicaragua is rejecting the old ways of self-censorship and bribery, but this process has been slow. There are no government restrictions on the internet, which is used by les than 3 percent of the population. 

Niger: PF 21-20-17=58
The rights to freedom of speech and of the press are protected by the constitution in Niger, but in practice they are frequently ignored. The life of a journalist is often made particularly difficult by a government that frequently implements a law criminalizing defamation and a judiciary ready to enforce it. In 2006, all on charges of libel or defamation five different journalists spent time in prison, one newspaper, L'Opinion, was banned, and a talk show on the private radio station, Tenere FM, received a three month suspension. Journalists who wrote or spoke about problems with corruption within business or government were particularly targeted. The most high profile of these cases began on August 4, when Mamane Abou, the director, and Oumarou Keita, the editor of the private weekly Le Republicain, were detained and interrogated over an article accusing the Prime Minster of "courting the Iranians" and thereby risking a rupture with Western donors. A month later, after being held in preventive detention, Abou and Keita were found guilty and each sentenced to 18 months in prison and a $9,800 fine. However, the appeal of the case went all the way to the Supreme Court of Appeals in Niamey where the court decided the previous sentence had been too harsh and reduced the journalists' prison time to nine months, six of them suspended. As Abou and Keita had already spent nearly four months in detention awaiting the appeal, they were immediately released. Notably, this ruling came soon after hundreds of people protested in the streets of the central town of Agadez calling for the release of the journalists. 
Although in 2006, there were no direct attacks on journalists, the government did continue its efforts to conceal the existence and impact of the famine that hit Niger in 2005. In April, the government withdrew the accreditation of a BBC television crew following its investigation into the hunger problem in central Niger. In addition, government officials have been formally prohibited from talking to the media about the hunger crisis. 
The state-owned media consistently reflect the government line, while private publications have been very critical of government action. The broadcast media have a greater influence than the newspaper industry owing to the nation's low literacy level. The state continues to dominate the broadcasting landscape. Nonetheless, at least eight private radio stations broadcast reports critical of the government in French and local languages. Restrictive press licensing legislation and a heavy tax on private media outlets continue to prohibit the growth of a vibrant and dynamic press. Internet access is hard to acquire for most (less than 0.2 percent of the population access it regularly), but this is a result more of the country's high level of poverty than direct government interference. 

Nigeria: PF 14-24-17=55
Even though the 1999 Constitution guarantees the rights of freedom of expression, press and of assembly, the state often uses arbitrary actions and extralegal measures to suppress political criticism and expression in the press. Libel still remains a criminal offense and the burden of proof rests on the defendant. In 2006, two journalists were jailed for two months for libeling a state governor. They were only released due to strong international and local pressure on the government. On November 15, the Senate finally passed the much awaited Freedom of Information Bill to facilitate access to information, particularly important for media practitioners. Among other things, the bill makes it a criminal offence, punishable by three years imprisonment, for any officer, government administrator (including the head of state), or public institution to destroy or falsify any official record before its release. Despite the passage of this bill, the situation for access to information is not yet ideal in Nigeria as there are still laws that restrict public access to government-held information, speech and assembly, including the 1962 Official Secrets Act and the Sedition Law among others. On August 28, the Senate rejected guidelines that would have limited the number of reporters covering the federal legislature from four to two. 
Despite these encouraging legislative actions, various security agencies, particularly the State Security Service (SSS), continued to utilize arbitrary detention and extra-judicial measures in attempts to suppress expression in the press and to muffle political activism and criticism. This was a particularly acute problem for journalists who chose to cover critically President Obasanjo's attempts to change the constitution in order to legally run for a third term. For example, in March Muhamed Jega, the editor of New Nigerian Newspaper was sacked after running a story that criticized President Obasanjo's ambitions to continue in the presidency. Also, on May 14 SSS officers raided the Abuja station of AIT, the leading independent television station, during its broadcast of a documentary program comparing Obasanjo's ambitions to the failed efforts made by previous presidents to extend their respective term limits. The security officers confiscated a master tape of the documentary after stopping its further transmission. AIT was targeted a number of other times by the SSS throughout 2006. The editorial staff was threatened as a result of their plans to broadcast live the parliamentary debates on the term limit extension amendment; and in June the SSS detained AIT presenter Mike Gbenga Aruleba for a program he hosted investigating the cost of Obasanjo's presidential jet. Later, Aruleba, and another journalist Rotimi Durojaiya-who worked for the Daily Independent but contributed to the controversial report on the presidential jet-were both arrested, detained and charged with sedition. By October, the courts had dropped the charges against Aruleba but refused to do so for Durojaiya even by year's end. 
In 2006, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) clamped down and imposed sanctions or bans on a number of media outlets. In March, the privately-owned Kano-based Freedom Radio was shut down for five hours and fined approximately $1,700 for the alleged breaking of the broadcasting code. The NBC threatened to revoke the station's license if it failed to pay the fine. In January, the NBC also suspended the operations of five private television stations and five private radio stations due to their failure to pay their licensing fees. There was no apparent political motive behind the suspension of these stations. Violence against journalists is also a common occurrence, but often this is more a factor of the environment in which they report, rather than the particular content of their work. In one especially violent incident in December, Godwin Agbroko--the editorial board chairman of the privately-owned This Day-was assassinated while returning home from work and found dead outside of his car. At year's end, no evidence had been put forward to suspect that the murder had been tied to his work. 
There are about 100 national and local publications, the most influential of which are privately owned. The press is vibrant and vocal against unpopular state policies and was particularly critical when covering Obasanjo's third term ambitions. The broadcast industry has been liberalized since 1992, and by 2006 about 300 licenses had been granted by the NBC although most of the licensees are yet to take off or remain on air due to financial difficulties. Radio tends to be the main source of information for Nigerians, while TV is used mostly in urban areas and by the affluent. Foreign broadcasters, particularly the Voice of America and the BBC, are important sources of news in the country. Over five million Nigerians reportedly had access to the internet in 2006-more than three times the figure from last year. While this is only three percent of Nigeria's 160 million people, the percentage of Nigerians making use of this new medium is rising significantly every year even if it is primarily limited to urban areas and the wealthy.
North Korea: NF 30-38-29=97
Second-generation dictator Kim Jong-il rules this one-party state with military force and places severe restrictions on media freedom and the ability of North Koreans to access information. Although the constitution guarantees freedom of speech, in practice constitutional provisions for obeying a "collective spirit" restrict all reporting not sanctioned by the government. 
All journalists are members of the ruling party, and all media are mouthpieces for the regime. Journalists are punished harshly for even the smallest of errors. The North Korean media portray all dissidents and the foreign media as liars attempting to "destabilize the government" and the government severely restricts the ability of foreign journalists to access information by claiming their cell phone upon arrival and preventing them from talking to people in the street, all the while monitoring their movements. North Koreans face harsh punishments, including prison sentences and hard labor, for accessing foreign media. 
Newspaper, television, and radio reports typically consist of praise of Kim Jong-il, often focusing on his daily activities. Radios must be registered with the police and are preset to government frequencies. Some North Koreans purchase a second radio set that is not registered with the police, enabling them to listen to broadcasts by Radio Free Asia and the South Korean public radio station KBS. Free North Korea (FNK), the first radio station run by North Korean refugees living in South Korea, began broadcasting in February 2004. On October 12, 2006, North Korean TV station Joon Gang Bang Song condemned the activities of FNK, a South Korean based radio station which broadcasts criticism of the Kim Jong-Il regime. Simultaneously, the North Korean official news agency KCNA criticized two other radio stations based in South Korea and supported by U.S. organizations, Radio Free Chosun and Open Radio for North Korea, and asked the South Korean government to stop such radio broadcasts from South Korea. Internet access is restricted to a handful of high level officials who have received state approval and to 200 or so foreigners living in Pyongyang; all foreign websites are blocked by the state. For most North Koreans with computer access, web surfing takes place only on the state-run intranet. 

Norway: F 3-4-4=11
Freedom of the press and freedom of information are guaranteed under Article 100 of the constitution. A government ban on political commercials, designed to ensure equal opportunity to the media for all candidates regardless of varying resources, violates the European Convention on Human Rights, which Norway has signed. 
In January 2006, "in the name of freedom of expression," Magazinet, a Christian magazine, published cartoons of the prophet Muhammad which were originally published in Denmark at the end of 2005 and sparked an international furor across the Muslim world. The cartoons were removed from the magazine's website after a series of death threats were received. In June, 1,500 workers went on strike against public broadcaster NRK over pay as well as conditions for freelance journalists. In July, the home of Nina Johnsrud came under attack after she published a story in the Dagsavisen exposing election fraud by Yogaraja Balasingham, a supporter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. 
Norway has one of the highest newspaper readerships in the world and distributes over 200 newspapers that express a diversity of opinions. Concerns were raised over the editorial independence of several papers upon the sale of media giant Orkla Media to the British company Mecom in September 2006. Media concentration is a concern in Norway with three main companies dominating print media. Amendments to the Media Ownership Act were proposed in March to reduce the limit for ownership of media outlets to 1/3 of the market down from the current 40 percent. The bill was still pending at the year's end. The internet is widely used in Norway, accessed by 67 percent of the population. 

