Blue hues (default)
Green hues
Orange hues
High contrast
Small text (default)
Medium text
Large text
Nomoa.com
Paving the way for .NET in Tonga
Chaos
| Browse in : |
All
> Soap Box
> Chaos
|
Taimi 'o Tonga Imports Banned
Posted by:
Samiuela LV Taufa on February 28, 2003 3:40:17 PM
As you may have heard, the Taimi 'o Tonga rag has been banned (again) from Tonga. This time the government has used its importation and social values powers to prevent the local distribution of the paper (because the paper is printed in NZ before shipment to Tonga.)
To get the official is difficult, even in Tonga, but especially on the 'NET because of the slow link to the government website.
The official response is attached below for those who can't get on. Draw your own conclusions whether we're smarties or bananas.
To get the official is difficult, even in Tonga, but especially on the 'NET because of the slow link to the government website.
The official response is attached below for those who can't get on. Draw your own conclusions whether we're smarties or bananas.
[Reference: http://pmo.gov.to The Government of Tonga's website]
The Government of Tonga prohibits the import of the foreign newspaper Taimi ‘o Tonga
On Wednesday, 26th February, 2003, in accordance with Government policy, the Chief Commissioner of Revenue, pursuant to Section 34 of the Customs and Excise Act [CAP. 67] served a notice to prohibit the import of the foreign newspaper Taimi ‘o Tonga. The main reasons for this decision are:-
(1) That the Taimi ‘o Tonga is a foreign paper, owned and published by a foreigner;
(2) That the Taimi ‘o Tonga is a foreign concern with a political agenda;
(3) That the Taimi ‘o Tonga’s continuous standard of journalism is unacceptable.
This decision was then conveyed by the Chief Commissioner of Revenue to the local Manager of the Taimi ‘o Tonga, Mr. Filokalafi ‘Akau’ola.
2. TAIMI ‘O TONGA - A FOREIGN NEWSPAPER
The Taimi ‘o Tonga is owned by its publisher, Mr. ‘Eakalafi Moala, an American citizen who resides in Auckland, New Zealand. It is flown to Tonga from Auckland, twice a week.
3. TAIMI ‘O TONGA - A FOREIGN NEWSPAPER CAMPAIGNING TO OVERTHROW TONGA’S POLITICAL SYSTEM AND TRADITIONS
The Taimi ‘o Tonga, whilst a foreign newspaper, has ruthlessly campaigned for the overthrow of Tonga’s Constitutional Government. Structure. With strong cultural insensitivity, it has incited disaffection among the people of Tonga.
No foreign – owned publication with such an agenda, has a right of entry into any Sovereign State.
4. TAIMI ‘O TONGA TRADING LICENCE IN TONGA
On 28th January 2003, Mr. Moala’s Trading Licence as a “Newspaper Operator” was renewed until 31/12/2003.
5. “TAIMI ‘O TONGA” NEVER JOINED TONGA MEDIA ASSOCIATION
Mr. Sangster Saulala, President of the Tonga Media Association, has confirmed in the attached letter to the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, 26th February, 2003 [Annex I] that the Taimi ‘o Tonga has never joined the Association, nor accepted its Code of Ethics. All of Tonga’s other weekly newspapers, as well as Radio and the two Television Stations broadcasting local programmes, belong to the Tonga Media Association and have accepted, and are accountable to, their common Code of Ethics.
Significantly, no overseas media or other administration has ever published this, nor campaigned for the Taimi ‘o Tonga to submit to proper journalistic accountability. Without this, the Tongan public’s rights to unprofessional journalism are unprotected.
6. YOU NEED TO BE A TONGAN READER, TO KNOW WHAT THE TAIMI ‘O TONGA PUBLISHES, AND THEREFORE BE QUALIFIED TO PASS JUDGEMENT ON ITS STANDARD OF JOURNALISM.
Any useful discussion of the journalistic performance of the Taimi ‘o Tonga can only be done by those who read and understand Tongan, and are regular readers of the paper. Infrequent translations for non – Tongan readers, do not provide this necessary knowledge, which is the essential qualification for discussing and passing judgment on the Taimi ‘o Tonga’s journalistic performance.
7. TAIMI ‘O TONGA’S UNPROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTIC STANDARDS
Among the basic rights of any public from journalists are:-
(a) the right to be given a voice in publications about themselves;
(b) the right to be given an opportunity by the media for corrections or comments on publications already made about themselves;
(c) the right to be given correct, unbiased, and balanced information.
