Tonga PM threatens to close state broadcaster Featured
Noble MP Lord Fusitu'a and PM 'Akilisi Pohiva
18 March, 2017. Tonga's Prime Minister has courted controversy with criticism of the state broadcaster.
There are now fears that 'Akilisi Pohiva could move to close the Tonga Broadcasting Commission.
'Akilisi Pohiva says he is not happy with how the TBC operates and a review will be carried out over the next month. Mr Pohiva, who has long been at loggerheads with the TBC management, says the broadcaster is an obstacle and a real constraint on the work of government.
"They have become an enemy of government. They claim the freedom of media should be allowed, should be the same with any other media in Tonga but they should understand there is a basic difference between a private media and also government media. Their main role, to me, is to facilitate the work of the government."
The chair of the local Media Council says the Prime Minister must explain his comments. Pesi Fonua, who also runs the Matangi Tonga news site, says Mr Pohiva seems confused.
"It's almost like referring that whatever government has said Tonga Broadcasting Commission is supposed to be supporting it and saying all the campaigning types of approach. He seems to have a misunderstanding of what public broadcasters are supposed to be doing."
The regional watchdog Pacific Freedom Forum says the Prime Minister's stance doesn't fit his history of democratic activism. Mr Pohiva is a long time leader of the democratic movement in Tonga and has run a local newspaper. PFF Chair Monica Miller says it is not the job of any news media to support the government of the day, but to represent the public and their interests. Ms Miller says the current government should remember its roots.
"'Akilisi Pohiva was this crusading newspaper editor speaking out for freedom of information and speaking out for the people's right to know, freedom of expression. So for him to say these things, doesn't sound like the 'Akilisi we know."
But Pesi Fonua says the statements are actually typical of Mr Pohiva's approach. Last month Mr Pohiva faced a vote of no-confidence in parliament which accused him, among other things, of trying to illegally dismiss civil servants who disagreed with him. Lord Fusitu'a is a Noble Representative who voted against the Prime Minister.
"One of the ground of the vote of no confidence was that particular staff within the Tonga Broadcasting Commission, were not just put in fear of their jobs by implication, they were actually called in and held to account for their coverage of this administration. So there have been tangible concrete overtures and threats on their employment."
The motion was defeated which appears to have emboldened the Prime Minister further.
He says the result of the vote shows no one believed the claims. Lord Fusitu'a says even if Mr Pohiva's comments are just talk, it is concerning that the head of government would contemplate and verbalise shutting down a media organisation because he doesn't agree with what it is doing. He says shutting down the TBC would be in breach of the constitution. He also says there is a Tonga Broadcasting Act which would need to be revoked which would have far-reaching ramifications.
"The very basis of any Westminster democracy is the rule of law and once you chip away at freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, you are chipping away at the rule of law which ends up, in most cases, disregard to the rule of law. Which is extremely destructive to any democracy of any sort."
But 'Akilisi Pohiva says the TBC has also been running at a loss for years and suggests privatisation is the way forward.
"We can advertise whoever wants to do the work, to provide great services to the public, let them apply for it and we will find out who is most suitable, who is most appropriate to do the work."
However the PFF's Monica Miller says privatisation has traditionally negatively impacted the media due to a resulting lack of resources. TBC's management was not available for comment other than to say they had heard nothing official of the Prime Minister's plans.
-RNZI
8 comments
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'Oku tau faka'ofa kotoa pe kitautolu he ngaue a e Palemia koeni. Ko etau sio atu ka launga'i, tene toe mio'i pe 'eia otau toe faka'ofa ange he faka'ofaangefau, tau lotu pe aa kitautolu ki he Eiki kene takitonu eia etau ngaahi fononga.
