Thursday, March 22, 2012

Continued Suppression of Internet Freedom by World's Dictatorships Cause for Alarm, Ros-Lehtinen Says

Continued Suppression of Internet Freedom by World's Dictatorships Cause
for Alarm, Ros-Lehtinen Says

Mar 21, 2012 (Congressional Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via
COMTEX) -- (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on the annual
report on internet freedom by Reporters Without Borders. The report
examines worldwide freedom of expression on, or access to, the internet,
and lists twelve nations as "enemies of the internet," including Iran,
Syria, Cuba, Burma, China, and North Korea. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
"It is indefensible but unsurprising that the world's dictatorships
continue their assault on internet freedom. Reporters Without Borders'
recent 'enemies of the internet' report clearly shows that the regimes
in Iran, Syria, Cuba, Burma, China, and North Korea not only censor the
web, but aggressively target individuals who pursue freedom of
expression online.

"This blatant repression is a clear indicator that these countries are
not interested in democratic reform, but remain committed to tyranny.
Although countries like Burma and China speak of reform and progress,
they continue to monitor and control internet use, and detain people who
are peacefully attempting to be heard. Cuba continues its
business-as-usual approach in silencing any calls for democracy and
imprisoning voices of dissent at will. It is not surprising that the
Castro brothers have made the list every year since its inception.

"Freedom of expression is one of the founding principles of this
country, and the U.S. should remain committed to standing up for it
around the world. I commend Reporters Without Borders for their
diligence in constructing this report, and urge the Obama Administration
and others to press these regimes to end these flagrant human rights
violations." Read this original document at:
http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press_display.asp?id=2262

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2012/03/21/6204231.htm

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