Oman: NF 24-28-19=71
Although Oman's basic charter provides for freedom of the press, government laws and actions tightly restrict this freedom in practice. A journalists' union was created in 2006, although it is often thought to be too closely connected to government agencies. 
Article 29 of the Basic Law provides for freedom of the press "within the limits of the law," but this right is restricted in practice by the government and the repressive 1984 Press and Publication Law. Article 61 of the Press Law prohibits criticism of longtime ruler Sultan Qaboos and provides for criminal punishment for abuses of this law; libel and direct criticism are both considered punishable by imprisonment and fines. The Ministry of Information may censor any material regarded as politically, culturally, or sexually offensive in both domestic and foreign media. Articles 61 and 62 of the 2002 Telecommunications Act prohibit individuals from knowingly sending a message over any form of telecommunication device that violates laws for public order and morals, or is harmful to an individual's safety. On January 30, Taybah al-Ma'wali, a former parliamentarian, was released from prison after serving a six-month term for insulting public officials via telephone and internet. No independent body exists to judge violations of the press law. Therefore, journalists practice a high degree of self-censorship out of fear of transgressing vague laws that criminalize the publication of material that may lead to public discord, the abuse of a person's dignity, or violate the security of the state. The penal code allows for defendants considered to have endangered national security to be prosecuted before the State Security Court where fewer due process rights exist. The government is authorized under the Press and Publication Law to censor any domestic or foreign print or broadcast material deemed politically, culturally, or sexually offensive. Nevertheless, information was widely available and "constructive" criticism of the government was allowed, particularly in online publications. 
Journalists do not have open or equal access to sources and are not able to cover the news freely. There were no reported cases of physical intimidation of journalists, although they are generally subject to self-censorship to avoid trouble with the law. Public information, which is usually in favor of the government, is often made available through the official Oman News Agency before being distributed to media outlets. While journalists do not often face obstacles in acquiring the required licenses to practice journalism, increased requirements regarding journalistic identification cards were introduced in 2005. Every journalist had to reapply for a new ID card in 2005 and must now reapply every year on behalf of a specific media outlet, thus forbidding the practice of freelance journalism. The first Oman Journalists Association was officially launched in early 2006. 
Print media serves as the main source for local news. There are four privately-owned daily newspapers and two state-run dailies: three in Arabic and three in English. Each daily has its own printing press; however, the government places regulations on the use of printing materials and distribution. Privately-owned publications reportedly receive government subsidies, although the increasing amount of Western advertising revenue is slowly allowing some private publications to rely less on stage funding. The government's monopoly on radio and television broadcast continued in 2006, with three radio stations and two television stations. The licensing conditions for establishing private broadcast media, as established in the 2004 Private Radio and Television Companies Law, are difficult to meet, limiting applicants to Omani nationals with high capital; $1.25 million is required to establish a daily. However, in October 2005, the state issued licenses to two different companies to establish a private television station and three private radio stations, which are expected to launch in 2007. Satellite access in mostly urban areas provided foreign broadcast information. 
Internet access was also widely available and heavily filtered by the government-owned internet service provider, Omantel. High fees limit the number of internet users, approximately 12% of the population. Because of such restrictions, fewer local blogs and websites exist, and those that do are monitored. Authorities created an Internet Service Manual, which contains a lengthy list of prohibited online topics, including defamation of the royal family and false data or rumors. 

Pakistan: NF 17-28-18=63
Although the already outspoken Pakistani media have grown more diverse, they continue to face a range of pressures, harassment, and attacks from both the government and other sources, all of which intensified during 2006. The constitution and other laws such as the Official Secrets Act authorize the government to curb freedom of speech on subjects including the constitution, the armed forces, the judiciary, and religion. Harsh blasphemy laws have also been used in past years to suppress the media. In April, the Supreme Court reaffirmed a sentence of life imprisonment imposed on Rehmat Shah Afridi, former editor of the Frontier Post and Maidan dailies, who had been arrested on alleged drugs trafficking charges in 1999; Afridi continues to declare his innocence. The controversial Defamation (Amendment) Act, passed in 2004, expanded the definition of defamation and increased the punishment for offenders to minimum fines of Rs.100,000 (approximately US$1,700) and/or prison sentences of up to five years; however, this legislation has not yet been used to convict members of the press. A bill that would allow the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to ban broadcast outlets in the name of "vulgarity" or "national security" and provides for large fines or prison terms for violators was passed by the lower house of Parliament in 2005, but lapsed before being brought before the Senate and was enacted. PEMRA did temporarily shut down or ban access to several TV and radio stations during the year, including two Afghanistan-based broadcasters in March. On a number of occasions, General Pervez Musharraf and other members of his administration contributed to an atmosphere inimical to free speech by making public threats against or derogatory comments about specific members of the press. Government plans to establish a new body called the Press and Publication Regulatory Authority (PAPRA), which would supersede existing self-regulatory mechanisms, were criticized by local and international watchdog groups. 
Over the past several years, military authorities have used increasingly aggressive tactics to silence critical or investigative voices in the media. A number of journalists have been pressured to resign from prominent publications or charged with sedition, while media outlets have been shut down. On numerous occasions, police, security forces, and military intelligence officials subjected journalists to physical assaults, intimidation, torture, and arbitrary arrest and detention, with some reporters being held for several months at a time. Islamic fundamentalists and thugs hired by feudal landlords or local politicians continue to harass journalists and attack newspaper offices. Several press clubs were also attacked. Reporters in Sindh province faced threats and attacks from local level authorities and political or tribal figures during the year. In total, more than 100 such instances were reported throughout 2006. 
As in 2005, conditions for reporters covering the ongoing unrest in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan were particularly difficult during the year, with a number of local and foreign correspondents detained, threatened, or otherwise prevented from covering events there, both by the Taliban and local tribal groups or by the army and intelligence services. Reporter Hayatullah Khan, who had been was abducted near his home in the semi-autonomous North Waziristan tribal region in December, was found dead in June 2006; intelligence agencies were suspected of being behind the murder. Unknown assailants seized Dilawar Khan, a reporter for the BBC Urdu service based in South Waziristan, in November, in order to interrogate him regarding his new sources. In a chilling trend, the child siblings of both men were also killed, apparently to threaten the journalists and their families. In general, foreign journalists experience visa and travel restrictions that can inhibit their scope of reporting and are subject to arrest and deportation if found in areas not specifically covered by the terms of their visas; a number of such cases have been reported in the past several years. In December, New York Times reporter Carlotta Gall was assaulted by military intelligence officers in Quetta; the assailants beat her, searched her hotel room and confiscated equipment, and detained the Pakistani photographer who was accompanying her for several hours. Conditions for media remain much more tightly restricted in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, where pro-independence publications are refused permission to operate. 
While some journalists practice self-censorship, many privately owned daily and weekly newspapers and magazines provide diverse and critical coverage of national affairs. Authorities attempt to wield some control over content by reportedly providing unofficial "guidance" to newspaper editors on suggested placement of front-page stories or permissible topics of coverage. Restrictions on the ownership of broadcast media were eased in late 2002 and media cross-ownership was allowed in July 2003. The government continues to control Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan, the only free broadcast outlets with a national reach, where coverage supports official viewpoints. Private radio stations operate in some major cities but are prohibited from broadcasting news programming. In a positive change for the media landscape in recent years, a growing number of private cable and satellite television channels such as GEO and ARY, all of which broadcast from outside the country but which are widely available, provide live news coverage and a much wider variety of viewpoints than was previously available. 
Authorities wield some economic influence over the media through the selective allocation of advertising, and both official and private interests reportedly pay for favorable press coverage. State-level and national officials regularly use advertising boycotts to put economic pressure on publications that do not heed unofficial directives on coverage. Internews reported that at least 11 newspapers or magazines were denied state-sponsored advertising from public funds in 2006 for being critical of government policies. 
The internet is not widely used, with less than 5 percent of the population able to gain access. Despite this, the government did invade online privacy by monitoring the e-mail accounts of some journalists. During 2006, authorities blocked access to certain websites, particularly those that concern Baluch nationalist issues, with several dozen blocked at various points during the year. In February, the decision of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block access to the hosting site blogspot.com was met with protests from the expanding community of Pakistani bloggers as well as freedom of expression groups. 

