One of the darkest moments in this year’s election campaign took place last week.
It showed the depths to which Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Party Chairman La’auli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt and his cohorts have shamelessly dragged Samoan politics.
Maiava Visekota Peteru, wife of the late Honourable Luagalau Levaula Kamu, appeared on social media to address the allegations made by a FAST Party supporter and election candidate regarding the circumstances of his death.
Her message was respectful and dignified as she called for a stop to the misinformation and disinformation that the FAST Party supporters have been spreading about Luagalau’s death and to do the right thing.
Maiava’s message was in sharp contrast to the disgraceful actions of La’auli and his followers.
She and her children do not deserve this treatment.
They have been through enough pain and suffering.
Those responsible for Luagalau’s death have been dealt with by the court.
Not once did La’auli step in to stop this behaviour from his followers!
In fact, he seems to revel in this cruel form of torture.
Rather than help the Police investigation into the death of a university student, Tu’uau Faasavalu, La’auli and his followers spread rumours about who was responsible.
He now has a pending criminal court case against him about those unfounded allegations.
La’auli is also facing Police investigation about information that he and his followers have spread about Prime Minister Fiame’s involvement in the recent death of a renowned retired academic, Professor Caroline Gabbard.
Instead of helping to bring closure to these cases by working with the Police or through the courts, La’auli has chosen to politicize these deaths.
Our Christian values call for compassion and empathy.
However, La’auli and followers care nothing for the hurt and pain of the families of Luagalau, Tu’uau or Professor Gabbard, despite their appeals for respect and privacy.
An obsession with death and murder conspiracy theories is the sign of a dangerously unbalanced mind.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP