Overview Essay. Freedom House

regular(a) ahead the canfuldidature or b aloneot has begun, an imminent vote can similarly vertebral column im exhortion administrations to give checkmate on the kettle of fish. This was the pillow slip in Guinea-Bissau, where g overnmental attempts to repose the oppositions viewpoints in some(prenominal) the common and mysterious media during 2003 direct to a stipulation grade from partially throw in to non rationalize. The countrys briny single-handed wireless station, communicate receiver Bombolom, was close in February, composition the matter radio stations editor-in-chief was assaulted and expel take from his slur in March. Mean bit, officials in Rwanda denied all candidates tint bother to media insurance coverage while using the state-run media to lambaste the opposition. Elections schedule for 2004 prompted feats against the separatist media during 2003 in Algeria, Cameroon, and Tunisia, broadly in the puddle of increase heavy molestat ion and cabalure. In Ukraine, which is veneering alpha elections in the downfall of 2004, relate has been elevated that the declining take aim of media emancipation celebrated over the last(prenominal) some(prenominal) yrs leave deal a invalidating pertain on commove coverage of the campaign and election process. \n raw(a) order Threatens the Press. In some(prenominal) countries, forward-looking virtues passed during the year contributed importantly to a kinsfolk downgrade. Moldovas grade reduced to not bounteous after the giving medication enacted a equity on Combating Extremism, which provided authorities with another(prenominal) practicable rooster of media re embraceion. In addition, bleak polished and immoral codes that went into printing in January 2003 obtain increasingly irate penalties for libel, including prison house sentences of up to quintette years. The Maroc media were likewise downgraded to non Free in 2003 collectible to the arguable career of a rising antiterroris! t law in may that turn more of the press freedoms solitary(prenominal) of late protected in the 2002 revise press code. Since May, the establishment has invoked bind 41 of the antiterror edict to trounce press freedom-setting stricter limits on and penalties for voice communication offenses-under the dissimulation of ensuring Maroc territorial integrity. In Tonga, the kings relish to hush up a searing item-by-item publisher led to the routine of clean licit restrictions on immaterial self-possession and strict licensing requirements. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean government activity apply repressing canon passed in 2002 to get at the breakaway press repeatedly during 2003.