BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The ranking of the Philippines in the World Press Freedom Index has dropped to 156 this year from 122 in 2009 mainly because of the massacre of 32 journalists in Maguindanao in November last year.
“Impunity still reigns in the Philippines, despite a few murders of journalists being brought to trial,” said Vincent Brossels, Asia-Pacific coordinator of Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters Without Borders or RSF) which released the report.
In 2008, the Philippines ranked 139th, in 2007, 128th and in 2006 143rd.
Some 178 countries were ranked in the index which measures the violations of press freedom in the world and the degree of freedom enjoyed by journalists and news organizations in each country.
RSF said, however, that the index should not be taken as an indication of the quality of the press in the countries ranked.
Northern European countries Finland, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland ranked in the top six of the index because journalists in these countries are protected from abuse.
“These six countries set an example in the way they respect journalists and news media and protect them from judicial abuse,” RSF said.
In the Asia-Pacific region, communist regimes are among the 15 lowest ranking countries because of censorship and repression.
These are North Korea (177), China (171), Laos (168) and Vietnam (165).
In some Asia-Pacific countries, political violence has caused the ranking of some countries to slide down.
Thailand dropped 23 places to 153 after two journalists were killed and some 15 wounded while covering the military crackdown on the Red Shirts movement in Bangkok.
The ranking of India slipped to 122, 17 places lower because of the extreme violence in Kashmir.
Despite “remarkable media growth” in Indonesia, which raked 117th, it still cannot find a place in the top 100 countries because of the killing of two journalists and death threats against several others who report on the environment.
The rankings of Taiwan (48) and South Korea (42) rose 11 and 27 places, respectively, after arrests of journalists and violence committed against them have ceased. –Artemio Dumlao (The Philippine Star)
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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