Tongan Government Hits Back At Ifj Protest
Tongan government statement:
IFJ statement: http://www.pmw.c2o.org/2004/tonga4296.html
NUKU'ALOFA (Tonga Information Unit/Pacific Media Watch): The Tongan Government has condemned a protest by the
International Federation of Journalists over the state of press freedom in the kingdom, including the recent "shutdown"
of newspapers over licences.
It said in a statement that distribution of the papers was "momentarily delayed".
The statement accused the IFJ, the world's largest body of journalists, and Pacific Media Watch, which was among groups
publicising the February 6 protest, of "misinformation".
"The Tongan Government wishes to reaffirm that print media in Tonga was not shutdown," the statement said.
"Distribution of newspapers was momentarily delayed because licence applications were incomplete. Licence applications
were not satisfactorily completed until 2 February 2004.
"The responsibility for completing the application forms lay with the applicants. Two days after completion of the
application forms newspaper licenses were granted 4 February 2004 and issued 6 February 2004.
"The Media Operators Act 2003 and Newspaper Act 2003 were passed by Parliament on 20 October, 2003 and gazetted on 27
November, 2003. Newspaper Regulations were passed and gazetted on 16 December 2003."
The statement also said a comment in the protest that penalties for an unlicensed publisher included a $10,000 fine and
up to one year imprisonment was "incomplete and therefore misleading".
"It fails to account for the other criteria that would incur the penalties which include the sale and distribution of
any newspaper which is unlawful under the provisions of the Act."
"One would hope that the IFJ, as a beacon for journalists worldwide, would take the time to verify its facts," the
statement said.
The IFJ statement had accused the Tongan government of having introduced the Media Act to gain greater control over the
kingdom's media.
"The licensing of publishers and distributors of newspapers is being successfully used as a tool to curb the freedom of
the press in Tonga," said IFJ president Christopher Warren in a letter to the government.
"It is vital for democracy that the media is allowed to work freely and independently without attempts at Government
intervention and control."
The IFJ also protested against the series of the bans on the independent Taimi 'o Tonga newspaper leading up to the
recent legislation.
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