Palau: F 1-6-7=14
Article 4, section 2 of the constitution protects freedom of expression and of the press. Censorship is rare, and the press is free to report on a diversity of issues, including official corruption. In November, the Consolidated Boards Act of 2006 was passed, combining four government entities-including the Palau National Communications Corporation (PNCC) which controls internet and satellite television transmissions- into one Commission. The officials of the new Commission will be publicly elected rather than appointed by the government, as was previously the case. Palau has a relatively diverse media considering its small population. There are two weeklies, Tia Belau News and Roureur Belau, as well as the biweekly Palau Horizon. President Tommy Esang Remengesau Jr. meets every Wednesday with the press on the government radio station Eco-Paradise. There are also two private and two church radio stations. Diaz radio, owned by outspoken journalist and Senator Alfonso Diaz started airing a weekly program in April for Filipinos in Palau. In April, members of the political group Voices of Palau demanded equal airtime on Diaz radio to rebut statements Senator Diaz made on air attacking their character. Senator Diaz and members of Voices of Palau filed harassment suits against each other after encounters heated up concerning the disputed airtime. The internet is unregulated by the government but is not a significant news source as it is only accessed by 1 percent of the population. 

Panama: PF 18-16-9=43
Panama is notable for its harsh legal environment for journalists and events in 2006 did very little to improve the situation. President Martin Torrijos had ratified the repeal of the country's "gag laws," enacted under military rule more than 30 years ago; however, a commission of lawyers and academics, which was set up by Torrijos to examine penal code reform, in July submitted a proposal which included harsh penalties for criminal defamation. Among the amendments, Article 214 would drastically increase penalties and raise the maximum prison term for defamation to three years. More than 100 journalists took to the streets demanding the withdrawal of the draft bill which was designed to protect the reputation of government officials. 
A new bill, that still considered defamation and libel to be criminal offenses, was also being considered at the end of the year. The draft bill would make it a crime punishable by up to four years' imprisonment to publish "confidential information involving state security." There are also concerns about other existing provisions, including Articles 307 and 308 of the criminal code, which contain two insult laws with similar language to the desacato laws. Several cases against journalists under this law are pending in the courts, including the case of Jean Marcel Chery, then a reporter with the daily El Panama America, who was accused of libel by the Supreme Court judge Winston Spadafora. Chery had written about a Supreme Court decision which canceled Spadafora's $2 million debt to a government canal agency known as the Interoceanic Regional Authority. In another case, Spadafora filed a civil lawsuit that sought $2 million in damages from the publisher of El Panama America, for a 2001 story that allegedly "insulted" him when he was minister of government and justice. The suit also named the story's authors, Gustavo Aparicio and Chery, who were reporting for El Panama America at the time. Because of the poor legal environment, journalists often practice self-censorship. 
Access to public information still remain limited because government officials are not held accountable for refusing to release information and public institutions still lack an effective mechanism for expediting information requests. A number of domestic journalists and press freedom advocacy groups allege that the government also manipulates the "free flow of information" by buying advertising space from organizations that report positively on the government while withdrawing funding from organizations that produce unfavorable reports. A bill to standardize government advertising and reduce official abuse of the practice was under consideration, but no major change has occurred during the year. 
Independent media are very active in Panama and express diverse views. The media often reflect the polarized political scene, with different outlets openly supporting various factions. All of Panama's media outlets are privately owned with the exception of one state-owned television network. The law prohibits cross-ownership, but there is considerable concentration of media ownership by relatives and associates of former president Ernesto Perez Balladares, whose party President Torrijos now leads. Poor salaries encourage corruption among some journalists. There are no government restrictions on the internet, and nearly 7 percent of the population accessed the internet during the year. 

Papua New Guinea: F 4-14-12=30
Media freedom is guaranteed under the constitution adopted at independence in 1975 and the news media strongly defend this status. At times, the news media clash with government when defending freedom of the press and the PNG Media Council is a strong lobby group in support of news organizations and professional standards. In August 2006, the Papua New Guinea Government imposed restrictions on journalists covering a state of emergency in the Southern Highlands province in what The National newspaper described as a "dangerous step". Among restrictions was the introduction of a permit system for journalists wishing to travel to the mountainous province, which had been troubled by prolonged tribal warfare. Defending the move, Acting Information and Communications Minister Patrick Pruaitch said the new requirements were intended to ensure "positive reporting" by local and international media. The National countered that this was not the task of a free media: "Those are the duties of political spin doctors and public relations gurus." Media Council president Peter Aitsi called for the restrictions to be lifted. 
Both daily newspapers are foreign-owned but provide contrasting viewpoints. The PNG Post-Courier, founded in 1969, is owned by a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation and the rival National is owned by a prominent Malaysian logging company, Rimbunan Hijau, which has a major timber and investment stake in the country. An independent national weekly, Wantok Niuspepa, is published in Tok Pisin. Papua New Guinea's only television station, EM TV, is owned by Fiji Television Ltd. The state-run National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is also a significant media company and the major commercial radio network is run by partly Fiji-owned PNG FM Pty Ltd., operating Nau FM and Yumi FM. The internet is unrestricted by the government but is only accessible to less than 5 percent of the population. 

Paraguay: PF 19-23-18=60
Paraguay remains one of the most troubled democracies in Latin America, with widespread corruption and a political system that has been dominated by a single party, Partido Colorado, for the last seven decades. Criminal organizations frequently attack the press often with the complicity of state authorities. This unfavorable context has contributed to further deteriorations in the environment for press freedom in 2006. Article 26 (1) of the constitution provides a general guarantee for freedom of expression and of the media, but other articles are contradictory or vague and allow for loopholes in the interpretation of freedom of expression. Repressive libel and defamation laws severely restrict criticism of public authorities. The application of such laws was irregular throughout the year, with judges often demonstrating a bias towards the plaintiffs regardless of the case. 
The Paraguayan Journalist Union (SPP) concluded in a recent report that attacks on freedom of expression in 2006 frequently originated from inside the state and from the government's lack of action toward criminal groups. The disappearance of journalist Enrique Galeano on February 4 illustrates the difficult situation for the country's news organizations. The journalist disappeared after receiving several death threats for his denunciations of drug traffickers and their links to local politicians of the ruling Colorado Party. Galeano was the host of a morning news program at Radio Azotey in the northern city of Yby Ya'u. Although President Nicanor Duarte Frutos promised a thorough investigation of Galeano's disappearance, the Interior Ministry accepted the closure of the case by police authorities, who argued that the journalist had most probably run away from the country. SPP defined the state's response as outrageous, since it failed to fully investigate the case, blaming instead the victim for his sudden disappearance. Several other journalists were victims of violent acts throughout the year, including Juan Augusto Roa, correspondent for the newspaper ABC Color, who was the victim of an assassination attempt in the city of Encarnacion, and Alberto Nunez, correspondent for the private dailies La Nacion and Cronica, who was kidnapped and beaten in the city of Capiibary by a group of lumber traffickers. In December, Colorado mayoral candidate and journalist Julio Benitez Ruiz Diaz was killed in his home; the investigation remained unresolved at the end of 2006. Community radio stations Manantial FM and Temonde FM were shut down while awaiting a ruling on their broadcasting frequency, and a local newspaper, El Espectador Luqueno, had it equipment destroyed by order of the mayor on the pretext of a land dispute. 
Paraguay has a diverse media system, with a number of private broadcasting stations and independent newspapers. But the dominance of the Colorado Party elite and a hostile political environment for assertive journalism has prevented the media from offering a diversity of viewpoints. The manipulation of government advertising to ensure political quiescence continues, especially in the country's interior. SPP estimates that about 80 percent of radio stations are controlled by members of the Colorado Party. The union also reports that the growing trend of hiring journalists on the basis of informal labor contracts has eliminated basic social rights, including social security, minimum wages, and paid vacations, resulting in precarious labor conditions that affect the quality of information. There were no reported restrictions on the internet imposed by the government, though less than 4 percent of the population had regular access to this media during the year. 

