CPU Condemns Attack On Press Freedom

The Commonwealth Press Union (New Zealand Section) views with alarm the stated intention of the government of Tonga to further erode media freedom in the kingdom by overturning the legitimate rulings of its own court system. The press freedom committee of the CPU has harboured deep concerns for some time over the treatment by the Tongan government of the independent newspaper Taimi’o Tonga (Times of Tonga) which has endeavoured to promote freedom of expression in the island nation.

The intention of the Tongan government to initiate legislation to prevent judicial review of its action is a calculated move designed to eliminate the media freedom that Tonga’s Chief Justice has sought to protect.

Such is our concern that the press freedom committee has resolved to seek the strongest measures by the Commonwealth Secretariat to deter Tonga from its intended course of action.

© Scoop Media