These fundamental human rights of the people of Tonga have been violated by the Taimi – ‘o - Tonga over so many years as exemplified below:-
(i) Parliamentary Reports
Characteristically, the Taimi – ‘o – Tonga focuses on the politicians whom it favours, and presents them in the best of light. The other politicians do not receive similar treatment. The actual issues of discussion do not receive professional treatment either.
This unprofessionalism has long robbed the people of Tonga of their right to correct, unbiased, and balanced information about the work of their Parliament.
(ii) Report about Church Affairs
In the name of pursuing issues in the Churches, the Taimi ‘o Tonga has again characteristically promoted the reputations of those it favours, and insulted and mocked at those it does not. Some important Church institutions are never scrutinized.
The result of this personalized type of journalism over so many years, has been to again rob the people of Tonga of their human right to correct, unbiased, and balanced reporting.
(iii) Campaign against immorality
In the name of campaigning against immorality, the Taimi ‘o Tonga has, again characteristically, focused on certain individuals or groups only, and ignored others.
The pasts of people, to whom they are allied, and their families, are rarely ridiculed, if published at all. The rest may be correct in complaining that they are persecuted.
Once again, the right of the Tongan public to correct, unbiased, and balanced reporting is violated.
(iv) Campaign against breaches of the law.
Again, characteristically, those who are opposed to the Taimi ‘o Tonga’s political views are the focus of scrutiny. Others with criminal and dubious financial records, who are allied to the Taimi ‘o Tonga, are not exposed to similar scrutiny.
Again, this violates the rights of the people of Tonga to correct, unbiased, and balanced reporting.
The above examples provide adequate clarification of the actions taken by the Government of Tonga.
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
INFORMATION UNIT
P. O. BOX 62
NUKU’ALOFA
TONGATAPU
T O N G A
Telephone: (676) 24 644
Facsimile: (676) 23 888
Email: pmomail@pmo.gov.to
Website: www.pmo.gov.to
The Government of Tonga prohibits the import of the foreign newspaper Taimi ‘o Tonga
On Wednesday, 26th February, 2003, in accordance with Government policy, the Chief Commissioner of Revenue, pursuant to Section 34 of the Customs and Excise Act [CAP. 67] served a notice to prohibit the import of the foreign newspaper Taimi ‘o Tonga. The main reasons for this decision are:-
(1) That the Taimi ‘o Tonga is a foreign paper, owned and published by a foreigner;
(2) That the Taimi ‘o Tonga is a foreign concern with a political agenda;
(3) That the Taimi ‘o Tonga’s continuous standard of journalism is unacceptable.
This decision was then conveyed by the Chief Commissioner of Revenue to the local Manager of the Taimi ‘o Tonga, Mr. Filokalafi ‘Akau’ola.
2. TAIMI ‘O TONGA - A FOREIGN NEWSPAPER
The Taimi ‘o Tonga is owned by its publisher, Mr. ‘Eakalafi Moala, an American citizen who resides in Auckland, New Zealand. It is flown to Tonga from Auckland, twice a week.
3. TAIMI ‘O TONGA - A FOREIGN NEWSPAPER CAMPAIGNING TO OVERTHROW TONGA’S POLITICAL SYSTEM AND TRADITIONS
The Taimi ‘o Tonga, whilst a foreign newspaper, has ruthlessly campaigned for the overthrow of Tonga’s Constitutional Government. Structure. With strong cultural insensitivity, it has incited disaffection among the people of Tonga.
No foreign – owned publication with such an agenda, has a right of entry into any Sovereign State.
4. TAIMI ‘O TONGA TRADING LICENCE IN TONGA
On 28th January 2003, Mr. Moala’s Trading Licence as a “Newspaper Operator” was renewed until 31/12/2003.
5. “TAIMI ‘O TONGA” NEVER JOINED TONGA MEDIA ASSOCIATION
Mr. Sangster Saulala, President of the Tonga Media Association, has confirmed in the attached letter to the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, 26th February, 2003 [Annex I] that the Taimi ‘o Tonga has never joined the Association, nor accepted its Code of Ethics. All of Tonga’s other weekly newspapers, as well as Radio and the two Television Stations broadcasting local programmes, belong to the Tonga Media Association and have accepted, and are accountable to, their common Code of Ethics.
Significantly, no overseas media or other administration has ever published this, nor campaigned for the Taimi ‘o Tonga to submit to proper journalistic accountability. Without this, the Tongan public’s rights to unprofessional journalism are unprotected.
6. YOU NEED TO BE A TONGAN READER, TO KNOW WHAT THE TAIMI ‘O TONGA PUBLISHES, AND THEREFORE BE QUALIFIED TO PASS JUDGEMENT ON ITS STANDARD OF JOURNALISM.
