IFJ protests over Taimi block
Title -- 4070 TONGA: IFJ protests over Taimi block
Date -- 31 May 2003
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- International Federation of Journalists, 30 May 2003
Copyright -- IFJ
Status -- Unabridged
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IFJ PROTESTS OVER NEW TAIMI BLOCK
ifj-asia@alliance.org.au
SYDNEY (IFJ/Pacific Media Watch): The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has sent a letter of protest to the Prime Minister of Tonga, voicing its concern over customs officials not allowing 2000 copies of the biweekly paper Taimi 'o Tonga (Times of Tonga) into Tonga despite a recent Supreme Court order lifting the ban on the newspaper.
The IFJ has protested to the Government of Tonga in the following letter:
29 May 2003
Prince Lavaka Ata Ulukalala
Palace Office
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fax: +415 781 3964
Your Excellency,
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation of
journalists representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is deeply concerned
over the continued deterioration of press freedom surrounding the Taimi 'o
Tonga (Times of Tonga) case.
According to our information, on the 26 May the Supreme Court ordered that the
three-month ban of the Taimi 'o Tonga (Times of Tonga) newspaper be lifted,
allowing copies of the foreign-printed newspaper into Tonga.
According to our information some 2000 copies of the newspaper have been flown
to the island after the court hearing, all of which were confiscated at the
airport in the capital, Nuku'alofa by customs officials who declared that they
had not yet received instructions from the Government to allow them into the
country.
The IFJ calls upon the Tongan Government to recognise the court's ruling on both
the lifting of the ban on the Times of Tonga and the suspension by the court of
the Government's cancellation of the newspapers publishing licence.
The IFJ is deeply concerned that the bans against the Times of Tonga are clear
breaches of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The IFJ is concerned that these recent actions impede the right of the people of
Tonga to independent news. The IFJ continues to call upon the Tongan government
to uphold the decision and to allow the newspaper into Tonga.
Yours sincerely,
Christopher Warren
IFJ President
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