Figures in 2010 57 journalists killed (25% fewer than in 2009) 51 journalists kidnapped 535 journalists arrested 1374 physically attacked or threatened 504 media censored 127 journalists fled their country 152 bloggers and netizens arrested 52 physically attacked 62 countries affected by Internet censorship

Asia’s four Communist regimes, North Korea (177th place), China (171st), Vietnam (165th) Laos (168th), are among the fifteen lowest-ranked countries of the 2010 World Press Freedom Index. Ranked just one place behind Eritrea, hellish totalitarian North Korea has shown no improvement. To the contrary: in a succession framework set up by Kim Jong-il in favour of his son, crackdowns have become even harsher. China, despite its dynamic media and Internet, remains in a low position because of non-stop censorship and repression, notably in Tibet and Xinjiang.

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) expresses grave concern over the Thai military's attempts to suppress the news coverage of its deportation of 4,000 Hmong refugees from their camp in Thailand's northern province of Petchabun in December 2009.

Political power grabs dealt press freedom a great disservice again this year. In Thailand, the endless clashes between “yellow shirts” and “red shirts” had a very negative impact on the press’s ability to work. As a result, the kingdom is now 130th.