TBC's censorship committee makes its mark on coming election

Government enforces fair reporting guidelines on its media - Sitiveni Finau: The law of the freedom of expression is guaranteed in the Constitution of Tonga. This freedom, as in other countries, is subject to various regulations that will ensure the free flow and exchange of ideas, whilst respecting the privacy and the integrity of others, in an ethically sound and professionally competent forum of media reporting and comment. The striking of the right balance between unregulated media operations and the protection of values, practices and security in the public interest, is a challenge to both regulators and practitioners alike. In recent days, Government has been working together with the Tonga Broadcasting Commission to ensure that the quality, accuracy and fairness of broadcasts are maintained. The experience of 2006, where the media operated unhindered and was widely used to broadcast unedited hateful accusations, personal attacks and allegations, including the inciting of public disorder and even violence, must not be repeated. Being mindful of the painful events of November 16th, 2006, and in support of restoring accuracy, fairness and balance into the nation’s discourse, Government has simply reinforced longstanding guidelines and ethical practices

Privately owned media continue to print, rave, broadcast and publish unabated according to their own ethical guidelines, and Government has not interfered with this, although there may have been instances where such actions may have been justified. The Tonga Government has not interfered with the media in private ownership, but has simply moved to assert better quality assurance and service delivery with the public asset under its own care and responsibility. In the interest of allowing a diversity of voices to be heard, even when program content do not meet published guidelines, the Board has allowed clients to rerecord and broadcast their programs at no additional costs. Freedom of the press is not absolute. But Government absolutely has a duty to ensure that the country continues to progress in an atmosphere of peace, security, openness and shared responsibility. - Sitiveni Finau

Editorial Committee stop and be normal - Tevita Langi: It is getting to the point where I have lost my ability to recognize the difference between jokes and idiotic policies coming from the Government. As you published the announcement by the TBC regarding their plan to place gag orders on their staff from reporting on political stories, I began to wonder who is really in charge at the top. Usually, a gag order or restriction on reporters, are directed by the Courts. But TBC placed this on its own reporters? What are they thinking? Do they think at all? This poor decision is creating chaos among the multiple personalities within me, for they are beginning to clash in their confusion from this policy. I said to myself, “Self, did you get that message from Elenoa, regarding the government’s intent to prevent you from hearing the candidates’ view and positions on political issues until the election is over?” Then my Self replied, “How can I evaluate the competency of each candidate if I am clueless on where the candidates stand on issues that are important to me? That doggone horse has to go”.

As my confusion got deepened, I remembered the high and mighty horse being issued to each Civil Servant in the kingdom. Then my Self concluded, “Back in the day, King George Tupou I wanted to give the people in the kingdom a constitution,” but the nobles and the Elenoas of the world were adamant in their insistence to keep the old ways. This is what George Vason, the LMS missionary in the early 1800s who “went native”, wrote about the old ways. “They (the chiefs) exercise an arbitrary power over the lower orders (you and me), and have everything belonging to them in their power, which their sub-officers (the Elenoa and TBC committees of the World) take from them without ceremony, as the chief may need”. Thanks heaven King Tupou I abandoned that practice and gave us a constitution. But despite my own internal conflicts on the issue, educating the public regarding who they should vote for is vital to the democratization process. Retraining of TBC reporters is not necessary. Instruct them to be neutral and unbiased in their reporting. Give equal access to every candidate. All issues or claims raised by candidates must be challenged to be supported by established facts. Otherwise, let the public make their decisions for themselves. This policy is a real blunder which will damage the Government’s scarred image. To the TBC committee, honestly, you were not given a horse. Please stop, move back to where the crowd is, and be normal. Making good decisions is based on getting good information. As the Idiot of my village, I am as untrained as the TBC committee in news reporting. But, I am suspicious they are trying to wrestle my title away from me, for themselves. Competition, eh? If there is an opinion needed vetting, it is the General Managers and the committees in the kingdom. The Prime Minister’s (PM) office needs to vet all national policies before releasing them to the public. The gag order may be at the departmental level, but it affects the kingdom as a whole. Therefore, it becomes a national policy. The PM’s silence on this policy leads me to wonder if Elenoa and the committee are only there for the public’s whipping session. But regardless, in the event this responsibility is too much for my competitors in the TBC and its committee, I am willing to leave the village and come and do their job. They keep the pay! As usual, it will be for free. No, the Minister of Tourism is already doing that. I will do it for a fee, a coconut. Ring me! My mobile is 801-230-7720, but only if you are really in charge! - Tama Foa

Political imbalance at Letio Tonga - Fuai‘api Sime: Let’s be honest and straight with regards to professional jounalism at the Letio Tonga. The Commission has enough professional journalists who were trained overseas and with degrees. The imbalance of political reporting lies in the hands of the head of Letio Tonga, Mrs. Amanaki and her Board, how to edit and broadcast a balanced news. Favoritism and imbalance have their own separate definitions. Malo ‘aupito. - Fuai‘api Sime

