Full text: Tonga bans Taimi 'o Tonga newspaper

The following is a press release from the Government of Tonga.

The Government of Tonga prohibits the import of the foreign newspaper Taimi 'o Tonga

On Wednesday, 26th February, 2003, in accordance with Government policy, the Chief Commissioner of Revenue, pursuant to Section 34 of the Customs and Excise Act [CAP. 67] served a notice to prohibit the import of the foreign newspaper Taimi 'o Tonga. The main reasons for this decision are:-

(1) That the Taimi 'o Tonga is a foreign paper, owned and published by a foreigner;

(2) That the Taimi 'o Tonga is a foreign concern with a political agenda;

(3) That the Taimi 'o Tonga's continuous standard of journalism is unacceptable.

This decision was then conveyed by the Chief Commissioner of Revenue to the local Manager of the Taimi 'o Tonga, Mr. Filokalafi 'Akau'ola.


2. TAIMI 'O TONGA - A FOREIGN NEWSPAPER

The Taimi 'o Tonga is owned by its publisher, Mr. 'Eakalafi Moala, an American citizen who resides in Auckland, New Zealand. It is flown to Tonga from Auckland, twice a week.

3. TAIMI 'O TONGA - A FOREIGN NEWSPAPER CAMPAIGNING TO OVERTHROW TONGA'S POLITICAL SYSTEM AND TRADITIONS

The Taimi 'o Tonga, whilst a foreign newspaper, has ruthlessly campaigned for the overthrow of Tonga's Constitutional Government. Structure. With strong cultural insensitivity, it has incited disaffection among the people of Tonga.

No foreign-owned publication with such an agenda, has a right of entry into any Sovereign State.

4. TAIMI 'O TONGA TRADING LICENCE IN TONGA

On 28th January 2003, Mr. Moala's Trading Licence as a "Newspaper Operator" was renewed until 31/12/2003.

5. "TAIMI 'O TONGA" NEVER JOINED TONGA MEDIA ASSOCIATION

Mr. Sangster Saulala, President of the Tonga Media Association, has confirmed in the attached letter to the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, 26th February, 2003 [Annex I] that the Taimi 'o Tonga has never joined the Association, nor accepted its Code of Ethics. All of Tonga's other weekly newspapers, as well as Radio and the two Television Stations broadcasting local programmes, belong to the Tonga Media Association and have accepted, and are accountable to, their common Code of Ethics.

Significantly, no overseas media or other administration has ever published this, nor campaigned for the Taimi 'o Tonga to submit to proper journalistic accountability. Without this, the Tongan public's rights to unprofessional journalism are unprotected.

6. YOU NEED TO BE A TONGAN READER, TO KNOW WHAT THE TAIMI 'O TONGA PUBLISHES, AND THEREFORE BE QUALIFIED TO PASS JUDGEMENT ON ITS STANDARD OF JOURNALISM.

Any useful discussion of the journalistic performance of the Taimi 'o Tonga can only be done by those who read and understand Tongan, and are regular readers of the paper. Infrequent translations for non – Tongan readers, do not provide this necessary knowledge, which is the essential qualification for discussing and passing judgment on the Taimi 'o Tonga's journalistic performance.

7. TAIMI 'O TONGA'S UNPROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTIC STANDARDS

Among the basic rights of any public from journalists are:-

(a) the right to be given a voice in publications about themselves;

(b) the right to be given an opportunity by the media for corrections or comments on publications already made about themselves;

(c) the right to be given correct, unbiased, and balanced information.

These fundamental human rights of the people of Tonga have been violated by the Taimi 'o Tonga over so many years as exemplified below:-

(i) Parliamentary Reports

Characteristically, the Taimi 'o Tonga focuses on the politicians whom it favours, and presents them in the best of light. The other politicians do not receive similar treatment. The actual issues of discussion do not receive professional treatment either.

This unprofessionalism has long robbed the people of Tonga of their right to correct, unbiased, and balanced information about the work of their Parliament.

(ii) Report about Church Affairs

In the name of pursuing issues in the Churches, the Taimi 'o Tonga has again characteristically promoted the reputations of those it favours, and insulted and mocked at those it does not. Some important Church institutions are never scrutinized.

The result of this personalized type of journalism over so many years, has been to again rob the people of Tonga of their human right to correct, unbiased, and balanced reporting.

(iii) Campaign against immorality

In the name of campaigning against immorality, the Taimi 'o Tonga has, again characteristically, focused on certain individuals or groups only, and ignored others.

The pasts of people, to whom they are allied, and their families, are rarely ridiculed, if published at all. The rest may be correct in complaining that they are persecuted.

Once again, the right of the Tongan public to correct, unbiased, and balanced reporting is violated.

(iv) Campaign against breaches of the law.

Again, characteristically, those who are opposed to the Taimi 'o Tonga's political views are the focus of scrutiny. Others with criminal and dubious financial records, who are allied to the Taimi 'o Tonga, are not exposed to similar scrutiny.

Again, this violates the rights of the people of Tonga to correct, unbiased, and balanced reporting.

The above examples provide adequate clarification of the actions taken by the Government of Tonga.

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

INFORMATION UNIT

P.O. BOX 62

NUKU'ALOFA

TONGATAPU

T O N G A