Reporters Without Border has downgraded Timor-Leste's press freedom index by 26 places. Only one other country, Andorra, performed worse in its World Press Freedom Index which "ranks the performance of 180 countries according to a range of criteria that include media pluralism and independence, respect for the safety and freedom of journalists, and the legislative, institutional and infrastructural environment in which the media operate."
On Timor-Leste the Index says that "The creation of a press council and the adoption of a code of ethics in October 2013 have been a disappointment."
It also talked about the the government's proposed media law in 2014 "which has led to widespread self-censorship." The draconian media law has in fact passed by the lawmakers recently despite the Court of Appeal's (the highest court in the country) ruling against it. It was declared unconstitutional following the President's request for the law to be reviewed.
Timor-Leste's Index improved by 14 places between 2013 and 2014. It was ranked at 90 in 2013 and moved up to 77, ahead of Armenia and Mozambique in 2014. But for 2015, Timor-Leste moved down to 103 below between Guinea and Bhutan.
Guinea, marred by years of dictatorship and unrest, is a struggling democracy. The Global Democracy Ranking ranks it at 103 (out of 112 countries) in 2014 with Timor-Leste at 68. Bhutan, one of the last bastions of absolutist monarchy is making a slow transition towards a more democratic form of government. It has a terrible human rights record and maintains a restricted contact with the outside world.
It also talked about the the government's proposed media law in 2014 "which has led to widespread self-censorship." The draconian media law has in fact passed by the lawmakers recently despite the Court of Appeal's (the highest court in the country) ruling against it. It was declared unconstitutional following the President's request for the law to be reviewed.
Timor-Leste's Index improved by 14 places between 2013 and 2014. It was ranked at 90 in 2013 and moved up to 77, ahead of Armenia and Mozambique in 2014. But for 2015, Timor-Leste moved down to 103 below between Guinea and Bhutan.
Guinea, marred by years of dictatorship and unrest, is a struggling democracy. The Global Democracy Ranking ranks it at 103 (out of 112 countries) in 2014 with Timor-Leste at 68. Bhutan, one of the last bastions of absolutist monarchy is making a slow transition towards a more democratic form of government. It has a terrible human rights record and maintains a restricted contact with the outside world.
Just another issue for Dr Rui Araujo to mull over.
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