Excuse me! I think I am going to throw up - Tama Foa: To Mr. Sevele and Mr. Matoto, may the best man win. The decision made by Elenoa for the TBC has a far-reaching impact on the future of the kingdom. And the Prime Minister washed his hands of it? The groundwork and the foundations for the 2010 political change will be brainstormed, analyzed and structured in Parliament by members who will be elected this month. Is it not important for the public to know who they should vote for, based on where they stand on issues? But, it gets better. The Prime Minister who heads the TBC Board said he had no hand in the move. “This is a decision at the management level. I don't get involved in that. I don't want to be involved in that decision. What I have been told is this is a management decision, and therefore I would not want to interfere in those decisions.” Adding salt to the injury, the Minister of Information, Afu'alo Matoto, said while some of the TBC's journalists have extensive experience, there is a need for greater knowledge and for more skill in interviewing. “It's probably not so much a matter of training, it is probably a matter of experience and to know exactly how they can keep within the boundaries of the policy of the organization.” Huh? Excuse me! I think I am going to throw up.

I am really confused. The Tonga Broadcasting Commission is a publicly-owned entity where the public rely on for their information. If a minister has to be chairman, then shouldn't the Minister of Information be the Chairperson of that board? Why is the PM the Chairperson? Oh! I get it! It guess in due time, when the Minister himself has the experience, he will become the chairperson. I wonder if Elenoa will determine when the Minister is ready for the job. But, if the Minister's responsibilities are limited to technological areas like the information highway, why didn't they say so? Simpletons like myself, can relate to easy titles like: Minister of the Internet or Minister of Mobile Phones. These are the sources of our information. Without good information from TBC, there is very little hope for us in the village. The translation at the village level regarding the ministerial title is somewhat more straightforward. Although backward, they are calling it, the Minister of Computers and Mice. Village folks!

I do not know a whole lot, but Alas! I am a displaced fool from the village with stupid questions; a fool who now believes this decision by the TBC will have a deteriorating effect on our march to the 2010 political change. I do secretly hope God will intervene; and does it pronto. We ceded the kingdom to Him, and so far, it's nothing but chaos. If He didn't accept our offer in Pouono, why didn't he tell us we are on our own? Seems to be the case at this point; at least that is what the village folks are thinking. While we are all waiting to blindly elect those whom we think who will do a good job coming 2010, I hope those in charge at the top understand that national policies are not formulated at department levels. Heck, bring it to the village. We'll tell you, there are enough idiots in our midst. When you are in charge, take charge. - Tama Foa

Monitors of the public airwaves - Sitiveni Finau (Ministry of Public Enterprises and Information): There is a particular parliamentary candidate who, to put it mildly, does not seem to quite like the Chinese people for some reason. In one of his interviews, aired on television a few weeks ago, he made the following assertion: that Tongan farmers, have to suffer in the hot sun, the pouring rain and the swirling dust of the roadside selling their produce because the Chinese have taken over the local market. And instead of challenging this false accusation, the interview goes on to other topics, leaving the impression that it is a legitimate statement. An inquisitive interviewer might have handled the claim differently, and subject this statement to closer scrutiny. Perhaps the candidate could be asked such questions as: …“how many stalls altogether at the market?; how many are occupied by Tongans, and how many by Chinese?; how many of these Chinese work in partnerships with Tongans?; how many of the roadside sellers go there because a Chinese took over their space at the market? In essence, what is the evidence for making such a divisive, and racially charged allegation? It is when interviews leave unchallenged and unquestioned the reckless and unfounded claims by some candidates, that such claims take on the air of being true, and adds on a dangerous ingredient to the public debate. When a particular race is so vilified in the media, like the Chinese for example, then it tends to justify, in the minds of the vulnerable and the criminal, unspeakable acts against such a group in the community. Just like we witnessed on 16/11/2006, and even up to the present time. With enough demonisation, and repetition in different variations, then it becomes “alright” to beat them up, smash their shops, steal their property, burn down their businesses and threaten their lives. Even now, the Tonga Police are still working on the case of a Chinese grandmother being shot and hospitalised, because of a hold-up at gunpoint not that long ago. An official of the Talamahu Market denies that the Chinese have taken over the market, or that Tongans have been forced out due to some Chinese invasion. In fact, the official said, the claim is blatantly false, there are many stalls vacant, and they are trying their best to bring in the roadside sellers to occupy them. Tongan farmers are simply exercising their freedom and independence and sell their wares wherever, within the law, it pleases them.

Board and Management

A few people have questioned the board and management of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission exercising a monitoring function on the use of the public airwaves. It is a matter of public record that candidates continue to utilize the Tonga Broadcasting Commission to run their campaigns and broadcast their messages to the country. Yesterday here in Tonga, candidates of opposing viewpoints even appeared together on the same time slot on television and shared the same stage in articulating their different visions for the country. The custodian of the public airwaves has a duty to balance out the freedom of expression imperative, and the necessity for peace, security and stability in the society. And, when it comes to prior diligence or later regrets, in the light of the devastating events in our recent history, it is clear what course of action a prudent and responsible administration should be taking. - Sitiveni Finau (Ministry of Public Enterprises and Information)