Last Updated: Friday, 25 May 2012, 13:06 GMT

Title	Freedom of the Press - Tonga (2002)
Publisher	Freedom House
Country	Tonga
Publication Date	22 April 2002
Cite as	Freedom House, Freedom of the Press - Tonga (2002), 22 April 2002, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4734508b23.html [accessed 28 May 2012]
Disclaimer	This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Freedom of the Press - Tonga (2002)

Status: Partly Free
Legal Environment: 18
Political Influences: 12
Economic Pressures: 6
Total Score: 36

Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 71
Religious Groups: n/a
Ethnic Groups: Polynesian
Capital: Nuku'alofa

Charging criminal defamation is the government's method of restricting press freedom. The deputy editor of a Tongan independent weekly newspaper was charged in February. Criticism of the king, his family, and the government may subject the journalist to court action. There are several privately owned newspapers and an outspoken Catholic paper. The state owns the two television stations and Radio Tonga, whose reports favor the government.

Topics: Freedom of expression,

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