Tongan democracy leader, Peoples' Representative Akilisi Pohiva, says ongoing restrictions by the state run Tonga Broadcasting Commission are hampering free speech.
In just under three weeks 71 candidates will contest the nine Peoples' Representative seats and Mr Pohiva says they are being denied access to public television and radio.
"Not only myself but of course there are other candidates whose radio programmes and television programmes were not allowed to be broadcast, and that is terrible. We strongly feel that the freedom of the press and the freedom of speech is very much affected, because of the emergency law and the restriction imposed by the Prime Minister's office."
Akilisi Pohiva says programmes have to be vetted by a special committee before they can be broadcast.
The general manager of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission, Elenoa Amanaki, says she is preparing a response to the claim.
