11 Oct 2004

Tonga magazine expected to be back in print next year

3:00 pm on 11 October 2004

The operator of the monthly magazine Matangi Tonga, says the magazine will be on the streets of Tonga next year, after an absence of more than 12 months.

Pesi Fonua's comments come after the Chief Justice ruled the Kingdom's recently introduced Media Laws were void because they contravened Clause 7 of the Constitution.

Mr Fonua says the ruling is a victory for press freedom and will result in the re-launching of Matangi Tonga in print.

He says because of the legislation the magazine lost large amounts of money.

"It was very hard to try and establish any confidence on the magazine, particularly with the licensing. We were supposed to be applying annually for the licence and it was very, very difficult to establish any confidence on the advertisers or even on the subscribers."

Mr Fonua says he will decide whether to sue the government for financial damages this week.