Bhutan media situation worsens

Kathmandu, October 24: Media Situation in Bhutan has worsened this year even though the government claimed it is working to establish democratic government by holding first general elections soon.

It lost by 18 places compared to last year.

The worldwide press freedom index published recently by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has placed Bhutan in 116 rank out of 169 countries, down from 98 out of 168 last year. In 2005, the country ranked 142 out of 167 and in 2004, it ranked 146 out of 167 countries. In 2002, Bhutan was at top five worse offenders of press freedom in the world.

Bhutan scored 3717, 2500, 5150, 5583 and 9075 in 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2002 press freedom index respectively. Bhutan News Service