By Staff Writer
The Human Rights Protection Party deputy leader, Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo, was grateful but not joyful, at being cleared of an election petition against him in court last Wednesday.
The Supreme Court tossed out the petition by the Anoama’a 2 election candidate Leota Nora against Fonotoe.
Leota was one of 5-candidates in the running for the electoral Constituency seat standing for the FAST political party.
Ironically, the court found her guilty of election violations in a turn around decision on a counter petition by her opponent.
“I am happy and grateful to our Heavenly Father that the petition against me ended well but it’s not the kind of win to jump up and down about it in celebrations,” Fonotoe said in a somber mood.
“My petitioner is a sister to me, we are both holders of ‘matai’ titles in our Solosolo Village and we go to the same church.”
The HRPP deputy leader professed he was forced to appear in court, whether he wanted to or not, to defend against election charges brought against him.
As a respondent he also had to file counter charges despite his reluctance to appear in court.
Fonotoe is no stranger to the court, it is a working environment that he used to frequent as a lawyer when he was active in his legal career.
He has since switched over to a career in politics when he was elected and remained to become a veteran Member of Parliament.
“In my many years of experience as a lawyer in court to represent a client on criminal, civil or corporate matters, it always ends up with a win to one side and a loss to another.
“ One side goes home happy the other sad and disappointed, so basically nobody wants to end up in court.”
Fonotoe felt his petitioner had a chance of still ending up in Parliament as a possible candidate for the extra seat to make up the 10 per cent threshold for women MPs.
“This is all the more reason why I would not have wanted this petition to go ahead in court , but people have their own choices.
“If she wins the extra seat for women then that is credit for our constituency because we would have two MPs in the House.”
For now, it is time to leave all that in the past as far as Fonotoe is concerned after his by-election win.
“It is time for us to move forward.”
The Fonotoe win brought much needed consolation for the HRPP to break the ‘draw-lose’ series of court rulings behind recent complaints to the Judicial Services Commission.