11 Dec 2006

Tongan pro-democracy MPs still denied media access

4:20 pm on 11 December 2006

Tonga's leading pro democracy MP Akilisi Pohiva says his group is still being denied the right to have freedom of speech.

Mr Pohiva says his group has been stopped from accessing local radio and television.

He says large gatherings by his group are still prohibited.

Mr Pohiva says his group has been trying to meet with the government for dialogue, as the situation impinges on their rights to free speech.

"Public meetings is not allowed, we can have a meeting but not more than four people so there's still strict restrictions on our accessibility to the local media and also us having meeting with the people."

Pro-democracy MP in Tonga, Akilisi Pohiva