Any useful discussion of the journalistic performance of the Taimi ‘o Tonga can only be done by those who read and understand Tongan, and are regular readers of the paper. Infrequent translations for non – Tongan readers, do not provide this necessary knowledge, which is the essential qualification for discussing and passing judgment on the Taimi ‘o Tonga’s journalistic performance.
7. TAIMI ‘O TONGA’S UNPROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTIC STANDARDS
Among the basic rights of any public from journalists are:-
(a) the right to be given a voice in publications about themselves;
(b) the right to be given an opportunity by the media for corrections or comments on publications already made about themselves;
(c) the right to be given correct, unbiased, and balanced information.
These fundamental human rights of the people of Tonga have been violated by the Taimi – ‘o - Tonga over so many years as exemplified below:-
(i) Parliamentary Reports
Characteristically, the Taimi – ‘o – Tonga focuses on the politicians whom it favours, and presents them in the best of light. The other politicians do not receive similar treatment. The actual issues of discussion do not receive professional treatment either.
This unprofessionalism has long robbed the people of Tonga of their right to correct, unbiased, and balanced information about the work of their Parliament.
(ii) Report about Church Affairs
In the name of pursuing issues in the Churches, the Taimi ‘o Tonga has again characteristically promoted the reputations of those it favours, and insulted and mocked at those it does not. Some important Church institutions are never scrutinized.
The result of this personalized type of journalism over so many years, has been to again rob the people of Tonga of their human right to correct, unbiased, and balanced reporting.
(iii) Campaign against immorality
In the name of campaigning against immorality, the Taimi ‘o Tonga has, again characteristically, focused on certain individuals or groups only, and ignored others.
The pasts of people, to whom they are allied, and their families, are rarely ridiculed, if published at all. The rest may be correct in complaining that they are persecuted.
Once again, the right of the Tongan public to correct, unbiased, and balanced reporting is violated.
(iv) Campaign against breaches of the law.
Again, characteristically, those who are opposed to the Taimi ‘o Tonga’s political views are the focus of scrutiny. Others with criminal and dubious financial records, who are allied to the Taimi ‘o Tonga, are not exposed to similar scrutiny.
Again, this violates the rights of the people of Tonga to correct, unbiased, and balanced reporting.
The above examples provide adequate clarification of the actions taken by the Government of Tonga.
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
INFORMATION UNIT
P. O. BOX 62
NUKU’ALOFA
TONGATAPU
T O N G A
Telephone: (676) 24 644
Facsimile: (676) 23 888
Email: pmomail@pmo.gov.to
Website: www.pmo.gov.to
Note: Comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for their content.
Comments Settings
Re: Taimi 'o Tonga Imports Banned
March 03, 2003 11:12 AM
And here's Taimi Tonga's response (on the 'NET) <a href="http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/Weekly2003/02.25.2003/PacificIslands5.h tm">http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/Weekly2003/02.25.2003/PacificIslands5. htm</a>
Pacific Media Watch
Friday, February 28, 2003
Government 'insults intelligence' of common Tongans, says banned paper
NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga (Taimi/Pacific Media Watch): The Tonga government and its "puppet" Tonga Media Association have insulted the intelligence of commoner Tongans and 40,000 readers of the banned newspaper Taimi 'o Tonga with statements defending the ban, claims Taimi.
After banning the popular twice-weekly newspaper on 26 February 2003 as "a prohibited import", the government and TMA statements said Taimi 'o Tonga (Times of Tonga) "has incited disaffection among the people of Tonga".
The president of the government-backed TMA, Sangster Saulala, said: "Any useful discussion of journalistic performance of the Taimi 'o Tonga can only be done by those who read and understand Tongan, and are regular readers of the paper".
Saulala was trying to rule out any "foreign" involvement or "foreign press" criticism over the newspaper's ban, claims Taimi.
The statement posted on the Tongan government website <www.pmo.gov.to> said non-Tongan readers who got "infrequent translations" were not qualified to pass "judgement on the Taimi 'o Tonga's journalistic performance".
"The inferences in these statements are that the people of Tonga who read the Taimi 'o Tonga regularly, and have supported it for the past 14 years, are dumb, easily led astray, and have no useful contribution to the judgement concerning the journalistic performance of the newspaper," publisher Kalafi Moala said from his Auckland office.
"The government and TMA did not point out the fact that Taimi 'o Tonga is not only the most read newspaper in Tonga, but that over 40,000 Tongans read the newspaper regularly."
Moala said the attitude expressed by Tonga's government and TMA was sad but not surprising.