Peru: PF 13-18-11=42
Freedom of the press is guaranteed in the 1993 constitution, but local and international media organizations continued to express concern about the state of press freedom in Peru. In 2002 and 2003, the government of President Alejandro Toledo passed laws expanding access to public information, and the willingness of many agencies to provide information has grown, despite a July 2005 measure that tightened restrictions on access to information in certain categories and extended the timelines for release of classified information. In 2006, the government unsuccessfully attempted to prosecute one reporter for revealing state secrets even though the supposedly damaging footage had been used in campaign ads by former President Alberto Fujimori. Desacato (disrespect) laws continue to be a problem in Peru. A number of journalists were entangled in court cases in 2006, charged with defamation by public officials and private citizens, and two reporters received suspended prison sentences. Press watchdog groups also decried a new law that could limit free expression by subjecting NGOs to onerous registration requirements. 
In addition to judicial harassment, the hostile climate for the press is evidenced by numerous instances of physical attacks and verbal threats. Local press watchdog Instituto de Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS) dramatically increased the number of alerts it issued, from 73 in 2005 to 96 in 2006. Journalists working in the country's interior provinces are especially vulnerable. Reporters covering crime stories and scandals were targeted largely after reporting on corruption. In April, Chimbote journalist Marilu Gambini was forced to flee the country after her reporting on drug trafficking resulted in a series of death threats, which continued even after she went into hiding. Ayacucho reporter Elias Navarro was threatened and an attempt was made to bomb his home in September following his reports on a local corruption scandal. Political campaigns and protests also resulted in violence against journalists; in fact, the largest number of reported press violations occurred in the periods prior to national elections in April and local elections in November. In December, two journalists were injured-one journalist was shot and severely wounded-during a large protest in the city of Abancay. 
Most abuses of journalists by public officials and private citizens continue to go unpunished. The progress made in 2005 when the former mayor of Yungay, Amaro Leon, was found guilty of ordering the 2004 assassination of Antonio de la Torre, a radio journalist and harsh critic of the mayor, was tarnished when the Supreme Court released Leon due to what it said was a lack of evidence. In the case of the 2004 murder of radio journalist Alberto Rivera in the city of Pucallpa, several individuals were sentenced, but the arrest order against the Pucallpa mayor, under suspicion as an intellectual author, was revoked after a dubious court ruling. 
Private investors dominate the media industry, and in comparison the audience for state-run media is relatively small. The government owns two television networks and one radio station and operates the print news agency Andina. Radio is an important medium, especially in the countryside. Peru's media are diverse and express a broad range of viewpoints. The media corruption that was endemic in the Fujimori era continues to an extent today, with both owners and individual journalist sometimes accepting bribes in exchange for slanted coverage. Several newspapers were accused in 2006 of coordinating smear campaigns with high-level government officials. These activities contribute to a long-standing lack of confidence in the press as a credible institution. National newspapers are also dependent on advertising revenue from a small number of large companies, especially retailers. The internet is open and unrestricted by the government, with just under 16 percent of the population accessing the web in 2006. 

Philippines: PF 11-24-11=46
The year saw an overall decline for press freedom in the Philippines as a result of the excessive use of defamation suits to silence criticism of public officials, the government's clampdown on opposition media during the state of emergency in February, and the continued threat posed by journalist-targeted violence. 
The Philippine press has historically ranked among the freest, most vibrant, and outspoken in Southeast Asia, although reports are often rooted in sensationalism and innuendo. The constitution guarantees that "no law shall be passed abridging freedom of speech, of expression, or of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances." There are no restrictive licensing requirements for newspapers or journalists and few legal limitations (e.g., national security, privacy, or obscenity laws). However, the country's penal code makes libel a criminal offense punishable by fines and imprisonment. In July 2006, columnist and television broadcaster, Raffy Tulfo, was sentenced to 32 years in prison and 14.7 million pesos (US 285,000) on 14 counts of libel for showing "reckless disregard" for the truth in several articles written nearly a decade ago. In response to the extreme Tulfo verdict and the subsequent revelation that Jose Miguel Arroyo, the president's husband, had filed libel charges against at least 43 reporters, columnists, editors, and publishers since 2003, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) led more than 600 Filipino journalists and several international press freedom watchdog groups to sign a petition calling for the decriminalization of defamation, officially submitted to the Senate in late November. In what proved a limited effort to mitigate the use of libel laws to prevent scrutiny of public officials, in August, the House of Representatives' approved House Bill 77, which would require that libel suits against members of the press be filed at the court in the province or city where the journalist or media outlet holds its principal office and that civil actions connected with such libel suits be filed in the same court as the criminal complaint. A number of journalists were subsequently arrested on defamation charges nevertheless, and the bill had yet to receive bicameral approval at year's end. 
Although a censorship board broadly has the power to edit or ban content, government censorship does not generally enforce political orientation. Both the private press (most print and electronic media) and the country's many state-owned television and radio stations cover controversial topics-including, in 2006, developments in the constitutional reform debate, and the second unsuccessful impeachment bid against President Macapagal-Arroyo in June. 
The February 2006 state of emergency brought a significant blow to critical voices, however, when Philippine National Police officers raided the offices of the leading pro-opposition newspaper, The Daily Tribune, and a number of other critical newspapers were placed under surveillance. Troops were positioned around the Manila headquarters of the country's two largest television broadcasters, ABS-CBN and GMA-7. In the same week, as part of the official effort to silence media outlets "recklessly" promoting the cause of those working to overthrow the government, critical media figures were charged with incitement to rebellion and several journalists were arrested. After emergency rule was lifted, the National Telecommunications Commission warned the media not to air materials that "incite treason, rebellion, sedition, or pose a clear and present danger to the state" and threatened broadcast networks with closure or takeover for failing to comply with government regulations on coverage. According to the International Federation of Journalists, radio stations subsequently stopped airing interviews with union and other popular leaders critical of the state of emergency. The Supreme Court confirmed that the administration's clampdown on the press during the state of emergency was unjustified in a May ruling. 
Journalists continued to face extreme danger in the course of their work throughout the year. With the NUJP counting at least 47 journalists killed since Macapagal-Arroyo entered office in 2001 and 12 murdered in 2006 alone, the Philippines continues to rank as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. Several cases over the last few years have involved journalists who were well known for exposing corruption scandals or being critical of the government, army, or police. Watchdog groups allege that unknown gunmen are hired by local government officials who are never held accountable, and continued in 2006 to call on the president to end the prevailing culture of impunity for violence against journalists. The conviction of former police officer Guillermo Wapile for the murder of journalist Edgar Damalerio in November 2005 marked the first conviction under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. While a few additional convictions were made in 2006, including the October conviction and sentencing of three people in the 2005 murder of investigative reporter Marlene Garcia-Esperat in Mindanao, there have been no convictions against those who have allegedly ordered the killings. In May, the president established Task Force Usig, a police task force intended as a first step toward investigating the murders, yet the effort was complicated by the fact that police are believed to be complicit in many of the killings. The Melo Commission to Investigate Media and Activist Killings, established by the president in response to international pressure in August, marked a second, if largely cosmetic, government effort to investigate journalist-targeted violence as part of the spate of assassinations of leftwing activists that plagued the country over the year. Yet, additional death threats and murders followed, including the stabbing of radio broadcaster Andres Acosta in Batac, Ilocos Norte in December. 
Most print and electronic media are privately owned, while many television and radio stations are government owned, although they too present a wide variety of views. Since 1986, however, there has been a general trend toward concentration of ownership, with two broadcast networks (ABS-CBN and GMA), owned by companies of wealthy families, dominant among audiences and advertising. Often criticized for lacking journalistic ethics, the press is likely to reflect the political or economic orientations of owners and patrons, and special interests reportedly use inducements to solicit coverage and stories favorable to their positions. Approximately nine percent of the population in the Philippines (close to 8 million people) made use of the internet in 2006, and the government did not restrict their access. 