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Malie pe ngaahi talanga ka 'oku kei fufu holo pe ngaahi kaveinga totonu 'oku fekau'aki mo e kaveinga ni pe ko e taumu'a 'oku fai ai hono 'ohake ngaahi 'uhinga ke privatize pe tamate'i e TBC ..ko e fehu'i?.. Ko e taumu'a 'o e fai fatongia 'a e TBC ,ko e pule'anga pe ko e fiema'u 'a e kakai?...'Oku fu'u fiema'u ke mo'oni, totonu pea kakato e ngaahi me'a 'oku tukuatu ki he kakai 'i ha fa'ahinga kaveinga pe 'oku hoha'a ki ai e kakai e fonua ka 'oku hange 'oku hanga 'e he pule'anga ko eni 'o feinga ke pule'i pe me'a ke 'ilo ki ai e kakai pea 'oku kau eni he me'a fakatu'utamaki lahi he 'oku ne takihala'i ai e ma'u 'a e tokolahi..ko e toki pule'anga eni kuo ne fai ha tu'utu'uni peheni fekau'aki mo e TBC talu hono fokotu'u pea na'e 'ikai puli 'a e 'ikai ma'u ha pa'anga fefe 'a e pule'anga mei ai he na'e to 'a e fakamamafa ia he 'aonga 'ene fai fatongia ma'ae fonua fakalukufua. Talu hono hanga 'e he TBC mo 'enau kau faiongoongo 'o fehu'ia e ngaahi kaveinga lahi fekau'aki mo e faitu'utu'uni 'a e pule'anga ko eni mo hono fakamanamana'i kinautolu 'o a'u eni ki he tu'unga ko e 'ai ke tamate'i..'Ikai ko e totonu nai eni mo e fatongia 'o e TBC ke feinga ke fakama'ala'ala 'a e ngaahi kaveinga ko eni koe'uhi ko e fiema'u 'a e kakai?..
'I he fuofua kamata mai 'a e pule'anga koeni ko e Palemia pe na'a ne lea'aki 'a e fiema'u e media ke nau hanga 'o siofi mo fakaanga'i e ngaahi ngaue 'a e pule'anga koeni he 'e hoko ia ko e tokoni ki hono fakalelei'i 'enau fai fatongia..ha ;leva e me'a 'oku hoko he 'aho ni?....'Okapau kuo hala e ongoongo 'oku tuku atu 'e he TBC 'oku malava ke faka'ilo ka 'oku mahino eni 'oku 'ikai 'a ia ko e sitepu pe ke tapuni'i 'aki 'enau fa'a fehu'i mo fie'ilo ki he mo'oni ko hono tapuni pea fakatau atu..ko e pule'anga fakatikitato pe 'oku nau fai e ngaahi tu'utu'uni peheni...kuo hange e tuku 'uhinga mai 'a e pule'anga ko eni ha fai ki ha kauleka vale 'a e feinga toitoi mai he ngaahi 'uhinga kehe neongo e tekeutua mai e mo'oni... -
Fakamanatu atu pe ko e Letio Tonga 'oku self-funding. 'Oku toutou feinga 'a e PM ke tuli 'a Viola mo Nanise pea ko e faka'osi eni ke tamate'i e letio mo e TV. Ko e pa'anga fe 'oku lau 'oku mole ? Ko e pa'anga 'e fiha kuo mole ai? 'Oku mahu'inga ange 'a e sevesi 'oku fai 'e he letio 'i he ngaue kuo lava 'e 'Akilisi talu 'ene PM. Lahi ange pa'anga kuo taaki 'e he letio he pa'anga kuo ma'u 'e he fonua he ngaue 'a PM. 'E totongi mei fe pa'anga kuo mole he forbes mo e pa'anga kuo totongi noa'ia kia Piveni ? Ko hai ia kuo fe mole ha'ane seniti 'e taha ke ha'u 'o sio 'i he'eta temokalati palaku pehe fau ?
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OUA E FIU, na'e veteki a e ngaahi pisinisi a e Pule'anga ko e 'ikai ola lelei. Ko e Letio Tonga ena, talu si'ene lele mo e ikai ke support e ha Pule'anga mo ha Pule'anga, ka ko hono 'aonga 'oku a'u ki he Tokelau mo e 'Otu Ha'apai mo e Funga Fonua, kae fefee 'ene lele 'ahoia he taimi fakatamaki fakaenatula, kuo tu'u mai ho'o mou Palemia ke tamate'i he 'uhinga fakaeia pe! 'E fefe leva ka hoko mai ha fakatamaki fakatu'upake, 'e kisikisi holo e Kele'a 'o talaki ki Tokelau kenau mateuteu. Kole atu ke ngaue'aki ma'u pe 'a e fakakaukau lelei kae tuku e 'ohokui he 'e mahino ai homou ngata'anga.
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Malo hono kei Fk-kohukohu hotau palepale Puamau Leone !
Pea 'na'e fai ae Fepulingaki, koeuhi koe ng Fatongia moe ngaue kuo pau ke fkhoko ? pea kuo tatala atu 'ae Pulonga na'e To Fkfokifa hotau Fonua!!!......he 'oku 'iai pe homau tala, 'oku mau kei pukepuke pe 'o 'au mai kihe To'u tangata 'oe aho ni ? he 'oku Tapu ke toe Pakihi ha la'i lou'akau 'ihe Nofo 'a Kainga moe Ha'a 'oku mau kau kiai !. He koe ng Kavei Koula ia 'eta nofo fktonga ? pea oku mau hanga 'o Fkapaapa'i mo Tauhi ke Tolonga pea Tu'u Loa.
