Benjamin Franklin said it best; "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety". But as governments and corporations battle to control our media channels, we would do well to remember those who have already lost their freedom of speech.
Since the Greeks clashed with the Persian empire, the west has held strong traditions emphasizing individual freedoms and rights. Foremost are the rights of the individual to the freedom of speech that underpins democracy. The progess of humanity depends on such libery. But we are lucky; not everyone has these basic freedoms. This article takes a brief look at 3 of the most sensored countries.
North Korea
North Korea is a country that has been described by journalists as being an information black hole. Also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK), the country was formed in the aftermath of World War II, when the north was held under Soviet occupation and the south under the occupation of other allied countries. As a result of this occupation, North Korea has deceloped into a Soviet-style socialist regime contrasting with the Western-style republic of South Korea. Ben Anderson, a reporter for the BBC, said the country was strange to the point of being surreal and described it as a "Stalinist theme park". The country's political system is extreme and has been described as a 'personality cult' of the Eternal president: Kim Il-sung, who founded the country, and who continues to be president despite his death in 1994. The country is a dictatorship run by the president's son Kim Jong Il. Every aspect of the media is controlled, propaganda is rife, and even history is portrayed differently within the borders of North Korea. According to a report from the committee to protect journalists, "North Korea has no independent journalists, and all radio and television receivers sold in the country are locked to government-specified frequencies. "
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea is one of the smallest countries in continental Africa. Its President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has been in power since 1979. The 1982 constitution of Equatorial Guinea gave Obiang extensive powers, which he uses to maintain tight hold on the country. The country is oil rich, and of the country's £370 million revenue a large portion is confiscated by the president. Meanwhile most of the 500,000 subjects are living below the poverty line, often less than a dollar a day. The media is subject to heavy self-censorship, and there are laws in place banning criticism of public figures. The state-owned media and radio stations are controlled by the president's son.
Burma
Burma, officially known as the Union of Myanmar, is governed by a strict military dictatorship (a military junta) headed by Senior General Than Shwe, who holds the not only the post of "Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council" but also "Commander in Chief of the Defense Services" and Minister of Defence. In 1989 the junta passed the "Adaptation of Expressions Law" that officially changed the English version of the country's name from Burma to Myanmar, though many do not recognize the authority of the dictatorship to effect changes upon the country's name.
The 'Campaign for Human Rights and Democracy in Burma', (the only national organisation in the UK dedicated to campaigning for human rights and democracy in Burma.) describes the country as being, "ruled by one of the most brutal military dictatorships in the world; a dictatorship charged by the United Nations with a 'crime against humanity' for its systematic abuses of human rights, and condemned internationally for refusing to transfer power to the legally elected Government of the country - the party led by Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi."
According to the committee to protect journalists, "The junta owns all daily newspapers and radio, along with the country's three television channels. Media dare not hint at, let alone report on, antigovernment sentiments."
