SECTOR 1 date must still be set. Once it is operational, there will be a number of restrictions on media freedom. In the wake of the May 2009 murder of John Kalafatis, allegedly by state security agents who suspected him of being a criminal, President Khama sued the private Sunday Standard newspaper for alleging that he may have been involved in the killing. However, the president withdrew the lawsuit, allegedly due to the pressure from the media. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 1.2 (2005 = 1.3; 2007 = 1.3; 2009 = 1.0) 1.4 Government makes every effort to honour regional and international instruments on freedom of expression and the media. The state appears to sign numerous regional and international instruments relating to freedom of expression and media freedom, but does not honour them. These include the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Information. Botswana has signed and ratified quite a number of international and regional treaties and protocols, including the Kyoto Protocol which was signed in August 2003 and ratified in February 2005. However, the major challenge is always domestication. “The government will sign (them), but in many instances, that is as far as it goes”. The key implications of not having signed or acceded to these treaties and protocols are that the rights provided for in the instruments are not recognised by the Government of Botswana, and are not of persuasive value. “Even in most cases, the members of parliament are not informed about what has been signed until civil society takes up an issue.” 14 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2011