Poland: F 7-8-7=22
The Polish constitution forbids censorship and guarantees freedom of the press, and those principles were successfully defended by media freedom advocates and upheld by the Constitutional Tribunal in 2006. The media remained vibrant, highly independent, and resistant to pressures from political and economic interests, though generally the media and journalism became more highly politicized during the year. The trend was reinforced by the government's open criticism of domestic and international media. After several scandals involving the ruling coalition were revealed by investigative journalists, the government announced plans for a state-sponsored media monitoring institute and more restrictive media regulations. 
A new media law went into effect, but several articles were struck down by the Constitutional Tribunal in March, including provisions that would have given greater powers to the State Committee on Radio and Television, and rules providing preferential treatment for Catholic media. The new law and some older rules can be abused to harass journalists. Libel and some forms of insult-including defamation of public officials, the state, and constitutional institutions-are criminal offenses punishable by fines and up to two years in prison. In January, the editor in chief of the Wiesci Polickie newspaper was sentenced to three months in jail for libeling a local government spokesman, but the Constitutional Tribunal suspended the sentence that month. 
Public officials continue to exert influence over public media and particularly electronic media outlets. Seats on regulatory agencies and directorships of state-owned media are political appointments. Following reorganization in late 2005, the State Committee on Radio and Television presided over the media sector with a stronger hand than in previous years, imposing punitive fines on a number of occasions. In one case, a $170,000 fine was imposed on a television station for a satirical talk-show during which a commentator had mocked a disabled religious figure from the populist Catholic radio station Radio Maryja. The radio station Tok FM was censured for allowing the broadcast of a satirical poem about the president. In another decision, Radio Maryja was granted the status of a public broadcaster, which included an exemption from paying nearly $500,000 in licensing fees. Other types of pressure were also exerted on the media. A media watchdog showed that public television favored candidates of the ruling coalition in local elections in several major cities. Separately, the Warsaw Regional Court in May imposed a gag order on a newspaper that was printing an investigative report into alleged financial improprieties by the previous president, a step media freedom advocates compared to censorship. 
Print media, including two newly launched national dailies, are for the most part privately owned and highly diversified. Government-owned Polish Television and its four channels remain a major source of information for most citizens, but the private television stations TVN and PolSat continue to gain market share. The portion of the population with internet access is around 30 percent and growing, and there have been no reports of the government restricting internet use.
Portugal: F 2-6-6=14
Freedom of the press is guaranteed by the constitution, and laws against insulting the government or the armed forces are rarely enforced. A proposal to change the country's Journalism Law was presented to the legislative assembly that would make it easier for courts to order journalists to disclose confidential sources if it was found that it would be "difficult to obtain [the] information in any other way." If passed, the law would most likely be challenged by the European Court of Human Rights. The proposed law also gives journalists' employers and clients the right to re-use work in any way for 30 days following their first publication. Journalists would have the right to reject any modifications done to their work if such changes may affect their reputation, and remove their names from badly-edited pieces. However, the European Federation of Journalists has argued that such protections are "impracticable," especially because such "modifications are made without the journalist's knowledge," and will only be discovered after their publication. 
An appeal by two journalists in April 2006 to block a court order to examine their computers was rejected. The reporters claim that the search violates their right to protect sources, while the court argues that the reporters are guilty of "illegal access to personal data" after they had published a claim that Telecom Portugal was in possession of a list of 80,000 phone numbers of public officials, including the president's, in connection with the Casa Pia pedophile case. 
Commercial television has been making gains in recent years, providing serious competition for the public broadcasting channels that lack funds. There are some 300 local and regional private radio stations and internet access is unrestricted with more than 70 percent of the population able to access it regularly. 

Qatar: NF 18-24-21=63
The Qatari government professes freedom of the press, but aside from a few passages in the Constitution, there are no laws that protect journalists. While section 47 of the 2003 Qatari Constitution provides in principle for the freedom of speech and press, it qualifies these freedoms within the limits and definitions of the law. In practice, the government uses its judicial and executive branches to restrict those rights. Journalists and editors working for both the press and private associations' publications practice a high degree of self-censorship. Qatari press laws fall under the Penal Code and are administered by the criminal courts. Under these laws, journalists can face jail sentences if convicted of libel or slander. For example, a non-citizen journalist was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison for slander of a Qatari citizen. The disparity in the application of these laws for Qatari and non-Qatari journalists, who represent the majority of journalists in Qatar, is widely known. As a result, most journalists censor themselves heavily. 
Journalists in Qatar suffer several forms of intimidation, although there were no reports of physical violence directed at journalists. While native journalists usually face warnings and threats whenever the government feels they've crossed a line, non-citizens face harsher measures, including termination, deportation and jail time. Under Qatari press law, all publications are subject to licensing by the government; journalists are forbidden from leveling any criticism against the government, and can be subjected to prosecution under the Penal Code for doing so. Press laws in Qatar authorize the government, its censorship office in the Qatar Radio and Television Corporation, and Custom officers to censor both domestic and foreign publications, broadcast programs and movies for religious, political and sexual content prior to distribution. As with its regional neighbors, journalists are forbidden from criticizing the ruling family, Islam or government policies. Local coverage of the issues must be conducted with great sensitivity. 
Qatar has six newspapers, four of them Arabic-language (Al-Rayah, Al-Sharq and Al-Watan), and two English language (Gulf News and the Peninsula). These six newspapers, while not owned by the Qatari government, are owned by members of the ruling family, or businessmen with close business ties to the ruling family. The Qatari government owns and operates all broadcast media. There are only two TV networks in the country, Qatar TV and Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel. While Qatar TV broadcasts mostly official government news and views, Al-Jazeera focuses solely on coverage and commentary of international news topics. As a government-subsidized channel, Al-Jazeera is commissioned to focus on all news except local. The channel refrains from any criticism of its subsidizer, and covers any Qatari local news only if it has an international angle to it, with no critical commentary. Shows on the local radio station are more accommodating to voices criticizing government services and operations. While Al-Jazeera claims editorial freedom, it will continue to find it difficult to back this claim, given the absence of critical coverage of local Qatari issues and events. The concentration of media ownership within the ruling family, and the high financial and citizenship requirements for granting media ownership licenses, continue to hinder the expansion, and freedom, of the press. Through licensing regulations, the Qatari government is able to control the growth and content of media in the country. 
The internet is used by almost 27% of Qataris. Through its ownership and operation of the local internet service provider (ISP), the Qatari government restricts freedom of expression and censors the internet for political, religious and pornographic content. Both high-speed and dial-up internet users find themselves directed to a proxy server that blocks materials deemed inconsistent with the "religious, cultural, political and moral values of the country." This proxy server maintains a list of banned Web sites and blocks users from accessing them, with the Qatari ISP frequently updating its filtering software to maintain its grip.
Romania: PF 12-15-15=42
The constitution protects freedom of the press, and the government is increasingly respectful of these rights. The parliament in June 2006 passed a measure that decriminalized defamation and similar offenses, meaning journalists would no longer face jail time in such cases. Lawmakers had initially removed the infractions from the criminal code in 2005, but the changes were subsequently suspended. In February 2006, several journalists were drawn into the case of a former soldier, Ionel Popa, who had allegedly leaked classified information about Romanian forces in Iraq and Afghanistan to a number of news organizations. The information was reportedly not sensitive enough to endanger the troops, and the media outlets declined to publish it, in some cases handing it over to the authorities voluntarily. Nevertheless, one reporter, Marian Garleanu of the Romania Libera daily, was arrested for possessing state secrets and jailed for two days. Sebastian Oancea of the Ziua daily was also charged, and both men faced up to seven years in prison if convicted. Several other reporters were questioned or investigated by the authorities. Recent progress toward implementing freedom of information legislation has been difficult, and the government still appoints the boards of the public television and radio operators. 
The political environment for media has improved substantially since the 2004 election of President Traian Basescu, who pledged greater respect for press freedom and has proven to be less controlling and manipulative of the media than his predecessors. Self-censorship also appears to have decreased. However, the government and state institutions remain sensitive to media criticism. Media tycoon and Conservative Party leader Dan Voiculescu withdrew his candidacy for deputy prime minister after an official body tasked with studying the Communist-era secret police archives revealed that he had been a collaborator. The media had often aired unproven claims that various public figures had worked with the security services, but none had previously been confirmed officially. Voiculescu maintained that he had merely provided security officials with obligatory reports on his trade-related activities abroad. 
The number of media outlets and news sources has increased in recent years, and they are becoming more active and self-sufficient. However, they still face significant economic pressure thanks to ownership concentration, lack of revenue, and a limited advertising market. Most media rely on government-funded advertising. The situation is worse for smaller newspapers outside of Bucharest, where the advertising market is less developed and local officials own many media outlets. Western European media groups Ringier and WAZ own the three highest-circulating dailies, and journalists report that the owners are increasingly toning down critical coverage. According to a 2005 European Union study, media outlets are frequently registering abroad to avoid disclosing ownership structures. Usage of the internet is increasing, but rural areas suffer from inadequate infrastructure; about 25 percent of the population is able to gain access, with few reports of government interference. However, one such case took place in June when the Foreign Ministry convinced a private internet service provider (ISP) to shut down a website created by two Ziua reporters, George Damian and Victor Roncea, to parody the ministry's own site. The ISP also handed over the journalists' personal information, an apparent violation of Romanian privacy law. 

