pedro martori

(Espanol abajo)

Cuba second from last, just ahead of North Korea

United States and Israel singled out for actions beyond their borders

Reporters Without Borders is publishing its second world press freedom
ranking. As in 2002, the most catastrophic situation is to be found in Asia,
especially North Korea, Burma and Laos. Second from last in the ranking,
Cuba is today the world's biggest prison for journalists. The United States
and Italy were given relatively low rankings.

Reporters Without Borders today publishes its second world press freedom
ranking. Like last year, the most catastrophic situation is to found in
Asia, with eight countries in the bottom ten : North Korea, Burma, Laos,
China, Iran, Vietnam, Turkmenistan and Bhutan. Independent news media are
either non-existent in these countries, or are constantly repressed by the
authorities. Journalists there work in extremely difficult conditions, with
no freedom and no security. A number of them are imprisoned in Burma, China
and Iran.

Cuba is in 165th position, second from last. Twenty-six independent
journalists were arrested in the spring of 2003 and sentenced to prison
terms ranging from 14 to 27 years, making Cuba the world's biggest prison
for journalists. They were accused of writing articles for publication
abroad that played into the hands of "imperialist interests." Eritrea, in
162nd position, has the worst situation in Africa. Privately-owned news
media have been banned there for the past two years and 14 journalists are
being held in undisclosed locations.

To compile this ranking, Reporters Without Borders asked journalists,
researchers, jurists and human rights activists to fill out a questionnaire
evaluating respect for press freedom in a particular country. A total of 166
countries are included in the ranking (as against 139 last year). The other
countries were left out because of a lack of reliable, well-supported data.

Wealth and press freedom don't always go together As in 2002, the ranking
shows that a country's respect for press freedom is not solely linked to its
economic development. The top 50 include countries that are among the
poorest in the world, such as Benin (29th position), Timor-Leste (30th) and
Madagascar (46th).

Conversely, the 50 countries that respect press freedom least include such
rich nations as Bahrain (117th) and Singapore (144th).

For the complete List, please press here

_________________________________________

Cuba penúltima, justo delante de Corea del Norte

Estados Unidos e Israel señalados por el comportamiento fuera de sus
fronteras

Reporteros sin Fronteras publica su segunda clasificación mundial de la
libertad de prensa. Como en 2002, Asia presenta la situación más
catastrófica, especialmente en Corea del Norte, Birmania y Laos. Penúltima
en la clasificación, Cuba es hoy la mayor cárcel del mundo para los
periodistas. Estados Unidos e Italia continúan estando relativamente mal
clasificados.

Reporteros sin Fronteras publica su segunda clasificación mundial de la
libertad de prensa. Como en 2002, la situación más catastrófica se da en
Asia, con ocho de los diez países peor clasificados : Corea del Norte,
Birmania, Laos, China, Irán, Vietnam, Turkmenistán y Bután. En esos Estados,
la prensa independiente o no existe, o las autoridades la reprimen
diariamente. Los periodistas trabajan allí en condiciones extremadamente
difíciles, sin ninguna libertad ni seguridad. Varios de ellos se encuentran
encarcelados en Birmania, China e Irán.

Cuba (165) ocupa la penúltima plaza en esta clasificación mundial. En la
primavera de 2003 detuvieron a 26 periodistas, y les condenaron a penas que
van de 14 a 27 años de detención, haciendo del país la mayor cárcel del
mundo para los periodistas. Les acusan de publicar en el extranjero algunos
artículos que hacen el juego a los "intereses imperialistas". Eritrea (162)
presenta la peor situación en el continente africano. Desde hace dos años,
la prensa privada no puede publicarse y catorce periodistas permanecen
detenidos en secreto.

Para establecer esta clasificación, Reporteros sin Fronteras ha pedido a
algunos periodistas, investigadores, juristas o militantes de los derechos
humanos, que rellenaran un cuestionario que permite evaluar la situación de
la libertad de prensa, en un país dado. En el índice figuran 166 naciones
(frente a las 139 del año pasado). Las demás no están, por falta de
informaciones fiables y contrastadas.

Para la lista completa, favor de presionar aquí


NetforCuba International
http://www.netforcuba.org

NetforCuba International en Español, presione aquí:
http://www.netforcuba.org/indexsp.htm

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