Amnesty International has vocally opposed President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that slashes funding for US-backed media outlets, notably Radio Free Asia (RFA). They argued that this drastic reduction is tantamount to shutting down RFA, a vital vehicle of American influence in promoting free speech and countering state-sponsored narratives in Asia.
Amnesty highlighted that RFA plays a pivotal role in providing alternatives to government-controlled media, especially critical reporting on human rights abuses against Uyghurs in China and other issues like corruption in Vietnam. Without RFA, they warn that oppressive regimes will tighten their grips on information and silence dissenting voices.
Celebrating the potential closure, authoritarian governments in Asia have reacted positively. A Chinese state-run newspaper mocked RFA and Voice of America (VOA), stating they had been abandoned like “a dirty rag.” Furthermore, a Cambodian politician also praised this development as a significant step towards combating “fake news.”
The funding cuts were mandated by a directive from March 14, instructing various agencies, including the United States Agency for Global Media, to reduce workforce and operations as much as possible. This has already led to a substantial reduction in RFA’s staff, with 75% furloughed and over 90% of freelance journalists suspended.
In response to these drastic measures, former employees of VOA have sought legal recourse to stop the cuts, filing for a temporary restraining order. RFA staff who have been terminated have also taken action, calling for a halt to further job losses as the crisis unfolds.
Amnesty International condemned President Trump’s cuts to funding for US-backed media like Radio Free Asia (RFA), linking it to unchecked human rights violations. RFA provides essential reporting against state-controlled narratives in Asia, warning that this action allows authoritarian regimes to further suppress dissent. The cuts have already led to widespread furloughs of staff, and former employees are seeking legal intervention against these measures.
The defunding of global media outlets like RFA threatens to undermine the critical role they play in promoting free expression and reporting human rights violations. Amnesty International’s condemnation highlights the risks of empowering authoritarian regimes through reduced oversight and lost voices in journalism.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
