Page 32 - IB August 2021

Samoa Samoa

RALLYING IN VAIN

TUILAEPA CLUTCHES AT STRAWS

By Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson shows on television, radio and on Facebook Live, all with the
same narrative, to uphold the Constitution, uphold the rule
The political car rally that took place in Apia led by former of law and question the independence of the Judiciary—the
Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Lupesoliai Maliel- very mechanisms of Government which legally gave power to
egaoi on July 30 was reminiscent of the rallies staged by sup- a new Government.
porters of former President Donald Trump across the United FAST’s lawyer, Taulapapa Heather Latu, at the time told The
States. Pacific Newsroom that the plot is concerning.
Tuilaepa urged his supporters to come out in large numbers, “My big concern now, is that he is actively creating civil
calling for the ‘restoration’ of Samoa’s Constitution after he unrest which if you contrast that with the four months waiting
lost the 2021 election and exhausted all legal challenges. for court decisions, people were patient and were respect-
“The whole purpose of our political rally is to restore and ful of the court, and now after the decision has come out,
respect the integrity and dignity of this nation’s Constitution, you have a leader creating this stuff, four months after the
the Supreme Law of our country, which stipulates the Rule of general election.”
Law which the citizens of Samoa must all observe so that our Tuilaepa’s support remains strong, but so too is the support
people can continue to live in peace and in a stable environ- base for FAST. This was clear when his supporters attempted
ment”, he told media before the rally. a car rally in the big island of Savai’i, where people voted
The Constitution he was wanting to preserve, put the power overwhelmingly for FAST candidates. Before the rally, the
in the hands of the people who then elected a new leader in township of Salelologa declared that they had forbidden the
Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. rally from entering their village, a difficult task since it was
The Judiciary he was protesting against, were the very the township and the port of Savai’i. Despite clear announce-
people who upheld the rule of law and made way for a peace- ments by the village Chiefs protesting the march, Tuilaepa
ful transition of power. and his party attempted to drive through, which led to a
But even after reluctantly packing his personal effects in strong response by the village. They barred the road with
the office he had occupied for 23 years, Tuilaepa, it seemed, rocks and logs, threw stones and gun shots were heard in the
was not leaving quietly. plantations, issued as reminders of Salelologa’s discontent.
Ever since the results of the April 9 general election were This opposition was met with hostility and accusations of
officially declared, he had exercised his far-reaching powers savagery by the former ruling party and Tuilaepa’s supporters.
within the legislature, executive and over the head of state to Savai’i, which tends to be overlooked in national develop-
do his bidding and find ways to keep him in the office he was ment, ultimately dictated the results of the election and a
no longer legally entitled to hold. call for a change in Government. It is ironic however, that it
The moves made to remain in power were creative, deliber- is the very communities that he pretended to support with
ate and malicious. Yet, as long as he sat at the desk of the the three bills he introduced, that led to senior members of
Prime Minister, his actions and words seemed authoritative his party, including Fiame, leaving his side and ultimately, his
and to many, acceptable and natural. But the normalisation of political demise.
the corruption and the dictatorial maneuverings was perhaps After the appointment of acting supreme court judges from
the most troubling aspect of the whole political crisis. Like New Zealand to preside over the upcoming contempt of court
Trump’s playbook, where decency and the rule of law was charges against Tuilaepa among others, the new narrative
ignored, so too were they ignored in Tuilaepa’s pursuit to being pushed by his supporters is to frame a normal judicial
remain in power. practice to ensure impartiality of courts, as a ‘colonialist
The maneuverings included attempts to void the results practice’. Some have called for a return of power to the
of the elections, add a woman member to the Human Rights Samoan people and traditional mechanisms. Ironically, even in
Protection Party (HRPP) without due process, delay the con- the unlikely and unfathomable event that such a notion was
vening of Parliament, the locking of Parliament house, refusal to be entertained, Fiame, would still ultimately be the chosen
to admit defeat and continuous disparaging of the members of leader, because of her paramount lineage and overwhelming
the Judiciary. support by Puleono, which is on the island of Savai’i, a signifi-
After the ruling by the Court of Appeal declaring the swear- cant cultural district within the hierarchy of Samoa’s chiefly
ing in ceremony for the ruling party Fa’atuatua I Le Atua structure. In the same vein, if indeed Samoa was to return to
Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) on May 24 as valid, Tuilaepa had stepped normal cultural leadership, then the actions by Salelologa,
up his attempts to deny the peaceful transition of power to which were branded as savagery, would become the norm.
the new Government. That swearing in ceremony took place In the end, no matter what way he frames it, Tuilaepa
in a tent in Parliament’s grounds when entry to the chamber lost.
was denied to then new MPs.
Tuilaepa organised political rallies, and hosted daily talk editor@islandsbusiness.com

32 Islands Business, August 2021