By Staff Writer
Parliament voted today to suspend the HRPP opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and party secretary, MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, for an indefinite period.
The vote upheld the House Privileges Committee report recommendations for suspension debated in Parliament this morning.
The Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa called for the vote to be taken after a fiery condemnation of the HRPP leadership she blamed for the political divisions in Parliament in the aftermath of the general elections.
The PM denounced as well the attack on the court rulings by the opposition leaders and rejected being held accountable for the Harmony Agreement.
Fiame downplayed the agreement as simply a ‘deed of settlement’ opposition MPs will be holding up as a shield to hide behind their criticisms of Government.
A downhearted opposition deputy leader Fonotoe Lauofo Meti mourned the obvious Government support of the Committee report a ‘sad day for Parliament’ before it was put to the majority vote.
His major disappointment was the Government’s rush to vote on the report while Tuilaepa is unable to attend to defend himself.
Repeated appeals by the deputy leader bounced off the PM’s determined attack on Tuilaepa.
(an expanded coverage of the debate will be on the Newsline Samoa Sunday print issue)