MEDIA
RELEASE
27 February 2003
“SAD
DAY FOR TONGA”
The
banning of the Taimi ‘o Tonga Newspaper
by Tonga government today has marked in history
a sad day for the people of Tonga.
Speaking
on behalf of the Human Rights & Democracy Movement
Office, Po’oi Pohiva, Liaison Officer says, “Media
is the lifeblood of democracy. The decision made
by Tonga government to ban Taimi ‘o Tonga has
effectively blocked the flow of information that
are necessary part of democracy. This event hints
at the uncertain future that this country is heading
to.”
Po’oi
says Taimi ‘o Tonga has been playing
an essential and indispensable role for the people
and the country in general since it started – although
it may reflect that it often focus on how government
performs its duties.
Po’oi
says the banning of Taimi ‘o Tonga is
just another form of prohibiting freedom of speech
and of the press guaranteed by clause 7 of the
Constitution. But it is a freedom that is universally
protected and respected and entrenched in Tonga’s
constitution.
“Taimi ‘o
Tonga is a newspaper of the people and the
banning of it is a deliberate challenge to the
people of Tonga.”
Po’oi
concluded by saying, that the banning of Taimi ‘o
Tonga is indicative of the decay in the current
structure. ENDS
For
further information please contact: Po’oi
Pohiva at phone 25501, fax: 26330 or email: demo@kalianet.to.
(Note: Director Lopeti Senituli is currently
on leave.)
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