'The Tongan regime thinks it can get away with curbing the fundamental human rights of all Tongans to freedom of information and expression’


Which two Pacific Islands regimes have openly backed the Chinese crackdown on the Tibetans?

Which two Pacific Islands regimes are the least democratic in the region?

Which two Pacific Islands regimes try to curb the fundamental human right of all people to freedom of expression and information?

Yes, yes, yes. We know it’s yes to Fiji on all three. No doubt about that. But, readers, how many of you also answered Tonga?

If you didn’t, it’s no surprise.

For the Tongan regime escapes much of the regional and international scrutiny applied to Fiji. Yet Tonga, in some ways, is just as bad, or worse, than Fiji.

Take the fundamental human right to freedom of expression and information as an example.

The kingdom’s Tonga Broadcasting Commission purports to operate as a “public broadcaster”.

With the forced closure of the pro-democracy Oceania Broadcasting Network, Tonga Broadcasting Commission’s radio and TV stations are the prime source of news and information for Tongans.

Yet, after at first banning all political reporting, the Tonga Broadcasting Commission has now introduced curious new restrictions.

It said any programmes involving politics must be first approved by representatives of the government-appointed board. This, incidentally, just happens to be chaired by the kingdom’s Prime Minister.

Imagine the protests if Frank Bainimarama tried the same sort of thing in Fiji.

Yet while suppression of free speech goes on in Tonga, there is little comment or criticism from outside.

A so-called Pacific Media and Human Rights Summit last month funded by NZAID and the British makes no mention of the Tongan situation in its communiquŽ. Or Fiji for that matter.

The regional Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) had to be pressured by members before it issued its first statement on the Tongan situation in years.

And then it discredited any benefits from this by somehow calling the kingdom a republic.

No wonder the Tongan regime thinks it can get away with curbing the fundamental human rights of all Tongans to freedom of information and expression.

But you have to wonder. Why don’t some of those who are so vocal about Fiji, also start looking at what is happening in King George’s kingdom?