By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
When our flag is raised this week at the Tiafau Malae, Mulinu’u, Wednesday, 1 June 2022, it will be a special occasion.
We celebrate our annual national day of independence on this day.
The event is a commemoration of our sovereign right and freedom to rule in our own homeland as we see fit.
Once we were muscled under the rule of our colonial masters.
This is the historical backdrop to why we gather at the Tiafau Malae every year. We became our own boss, free to pursue the destiny of our choice, on this day.
Some of us may still have rebellious sentiments lingering at the tragedies of our unhappy experience under the colonial yoke, but it is ancient history now.
It is 60 years this week since we have moved on. Besides it was not all bad. Some good came out of it too.
This colonial chapter of our journey into nationhood gave birth to what became a Treaty of Friendship with our former colonial masters New Zealand.
Under the treaty, the Land of the Long White Cloud as we have come to know, has become another home for us.
Granted the land is freezing cold coming from our tropical climate but it warms the heart to know many of us have claimed it as home.
The steady exodus over the years has speeded up what many boasted back to families in Samoa as the ‘Land Where Honey and Milk Flows.”
There has been a steady flow of the ‘warm sweet stuff’ our way ever since as namely remittances – our biggest source of revenue.
Must check up again on the statistics but just recently there were supposed to be more Samoans in New Zealand than here at home.
What is now fact though is we have a new heritage added to our full-blooded Samoan ethnicity. We have Kiwi-Samoans or Samoan-Kiwis if preferred.
Overall we have become one, big, happy nation of Samoans whether in Samoa, New Zealand or wherever they have wandered and taken up home roots.
Every year on this day we parade along the Mulinu’u peninsula with our faces, young and old, lit up in celebration of who we are as free people.
The morning sun may not have risen and the cold fresh breeze rushes in from the sea to give us a shiver but our excitement blankets them over.
Bring on the rain too. What more do we need to prove that this country is founded on God and our Lord and Saviour has blessed us with a sprinkle of His love to show He is celebrating with us.
Samoa maybe physically small in size, but the measure of patriotism in our hearts makes it bigger than any other.
The drum rolls of our birth as a nation picks up once again this week and this is the part where we are supposed to sing and march happily along!
Regrettably the drum rolls this time will not be on an up beat note.
Samoa is under a dark, threatening cloud of political collapse, if not already. Our independence drum rolls are more on a doomsday marching tone.
We are a paradise badly ruptured by angry, vengeful political party animosity.
After more than 20 proud years of building a nation with social and economic achievements under the leadership of former PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, the roof of unity has collapsed and shattered.
Bits and pieces are spread as far away as New Zealand and beyond.
Political spite has corroded the trust in the integrity of our founding institutions as pillars of our society of peace and harmony, in the ugly aftermath of the 2021 general elections.
Dignity was taken from the Office of the Head of State and the integrity of the Judiciary’s rule of law distrusted openly.
The leading church denomination, EFKS, decided to cross the boundaries of God and Caesar, the truth and wisdom of the Lord’s word they preached is politically tainted and shamed.
The enemies of Heaven have since been in joyful celebrations as the proud foundation of Samoa Founded On God cracked asunder.
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, the first woman Prime Minister in Samoa, went on a raging ‘yank from the roots’ rampage in Parliament last week.
When the dust from her shattering run of emotions finally settled, the former Prime Minister and HRPP opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, was yanked out of Parliament.
He was absent on the day and was not allowed to defend himself in a malevolent hint of dictatorial rule staring in a confrontational challenge at our proud rule of free democratic expression.
Faleata MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, and HRPP secretary, tumbled closely behind.
The return to Parliament for both are now dangling at the whim of the Prime Minister and her ruling FAST Party as judge and jury.
The risks of abuse of power have become frighteningly real in this instance.
PM Fiame’s wrath thundered inside Parliament to not only ignore but also obliterate members appeal for the wise counsel of God and Culture to prevail over the wisdom of her astute leadership.
