Placing Bhutan at the 82nd position, Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontier (RSF) said the press freedom index of Bhutan has fallen by 12 positions in 2012. In the previous year, the Bhutan’s position was 70.
The same three European countries that headed the index last year hold the top three positions again this year, the RSF report said.
For the third year running, Finland has distinguished itself as the country that most respects media freedom. It is followed by the Netherlands and Norway.
Although many criteria are considered, ranging from legislation to violence against journalists, democratic countries occupy the top of the index while dictatorial countries occupy the last three positions. Again it is the same three as last year – Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea, according to the report.
Similarly, Nepal suffered the same fate dropping the index from 106 to 118, while India has continued to remain at the lowest position (140th position in 2012) since 2002 because of increasing impunity for violence against journalists, and internet censorship at grow.
The media watchdog was founded in 1985, and has been continuously working to defend and protect journalists around the world. It has around 120 correspondents worldwide.
