The Korean Conundrum
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North Koreans enjoy the lowest level of freedom in the world, according to Freedom House, a non-profit, nonpartisan organisation, which itself claims to be a voice for democracy and freedom around the world. The Kim Jong Il regime maintains a network of prison camps in which thousands of political prisoners are subjected to brutal conditions, says a report in Foreign Policy Journal, a US-based think tank publication.
Image: Pupils walk past models of a North Korean Scud-B missile and South Korean missiles at the Korean War Memorial Museum in Seoul.
Photographs: Reuters
Junta's Jeopardy
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Myanmar or Burma: The ruling junta, led by Senior Than Shwe, governs Burma by decree, controlling all branches of power. The junta rejected its defeat in the 1990 elections and has kept pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in prison for most of the past 19 years, says the Foreign Policy Journal.
Image: Mayanmar
Photographs: Mayanmar
Somalia's Sorrow
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Somalia is governed by the Ethiopian-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG), but its actual control is very minimal. There are no effective political parties, and the political process is driven largely by clan loyalty.
Image: Fighters loyal to Hisbul Islam party take part in a street fight against Somali government forces.
Photographs: Reuters
China's Chagrin
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The other countries on the Top 10 list are Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Chechnya (Russia), Tibet (China).
Image: A truck which was destroyed in Sunday's riot is hoisted in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region.
Photographs: Reuters
Cuba's Coterie
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Image: A boy walks on a street in Havana.
Photographs: Reuters
Monarch's Mind Games
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Saudi Arabia is an authoritarian monarchy in which all political power is held by the royal family. There is no democracy as well, says the report.
The Freedom House status: Not Free
Image: US President Barack Obama is welcomed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by King Abdullah
Photographs: Reuters
Nepal's Notoriety
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Nepal is being described as partly free.
Image: A monk adjusts Buddha statuettes at a monastery in Kathmandu
Photographs: Reuters
Pakistan's Paranoia
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Image: Lashkar members guarding a road pose for media in Swat
Photographs: Reuters
Lanka's Loss
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The dreaded LTTE chief may be killed, but Sri Lanka has been described as a partly-free status.
Image: Sri Lanka Air Force Hongdu JL-8 jets in action in Colombo.
Photographs: Reuters
Malaysia's Misery
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This may come as a surprise but a progressive Malaysia has been termed partly-free.
Image: The sun sets near the Petronas Twin Towers (C) and Kuala Lumpur Tower
Photographs: Reuters
Israel's Ire
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Again surprisingly, Israel has been termed a free country despite its long-standing wars with the neighbouring countries.
Image: Israeli F-15 perform during an exhibition
Photographs: Reuters
India Ink
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Thanks to a booming democracy and its billion people -- its biggest asset-- India is termed a FREE nation. If anyone needs proof, look back to the recent polls -- the biggest such exercise in the world.
Image: A Muslim voter shows her ink-marked finger after casting vote in Uttar Pradesh
Photographs: Reuters
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