9 June 2003 Media Release
UNESCO NZ Calls on Pacific States to Speak Out against Law Changes in Tonga
The National Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in New Zealand is
urging Governments in the Pacific to follow the lead from the New Zealand Government and speak out strongly against the
Tongan Government’s plans to make legislative changes to its constitution that would result in a serious breach of basic
human rights.
“We understand that the law change would in effect legalise an ongoing ban on the distribution of the newspaper Taimi’o
Tonga, and we feel this constitutes a breach of press freedom and freedom of expression”, said Laurence Zwimpfer, a
member of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO and a member of UNESCO’s 26-country Intergovernmental Council
for the Information for All Programme.
“The principles of freedom of expression and press freedom go to the very heart of what UNESCO is all about,” said Mr
Zwimpfer. “For a UNESCO member state like Tonga to ignore these principles is a great concern for all Pacific nations.
“New Zealand and other Pacific nations work hard in Paris, where UNESCO is headquartered, to promote the needs of
Pacific Island states and secure resources for the region, and to have something like this come along really undermines
our efforts,” said Mr Zwimpfer. “How can we make a case to the international community to recognise the special needs of
Pacific Island states while Tonga appears to be heading in a direction that is in total conflict with such a basic human
rights issue.
“We appeal to the Government of Tonga to reconsider the serious implications of such a law change, and reflect on how
damaging such a move could be for Tonga as a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Pacific Forum.”
The New Zealand National Commission is consulting with UNESCO in Apia and Paris to determine strategies for influencing
the Government of Tonga to reconsider this move and immediately remove the ban on Taimi’o Tonga.
“We have asked for this matter to be included on the agenda for our UNESCO Pacific Islands consultation, to be held in
Fiji in July. We are gearing up for the biennial UNESCO General Conference, to be held in Paris later this year. Our
success as a sub-region depends on a united voice; it is easy for the needs of other regions with much higher
populations to swamp the views from the Pacific. The last thing we need is to have one of our Pacific member states out
of step on such a fundamental human rights principle,” Mr Zwimpfer said.
“We support the practical initiatives of organisations like the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), that hosted a
workshop in Tonga on World Press Freedom Day (3 May 2003) to debate the current controversy.
“We hope that through dialogue and an ongoing international exchange of views, Tonga may find another way to address its
concerns without threatening press freedom or freedom of expression by its citizens.”
For further Information please contact:
Laurence Zwimpfer
UNESCO NZ National Commission
Ph +64-4-472 9797