“These predators of freedom of information are responsible for the worst abuses against the news media and journalists,” Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said in a statement on May 3. “They are becoming more and more effective. In 2012, the level of violence against news providers was unprecedented and a record number of journalists were killed.”

Reporters Without Borders removed Thein Sein from the list taking into account the abolishment of prior media censorship in Myanmar last year; the release of journalists and cyber dissidents from prison; the allowance of daily newspapers from April 1; and the return of many exile media to operate inside Myanmar.

Myanmar is currently 151st on the World Press Freedom Index, a drop of 18 places from its position in last year's list. Previously, the country had been in the bottom 15 every year since 2002.

The second annual Myanmar National Journalism Awards will take place in Yangon on May 3.