Tonga charges five for discussing newspaper ban
Three Tongan human rights campaigners, a journalist and a television station manager have apparently been charged with contempt of court following a TV panel discussion about the recent newspaper ban by King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV. It appears that not only is possession of the Times of Tonga banned, but mere discussion of the prohibition is a criminal offense.
[Pro-democracy campaigner Lopeti Senituli:] And together with me on the program and all of us are being charged or are being I suppose charged is the right word, includes Reverend Simoti Vaea, who is the chairman of the Human Rights and Democracy movement, Lofa Simeki who’s a local businesswoman and also a supporter of the movement, Tavake Fusimalohi, who is the host of the television program, and Sangster Saulala, who’s the manager of the Oceania Broadcasting Network on which the program was being aired. At this stage we have not had a chance to talk to each other, but we of course we will have to look at defending ourselves.”HILL: So every single person involved in that program which was discussing the issue of the banning of the Times of Tonga newspapers has been charged with contempt of court?
SENITULI: “Exactly.”
– Radio Australia, TONGA: TV panel discussion brings contempt charges.