"Throughout human history, imperialists, colonialists, and oppressors always look down on common people, and always believe that they do not have the intelligence to make judgements on the truth," he said.
"From Hitler, Lenin, Marcos, and Mugabe, they always believe that people are dumb, and therefore what they should be told needed to be censored and controlled."
Moala said: "The government of Tonga in its typical oppressive stance, wants to control what the common people of Tonga should or should not know. That is the chief rational behind the banning of Taimi 'o Tonga."
Moala said that the issue of "cultural sensitivity" was a farce.
"In recent times, Tonga's ruling elite had assigned Tongan culture to be synonymous with the aristocracy. In other words, whenever they talk about cultural sensitivity, they mean that the commoners should be sensitive to the royal family and the aristocracy.
"It's not Tongan culture, just the culture of the aristocracy. Never mind the cultural values of ordinary Tongans.
"This is an attempt from another angle to halt any criticism of the ruling elite, calling criticism 'cultural insensitivity'."
In a statement signed by the Minister of Finance, Siosiua 'Utoikamanu, who is also the Controller of Customs, the Taimi 'o Tonga was declared "to be seditious or advocating violence, lawlessness or disorder".
The government also said that the newspaper had "ruthlessly campaigned for the overthrow of Tonga's constitutional government structure".
Moala denied that his newspaper was seditious or in any way advocating violence, lawlessness or disorder.
He also said that it was "bizarre how government could interpret criticism of government structure, policy and practice as a campaign to overthrow the government".
He said: "These insecure, aging men in Cabinet must be really afraid of something to accuse the newspaper of trying to overthrow them.
"In 1996, Police Minister Clive Edwards told the Fiji Times (published Monday, 14 October 1996) that I had been 'campaigning in the villages... suggesting that if King Taufa'ahau Tupou ... did not accept changes this year he might get shot'."
Edwards had also claimed that Taimi 'o Tonga was involved in a conspiracy to assassinate the king.
Moala said this was a fabrication.
"I wrote [to the minister] about it, as well as complaining to the Attorney General, but he has never corrected his statements," Moala said.
Moala believes that it was "probably the same man" who had made the accusation that Taimi 'o Tonga had been campaigning to overthrow the government structure.
"If criticising corruption in government is seditious, then I'm guilty. And if calling for democratic reforms in Tonga is seditious, then I'm guilty. To call on the government to stop doing foolish things, to stop abusing the poor and needy, and to stop catering to just the few who are elite, if that is seditious, then I am guilty," Moala said.
"I am reminded of something the late Bishop Patelesio Finau said, that if the oppression in Tonga was coming from outsiders, there would be an uprising, but the abuse and oppression that is coming on the common people are from our own people, the aristocracy and the ruling elite."
Moala said that just as the government had done with the sale of Tongan citizenship and passports in the 1980s, it might pass a law to oppress the independent media and stop any dissenting voice.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is an independent, non-profit, non-government organisation comprising journalists, lawyers, editors and other media workers, dedicated to examining issues of ethics, accountability, censorship, media freedom and media ownership in the Pacific region. Launched in October 1996, it has links with the Journalism Program at the University of the South Pacific, Bushfire Media, the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism, and Pactok Communications, in Sydney and Port Moresby. (c)1996-2001 Copyright - All rights reserved.
Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original producers as indicated. Recipients should seek permission from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views of PMW or its members.
Recipients should rely on their own inquiries before making decisions based on material listed in PMW. Please copy appeals to PMW and acknowledge source.
For further information, inquiries about joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve, articles for publication, and giving feedback contact Pacific Media Watch at: E-mail: delaro@clear.net.nz
Pacific Media Watch
Friday, February 28, 2003
Government 'insults intelligence' of common Tongans, says banned paper
NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga (Taimi/Pacific Media Watch): The Tonga government and its "puppet" Tonga Media Association have insulted the intelligence of commoner Tongans and 40,000 readers of the banned newspaper Taimi 'o Tonga with statements defending the ban, claims Taimi.
After banning the popular twice-weekly newspaper on 26 February 2003 as "a prohibited import", the government and TMA statements said Taimi 'o Tonga (Times of Tonga) "has incited disaffection among the people of Tonga".
The president of the government-backed TMA, Sangster Saulala, said: "Any useful discussion of journalistic performance of the Taimi 'o Tonga can only be done by those who read and understand Tongan, and are regular readers of the paper".
Saulala was trying to rule out any "foreign" involvement or "foreign press" criticism over the newspaper's ban, claims Taimi.
The statement posted on the Tongan government website <www.pmo.gov.to> said non-Tongan readers who got "infrequent translations" were not qualified to pass "judgement on the Taimi 'o Tonga's journalistic performance".