1.Fkmanatu atu pe Leone, nofo pe he poini ?
2. Ka osi pe ho'o aikona pea 'oku sai ange ia he fkmolenga ivi hono tanaki mai 'ae me'a kehekehe ?
3. Na'a tau Fanongo tonu mo Sio Pau hono veteki 'ae ng Pisinis 'ae Pule'anga, 'ihe Uhinga pe taha 'oku fkmole pa'anga pea 'ikai malava ke nau ngaue'i ?
Koe aho ni, kuo malava lelei 'ehe Private Sector 'o fklele 'ae ngaue'anga ko'eni pea 'e toe sai ange ia !
Ai pe loto ke Hangamalie pea Fiefia ?
Tamata Tonga, Tu'u 'o Ngaue hota Koloa ke Fkmonuu ! -
Hangehangee tama ko OUA E FIU oku to'u ia mo Akilisi he oku na natula tatau hono mahua'i mai e me'a he kuo hili. Ka oku mahino koaa kia you OUA E FIU oku natula kehe foi demand ia koeni ko e ai ke tamate'i koeuhi tokua oku ikai kenau kauhala tatau? E TUKU A FE HO'O LOTU KA 'AKILISI foki ka Sisu kae ifo foki 'etau talanoa mo e fevahevahe'aki malo ho'o toe 'asi mai kemau ilo ke kei moui pehe ni eau ne tanu koe ia he tanu paaka fo'ou homou otua.
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Sione F. Talanoa pe he poini pe koe Issue,kae ifo 'etau laukonga moe fevahevahe'aki 'oku tau fai, pea malo hono kei kapikapi ho tau palepale !.
'Oku 'ikai ha toe me'a ia 'e Fo'ou, talunga mo Mo'oni mo Totonu 'oku na fktonutonu kiatautolu he hala fononga ?
1.Na'e veteki 'ae Poate 'ae ng Koloa he valungofulu(Mataka n Siaine) koe 'ikai ke malava ke fklele fklelei ? he koe ngaue'anga tokolahi taha 'eni 'I Tonga ni Katoa.
2. Na'e fktau atu 'ae Bank of Tonga he Uaafe tupu neongo 'ene lele tupu mo mauiui !
3.Na'e veteki tu'uaki atu 'ae Kalonikali Tonga news, Hall Fkmanatu Kuini Salote pea pehee kihe Senita fkfonua 'o Tonga (Tofoa) koe 'ikai ke malava ke fklele pea toe tafe mai ha Pa'anga kihe Pule'anga.
4.Na'e tuku atu moe Tonga Timber 'ihe 'uhinga tatau pe?
Koe ng Pisinisi kotoa 'eni 'ae Pule'anga Tonga ?
Pea koe 'uhinga ia 'oku fokotu'u atu 'oku 'ikai ha me'afo'ou ia, he 'oku fkhoko ia 'ehe ng pisinisi kotoa 'I mamani 'o fktatau moe hu'unga 'ae ngaue takitaha ?
1.Laka hake ta'u he ta'u 50 tupu, 'ae taetotongi dividents 'ae Fkmafola Lea Tonga (Tonga Broadcasting Commission) kihe Pule'anga.
2.Talunga moe fokotu'utu'u foou na'e fkhoko 'ehe Minisita Hon.Tei kihe ng ngaue'anga 'ae Pule'anga he ta'u 2015/2016 pea toki malava 'ehe ngaue'anga ko'eni 'o fkfoki mai ha TOP$ tahakilu tupu kihe Pule'anga ?
3. Kuo malava lelei 'ehe Private Sector 'o fkhoko lelei 'ae Fatongia ko'eni pea malo 'ae tu'u mai 'ae Pule'anga he ta'u 'e 50 tupu 'o fataki 'ae fatongia ko'eni koe fkmafola lea he 'Out Tonga ni. -
Hange PM ha ngata, demokalati pe ke manakoa, ko ene ma'u pe sea, pea likiu leva ia kihe fktikitato. Ta koe koto loi. Oku au kihe ene kakapa taemingao mo hono kau poupou fkpouli, kihe feinga ke tukuhifo e mafai oe Tu'i. Koe sipinga pule fkkominiusi ia nae feinga a Obama mo hono kau poupou fklielia, ke fai i Amelika. Ko eni tofu pe oku fai ehe Obama Tonga, ae PM lolotonga. Taemahino atu, moe toho oe fonua kihe mole etau ngaahi tauataina ne osi foaki mai e Tupou 1.