Tongan newspaper ban sparks protest from journalists' body

A ban on the Tongan newspaper Taimi'o Tonga has sparked protests from the International Federation of Journalists, which has warned about falling media freedoms in the kingdom.

The ban, which means anyone selling or distributing the newspaper could be jailed, has deprived Tongans of their right to free news, says federation president Christopher Warren.

The federation, representing 500,000 journalists worldwide, has written to Tongan Prime Minister, Prince Lavaka Ata Ulukalala, saying the ban on Taimi'o Tonga (Times of Tonga) is a clear breach of human rights.

"The federation is concerned that these recent actions impede the right of the people of Tonga to independent news," Mr Warren writes in the letter.

Tonga's political leaders have branded the newspaper "seditious" for its criticisms of them and democracy there.

The newspaper is printed in New Zealand. In the past few weeks it has been smuggled into Tonga after authorities imposed the ban.

Although the Supreme Court this month ruled the ban was unlawful, Tonga's Privy Council, which is made up of Cabinet ministers and King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, immediately imposed a new ban making it illegal to import, sell or distribute the newspaper.

The Privy Council's decision cannot be overturned, and anyone caught breaking the ruling can be fined or jailed for two years.

Mr Warren's letter says five people who discussed the case on television have also been issued with writs for contempt of court.

"The federation is deeply concerned that the recent ban and the subsequent Privy Council ordinance outlawing the distribution of the Times of Tonga are clear breaches of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," he says.

"The federation asks the Tongan Government to air its grievances on the content of the newspaper through democratic means under either Tongan or New Zealand law."

Mr Warren said the Government could complain to New Zealand's independent Press Council, or publicise its views through the media.