(IPI/IFEX) - Edinburgh, 30 May 2006: At the Board Meeting of the International Press Institute, in Edinburgh, Scotland on 29 May 2006, the IPI Executive Board voted unanimously to keep Ethiopia, Nepal, Russia, Venezuela and Zimbabwe on the IPI Watch List.
Speaking generally about the Watch List countries, IPI Director Johann P. Fritz said, "Nepal is the only country on the IPI Watch List where there have been improvements. The restoration of democracy provides hope for the future, but it is important that reforms take hold before any decision is made on the country's status."
"In Ethiopia and Zimbabwe the independent media have been systematically suppressed. The Ethiopian media are currently in disarray because of the government's determination to prosecute some journalists for treason; while, in Zimbabwe, the independent media have been drowned in a deluge of repressive legislation, antagonistic security forces, expensive litigation and red tape that continues to stifle freedom of the press," commented Fritz.
"In Russia some media continue to spend much of their broadcasting time on reports favourable to the Russian authorities, President Putin and the ruling party. Elsewhere, journalists continue to be attacked, detained, and otherwise harassed by authorities and other groups. Despite the focus on Russian cities, it is actually in the outlying provinces where many of the press freedom violations occur."
"Since becoming president of Venezuela in 1998, Hugo Chávez has waged a continuous war of words against the domestic media and by expressing his dislike so vehemently and calling on his supporters to do likewise, President Chávez has created an extremely hostile climate for the media," said Fritz.
"I also note the legal action brought by the independent media in South Korea and I will continue to monitor the situation with a view to deciding what action IPI should take."
