This week will go down in our history as the darkest week in Samoan political history. In only the 8th week of this FAST government, they have gone from destroying the constitution, to destroying the public service, and now the destruction of the very essence of what it is to be Samoan.
For the first time in this country’s history, the Parliament precinct was surrounded with steel barricades. For the first time in this country’s history, hundreds of police officers in full riot gear were deployed onto the Tiafau grounds. I have never seen this happen before and thought it would never happen in Samoa.
The spectacle on Tuesday was gut-wrenching as we saw riot police face down what amounted to a small group of old men and women forcing them to sit down under a breadfruit tree in the scorching heat. Was it really necessary to deploy such disproportionate force? Was it really necessary to order riot police to run to the scene as if this small group of old men was going to knock the parliament building down? Again, these were scenes never before witnessed on these shores.
Tuesday was bad. Wednesday was far worse. I don’t think anyone with a heart could compose themselves and not be overcome by a whole range of emotions. Tears flowed freely as anger, sadness, disbelief and disgust overcame most who were there to witness as the government of the day sat without a care in the world in parliament completely oblivious to what was happening outside.
The treatment of Tuilaepa and the HRPP MPs who spent the whole morning at the back of parliament trying to get a chance to speak to the Speaker will go down in history as one of the darkest moments ever in our political history.
A morning when police were ordered not to provide chairs or even drinking water.
A morning when the Speaker and the FAST government ignored all traditional customs and refused to come out all day to face the music.
A morning when police were tasked to do the government’s dirty work and arrest Tuilaepa and the others.
A morning when Reverend Bismarck Tamati knelt on the ground in front of police.
A morning when a man who spent the last 40 years of his life in the service of this nation, 23 of those as Prime Minister, was treated with shocking disrespect and disdain and consigned outside like an animal along with the rest of the men and women that were duly elected by the majority of Samoans.
A morning when the Head of State and his Deputy found it necessary to intervene to diffuse the situation only to be rudely ignored by the government who rushed out the other side of the building and sped away in their heavily guarded motorcade – even rushing past a group of Church elders who were marching on the road towards parliament in the searing heat of the noonday Sun.
If there was one good thing that came out from the tragedy of the past week it is this; the whole world got to have a front-row seat as this government was exposed for what it truly is.
The glaring lack of leadership was exposed. They were oblivious to the situation and missed the opportunity to demonstrate leadership to an expectant nation. They were exposed for the lie behind the name Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi.
All that was made crystal clear was that the name FAST is just a façade, a wall to mislead gullible people into subscribing to a narrative that seemingly places God at the center – when really the God of love, the God of compassion, the God of meekness and humility is nowhere present in the actions of these people.
And what about our customs and traditions. The people at the core of FAST pay such great lip service to these. Its leaders love to advertise how steeped they are in the highest honorifics of our culture.
Where was all that on Wednesday? Ua matua sola le tofa. Ua matua papa’u le faautaga.
At least the country got to see. At least the world got to witness. How wretched the state of affairs in Samoa has become!
Yesterday, the Clerk of Parliament was dismissed. Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei lost his job for no valid reason. Goes to show this government is not able to learn a lesson. The only thing left is to show them the door out as soon as possible.
After all this, however, I do believe our country will pull through. Let us continue to take our petitions to God in Heaven that he leads this country back to greener pastures in accordance with his will…and soon.
Winston Spencer Churchill
SAVAII