"The inferences in these statements are that the people of Tonga who read the Taimi 'o Tonga regularly, and have supported it for the past 14 years, are dumb, easily led astray, and have no useful contribution to the judgement concerning the journalistic performance of the newspaper," publisher Kalafi Moala said from his Auckland office.
"The government and TMA did not point out the fact that Taimi 'o Tonga is not only the most read newspaper in Tonga, but that over 40,000 Tongans read the newspaper regularly."
Moala said the attitude expressed by Tonga's government and TMA was sad but not surprising.
"Throughout human history, imperialists, colonialists, and oppressors always look down on common people, and always believe that they do not have the intelligence to make judgements on the truth," he said.
"From Hitler, Lenin, Marcos, and Mugabe, they always believe that people are dumb, and therefore what they should be told needed to be censored and controlled."
Moala said: "The government of Tonga in its typical oppressive stance, wants to control what the common people of Tonga should or should not know. That is the chief rational behind the banning of Taimi 'o Tonga."
Moala said that the issue of "cultural sensitivity" was a farce.
"In recent times, Tonga's ruling elite had assigned Tongan culture to be synonymous with the aristocracy. In other words, whenever they talk about cultural sensitivity, they mean that the commoners should be sensitive to the royal family and the aristocracy.
"It's not Tongan culture, just the culture of the aristocracy. Never mind the cultural values of ordinary Tongans.
"This is an attempt from another angle to halt any criticism of the ruling elite, calling criticism 'cultural insensitivity'."
In a statement signed by the Minister of Finance, Siosiua 'Utoikamanu, who is also the Controller of Customs, the Taimi 'o Tonga was declared "to be seditious or advocating violence, lawlessness or disorder".
The government also said that the newspaper had "ruthlessly campaigned for the overthrow of Tonga's constitutional government structure".
Moala denied that his newspaper was seditious or in any way advocating violence, lawlessness or disorder.
He also said that it was "bizarre how government could interpret criticism of government structure, policy and practice as a campaign to overthrow the government".
He said: "These insecure, aging men in Cabinet must be really afraid of something to accuse the newspaper of trying to overthrow them.
"In 1996, Police Minister Clive Edwards told the Fiji Times (published Monday, 14 October 1996) that I had been 'campaigning in the villages... suggesting that if King Taufa'ahau Tupou ... did not accept changes this year he might get shot'."
Edwards had also claimed that Taimi 'o Tonga was involved in a conspiracy to assassinate the king.
Moala said this was a fabrication.
"I wrote [to the minister] about it, as well as complaining to the Attorney General, but he has never corrected his statements," Moala said.
Moala believes that it was "probably the same man" who had made the accusation that Taimi 'o Tonga had been campaigning to overthrow the government structure.
"If criticising corruption in government is seditious, then I'm guilty. And if calling for democratic reforms in Tonga is seditious, then I'm guilty. To call on the government to stop doing foolish things, to stop abusing the poor and needy, and to stop catering to just the few who are elite, if that is seditious, then I am guilty," Moala said.
"I am reminded of something the late Bishop Patelesio Finau said, that if the oppression in Tonga was coming from outsiders, there would be an uprising, but the abuse and oppression that is coming on the common people are from our own people, the aristocracy and the ruling elite."
Moala said that just as the government had done with the sale of Tongan citizenship and passports in the 1980s, it might pass a law to oppress the independent media and stop any dissenting voice.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is an independent, non-profit, non-government organisation comprising journalists, lawyers, editors and other media workers, dedicated to examining issues of ethics, accountability, censorship, media freedom and media ownership in the Pacific region. Launched in October 1996, it has links with the Journalism Program at the University of the South Pacific, Bushfire Media, the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism, and Pactok Communications, in Sydney and Port Moresby. (c)1996-2001 Copyright - All rights reserved.
Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original producers as indicated. Recipients should seek permission from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views of PMW or its members.
Recipients should rely on their own inquiries before making decisions based on material listed in PMW. Please copy appeals to PMW and acknowledge source.
For further information, inquiries about joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve, articles for publication, and giving feedback contact Pacific Media Watch at: E-mail: delaro@clear.net.nz
Re: Re: Taimi 'o Tonga Imports Banned
March 04, 2003 06:42 PM
Re(1): Taimi 'o Tonga Imports Banned
March 31, 2006 01:24 AM
Taimi o Tonga should supplie Australia one a week because its too much rubbish.
© Copyright 2006 Nomoa.com Publishers
Except where otherwise noted, this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License.
#