By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
The Judiciary is being played like a rugby ball in the political parties standoff power game that is yet to show any real hopes of ending soon.
The many twists and turns in the court rulings of legal matters in the aftermath of the 9 April 2021 general elections has left Samoa without a new Government in 4-months and still counting.
The latest twist starting to emerge is the use of village political party supporters to speak out in support of the Judiciary and to pressure for the convening of Parliament.
Pockets of support groups are starting to speak out publicly, as recently as last week, to echo the new rallying call by the FAST political party “ we stand with the Judiciary.”
The organised village outcry received maximum public exposure on formal and social media with more to come as the new political tactic gathers momentum.
The FAST tactical moves of standing behind the Judiciary, endears them against complaints by its political rivals HRPP, over recent court rulings.
The government caretaker party is finding it hard to keep the faith in the courts with a blatant trend of rulings that either go against them or favour the FAST candidates petition .
The puzzling reaction has reached the point where it filed two complaints with the Judicial Services Commission against the judges of the Supreme Court presiding on political matters.
A request was included for an outside judge to be brought in to preside over political matters that involves the HRPP.
Last week the political party requested the Judicial Services Commission that Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese be recused from sitting in the Appeals Court hearing of the ‘under the tent swearing-in’ by FAST.
Other party complaints are at the continuing run of unfavourable court rulings in the hearing of election petitions against their elected candidates complaints.
“All we’ve had so far are draws and losses and no wins,” HRPP party secretary and spokesman MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi claimed publicly.
The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, spoke publicly as well at having to puzzle over the tail end twists of recent key political court battle rulings.
He has had to ponder the Appeals Court ruling to uphold a 6th seat for women in Parliament but only after the by-election results to decide if it was needed.
Another tail end twist is the Supreme Court ruling to declare illegal the FAST party under the tent swearing-in but with the requirement for Parliament to convene in 7 days.
The ruling prompted a strongly worded proclamation by the Head of State for the Judiciary not to usurp the Constitutional powers of his office.
His Highness also called on Parliament to convene on the 2 August 2021 which would be long after the Court ordered 7 days have expired.
What is now starting to become obvious is a Judiciary mauling between clever manipulation for political benefits on one side and integrity complaints on the other.
FAST is making sure the Judiciary is aware that they are on their side by drumming out a “ we are behind the Judiciary” push for their village supporters to echo.
The HRPP on the other hand has riled up their supporters against the Judiciary with growing doubts on the fairness of the court rulings.
But while FAST is deliberately playing the good guy role in support of the Judiciary, the HRPP has countered with “ we stand for the Constitution’ to testify for their respect of the rule of law.
The new ploy of firing up village support bases to incite vocal favour or protest on political agendas is unsettling with the risks of causing rival confrontations
HRPP plans to have their village supporters push the party’s political cause as well this week with full public television and other media exposure.