Editing History of Tonga (section)

=== 2002 election===
In the [[2002 Tongan general election|March 2002 election]], supporters of the [[Human Rights and Democracy Movement]] (HRDM) won seven of the nine popularly-elected seats for people's representatives, with the remaining two representing "traditionalist" values.  Voter turnout was 48.9%.<ref>James, p. 314.</ref> The nine nobles and all the cabinet ministers that sit in the Legislative Assembly generally support the government. 
Following the election, HRDM leader [[Samuela 'Akilisi Pohiva|'Akilisi Pohiva]] was arrested and charged with [[sedition]]  over an article published in his newspaper ''Kele’a'' alleging the king had a secret fortune,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michaelfield.org/tonga8.htm |title=Tonga's king centre piece in sedition court case against politicians and journalists |author=Michael Field |date=2002-05-13 |access-date=2010-01-10 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014092317/http://michaelfield.org/tonga8.htm |archive-date=October 14, 2008 }}</ref> but was later acquitted by a jury.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/19/1053196529908.html |title=MPs acquitted on sedition charges |work=The Age |date=2003-05-20 |access-date=2008-07-15 |archive-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314091146/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/19/1053196529908.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2003, the ''Taimi <nowiki>'</nowiki>o Tonga'' ([[Tongan Times]]), a newspaper published in [[New Zealand]] in the [[Tongan language]] that had been critical of the government was prohibited from distribution in Tonga due to government objections to its political content. After the newspaper obtained two court orders, it was again distributed freely. A Media Operators Bill and constitutional amendment, intended to restrict media freedom in Tonga, was hotly debated in 2003. The legislation  allowed the government to exert control over coverage of "cultural" and "moral" issues, ban publications it deemed offensive, and ban foreign ownership of the media. In October 2003, thousands of Tongans marched peacefully through the streets of the capital city [[Nukuʻalofa|Nuku{{Okina}}alofa]] in an unprecedented demonstration against the government's plans to limit media freedom. Despite the protests, the Media Operators Bill and constitutional amendment passed the Legislature and as of December 2003 needed only the King's signature to become law.

By February 2004, the amendment was passed and licensure of news media was required. Those papers denied licenses under the new act included the Taimi 'o Tonga (Tongan Times), the Kele'a and the Matangi Tonga, while those permitted licenses were uniformly church based or pro-government. Further opposition to government action included calls by  the Tu'i Pelehake (a prince, nephew of the King and elected member of parliament) for Australia and other nations to pressure the Tongan government to democratize the electoral system, and a legal writ calling for a judicial investigation of the bill. The latter was supported by some 160 people, including 7 of the 9 elected "People's Representatives".