MEDIA RELEASE
26 May 2003

“HRDMT WELCOMES SUPREME COURT’S DECISION QUASHINE BAN ON “TAIMI ‘O TONGA” NEWSPAPER”

The Human Rights & Democracy Movement in Tonga today welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision quashing the ban on “Taimi ‘o Tonga” newspaper.

Chief Justice Gordon Ward, in open Court, this morning declared that the Ordinance adopted by the Privy Council on 4 April 2003 imposing the fourth ban on Taimi ‘o Tonga was unlawful and invalid and ordered it quashed.

In a further ruling, delivered in Chambers, Chief Justice Ward placed an interim injunction on the Ordinance adopted by the Privy Council on 16 May which purported to immediately revoke “Taimi ‘o Tonga’s” licence to trade, until the substantive application for judicial review is heard. He also placed a restraining order on the Government restraining it “from revoking any licence required by law for trading or operating of a media operation held by the plaintiffs”.

Speaking on behalf of HRDMT, Lopeti Senituli said, “We welcome the decisions of the Supreme Court. The ban on Taimi ‘o Tonga is effectively lifted for the time being, so the public should be able to read their favourite newspaper again without fear of prosecution.”

Senituli also said that members of HRDMT today met with some of the Noble’s Representatives to the Legislative Assembly including Honourable Tu’ivakano, (Speaker of the Legislative Assembly) and HRH Prince Tu’ipelehake, (Chair of the Committee of the Whole) in relation to the Ordinances promulgated by the Privy Council and the decisions of the Supreme Court. The Legislative Assembly sessions for 2003 will be officially opened by His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV on Thursday 29th May 2003.

Senituli concluded saying that HRDMT expects the Government to abide with the Supreme Court’s decisions handed down today and therefore HRDMT does not see the need to consider civil disobedience for the time being at least.

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