TBC case not about media freedom - chairman Featured
'Ahongalu Fusimalohi Chairman of TBC Board
2 May, 2017. The chairman of Tonga's state broadcaster says a case being brought against them by the dismissed general manager Nanise Fifita has nothing to do with media freedom.
'Ahongalu Fushimalohi was appointed chair of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission last month after the former chair, Tapu Panuve was forced to resign, and shortly afterwards Ms Fifita was sacked.
The moves came after the prime minister 'Akilsi Pohiva had expressed concern at what he saw as a lack of support from the TBC, calling them an 'enemy of government'.
Regional media groups were outraged believing the Mr Pohiva was infringing on media independence.
However Mr Fushimalohi said Ms Fifita's dismissal despite a right of renewal clause, included by the previous administration, was about consulting the right people.
"The fact that it wasn't because of this media freedom issue has absolutely nothing to do with it, it's a policy decision because who wouldn't be disappointed, if you decide to appointment someone without first running it through us."
An injunction hearing on whether Ms Fifita can retain her position until a review of the dismissal is scheduled for Friday.
-RNZI
6 comments
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AN ABSOLUTE SUPPRESSING OF PRESS FREEDOM...PM's authoritative leadership forces local journalists to run in fear. The national Journalism service (TBC) was instituted by King Tupou IV to provide every Tongan access to the work of Government.
Persecution of Government Journalists is a form of suppression; Information bullying; and manipulation of information (propaganda). -
There is undoubtedly no two-way traffic about the obvious fact that the TBC case is about both media freedom and wrongful dismissal, and neither is just about wrongful dismissal nor is it just about media freedom but both, as wrongfully politicised by the CEO of TBC.
Just to further add that this is, amongst an infinite array of recurrent problems, symptomatic of the complete disregard and denial by the prime minister and his government of the very sociopolitical foundation of good governance (transparency, accountability, equality and justice) on which they conciously campaigned for parliament.
The principles of good governance, viz., transparency, accountability, equality and justice. are underpinned by the "rule of law," where all the constitutional and legal elements are expected and deemed to be constantly upheld in government and the whole of society.
There is a key question that arises, Is the complete disregard and self-denial of good governance that is deeply embedded in the "rule of law" intentional or accidental or both? If it is intentional then the problem is one of arrogance but if it accidental then the problem is one of ignorance.
But if it is both intentional and accidental, the the problems are both arrogance and ignorance, with arrogance itself a form of ignorance or for that matter the one is a mirror image of the other and vice versa! -
'Oku anga fefe 'a e fa'ahinga faka'uhinga ko'eni he kuo fakamahino 'e he PM tu'olahi 'oku fiema'u ha kakai 'e poupou ange ki hono Pule'anga pea fakamafola 'enau fiema'u. Malie tama...
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If the TBC case is not about media freedom then what is it all about? Is it then about wrongful dismissal and not media freedom, as the CEO of TBC said unthinkingly,
But, a key question then arises, Wrongful dismissal from what? Was it wrongful dismissal from the rightful exercise of media freedom?
Is it not originally about a serious breach of media freedom that ultimately but effectively led to wrongful dismissal?
This is what is commonly known in physics as the "domino effect."
However, we clearly witness here a series of serious breaches of constitutional and legal as well as employment contractual rights. -
I wouldn't want to listen to this opportunistic conniving creep!! This is one person who knows which boot to lick. He has moved from job to job stepping on people whenever and where ever he has the chance. This is the same person who left TBC in the midst of controversies and money issues. This is the same person who hijacked Tonga Soccer and conned his way into FIFA inner circle pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars on the way until he was dishonourably kicked out for his big mouth. Yeah, people with big noisy mouths don't know when to stop sucking until they suck the wrong side of the lolly. There have been rumours galore about misusing of substantial FIFA funds that was supposed to be used for grass root development of soccer in Tonga. After years as Tonga's FIFA person, what do Tonga soccer and community soccer clubs have in terms of development? Nothing!! apart from the run down grounds in Veitongo. This is the same person who used to splash FIFA money in the bars of Nuku'alofa and living the life of a self-made millionaire, courtesy of FIFA and FIFA funds destined for soccer development in Tonga.
Now he reappears in the broadcasting industry, planting his greedy self in the very organisation he deserted decades ago. He won the crown he always wanted but always missed due to moral and ethical reasons. And he expects people to believe him?
C'mon Ngalu, get lost. We're tired of noisy tins like you. Just be thankful that your tricks work this time to get you that position, and you know very well that you don't deserve it. Just get off the public arena for a change. We have no time for you and your views no matter how right they may seem. -
Ko Ahongalu aipe eni mei fuoloa.