Russia: NF 18-33-24=75
Media freedom was further curtailed in 2006 as President Vladimir Putin's government passed legislation restricting news reporting and journalists were subjected to physical violence and intimidation. Although the Russian constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, authorities are able to use the legislative and judicial systems to harass and prosecute independent journalists. In January, Putin signed into law new regulations that required stricter registration and reporting for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), thus asserting greater government control over civil society and potentially hindering journalists from obtaining news from NGOs. Despite public objections, Russia's parliament also passed amendments to the Law on Fighting Extremist Activity, which Putin then signed in July. The measure expanded the definition of extremism to include media criticism of public officials, and authorized up to three years' imprisonment for journalists as well as the suspension or closure of their publications if they were convicted. 
During 2006, journalists continued to face criminal libel charges for printing and broadcasting statements that were unfavorable to public officials. Criminal courts also sentenced several journalists on charges of "inciting racial hatred" for publicizing controversial events in Chechnya. Stanislav Dmitriyevsky, head of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society, was convicted of the offense in February after publishing statements by leading Chechen separatists like the late Aslan Maskhadov. He received a suspended prison sentence and probation, but his conviction allowed the government to shutter his organization in October under a provision of the new NGO law. It remained open, with appeals pending, at year's end. Boris Stomakhin of the monthly Radikalnaya Politika, who has written various critical articles on Russia's actions in Chechnya, was sentenced in November to five years in prison. 
The international media community expressed its shock at the October murder of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was renowned for her independent reporting about abuses committed in the war in Chechnya. Other journalists who were killed in 2006-likely for reasons tied to their work, according to media watchdogs-included Ilya Zimin, a correspondent for the national television station NTV; Vagif Kochetkov, a correspondent for the Moscow daily Trud and columnist for the Tula paper Tulskii Molodoi Kommunar; Yevgeny Gerasimenko, a correspondent for the Saratov independent weekly Saratovksy Rasklad; and Anatoly Voronin, deputy director of the Russian news agency Itar-Tass. The freelance journalist Elina Ersenoyeva and her mother Margarita were both abducted in Chechnya amid rumors that Elina had been married to the infamous Chechen separatist fighter Shamil Basayev. She had recently reported on prison conditions in the republic. In the case of the 2004 murder of Forbes editor Paul Klebnikov, two ethnic Chechen suspects, Kazbek Dukuzov and Musa Vakhayev, were acquitted in May after a trial that was closed to the public to protect classified evidence. However, the Klebnikov family appealed and Russia's Supreme Court overturned the acquittal in November, ordering a retrial. Journalists remained unable to cover the news freely, particularly with regard to contentious topics like Chechnya or the environment, and were subject to physical attacks, arrests, detentions, random searches, threats, and self-censorship. While Russia assumed the presidency of the Group of Eight in 2006 and hosted the international club's summit in St. Petersburg in July, the authorities used police violence and detentions to bar foreign journalists from covering civic protests that took place. 
Authorities continued to exert influence on media outlets and determine news content in 2006. The state owns or controls significant stakes in the country's three main national television networks: Channel One, Rossiya, and NTV. Some diversity of perspective exists in print media at the national level, which are privately owned. Ownership of regional print media is less diverse and often concentrated in the hands of local authorities. Private owners of media outlets are generally billionaire business magnates or large companies like the state-controlled energy conglomerate Gazprom, which holds majority stakes in the newspaper Izvestia and radio station Ekho Moskvy. However, the law requires little transparency in media ownership, and media watchdogs expressed concern in 2006 that companies like Gazprom would purchase additional newspapers, such as Komsomolskaya Pravda, and tighten the establishment's grip on the media ahead of the 2008 presidential election. The government continued to disadvantage private media by allocating subsidies to state-controlled outlets and controlling the means of production and distribution. With online media developing and 16 percent of the population now online, the government also harassed some of Russia's leading news websites. For example, officials accused Pravda.ru, Bankfax.ru, and Gazeta.ru of spreading extremist ideas, and fined the editor of the internet publication Kursiv for publishing an "offensive" article about Putin. 

Rwanda: NF 24-34-26=84
The constitution provides for freedom of the press "in conditions prescribed by the law." However, in 2006 the government continued to sharply restrict the ability of media to operate, citing the role that certain media outlets played in provoking violence during the 1994 genocide. A law passed in 2002 guarantees media independence by formally forbidding censorship, but in practice the media is still tightly controlled by the government. Articles of the same law impose criminal sanctions on the media for a wide range of offenses such as "divisionism" and "genocide ideology," punishable by up to five years in prison. Libel is still a criminal offence; however, in August 2006, the High Court of the Republic of Rwanda overturned a criminal libel conviction made by the lower courts against Charles Kabonero, the editor of Umuseso. Nonetheless, the High Court upheld his conviction of "insulting a public figure" and the one year suspended prison sentence and the $1,900 fine that went with that conviction. In 2006, the government debated a new press law that could provide marginal improvements to the 2002 law by protecting newspaper printers and vendors from criminal libel prosecutions and removing a judge's obligation to impose the maximum sentence on journalists convicted of certain criminal offenses. 
The government's attitude toward the press in 2006 continued to be one of suspicion and control. While there were no formal arrests of journalists in 2006, attacks on journalists critical of the government remained a consistent problem throughout the year. In particular, the biweekly independent Umuco, and its personnel have been repeatedly harassed and threatened for their criticism of the government since 2005. In January 2006 and again in August, Umuco's editor was forced into hiding after the publication of articles critical of the ruling party led to threats and a police summons. In a positive turn, an Umuco journalist was released from prison in July after spending nearly 11 months in jail on a murder charge related to the 1994 genocide, a charge of which he had been acquitted several years earlier. In June 2006, Sonia Rolley, a correspondent with RFI was expelled from the country, even after she received press accreditation from the Information Ministry. Then in November, when a French court accused Rwandan President Kagame of involvement in the 1994 assassination of former President Habyarimana that triggered the genocide, the Rwandan government formally severed diplomatic relations with France and ordered the entire RFI office to leave the country. 
Although the government continued its confrontational approach to relations with the media in 2006, many independent print publications refused to censor themselves and published articles critical of government behavior. Nonetheless, all newspapers operating in Rwanda, including the state-owned papers, face financial constraints that make it impossible for them to publish on a daily basis and most independent publications only do so twice a month. In addition, the government has the potential to influence print publication content through its purchase of advertising space, upon which many newspapers are financially dependent, as well as its operation of the sole domestic printing press available to nonreligious media. In 2006, the government issued a number of new radio licenses; however, the authorities maintain tight control over the radio broadcast media and most of the independent stations stay away from political content and focus instead on music. Independent television is legally permitted, but the government continues to maintain a monopoly on the industry. Despite the expulsion of RFI this year, other foreign media like BBC and Voice of America are able to broadcast from Rwanda. Internet access appears to be unrestricted but is available to less than 1 percent of the population. 

St Kitts and Nevis: F 4-8-8=20
Freedom of the press is enshrined in the constitution. The independent media were active and expressed a wide variety of views without restriction. One of the only notes of discord during the year came in August when some opposition politicians expressed concerns about the appointment of Clive Bacchus, a Guyanese national and manager of the private WINN FM radio station, to the government's seven-member electoral reform consultative committee. The Democrat, the paper of the opposition People's Action Movement, suggested that Bacchus' appointment was an attempt by the ruling Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour party to curb WINN FM's participation in the electoral reform debate. Bacchus was instrumental in solidifying the newly reconstituted Media Association of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Both the main parties publish weekly newspapers, and there are three other non-aligned weekly newspapers. ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation, a company in which the government is a majority shareholder, operates both radio and television services. Additionally, there are seven private radio stations and a multichannel cable TV service. There are no government restrictions on the internet, and approximately 26 percent of the population was able to gain access to this medium in 2006. 

St Lucia: F 4-7-5=16
There was a major improvement in the media environment when, on November 7, the Parliament repealed the controversial Section 361 of the criminal code that had come into effect in early 2005. The section had sought to make publishing news that endangers the "public good" an offense punishable by imprisonment. However, in announcing its repeal, Prime Minister Kenny Anthony admitted it had proved difficult for his administration to use it for prosecution. The Association of Caribbean Media Workers, which had led a campaign against the measure, hailed the withdrawal of "these dangerous measures". St Lucia has three television stations, and seven radio stations-all of them private apart form the state-owned Radio St Lucia. There are three weekly newspapers, and two that are published three times a week. There are no government restrictions on the internet, which was accessible to over 33 percent of the population in 2006. 

St Vincent and the Grenadines: F 4-7-6=17
The constitution guarantees a free press, and publications openly criticize government policies. In January, the minister of information, Selmon Walter, announced that the government had started examining broadcast policies from across the region and would be consulting with "knowledgeable" persons to formulate new local broadcasting policy in an effort to raise the quality of programming. Walter told members of the parliament that the content of talk radio programs had made Saint Vincent and the Grenadines the "laughing stock of the Caribbean". Glenn Jackson, the press secretary of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and a former head of the local media association, was found shot dead on March 8. A man was later arrested and charged with Jackson's murder, but no motive was revealed. Jackson had ended his career as a journalist in 2001 when he was appointed as the prime minister's press secretary; however, he continued to make regular appearances as host of the pro-government "Shake-Up" interactive radio program on the WE FM 99.9 station. The main newspapers, the daily Herald, and the weeklies Searchlight and The Vincentian, are all privately owned. The state-run Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates SVG Television and the Hitz FM music radio station. NBC is a partly government-funded national FM radio service, and there are numerous other private outlets. There are no government restrictions on the internet, but it is not a significant source of information since little more than seven percent of the population was able to gain access in 2006. 

