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Tonga's New Media Regulations Concerns

The Tongan government issued new media regulations in May 2020 that infringe on the country's constitutional guarantee of media freedom, according to the Pacific Freedom Forum. Veteran Tongan journalist Kalafi Moala notes that such laws are aimed at protecting those in power from transparency rather than protecting people from an abusive media. PFF chair Bernadette Carreon and co-chairs from Melanesia and Polynesia express concern that the regulations pose real threats to media freedom and the public's right to know, especially during a global pandemic. The PFF urges governments to continue guaranteeing media freedom and refrain from undue restrictions on the press.

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Jemima Garrett
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Topics covered

  • Tongan journalists,
  • public engagement,
  • journalism truth,
  • media communication,
  • monitoring threats,
  • regulatory impact,
  • Monica Miller,
  • information dissemination,
  • journalistic integrity,
  • advocacy network
154 views3 pages

Tonga's New Media Regulations Concerns

The Tongan government issued new media regulations in May 2020 that infringe on the country's constitutional guarantee of media freedom, according to the Pacific Freedom Forum. Veteran Tongan journalist Kalafi Moala notes that such laws are aimed at protecting those in power from transparency rather than protecting people from an abusive media. PFF chair Bernadette Carreon and co-chairs from Melanesia and Polynesia express concern that the regulations pose real threats to media freedom and the public's right to know, especially during a global pandemic. The PFF urges governments to continue guaranteeing media freedom and refrain from undue restrictions on the press.

Uploaded by

Jemima Garrett
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • Tongan journalists,
  • public engagement,
  • journalism truth,
  • media communication,
  • monitoring threats,
  • regulatory impact,
  • Monica Miller,
  • information dissemination,
  • journalistic integrity,
  • advocacy network

ARTICLE XIX ALERTS-PACIFIC-TONGA

PFF RED FLAGS NEW TONGA MEDIA REGULATIONS

August 18, 2020, -Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS​--​News


of the quietly issued media regulations by the
government of Tonga in May and much later confirmed by Tongan Prime Minister ​Pohiva
Tu'ionetoa,​ is cause for concern, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

The eight regulations issued by Tonga's Ministry of Communications in an infringement notice


via the ​Ministry of Communication and Information​ have media operators and journalists in
Tonga noting some sections would clearly infringe on the provisions of Clause 7 of the
Constitution, which guarantees media freedom.

Veteran Tongan Journalist, Kalafi Moala, explains that “what is also most concerning to
journalists is that laws often drafted to protect the rights of people from “an abusive media” are
really aimed at protecting those in power (not the people) from transparency about their public
lives and performance.”

In a radio interview the Prime Minister defended the new regulations, attacking what he calls
"false media".

“The launch of these regulations will leave many in no doubt that these are real threats to real
media and they pose a real threat to the public’s right to know,” says PFF Chair ​ Bernadette
Carreon, of Palau.

PFF Melanesia co-chair Ofani Eremae says Tonga’s journalists and media workers “provide the
public with critical information, especially now when the world is faced with a global pandemic--
this strategic move by the government is an excuse to clamp down on independent reporting
while flying the fake news flag.”
From American Samoa, PFF Polynesia co-chair Monica Miller says it’s disappointing to hear
that the government; “whose duty it is to protect the people; are the ones to undermine their
rights.”

We urge governments to continue guaranteeing the ​freedom and independence of media and to
refrain from imposing undue restrictions on media professionals.

The Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF was founded in August 2008 as an online regional networking
and article 19 Pacific monitoring group of newsroom journalists and media practitioners. The
leadership of the PFF rests with senior Pacific journalists, its co-chairs, who rotate the role of
Chair sub-regionally. ​--​ENDS

CONTACT

Bernadette H. Carreon/ PFF Chair


Founding Editor, Pacific Note-PALAU
[Link]@[Link]​ PH: + 6807794304 , +6804886958

Leanne Jorari / PFF Coordinator / PAPUA NEW GUINEA


Freelance Journalist, Communications Manager
[Link]@[Link]​ PH +675 7804 3073

Monica Miller / PFF Co-Chair -Polynesia/ [Link]


News Director, South Seas Broadcasting
monica@[Link]​ PH: +6842584197

Ofani Eremae / PFF Co-Chair -Melanesia / SOLOMON ISLANDS


Editor, Solomon Star
oeremae@[Link]​ PH: +677 7473198

ABOUT PFF

The Pacific Freedom Forum is a network of journalists and media practitioners who believe free
speech, truth in journalism, and access to information is a key part of strong Pacific futures.

We act to ensure Pacific citizens are informed and engaged on the issues affecting their lives,
through a regional Article 19 alerts and advocacy network with working journalists and media
practitioners at its core. We are part of the global International Freedom of Expression network,
IFEX, and work directly with Pacific media colleagues who strongly believe in the right of Pacific
people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.
Represented by a leading journalist from each subregion of the developing Pacific Islands
rotating the role of Chair, our key focus since 2008 is monitoring threats to media freedom and
ethics and bringing those to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

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