When our Appeal Court, presided over by Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese, decided to install the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party to lead the country in 2021 by reversing the Supreme Court decision which declared unconstitutional and illegal the FAST Party swearing in under a tent conducted by a couple who were legal advisors for FAST, the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), despite its disagreement, respected the decision and dutifully took up its role as the loyal opposition to the government of the day.
The HRPP has always advocated the importance of an effective opposition in Samoa.
Afterall, HRPP was the loyal opposition in 1981, 1982 and 1985.
We understand the importance of this role in our young democracy.
Principles are at the core of party politics.
It is how democracies grow as people all over the world align their values with explicit Political Party platforms, be it the Democratic Party, Republican, Labour, National, Conservative, Liberal, Socialist, Green or other political movements for decades or even generations.
The HRPP rose from the economic and social ruins of a country that was destroyed by the heavy-handed leadership of the previous administration.
The founding members of HRPP vowed never to allow Samoa to be subjected to such despotic rule again and to protect the human rights and interests of all Samoans.
The HRPP put in place reforms that were designed to promote multi-party participation, transparency and to bring stability to Samoa’s political process.
This began with reforms to stop party-hopping and opportunistic individuals who offered themselves up to political parties in return for cabinet positions, monetary rewards, or senior appointments.
It was followed by other reforms to control the practice of gifting, performance of o’os (traditional giving of food and moneys by MPs during an election period) and the use of government resources for political campaigns through their suspension for several months prior to the elections.
Now the Court seems extremely liberal in its interpretation of cultural giving.
For 40 years HRPP has stood for the rights of Samoans, our culture, our traditions, values and human rights.
We have been tested in government and in opposition.
It is our belief in God and country that allows HRPP to fearlessly fight for the rights and welfare of Samoans.
This is at the core of why HRPP has always put the Samoan people at the centre of its economic, social, environmental and human development policies.
It is the reason why we do not hide behind the convenience of diplomacy of sovereignty when Samoans are the target of racist New Zealand laws on the issue of visas etc.
It is why we defend the Samoan constitution from abuse by powerful elites.
It is what inspires us to make educated and in-depth constitutional changes that improve and respect the lives and livelihoods of our Samoan people.
These are the principles and issues that the HRPP stands for and our work speaks for itself.
Political parties should identify the principles and issues for which they stand and above all to show by examples that they mean what they say.
To do so, they need to start with integrity and honesty.
They must not fear open debate on the issues that concern our people.
Only then will multi-party and issues-based politics and democracy flourish in our beloved Samoa.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP