In an address to mark the World Press Freedom Day, May 3 the Minister of Justice Hon Samiu Vaipulu assured local journalists that Clause 7 of the Constitution, which guaranteed Freedom of Speech and Media Freedom, would not be touched while government is drafting legislation to implement political reform and to hold a general election on November 25.
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Results for Tonga Media Laws
Wednesday 5 May 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Monday 7 February 2005
California, USA
Clive Edwards was for eight years the most active and public critic of Tonga's pro-democracy movement even succeeding, at times, in jailing pro-democracy Members of Parliament. Now, however, he wants to join them as one of the nine Commoner MPs. How can someone who has spent close to a decade trying to keep the people out of Parliament suddenly claim that he is one of the commoners now? It's all a ploy to get back into a position of power so as to finish a lot of what he started earlier in his career. - Siane Tu‘ione
Tuesday 25 January 2005
1 comment
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In the Privy Council Meeting which was held before the vote over the Media Bills were about to come up in Parliament, I alluded to the fact that that this had become a cause célèbre among large sections of the public and I knew that there was dissent within the Cabinet ranks. ... Clive Edwards made an impassioned submission in support of the legislation. hrh
Friday 21 January 2005
4 comments
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
I read in Clive Edwards's interview that he accused me of proposing the Media Operator's Act. This is wholly untrue but as Edwards is running for parliament his wild accusations are, I suppose, understandable. I was opposed to the anti media laws on the grounds that they were not our style of doing things in this country. - hrh
Tuesday 18 January 2005
2 comments
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Only months ago Clive Edwards, as Tonga's Minister of Police and sometimes Acting Prime Minister, was seen by many as the most bull-headed man in the Tongan parliament. Ruthlessly defending and implementing the King's and Royal Family's wishes, and employing his Special Branch Police to spy on the community to isolate dissent, few would doubt that he has been a formidable opponent of Tonga's pro-democracy campaigners ever since he was appointed by the King as a minister in 1996. Interview with Clive Edwards. Part Two. By Pesi Fonua
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Monday 17 January 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's former Minister of Police, Clive Edwards, claimed he was sacked in August last year after being accused by the King's sons of plotting a coup and leading rebel ministers against their policies. "When Tupouto'a turned around and said ‘There are certain ministers here that I have received reports who are attempting to carry out a coup,’ I laughed, because no such information had come before me from the Special Branch," said Clive Edwards. Interview with Clive Edwards (Part One) by Pesi Fonua
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Friday 22 October 2004
2 comments
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's process of law making at the moment is a matter of great concern. The recent overturning by Chief Justice Webster of the conflicting media laws, means we have to take a closer look at how laws are made in this country. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua.
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Friday 15 October 2004
5 comments
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
It is nearly one year since November 2003 when Tongans lost their right to Freedom of Speech as a defence. After last year's Constitutional amendment, Tonga went back 128 years to the days when people were allowed to speak or to express an opinion only if it was in line with that of their superiors or chiefs. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua
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Friday 3 September 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Day Four of the Judicial Review challenging the Amendment of Clause 7 of the Constitution last year, concluded the submissions made by the legal counsel Dr Rodney Harrison for the 173 plaintiffs, and Paul Radich for the defendant, the Kingdom of Tonga.
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Wednesday 12 May 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Minister of Justice, 'Aisea Taumoepeau, on Monday May 10 tried to reassure Tongan journalists that they should not feel threatened or be afraid of government following the amendment to Clause 7 of the Tongan Constitution relating to Freedom of Speech.
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Monday 10 May 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Newspaper activist 'Alani Taione pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the importation of an unlicenced newspaper the Taimi 'o Tonga, and will face trial by jury on a date to be set.
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Wednesday 5 May 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga copied Singapore's suppressive media laws when it drafted its new media legislation that came into force this year, Tongan journalists marking World Press Freedom Day in Tonga on May 3 were told.
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Friday 2 April 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Anyone who has any doubt over the intention of the Tongan government to use its Newspaper Licensing powers to bully the local press must take note of what took place on Monday, March 28, when the editors of three licensed newspapers, the Taumu'alelei, the Talaki and the Tonga Star, were called to the Prime Minister's office to be told off by 'Eseta Fusitu'a, the Registrar of Newspapers.
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Friday 13 February 2004
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
A few decades ago, Tonga was looked up to as the leading nation in the Pacific Islands. Its people had the highest standards of living, income and independence. This is no longer the case. Elite privilege has become more concentrated and reactionary; the economy and society stagnated as a result. - Ron Crocombe
Wednesday 11 February 2004
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
On February 6 Tonga set its clock back 20 years to the early 1980s, when the only newspapers available were the government newspaper, the Tonga Chronicle, and church newspapers.
Wednesday 11 February 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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Wednesday 4 February 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tongan people, for the last three weeks have been deprived of reading newspapers, including the Tongan government's own newspaper.
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Wednesday 28 January 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total of 152 plaintiffs are signatories to a writ, calling for a Judicial Review of the media legislation enacted by the Tonga government last year, which curtailed freedom of speech and introduced restrictive print media licensing.
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Saturday 24 January 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The USA government does not like the move by the Tongan government to regulate Press Freedom, according to the USA Ambassador to Tonga, David Laurence Lyon, who visited Tonga January 14-16.
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Wednesday 14 January 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan Police raided village shops in Tonga last week confiscating copies of the Taimi 'o Tonga newspaper, and also seizing cash from shops that had sold newspapers.
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