Namibia SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1 Average score: 1.8 1.7 (2005 = 2.4) Civil society in general and media lobby groups actively advance the cause of media freedom. ANALYSIS: While lobby groups such as MISA Namibia and the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) are trying to advance the cause of media freedom, there was consensus that civil society in general is apathetic. While many violations of media freedom take place, civil society does not act, perhaps out of fear. Even the media themselves are not united in supporting their own media groups, such as MISA Namibia, because it is seen to be antagonistic towards government. While the letters pages in newspapers and radio chat shows are popular, few people go beyond verbal criticism of state action, issuing a press release, for example. Occasionally civil society will mobilise around an issue but this is usually momentary, and citizens rarely rise to the defence of broader democratic values. There has been a growing trend within the political sphere for young radicals of SWAPO, as well as other parties, to gag the press, “depending on what they are told to say”. 10 African Media Barometer - Namibia 2007