From left, Lord Matoto, HE Mr Wang Donghua, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu and HE Mr Dr Kazuchika Hamuro

A government who is afraid of the media is a government that is afraid of its people - everyone has the right to information and this government has accepted these rights to information, the Acting Prime Minister Hon. Samiu Vaipulu said today.

A keynote speaker at the opening of a three-day "Rights to Information in Tonga Workshop - Freedom of Information Policy Awareness" aimed to provide better understanding on the issue and to look at the government's Freedom of Information Policy launched in June 2012, the Acting PM said the right to information is enshrined in Article 19 of the UN Human Rights Declaration.

He said public consultations would be held in July-August this year on a Bill on Freedom of Information and participants in this workshop were to continue discussions, including a viewpoint of the receivers of information.

Freedom of Information is a tool towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, he said.

The workshop held by the Ministry of Information and Communications in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community's -Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) who are conducting the training, attended by Government information officers, media, NGO's and Civil Society at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre in Nuku'alofa.

Democracy

Senior Trainer Graham Leung said any decision on the process and content on law reform on Freedom of Information will be for the people of Tonga and Government to undertake. 

"This workshop is timely as Tonga takes another step towards strengthening democracy as it undertakes further political reforms. It is appropriate because the content will help decision makers determine what is best for Tonga in terms of Freedom of Information and whether this should lead eventually to the adoption of new law on Freedom of Information."

Cook Islands is the only island country in the Pacific region that has a Freedom of Information Law.

He said this workshop would examine how other countries have approached this issue while identifying best practices in drafting a Freedom of Information Law.

This process must be driven by Tongans for Tonga having regard the uniqueness of its constitution, cultural and legal traditions. The hosting of this workshop is demonstrative of the Tongan government's openness to information and would ultimately lead to political accountability, he said.

Policy

According to Government, the Freedom of Information Policy is aimed at promoting a culture of openness among government agencies by making information available to the public. The policy is expected to build on maximum disclosure of information giving the people access to information vital to achieve their potential as citizens of Tonga.