Last Updated: Tuesday, 29 May 2012, 16:08 GMT

Title	Freedom of the Press - East Timor (2003)
Publisher	Freedom House
Country	Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Publication Date	30 April 2003
Cite as	Freedom House, Freedom of the Press - East Timor (2003), 30 April 2003, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/473450ab23.html [accessed 30 May 2012]
Disclaimer	This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Freedom of the Press - East Timor (2003)

Status: Free
Legal Environment: 3
Political Influences: 8
Economic Pressures: 11
Total Score: 22

Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 48
Religious Groups: Roman Catholic (90 percent), Muslim (4 percent), Protestant (3 percent), other (3 percent)
Ethnic Groups: Autronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Capital: Dili

The new constitution adopted in March protects freedom of expression, but also allows the government to suspend rights in cases affecting national security or in order to protect "human dignity." State-run public radio and television services began operating when the country achieved full independence in May, replacing the broadcasting media operated by the interim UN administration. Like other services run by the cash-strapped government, however, the new broadcasting system faced problems, with Radio East Timor at times unavailable in parts of the country because of power shortages. Two independent dailies and a number of weekly publications cover a diverse range of views. While there are no legal impediments to establishing new media, entrants into the market are constrained by insufficient financial resources. In November, authorities indicted two Indonesian military officers for the 1999 killing of Dutch journalist Sander Thoenes.

Topics: Freedom of expression,

Regions

Countries

Countries