Heavy-handed treatment by Tonga officials


That the Tongan Government is aversed to a free and independent media was seen in its treatment of the large media contingent that was in Tonga for the recent Forum meeting. Access to leaders and officials was restricted and related Forum activities including evening cocktails and dinners were declared out of bound for journalists.

This was a first, as past Forum meetings allowed members of the news media to attend such functions, as long as they display their official accredited ID cards.

Movement around the Forum venue at the International Dateline Hotel on Nuku’alofa’s seafront was made very difficult.

Although journalists were using the road that linked the meeting room directly to the Dateline Hotel, this access was blocked off to the media from the second day of the Forum meeting.

Journalists, most of them hauling their television equipment, laptops and camera, were made to walk around two to three city blocks in 27 to 28 degrees heat in muddy sidewalks by police and defence officers before they could reach the Dateline Hotel.

Movement of cameramen and photographers was severely restricted during the Forum’s formal opening by King George Tupou V. Many were simply unable to capture the ceremony on film.

During the third day of the summit, an official of the King rebuked some members of the overseas media, accusing them of being indecently dressed and disrespectful.

The man was apparently angered when he saw a group of journalists—being held back by security—shouting their questions across to Fiji’s military leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama when he emerged from the meeting room. Unlike previous Forum meetings, accredited journalists were not provided meeting with satchels that contained meeting information and guidelines.

Some hosts tend to include in those official bags a guide on proper etiquette, even tips on dressing and grooming. Tonga provided none.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Greg Urwin told ISLANDS BUSINESS it was ridiculous to blame the secretariat for the way the media was treated in Tonga.

He said handling the media was the host’s responsibility.

ISLANDS BUSINESS had sought comments from the office of Prime Minister Dr Fred Sevele. But no response was received when this edition went to press.