31 July 2003
Tonga attacks democracy again
The Media Operators law, just passed by Tonga's undemocratic legislative assembly, indicates that Tonga is slipping back
into attacking democracy which threatens not only free speech and good governance in that nation but also New Zealand's
national interests, says Progressive MP, Matt Robson.
"It is in everyone's interests to promote democracy and good governance in our region because without good governance
you can't promote economic development and jobs and without good governance you also can't develop the foundations
necessary for safe communities," Matt Robson said.
The new law provides that only newspapers with 80 percent of shareholders living in Tonga and who are Tongan citizens
may be published in Tonga. If the King of Tonga tried to impose that on the New Zealand media, he would close most of
the media, creating massive unemployment in the industry while severely curtailing avenues for the free expression of
ideas.
The Media Operators law is aimed at shutting down the only free publication in Tonga – the Taimi o Tonga (Times of
Tonga). Its publisher, Kalafi Moala, lives in Auckland and he also has United States citizenship.
"What is happening in our near-neighbour Tonga is of course a tragedy for that society and in breach of Tonga's own
commitments to the international community via its membership of the United Nations and U.N. conventions," Matt Robson
said.
"These developments are also against New Zealand's national interests because the slide into dictatorship in Tonga
spells political strife in that society.
"It is against New Zealand's interests to have a neighbour in political turmoil because political strife can be
exploited by other nations wanting to make mischief in this part of the world. It also means more and more Tongans will
join the queue of those wanting to leave the country as refugees from repression. Their first port of call will be New
Zealand and other neighbouring states," Matt Robson said.
The continued repression of free speech in Tonga will be an issue at the 34th Pacific Islands Forum to be held in
Auckland in mid-August. "One of the aims of the Forum is to promote democracy and good governance in our region because
without good governance you can't promote economic development and jobs and you can't develop the foundations necessary
for safe communities," Matt Robson said.
ENDS