19 December 2003

NEW MEDIA LAWS THREATEN FREE EXPRESSION


The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) have raised concerns that constitutional amendments signed by Tonga's King Taufaahau Tupou IV will effectively snuff out freedom of expression in the island nation.

On 5 December, the King signed into law constitutional amendments that allow authorities to ban a media outlet if it violates cultural traditions and the right to privacy, PINA reports. "When you go through the list of infringements, and the vagueness of all of them, there is absolutely no freedom of speech," says Kalafi Moala, the publisher of Tonga's only independent newspaper "Taimi o Tonga."

The approval of the amendments also reinstates a ban on the newspaper that was struck down by a Supreme Court ruling last May. Critics of the move, including RSF, say the amendments are aimed at silencing the New Zealand-based newspaper, which has been a thorn in the side of the government.

King Taufaahau also signed into law two bills - the Newspaper Act and the Media Operators Act - that give the government broad licencing powers over the media. In effect, they allow authorities to decide who may report on Tongan affairs, says PINA.

RSF says it will lobby the European Union to apply sanctions on Tonga under the Cotonou Convention, a trade agreement between the EU and former colonies. Under Article 96 of the convention, sanctions can be applied when a signatory fails to "respect human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law."

For more information, contact:

- RSF: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/55564/

- PINA: pinacd@connect.com.fj

- Index on Censorship: http://www.indexonline.org/indexindex/20030402_tonga.shtml

- Pacific Media Watch: http://www.pmw.c2o.org/2003/tongadraftmediaresp.html

- Taimi o Tonga: http://www.planet-tonga.com/tongatimes/

For updates on the situation in Tonga, visit: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/171/



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Also from the Communiqué, 19 December 2003

INTERNATIONAL: WSIS: IFEX MEMBERS FOCUS ON TUNISIA 17 December 2003 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: PRESS FREEDOM IMPROVING, SAYS JED REPORT 19 December 2003 ITALY: PROPOSED MEDIA LAW VETOED 19 December 2003 ROMANIA: PRESS FREEDOM WORSENING, SAYS FREEDOM HOUSE 19 December 2003 BURMA: IFEX MEMBERS PROTEST JOURNALIST'S DEATH SENTENCE 19 December 2003 RSF LAUNCHES REVAMPED DAMOCLES WEBSITE 19 December 2003 FRANCE: RSF OPENS REFUGE FOR EXILED JOURNALISTS 19 December 2003 INTERNATIONAL: OSCE ANNOUNCES NEW LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND FOR JOURNALISTS 19 December 2003 INTERNATIONAL: FREE-EXPRESSION DECLINING, SAYS OUTGOING OSCE RAPPORTEUR 19 December 2003 INTERNATIONAL: RSF HONOURS PRESS-FREEDOM AWARD WINNERS 19 December 2003

Tonga

Stronger complaints process will keep media out of court, says PFF 3 February 2011 Government and media must support complaints process, says PFF after shutdown of radio station 16 December 2010 Former broadcaster's victory at the polls offers new momentum to media freedom in Pacific, says PFF 2 December 2010 Media freedom threatened as elections loom 16 July 2010 PINA voices concern over restrictions in national broadcaster's political programming in lead up to elections 25 April 2008 See all alerts: Tonga


Asia and Pacific

TIBET (CHINA): PEN American Center concerned over "virtual lockdown" on freedom of expression 9 February 2012 MALDIVES: New government must guarantee safety and rights of journalists 8 February 2012 SRI LANKA: FMM voices concern over allegations in "Dinamina" newspaper article 7 February 2012 INDIA: Danish journalists refused visas 7 February 2012 CHINA: Senior newspaper staff fired for reporting inflation concerns 6 February 2012


 
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