Tonga

Tonga pressured over media restrictions
(The Sydney Morning Herald - 10 April 2008)

Tonga is under increasing pressure to overturn new restrictions imposed on some journalists in the run-up to the April elections. Under new restrictions any pre-recorded election material already created cannot be shown as is, and must be reprocessed by the board and management of the Tonga Broadcasting Corporation. The board is chaired by the Tonga's current prime minister, Dr Feleti Sevele. The Pacific Islands News Association president Joseph Ealedona called on the Tongan government to restrain itself from stopping free speech.

Tonga signs action plan with UNDP
(UNDP - 3 July 2008)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has signed the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) with the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga. The CPAP 2008-2012 will respond to current and emerging development challenges in Tonga in the areas of Governance, Environment and Poverty Reduction.

Recommendations from Tonga workshop on Parliament and the Media
(Secretariat of the Pacific Community - 2 October 2008)

Tongan parliamentarians and the media have applauded the three day workshop on Parliament and the Media conducted by Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretariat and the Parliament of Tonga in Nukualofa from Monday 29 September to Wednesday 1 October. Participants discussed a range issues, including the role of the media as the 'fourth estate', coverage of the National Assembly by the media, information disclosure by the National Assembly, the value of entrenching freedom of information (FOI) in Tonga, principles of FOI law-making and FOI challenges for small island countries.

Tonga's choice: dictatorship or democracy?
(Matangi Tonga Online - Editorials - 18 March 2009)

 This editorial comment follows the editorial comment Fresh new parliament needs fresh new members which attracted some criticism. It suggested it was wise to stop and have another look at what the Tongan parliament was proposing, and also put a spotlight on the integrity of the House. For Fonua, the challenge before Tonga is to put a democratic government into place as soon as possible and to avoid allowing vested interests to create a dictatorship. This editorial again suggests, to do this, a fresh new parliament, with fresh new members demonstrating fresh new integrity is needed.

Fresh new parliament needs fresh new members
(Matangi Tonga Online - Editorials - 18 March 2009)

 As we are rushing to gather ideas to structure a new system of government, it is only wise for us to stop and have another critical look at what the Tongan parliament has forced on us to determine over a ridiculously short period of time. This is after Parliament has exhausted its own collective capacity to come up with something that is both democratic and economically feasible.

Public participation, a process of awakening
(Matangi Tonga Online - Editorials - 22 January 2009)

'PUBLIC Participation' is a principle that the Tonga government appears to be striving to effect as we are trying to implement our economic and political reform programs. 'Public Participation' is one of the principal pillars of a democratic system of government, and when practical submissions, ideas and suggestions are presented, they are then analysed, debated and dissected, and the best are absorbed into the process of change. The setback with Tonga's attempt to introduce the principle of public participation at this stage is that there is an apparent reluctance by the Tongan people to participate in consultations in a meaningful and constructive way.

To clear the air and allow public participation to take root and grow and to become part of our political system, we have to allow transparency into the process. The public must have confidence that government hasn't already made its decision; that there is no prior done deal; and that the call for public participation was not simply a convenience so that politicians, who may be later accused of cronyism, can say that there was a call for public participation.