Samoa: F 7-12-11=30
While the constitution protects press freedom in Samoa, publishers remain vigilant against political attempts to intimidate the media. The most significant media freedom issue involved an alleged attack by a media executive on a local reporter. Samoa's Broadcasting Corporation chief executive, Galumalemana Faiesea Matafoa, was charged with assaulting journalist Atofu Moana from Le Samoa newspaper. Journalist Association of Samoa (JAWS) President Uale Papali'i told the Samoa Observer newspaper he was saddened by the incident. Police also investigated a case of possible sabotage against the Samoa Observer, long an outspoken independent voice. In May, following complaints made by the Samoa Council of Churches, Samoa's Principal Censor banned the screening of the film The Da Vinci Code from cinemas and local television stations. Samoa has three English-language and several Samoan-language newspapers. It also has five private radio stations, the state-run Samoa Broadcasting Corporation, and some access to local and foreign satellite television. Internet access is unrestricted but accessible to only 3.2 percent of the population. 

San Marino: F 4-6-7=17
The 1974 San Marino Constitutional Order guarantees freedom of expression, and Article 183 of the criminal code protects against libel and slander. However, there are restrictions when expression comes into conflict with the right to confidentiality and the right to secrecy. No direct violations of freedom of the press by either state or nonstate actors were reported in 2006. By law, radio and television broadcasting is monopolized by the San Marino Broadcasting Company, whose responsibility it is to grant concessions to private broadcasters. State-owned San Marino RTV runs both a radio and a television station. Italian radio and television are also available. There are three daily papers published on the territory, one of which is electronic, and a local weekly paper which reports on economics, finance and politics. Two Italian newspapers that contain news about San Marino are also distributed. The internet is available, unrestricted and used by almost 50 percent of the population. 

Sao Tome and Principe: F 4-11-14=29
The constitution provides for freedom of the press, and these rights are respected in practice and upheld by the state. There were no known cases of government restrictions of, or crackdown on, the local or foreign media, and publications that regularly criticize the administration are freely circulated without arbitrary arrests or government intimidation. Nonetheless, self-censorship is widely practiced and newspapers often depend on official news releases as primary sources of information, which in turn inhibits the growth of investigative journalism. Some writers accept financial favors from news sources for doing their jobs. Severe problems with infrastructure including inadequate telecommunication and media distribution networks constitute major problems for the media. There are seven privately-owned and two state-run newspapers in addition to a number of state-operated radio and television stations. In 2005, the government authorized two new private radio stations to operate within the country, both of which began broadcasting by the end of 2006. Access to the internet is not restricted by the government but is limited by a lack of infrastructure; nonetheless, over 11 percent of the population was able to access this new media during the year. 

Saudi Arabia: NF 28-30-24=82
Since no constitution in Saudi Arabia guarantees the freedom of press and speech, freedom of press is regulated under the Publishing and Printing law of 1963. The 49 provisions of this law cover the establishment of media outlets, address the rights and responsibilities of journalists, and explain the penalties that can be imposed on them. This lack of a theoretical framework for the freedom of the press in Saudi Arabia is largely due to how the government views the role of the press in society. The press, according to the government, is a tool to educate the masses, propagate government views on issues, and promote national unity. This very narrow view of the media shapes how both the government and its strategic allies, the conservative religious establishment, deal with freedom of press in the kingdom. Through harsh measures, and with the help of heavy self-censorship, the government is able to control the media in the country. The strategic alliance between the royal family and the ultra-conservative religious establishment proved strong enough to overcome all attempts by journalists to wrestle away some breathing room. In 2006, the Saudi government approved the first law to combat "electronic crimes," defined by the government as defamation on the Internet and hacking. Online journalists suffer the same fate as their colleagues in the print world when it comes to expressing their views. 
Even when the government has been inclined to permit some freedom of expression, it finds itself at odds - and sometimes near conflict - with the strong ultra-conservative Islamic forces in the kingdom. In many instances, it was forced to back down. Several episodes of the very popular television sitcom "Tash Ma Tash" were canceled after protests and threats from the ultra-religious right and a Fatwa was issued. An episode criticizing the powerful religious agency of "Promoting the Good and Forbidding the Evil" was killed as soon as the agency learned of its content. 
Journalists in the kingdom face threats, harassment and detention if they cross the official red line. In February of 2006, journalist Battal Alkus, editor of the privately-owned daily Shams, was dismissed from his job after his newspaper published some of the cartoons about prophet Mohamed. In March, journalist Mohsen Al-Awajy was detained for ten days for criticizing the King, while journalist Rabah El-Queay was detained and harassed for posting a comment on an online forum. In April, journalist Fawaz Turki was dismissed from the daily "Arab News" newspaper for writing about the Indonesian atrocities committed by the government in East Timor. Writer and women's rights activist Wajiha Al-Howaider was arrested in August, threatened with loss of her job, and forced to sign a pledge to cease all activities including writing and talking to the media. In November, journalist Kinan Ben Abdallah Ghamidi was banned from writing for the government daily Al-Watan, after previously being forced to region as its editor in 2002 for criticizing the government. These extreme measures of arrest, interrogation, dismissal and harassment have forced journalists and editors to practice and enforce extreme levels of self-censorship in order to protect themselves and their staff. 
There are ten daily newspapers in Saudi Arabia, all either owned by the government, members of the royal family or close associates of the royal family. Broadcast media also falls in the hands of the government, which owns and operates the television and radio stations. Satellite television has become widespread despite its illegal status and is an important source of foreign news. King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is the sole gateway for Internet users. Although the Saudi government approved applications for over 40 privately-owned Internet Service Providers (ISP) in 1998, all of them are linked to the main server at KACST, the government institution charged with developing and coordinating Internet-related policies. Through this agency, the Saudi government continues to block and filter Web sites deemed offensive, critical or immoral. All sites carrying out activities at odds with the Kingdom's social, political, cultural and religious values are blocked. Updated lists of undesirable websites are continuously fed to the filters. Users attempting to access banned sites receive warnings and are told that their attempts are been logged. 

Senegal: PF 13-21-12=46
Worrying trends continued in Senegal in 2006, particularly involving criminal defamation charges against journalists. Although the constitution guarantees freedom of expression and of the press, the government often restricts these rights in practice. Criminal prosecutions for libel against journalists in 2006 and the passage of a controversial broadcasting reform bill intended to muzzle the media both confirm earlier indications that President Abduoulaye Wade does not intend to live up to his lofty promises of decriminalizing several press offenses and consolidating the protections afforded freedom of expression under the constitution. Article 80 of the penal code is particularly harsh on journalists and imposes severe criminal penalties for libel and the publication of materials that compromise national security. In July, Mustapha Sow, the managing editor of the private newspaper, L'Office was imprisoned on charges that he defamed a local businessman. Sow was released on bail after two weeks when his lawyer filed an appeal. He had been convicted of criminal defamation charges and sentenced to six months in prison in February but an arrest warrant was not carried out until June. In September, two more journalists were given suspended sentences and fined the equivalent of $100 each for a story involving alleged corruption by a construction company accused of bribing government officials for contracts. According to Diatou Cisse Coulibaly, the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Press Union, criminal libel accusations have been a particular problem under the Wade administration, resulting in broad intimidation of critical journalists and increased self-censorship. 
A controversial broadcasting bill that was passed by a vote of 11 to 2 in the 120-seat Parliament in December 2005 still awaits the signature of President Wade, and if approved, will create a National Council for the Regulation of Broadcasting (CNRA). The new body would be made up of the president's appointees on a nine-member panel, only one of whom would be a professional with broadcasting credentials. The CNRA would function as a supreme tribunal with the power to monitor media behavior and impose punishments ranging from temporary closures to exorbitant fines of up to $18,000. The new bill also strips the media profession's self-regulatory body-the Council for the Respect of Professional Ethics and Conduct-of its authority to monitor and sanction members of the media who act unprofessionally. 
Despite the intimidation caused by the wave of criminal defamation prosecution, much of the private media still frequently criticizes the government in its reporting. Near the end of 2006, during the campaign for the February 2007 presidential election, journalists working for the private newspaper Sud Quotidien and the private radio station Sud FM reported receiving intimidating and threatening phone calls by unknown persons. And in the central city of Mbacke, a correspondent for a local private radio station was beaten with metal cables and suffered head and back injuries after he broadcast a report critical of a local religious leader who was mobilizing his supporters for President Wade in the elections. On a promising note, a court dismissed charges of breaching national security leveled against several journalists whose private media company-Sud Communications Group which operates Sud Quotidien and Sud FM- broadcast an interview in October 2005 with the a rebel leader of the southern Casamance region. The court's dismissal of the case against the journalists was seen as a rebuke to the Wade administration. 
Senegal has many private, independent publications and a string of private and community radio stations. A number of community, private and public radio stations operate all over the country and 70 separate radio frequencies have been granted so far by the state. Nevertheless, the Wade administration refuses to accept private participation in the television sector except for entertainment channels. The only national television station, Radio Television Senegal, by law must be majority controlled by the government and broadcasts generally favorable coverage of the government. In the past, Senegal's media watchdog, the High Audiovisual Council, criticized the government-run television station for not reflecting diverse viewpoints and not allowing equal coverage of opposition members and religious groups. Foreign satellite television and radio stations, including Radio France Internationale and BBC, are available, as is unrestricted internet access for the 5 percent of the population with the means to obtain it in 2006. 

