Taimi ‘o Tonga editor/publisher – Mr. Kalafi Moala’s acceptance of an invitation from the government of Tonga to facilitate a three-day 'Government Media Strategy Workshop' has raised a lot of eyebrows.

 

Hosted by the Prime Minister's Office this week, Mr. Moala is expected to be training government employees on how to write press releases and the like to “improve” the Government’s public image.

 

A reliable source told TNEWS that the invitation was given to Kalafi whilst he visited the Kingdom of Tonga late last year.  Kalafi, has been known for his strong stance against alleged corruption in the government.  His paper is said to have played major roles in exposing moral shortcomings in the King’s household and the government.

 

Accusations of Political motivation have sprouted amongst already disgruntled Pro-Demo supporters smelling betrayal amongst the ranks. Radical Activist ‘Alani Taione and other Pro-Demo supporters recently burned the Taimi Newspaper publicly on TV after what they claimed was a paper betraying the people of Tonga. Mr. Taione then urged the people not to support Taimi anymore.

Shortly afterwards in Tonga, claims surfaced from some shop keepers that Taimi sales had dropped. One shop keeper claimed she chose not to offer it for sale temporarily due to lack of sales and until she sought advice from Kalafi on why sales were so low.  She told TNEWS she was surprised to find her picture on the front page of Taimi the following week accusing her of political motivation for refusing to sell the paper.

 

Publisher Kalafi Moala told TNEWS at the time, he was not worried and his sales were ok.

 

Kalafi also told TNEWS recently in an exclusive interview, he is still supporting the democracy movement but not the kind of democracy ‘Akilisi Pohiva is preaching.  Kalafi went on further to say that his job is to be neutral and become the nation’s watchdog.  President of NZ Tonga National committee for Political Reform, Tu’iono Liava’a disagrees.  “Kalafi is no longer a watchdog, in fact the dog is watching him now.... a power and authority hunger buster…”.  

 

‘Akilisi Pohiva questioned Kalafi’s move and told TNEWS he’s not surprised at all.  Both Tu’iono and ‘Akilisi made the comment “The move is stupid and short sighted”. ‘Akilisi referred to Kalafi’s book “Island Kingdom Strikes back” saying he was going back on his own words against the government.

 

Not wanting to be named, an editor of a New Zealand based Tongan News Paper said “Accepting this invitation is just the beginning, it’s like an open door for Kalafi to enter...”.

 

‘Akilisi Pohiva claimed that the workshop will be attended by media people from both government and other media outlets.

 

Akilisi Pohiva’s own “Kele’a” paper journalists were not invited.

 

Story: Setita Millar