1.   The government is moving to enact two laws that journalists here say would muzzle independent newspapers during the year preceding the next election, early next year.

2.   Earlier this month vigilantes suspected of acting on orders from hard-line officials assaulted the minister of culture after he failed to heed repeated warnings to muzzle outspoken newspapers.

3.   The authorities have muzzled newspapers that failed to toe the party line and have intensified efforts to stifle dissent on the Internet.

4.   The government has muzzled newspapers, and it held carefully controlled parliamentary elections in June, seeking to give the impression the insurgency is under control.