9/04/2008 8:56:15 p.m.
http://www.tongareview.com/Article.aspx?Mode=1&ID=5505
The latest media statement by Tonga’s Broadcasting Commission (TBC) General Manager saying that the state broadcaster lacks professional journalists and reporters, who can vet political programmes, has raised concerns by many in the media industry.
The journalists and reporters within TBC are amongst the most experienced and highest qualified in the Pacific region. They are also members of the Pacific Island media association and other regional media networks. Some of the senior staff have also chaired some of the regional media organisaitons. So, the latest statement from the General Manager is likely to be a smoke screen to cover up the Government's hard line stance on political speeches.
According to sources, the simple truth of the matter is: Political interference gone mad from the Prime Ministers Office senior staff who have been sent to monitor and vet political programmes that are critical of Government. This is similar to what is happening in China, Zimbabwe and Fiji.
The attempts to water down political programmes is a violation of peoples rights to free speech. This is clear and simple. Even worse, it violates the Constitution.
The decision to vet political programmes has reached the international media and organisations such as Transparency International will take this into account when it considers Tonga’s transparency ranking. Last year, Tonga was ranked at number 175 just above the likes of Sudan and Haiti. This year, Tonga is most likely to be ranked lower to reflect the hardline approach to media.
Tonga has not learnt from the media uproar in 2003/2004 when it banned the Taimi Magazine. It has now wound the clock back and using, albeit abusing, Government regulations to deter free speech.
The General Manager, ‘Elenoa ‘Amanaki defended using the Board members of TBC and Prime Minister’s Office staff, to vet the political programmes, by saying that “Although they are not professional journalists, they are local people. They represent our customers who are listening. They will have better views of what the people are saying out there than the journalists themselves. I think our concern is that the programmes that we put through will not land us into legal entanglement later on.”
Some political candidates dispute the independence of the vetting committee because it is made up of senior Government officials only and there is no local people involved. One candidate said, “all they have is ‘Eseta, Paula, ‘Elenoa and Papiloa. What local people is she talking about? Why can’t they bring someone like Simote Vea or ‘Akosita Fineanganofo if they wanted a local and independent person?”.
New Zealand’s Senior Cabinet Minister, Peter Dunne, has taken issue with this approach by the Government of Tonga and said “I think that it just shows that Tonga has quite a way yet to go in the march to democracy and maybe the best thing that countries such as New Zealand and other neighbours can assist with at this point is in helping Tonga develop good governance arrangements. I think that the Commonwealth I know was involved a few years ago in programmes of that type but clearly we have a way to go yet.”
Why all of a sudden, is TBC worried about legal action by politicians? It has experienced journalists on hand who have interviewed everyone from politicians, royalty and even rock stars.
It seems that the General Manager of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission might be the one that needs to get journalism training because she has failed in her duty to uphold the ethics of her own professional staff and the principles of responsible and independent media as the fourth estate.
In her interview with Radio New Zealand International, she wants her journalists to be trained on how to cover political stories objectively.
This indicates that she has reservations about her own staff and is actually telling the world that they are not experienced enough. In fact she has criticised her own staff members which paints a sad picture about the state broadcaster.
This is unbelievable especially with the qualifications and experience of her senior reporters and management team. This is very uncommon and unlike a Chief Executive to come out and blast their own staff members.
Tongareview understands that the TBC General Manager is not a qualified journalist or has experience in the area of broadcasting but was thrust into the role. Her background is in the area of horticulture so this may explain why she does not understand media ethics. This has also put her offside with her own organisation and this latest incident has highlighted it even more.
The General Manager reports to the Board of TBC and she must follow what they want. However, there is an expectation from the public that she be allowed to operate in a transparent and professional manner so that the state broadcaster can provide independent news to the public.
Tongareview understands that the Board has now taken over the running of TBC and has put in place senior Government officials to manage the General Manager and even what she says to the world media.
The General Manager is on a leash and is now following what the Prime Minister and Government demands otherwise she may lose her job. This is actually creating animosity and anguish amongst her own staff and the public have begun to pour scorn on the state broadcaster.
It has been confirmed by political candidates that they witnessed the Prime Minister’s Office staff members, ‘Eseta Fusitu’a and Paula Ma’u vetting the programmes at the direction from the Prime Minister.
All TV and radio programmes are putting out pro-government propaganda on a similar scale to what China is doing against Tibet and how Fiji is attacking its political opposition.
One of the canididates questioned why people like 'Eseta Fusitu'a, Papiloa Foliaki, Paula Ma'u and 'Elenoa 'Amanaki are vetting the political programmes because they do not have the media background and experience.
Tongareview contacted staff at TBC for an interview especially about the General Manager’s attack on her own reporters, but was told that they were too busy and no comment could be made.
In 2007, Tonga’s World Press Freedom ranking was 119 which is the lowest in the Pacific region. It was worse than Fiji who ranked 107 out of 169 nations. This ranking is set to worsen after the recent gagging of political speeches by the state broadcaster.