TNEWS TALANOA

Posted at 00:04 on 10 April, 2008 UTC

The Pacific Islands News Association, PINA, has called for restrictions imposed on journalists at the Tonga state broadcaster to be lifted.
Two weeks out from the elections the Tonga Broadcasting Commission has imposed a ban on journalists hosting political programmes.
It says any programmes will need the approval of a committee of management and the TBC board.
Joseph Ealedona, the Papua New Guinea based president of PINA, says such political influence is not good for the people of Tonga.
He says the TBC should be allowed to play its role as a public broadcaster.
“If the Government of Tonga is restricting the rights, especially people standing for election, to speak about the politics or issues in Tonga then that is not good, and PINA calls on the Government of Tonga to restrain itself from pushing too far - stopping people from free speech.”

Source: http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=39063

New Zealand Cabinet Minister says restrictions on journalists in Tonga are unfortunate

Posted at 23:26 on 09 April, 2008 UTC
New Zealand Cabinet Minister Peter Dunne, who headed a parliamentary select committee looking at this country’s relationship with Tonga, says new restrictions on journalists at the state broadcaster are unfortunate.
Mr Dunne says the claims that the change will lead to greater accuracy, balance and right of reply, are wishful thinking.
“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.”

Source: http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=39062

A candidate in Tonga's upcoming election has voiced concern about restrictions imposed on the Tonga Broadcasting Corporation.

The government-controlled broadcaster is being restricted by new regulations on political content ahead of this month's general election.

The Tonga Broadcasting Corporation says its staff are not permitted to broadcast any election programs.

Tonga's election, on April 24, will see 71 candidates running in the polls.

MP Clive Edwards, has complained about the censorship, saying government interference with the democratic process might call the eventual election results into question.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/20...tab=latest

Tonga's government-controlled broadcaster has introduced new restrictions on political content ahead of this month's general election. The Tonga Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) said that due to a variety of complaints, none of their staff would be allowed to host any election programs. Any pre-recorded election material already created cannot be broadcast as is, and must be reprocessed by the board and management of the TBC, according to the Matangi Tonga website. The board is chaired by the Tonga's current prime minister, Dr Feleti Sevele. The South Pacific nation, in which King George Tupou V directly hand-picks many MPs including all government ministers, has come under fire in the past for its treatment of media. (Sydney Morning Herald)

Source: http://www.ejc.net/media_news/tighter_me...:07:36:00Z