PFF referred to Tonga's new media regulations as "disappointing". Featured
20 August, 2020. Despite attempts by the Tonga government at re-assurance over new media restrictions, anger is not abating.
The government quietly made public changes that appeared to target media freedom, whistle blowers and anyone not supporting their viewpoint.
The regional media watchdog, Pacific Freedom Forum, referred to the new regulations as "disappointing".
PFF President, Bernadette Carreon , said the regulations were real threats to real media and they posed a real threat to the public's right to know.
The group's Melanesia co-chair, Ofani Eremae, said Tonga's journalists and media workers provided the public with critical information, especially during a pandemic.
"This strategic move by the government is an excuse to clamp down on independent reporting while flying the fake news flag."
One of the longest serving journalists in Tonga, RNZ Pacific correspondent Kalafi Moala, said these concerns were coupled with news the government was planning to bring in additional legislation, the so-called Reputation Act, next month.
"We are very very concerned about that.
"They are tightening things up in terms of legislations, regulations, concerning media. And even though it is targeted, as they say, targeted at social media, targeted at those giving false information, but all of media is going to be hurt by this," Moala said.
Earlier this week the Chief Executive of the Communications ministry, Paula Ma'u, presented the new regulations as old rules that had had their penalties reduced.
It had said it was focussed on broadcast media.
- RNZI
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1 comment
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Aren't we talking here about the clash of cultures (and languages)? Must legislation then critically take into account the fact that, like culture and language, the West and the Rest, the treatment of information differs from culture to culture, as in the linear ways versus the circular ways? Must legislation then take that 'intersection' seriously by way of mediation versus by way of imposition, where the linear and the circular are duly mediated, both fairly equitably and beautifully, and both for the betterment of all of humanity? The same applies to the severely problematised notion of democracy amidst many others!