The expressed wish on both sides for an end to the hostilities and to restore harmony so the country can move forward vanished.
It must have bolted to the nearby swamps of the Mulinu’u mangroves, with tail tucked safely between hind legs.
Fiame was a leader possessed. Her unswaying belief is that the seed of all the political divisions is embedded in Parliament and it is time to ‘ yank it out by the roots’.
Voting for the ‘indefinite suspension’ of Tuilaepa and Lealailepule was a yanking start.
On hindsight only the politically blinded cannot see that the suspension was a set up.
Seriously!
What good will come out of denying Tuilaepa and Lealailepule their democratically elected rights to represent their constituents in Parliament?
Fiame wanted to dump on these two the full blame and embarrassment of the under the tent swearing-in, court ruling and the rest.
Her expressed intention is to sit back and watch if Tuilaepa and Lealailepule will see the err of their ways and crawl on their apologetic knees back to the Mulinu’u Wok House.
Will they? Highly doubtful now!
‘I see that you want to take revenge,” Lealailepule was overheard challenging in Parliament.
Dangling the ‘indefinite’ suspension on their heads is brilliantly diabolic for the FAST Government.
What better way to muzzle their political antagonists from doing more verbal damage?
The threat of being held at the ‘indefinite mercy’ of Government serves as ransom on how and when to allow them back.
Dare to speak up against Government and they ‘can stay suspended for the full 5 year term’ or what is left of it anyway.
Government members made the threat repeatedly during the House debate.
Not getting paid salaries and allowances is ‘icing on the cake’ on this eerie plan concocted to not only shut them up but also bring them to their knees.
What better way to also silence the deputy leader Fonotoe and any other opposition ‘loud mouths’ from daring to speak up against the might of the ruling Government party?
Anytime they do, the ‘indefinite’ clause of the suspension kicks in – another day, week, month or year added for the suspended victims.
Is that how low we have sunk in our political leadership dilemma? Better not!
Inciting civil unrest is not only against the laws of the land but the divine powers we are founded on as a country.
God is watching. We have all heard that said a ‘million’ times in Parliament. Is there really any truth behind the use of the Lord’s name?
God only knows. Better leave that to His judgment.
Fiame raged on about the need for the dignity of Parliament to be restored. Good on her.
We all want that too including Tuilaepa and Lealailepule.
The hardline way is what the Madam Prime Minister has taken. Unfortunately, history has proven it is not a workable solution.
We know that well already from our unfortunate experience of colonial rule. Why else are we celebrating the end of that rule this week?
All that branding of Tuilaepa and Lealailepule as the bad seed, is successful only in turning them into sacrificial lambs for doing their sworn duties to help keep Government transparent and honest for the good of the people and country.
Having their political opinions zipped shut have been done and tried before down the ages wherever tyranny rules in this world. Nothing good came out of it.
This Government has been in power for more than a year.
What have they shown as real signs of matured leadership, promising enough to bring peace and harmony back to Samoa?
Political ambition sugared with sweet promises of peace and prosperity were made.
Where the hell is it? All we have been doing is stumble inside a dark tunnel of spiteful divisions with no lifesaving light to guide us out.
As political leaders it is time to grow up and act as true leaders chosen by God.
You have cost us the people of Samoa our moment of joyful independence celebration as we have done all these years since 1962.
If you really want to turn a new leaf of grown up leadership and shine a light of hope in our dark tunnel of political malice take the first step.
Start by taking off this silly ‘indefinite suspension’ on Tuilaepa and Lealailepule from Parliament.
PM Fiame should plant a new seed where she yanked out what she claimed to be the bad seed.
Work together to nurture that new hope for a return to peace and harmony and prove that you are indeed the leaders God chose.
Be thankful that we are at least still at peace.
We were once a warring people until the peace of the Lord came upon us.
Lets keep it that way.