(As expected, Manila rejected the CPJ’s findings.) The Philippines and Afghanistan had the highest journalist deaths in the region last year, a number that was only overshadowed by the 32 journalists killed in Iraq in 2006. It added that conflicts in Pakistan and Sri Lanka where two journalists have so far been killed are expected to cause more deaths for journalists.

Worldwide, 55 journalists were killed in direct connection to their work in 2006, Dietz said. Another 30 deaths were being investigated to determine whether they also were linked to the journalists’ work.

Meanwhile, the total number of journalists jailed worldwide rose to 134 in 2006 - nine more than a year earlier.

At the same time, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders tagged presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo as the “new enemy of the Philippine press because of his series of libel suits filed againstjournalists in an attempt to silence them.

Reporters Sans Frontieres made this conclusion as it released a survey of press freedom in 98 countries around the world. RSF found it ironic that Arroyo lodged 43 libel complaints against journalists while his wife, President Arroyo, claimed that her government was “respectful of press freedom, an institution of Philippine democracy.”

Contrary to the New York report of the Committee to Protect Journalists, the RSF said six journalists were killed in the Philippines in 2006 and that “murders, assaults, arrests, abusive lawsuits and censorship were the hallmark of 2006 in this country.” There were at least 25 murder attempts and assaults and 10 arrests during 2006.

RSF said the Arroyo administration “has been widely criticized for its inability to act against the murderers of opposition and human rights activists,” with some politically committed journalists ending up as victims of political violence.

It said police and the courts have chalked up some successes in their struggle against the murderers of journalists, as shown by the sentencing to life imprisonment of four men found guilty of murdering Marlene Esperrat in March 2005.

“But collusion inside the justice system allowed those who ordered the killing to escape court for the time being,” it  said.

It said “censorship also bit deeper” in 2006 because local politicians sought to silence opposition media.It noted that the mayor of Valencia City ordered the closure -0f radio dxVR in March 2006 because some of the media persons in the station were close to his political opponents. RSF said the worst violations were noted in repressive countries such as North Korea, Eritrea, Cuba and Turkmenistan.

“A disturbingly record number of journalists and media workers were killed or thrown in prison around the world in 2006 and we are already concerned about 2007, as six journalists and four media assistants have been killed in January alone," the introduction said.

It also expressed alarm over the “alarming lack of interest and sometimes even failure) by democratic countries in defending the values they are supposed to incarnate."

“Almost everyone believes in human rights these days but amid the silences and behavior on all sides, we wonder who now has the necessary moral authority to make a principled stand in favor of these freedoms," it said.

Noted an “alarming” peaking of press freedom violations in Asia in 2006, with 16 media workers killed, at least 328 arrested, 517 physically attacked or threatened and 478 media outlets censored.

“Censorship is very widespread and complete freedom to speak and write is rare in Asia," it said.

“Dictatorships also seem to be tightening their grip on the Internet and at least 60 people are in prison for posting criticism of the government online. China, the leading offender, is being copied by Vietnam, Syria, Tunisia, Libya and Iran and more and more bloggers and cyber-dissidents are in jail," it added.