Serbia: PF 13-17-9=39
The constitution of the newly independent Serbia, adopted in October 2006, provides for freedom of the press. However, the government, media owners, local officials, and businessmen continue to place undue pressure on journalists. Libel remains a criminal offense, punishable with imprisonment or fines of up to $13,800. In August, a senior editor at local television channel RTV Kursumlija received a suspended four-month prison sentence after the station aired viewers' text messages that were critical of a local official. In October, despite international criticism and objections from local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the parliament adopted controversial amendments to the broadcasting law. The legislation made Serbia's Republic Broadcasting Agency financially and politically dependent on the government, since it required the government to approve the budget of the agency's nominally independent council. The changes also limited broadcasters' ability to appeal council decisions, and required them to carry out the council's directives. Furthermore, the amendments gave the broadcasting council greater latitude to deny commercial broadcasting licenses. The licenses themselves would entail the payment of substantial fees, and the Broadcast Agency had already been criticized for carrying out its licensing procedures in a discriminatory way. In April, the council had temporarily suspended the license of the private BK television station. Local media watchdog organizations reported that the suspension was a direct attack on opposition politician and BK owner Bogoljub Karic. However, the decision was overturned by the Supreme Court in May. 
Both broadcast and print media in Serbia are highly active and promote diverse views. However, news outlets operate with a significant level of politicization, which increased toward the end of the year as the fall constitutional referendum and January 2007 parliamentary elections approached. Journalists at times practice self-censorship, and many avoid politically charged topics, such as Serbia's failure to comply with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague, negotiations on the future status of the UN-administered province of Kosovo, and the May 2006 referendum on Montenegrin independence. Media organizations and journalists were again the victims of harassment, intimidation, and physical violence in 2006. Employees of the private broadcaster B92 were threatened throughout the year. Most incidents involving extralegal intimidation and physical violence against journalists occurred in smaller towns. Local police often failed to properly investigate attacks on journalists, and on several occasions, local officials and police blocked journalists' access to public documents or events. The 2001 murder of journalist Milan Pantic and the 1999 murder of Slavko Curuvija remain unresolved, and investigations into both murders have stalled. 
Serbia's broadcast and print media are for the most part privately owned. The government owns a stake in the oldest and best-selling daily, Politika, but has little direct editorial influence. The state still controls Radio Television Serbia (RTS), and reports indicate that the broadcaster, which operates three nationwide television stations and a radio station, has a slight progovernment bias. Media ownership concentration has increased slightly with the growing presence of foreign firms. Internet access is unrestricted, but authorities selectively monitor e-mail and other online communications for the 14 percent of the population with online access. 
The media environment in Kosovo is regulated by the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the constitutional framework. While UNMIK, the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), and Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) largely uphold press freedom, the media face a difficult operating environment due to political pressure and financial difficulties. In January 2006, the parliament passed legislation transferring authority over the public broadcaster, Radio Television Kosovo (RTK), from UNMIK to local government control, and placed its budget under the direct control of the Ministry of Finance. Journalists faced indirect pressure and were offered bribes in exchange for positive coverage. Throughout the year, journalists were the victims of violence and harassment. In September, a reporter with the daily Lajm was assaulted by a security officer in the Kosovo Assembly building. Lack of advertising funds leaves media outlets vulnerable to editorial pressure from government and business interests. The Pristina branch of the Albanian newspaper Bota Sot was closed down in November for failing to pay taxes, reducing the number of daily newspapers in Kosovo to nine. Media operating with foreign financial aid were more editorially independent and expressed a wider range of views, but they remained vulnerable to future fluctuations in foreign assistance. 

Seychelles: PF 20-21-19=60
The constitution provides for freedom of speech but also restricts this right by protecting the reputation, rights, and privacy of citizens as well as the "interest of defense, public safety, public order, public morality, or public health." These restrictions have limited freedom of the press, particularly because libel charges can easily be filed to penalize journalists. The law also allows the minister of information to prohibit the broadcast of any material that is against the "national interest." The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, the state-controlled media regulation body, continued to ban a local singer's music on the grounds that it was seditious. 
There are two independent newspapers, the weeklies Regar, and Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly. In the past the Regar has been regularly sued for libel by the government. In October 2006, the Regar stopped publication in protest against a lawsuit in which the paper was ordered to pay excessive damages ($58,500) to the Seychelles tourism board president Maurice Lousteau-Lalanne for publishing a photo of him that had already appeared in the pro-government paper, the Nation. Also in October 2006, protests prompted by parliament's rejection of a motion to amend the law banning political parties from setting up their own radio stations turned violent. Several people were injured during the protests and the editor of Regar, Roger Mancienne was arrested and then released on bail after being charged with "unlawful assembly." 
The government owns the country's only daily newspaper, the Nation, which adheres closely to official policy. The state also has a de facto monopoly over the widely consumed broadcast media, and private broadcasters have been slow to develop because of restrictive licensing fees of more than $185,000 per year. Telecommunications companies must submit subscriber information to the government, and the internet is available and unrestricted in Seychelles for the nearly 25 percent of the population that had access in 2006. 

Sierra Leone: PF 17-21-18=56
The constitution guarantees freedom of expression in Sierra Leone, but the Public Order Act of 1965 is still on the books which criminalizes libel and holds accountable not only journalists, but vendors, printers, and publishers rendering any guarantee for press freedom illusory. This oppressive law was implemented as recently as 2005 when the managing editor and a reporter with The Trumpet weekly were jailed and charged with seditious libel, but were acquitted the following month. Nonetheless, no new criminal libel prosecutions were filed in 2006. In fact, during the year President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah pledged to decriminalize libel, but this promise remained unfulfilled at year's end. 
In February, the attorney-general of Sierra Leone declined to press charges of manslaughter against Fatmata Komeh, a member of parliament, and two others accused of assaulting journalist Harry Yansaneh, acting editor of the independent newspaper For di People, who was the victim of a violent attack in May 2005; from which he died of complications two months later. In August, Komeh and her accomplices were arrested on charges of manslaughter but were released on bail only a few days later. Explaining his decision not to pursue manslaughter charges, the attorney general said he relied on the report of the inquest into Yansaneh's death. A physician who testified at the inquest reported that Yansaneh died from chronic kidney failure and that the assault did not contribute to the journalist's death. The attorney general said he was considering filing lesser charges against the MP and the two others. In August, the High Court requested the extradition of Komeh's children, residents of the United Kingdom who were also implicated in the assault, but this was still pending at year's end. 
Despite frequent media harassments, newspapers openly and routinely criticize the government, its officials, opposition political parties, and former rebel forces. The diverse and lively media, particularly the growing print press, have been a strong voice against corruption. Nonetheless, poor journalistic skills, insufficient resources, and a lack of professional ethics all pose enduring problems for the quality of the press. More than 25 newspapers, catering to a wide spectrum of interests and political opinions, were published during the year. Most of these were privately owned, but several were affiliated with political parties. Consequently, the media are highly politicized, and there is widespread corruption among journalists. Several government and private radio stations, as well as international stations like the United Nations Radio, all provide coverage of domestic news and political commentary. The radio remains the medium of choice for most Sierra Leoneans, who for economic reasons have limited access to television, newspapers, and the internet. Less than 0.5 percent of the population was able to access the internet in 2006, though the government did not place any explicit restrictions on internet use. 

Singapore: NF 24-24-21=69
Media freedom in Singapore is constrained to such a degree that the vast majority of journalists practice self-censorship rather than risk being charged with defamation or breaking the country's criminal laws on permissible speech. The Singapore constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression in Article 14, but it also permits restrictions on these rights. Media freedom in Singapore is constrained by the Newspapers and Printing Presses Act, the Defamation Act, and the Internal Security Act, all of which allow authorities to restrict the circulation of news deemed to incite violence, arouse racial or religious tensions, interfere in domestic politics, or threaten public order, national interest or national security. The government proposed a series of amendments to the Penal Code in 2006 that would cover offenses committed via electronic media. The draft amendments would not only provide jail terms or fines for defamation, "statements that would cause public mischief," and the "wounding" of racial or religious feeling, they would also make it a crime f