Culture of fear exists in Tonga media says Kalafi Moala Featured
Tongan publisher and veteran journalist, Kalafi MoalaTongan publisher and veteran journalist, Kalafi Moala Photo: RNZI
4 May, 2017. Journalists fear doing their jobs after the Prime Minister sacked leaders of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission, according to prominent publisher Kalafi Moala.
'Akilisi Pohiva has forced the state broadcaster's chair Tapu Panuve to resign, is looking to replace the general manager Nanise Fifita and has not ruled out other changes.
Mr Moala said he had a special media panel organised to mark World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday but no one turned up.
"It's affecting press freedom, its bringing a culture of fear upon other journalists and media organisations and it is really bad that here we are commemorating World Press Freedom day and we are having some huge problems here in Tonga."
Mr Moala said it is a very low point for journalists working in Tonga.
He said he was jailed back in 1996 with 'Akilisi Pohiva for contempt of parliament for publishing something they weren't supposed to.
But Mr Moala said now Mr Pohiva's perception seemed to be that media should always support him and his initiatives, rather than asking too many hard questions of his leadership.
-RNZI
2 comments
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Ko e me'a koeni ko e culture of fear oku ne kaasia e fa'ahinga tokolahi 'i Tonga ni pea 'oku mata kehekehe. Oku fa'a mahe'a eni i he malanga 'a e kau Faifekau fakapenitekosi, "'oku 'ikai ma'u 'e he kakai 'a e lotolahi fe'unga kenau vete 'enau angahala koe'uhi ke ma'u honau fakatau'ataina'i kakato 'e he 'Otua (free spirit)". Pea ko hono fakahoa koeni ki he culture of fear koeni i he Tonga Media, manatu'i ange ko etau nofo atautolu i he Sosaieti oku pule'i ia 'e he LAO pea 'e fakatonulea kehekehe'i pe 'a e culture of fear ia. Kiate au ko e nana'i pe ko e kukuta ke lea 'aki e mo'oni, pea te sio atu 'oku 'i ai e mo'oni'i me'a ia te te lea 'aki 'e kaukovi ki ha kakai kehe pe ko kita pe? 'I ai e mo'oni'i me'a ia te lea'aki 'e kita pea iku ia 'o faka'ilo kita ko ha 'ikai ha fakamo'oni pau.
Koia ai, 'oku ou sio atu 'oku 'ikai ko e lea totonu ko e culture of fear ka ko e fakaehaua'i 'o e mo'oni mo e totonu fakalao mo e tau'ataina 'o e faiongoongo kuo hukitonu ia he lotofale o e MEDIA I TONGA. -
Kalafi is partly true because only him and Filokalafi were in Jail. 'Akilisi was hospitalized and he enjoyed the warmth of his bed at Vaiola Hospital. That's why he does not care about what is happening to the journalists and the media in Tonga.