US leaves out Asian countries among press freedom violators

WASHINGTON – The US State Department on Thursday issued a list of countries that undermine press freedom with threats, intimidation and violence but left out egregious violators in Asia on the eve of President Donald Trump’s visit to the region.

The president embarks on a 12-day, five-country trip to Asia including China, Vietnam and the Philippines, none of which was in the list.

The State Department, in a press release marking International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, renewed US commitment to promoting a free, professional and independent press abroad and advocating accountability for crimes against journalists.

It said in too many parts of the world crimes against journalists go unpunished. 

It then went on to name 11 countries – Syria, Venezuela, Iraq, Sudan, Uganda Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia, Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan – as among those with the worst records for unsolved murders of journalists.

Being left out of the list was more important than being included in the light of Trump’s Asia visit starting on Friday.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index said China, Vietnam and the Philippines were among the most dangerous countries for journalists.

It said China was the world’s leading violator of press freedom followed by Vietnam.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists in its list of the top 12 countries where journalists are murdered and their killers go free ranked the Philippines in 5th position in its Global Impunity Index.