Tonga Government gags Press Freedom, says Law Society president [1]
Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 15:23. Updated on Thursday, May 1, 2014 - 17:45.
“Give us the right to say what we think is wrong, and to say what we think should be done.”
The Tonga Government gagged Press Freedom when it amended Clause 7 of the Tongan Constitution last year, Laki Niu, the President of the Tongan Law Society, told Tongan media operators on February 9.
Laki, who was launching a workshop on "Ethics for the Tongan Media" at the Tongan Broadcasting Commission conference room, pointed out that it was only natural for someone to react if he or she was denied the right to express feelings.
Laki was concerned about the "cultural" restrictions in the changes, because the culture of Tonga included the King, the nobles and the people. "If we write opinions about them, I think we will be breaching the constitutional change that was done last year, and that is why I said I disagreed with government at the time."
Some media organisations who applied for licences were denied, "Why? Why are they not giving you your licence to continue or, at least, comply with what they want you to do?" he asked.
"I know that there are criteria they would like you to satisfy. Maybe. I don't know the reason why they have not given you a licence. But it is a fact that it affects Freedom of the Speech, doesn't it? What is wrong if somebody writes what he thinks? That is what we used to do, until last year. If any of you wanted to write what you think, the Constitution allowed it, so long as you didn't defame anybody, so long as you didn't breach any official secrets or affect the reputation of the King and the Royal Family."
Laki believed that there is no freedom of the Press, Freedom of Expression, and Freedom of the Press in Tonga any more, because now government says, "don't write anything until we give you a licence to write." He said the irony was that, "then they don't give it to you because they don't think that you are fit. I tell you, that is a loss of the Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Speech!"
Laki was hopeful that the Tonga Media Council would be able to work together to restore Press Freedom, something that the people of Tonga could be proud of. "Give us the right to say what we think is wrong, and to say what we think should be done" he said.