The number of journalists killed, jailed and censored increased in most regions in 1999, making the last year of the century a poor one for press freedom, the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) said on Tuesday, November 23, 1999.
WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 17,000 newspapers; its membership includes 62 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 93 countries, 17 news agencies and seven regional and world-wide press groups.

In its annual review of press freedom developments, the Paris-based WAN said 47 journalists had so far been killed around the world in 1999, 400 had been jailed, and at least 150 newspapers had been banned.

"More people in the world are classified as 'unfree' than 'free', and attacks on the press in 1999 remain at an appalling level," WAN said in a report to its annual Board meeting in Lisbon, Portugal.

The number of journalists killed has been down in recent years -- 28 in 1998 and 26 in 1997 -- in contrast to this year's high toll.

“The high figures are in part explained by the wars that besieged both Sierra Leone and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but these murders are more widespread than last year.  Europe, that had known no murders in 1998, has in 1999; Africa's total toll has more than doubled to 16," said WAN.

Of the 400 journalists that have been arrested and detained this year, up to 200 are still in prison.
In a region-by-region review, WAN said:

Africa

Sixteen journalists have been murdered for practicing their profession in Africa so far in 1999, and at least 23 are imprisoned, 8 of them in Ethiopia.

Despite new presidential elections in February, four journalists have been murdered in Nigeria this year in the transition to democracy.

A military dictator still rules by decree in Niger and former military dictators are presidents in the Gambia and Burkina Faso.  Only four of Africa's 54 countries are considered as truly free.

All of Africa is now hooked up to internet, with the exception of Eritrea.  Yet internet, the fastest and cheapest means of communication, can only impact 0.1 percent of the population.  It is currently estimated that 75 percent of Africans will never make a phone call.

Europe

To date, journalists have been killed in Europe this year, in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Turkey, Great Britain, the Ukraine and Cyprus.

President Lukashenko tightened his grip on Belarus, when he re-appointed himself as President in July for another two years.  In the run-up to his self-appointment, all Belorussian newspapers received orders to praise the Lukashenko regime and just last month nine Minsk-based newspapers were banned.

In addition to Belarus, three other European countries are considered as not totally free -- Croatia, Yugoslavia and Turkey.

Asia

Some 30 journalists are imprisoned in Asia, and seven journalists were killed there in the course of 1999.   Only a handful of countries there are deemed "free", whilst Burma, Vietnam, China and Afghanistan are frequently cited as the most repressive regimes in the world.  China still holds the record for journalists imprisoned, with at least 11 behind bars.
In China, as in Burma, use of the Internet without government approval can carry sentences of up to 15 years in prison. North Korea provides no access to the Internet whatsoever.

For the fifth year in a row, Turkmenistan has no independent newspapers. In Uzbekistan, every page of a major newspaper must have the censor's stamp before it can be published. In Kazakstan, the two major newspapers were forced out of business.
Indonesia has ridden a rocky path on its transition to democracy and has seen the creation of many new publications and press associations. On the other hand, three journalists have been murdered - one hacked to death in North Aceh, two others shot in East Timor - since June.

Middle East

One journalist was killed in the region in 1999, and 20 are in prison -- eight of them in Syrian jails.

"Censorship, intimidation, and imprisonment are regular practices in this region, and independent journalism is non-existent in the most repressive states of Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Tunisia," WAN said.

The struggle for reform in Iran has weakened in the course of the year. Over 20 newspapers have been suspended and up to 20 journalists arrested during the past two years. In recent months a draft press bill was approved, compelling journalists to reveal their sources.

Iran's first ever Cyber-Café opened its doors this year, allowing Iranians to consult the "Neda-Net", the government-filtered Internet, and the web is making a breakthrough in the Middle East even if the governments of Iraq and Libya continue to outlaw all use of it.

Latin America

Five journalists have been killed in Latin America this year, against 14 in 1998. The number of journalists in prison is also down, from 9 in 1998 to 4. All of them are being held in Cuba for sentences of up to two years for "disrespect towards officials".  In nearly every country in the Americas, libel is a criminal offense, punishable by prison. Kidnappings also remain a problem, with at least 14 occurring in Colombia.

The author works as a Director of Communications with WAN.