DILI, 23 may 2022 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has risen to 17th position from last year’s 71st rank out of 180 countries, said the Interim Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Social Communication, and the Secretary of State for Communications, Merício Juvinal dos Reis ‘Akara’.
This year, Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th), Ireland (6th), Portugal (7th), Costa Rica (8th), Lithuania (9th), and Liechtenstein (10) occupied the top 10 positions, while North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of the 180 countries and territories ranked by the Reporters Without Borders.
According to the RSF 2022 World Press Freedom Index, Timor-Leste has climbed up by 11 points in the global ranking at 17th position, putting Timor-Leste at the top among other ASEAN countries.
Among ASEAN countries, the RSF 2022 World Press Freedom Index placed Malaysia at 113th, Thailand at 115th, Indonesia at 117th, Singapore at 139th, Cambodia at 142nd, Brunei at 144th, the Philippines at 147th, Laos at 161st, Vietnam 174th, and Myanmar at 176th.
RFS Reporters Without Borders reported that no journalist has ever been jailed in connection with their work in Timor-Leste, but the media law adopted in 2014 hangs over journalists like a sword of Damocles and encourages self-censorship.
The 2022 edition of the World Press Freedom Index, which assesses the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories, highlights the disastrous effects of news and information chaos – the effects of a globalized and unregulated online information space that encourages fake news and propaganda, said 2022 World Press Freedom Index.
To reflect press freedom’s complexity, five new indicators are now used to compile the Index: the political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and security.
Akara said: “Reaching the 17th position demonstrated that Timor-Leste had made a very significant improvement in the freedom of expression and media.”
“It shows that freedom of expression, media freedom and safety of journalists are guaranteed in Timor-Leste. In addition, it can be said that we have no political interference in the operations of media outlets, either by politicians requesting editors or others involved in the production of news to alter or halt a story,” Akara made the comments after meeting Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, in Farol, Dili, today.
At the same place, Taur Matan Ruak said occupying the 17th position made the nation proud as a young democratic nation.
“Prime Minister Ruak also congratulated national media and Timorese journalists for carrying out their duties in covering the installation of the President of the Republic, Jose Ramos Horta, and the commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the independence,” Akara added.
Akara called on Timorese journalists to improve their news quality, especially the content quality.
“Prime Minister also wants all media outlets in Timor-Leste to communicate and inform government’s top priorities program to the people,” he concluded.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
