By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
The spirit of an agreement to restore political harmony in the country, after the upheavals of the April 2021 general elections, is under threat of becoming undone.
An official letter of complaint by the Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Ponifasio, against the opposition leader and secretary for contempt of court convictions, is behind the threat.
The Speaker of Parliament, Papali’i Taeu Masepa’u, told Parliament session last Friday of the letter expressing concern at the members court convictions bringing disrepute to the dignity of the House.
Speaker Papali’i has given the HRPP opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and party secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi until Monday to respond to the letter.
The Speaker hopes to make a ruling on the complaint in Parliament next Tuesday.
Both Tuilaepa and Lealailepule have soundly condemned the political scheming behind the complaint and the damages it threatens to the spirit of reconciliation created by the signing of the agreement.
“The letter is a waste of time, there are more pressing matters, for Government to direct their immediate attention to,” opposition leader, Tuilaepa scoffed in a press conference at the Maota i Petesa party headquarters after Parliament.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading around the country and people are dying.”
The contempt of court convictions against the HRPP leaders are on comments critical of the judiciary ruling to install the FAST party as the new Government.
Tuilaepa has rejected the guilty verdict by the New Zealand judges who presided in what he described as essentially a formal reconciliation agreement between the two political sides.
Both sides agreed to withdraw all court matters they filed against each other.
Charges against defamatory remarks by the PM Fiame Naomi Mataafa alleged against Tuilaepa were withdrawn in return for calling off contempt charges.
Tuilaepa argued that the agreement to reconcile their political differences was in keeping with the respected Samoan culture to restore peace and harmony in the country.
His disappointment was in the judges lack of understanding as outsiders, of the value Samoan culture places on mutual respect and understanding involved in traditional reconciliation.
But while Tuilaepa is forgiving of the New Zealand judges cultural shortcomings, he is in a rage at the blatant disregard and disrespect by the Deputy PM of the understanding reached by both parties.
“The action by the Deputy PM is stupid and we’re not going to sit still and allow them to take these actions as if they are in the right and we are in the wrong.
‘We are giving the Speaker our response to the complaint plus more on Monday.”
Lealailepule blasted the complaint letter as a show of disrespect by FAST members to the PM Fiame who agreed to the reconciliation for the sake of unity in the country.
“It’s disappointing that the maturity and respect behind the effort to reach an understanding is undermined by this childish act,” Lealailepule lashed out at the complaint letter.
Tuilaepa is hopeful the Speaker’s decision will not create any unnecessary confrontations taking into account the spirit of reconciliation highlighted by the agreement by both sides.
“We’ll inform the Speaker in writing that a reconciliation between the two parties have been carried out and the matter is finished as far as we’re concerned.”
The signaling out of Tuilaepa and Lealailepule in the letter is being seen as an attempt by the Government party to disqualify them as Members of Parliament.
Both are making strong claims that the apology that was made in court as part of the agreement was not an admission of guilt.
One of the claims is that the court hearing did not follow the normal process of calling witnesses to give evidence or for the need to defend against the charges, as done in any formal judiciary matter.
The hearing was also for a civil matter and not a criminal matter.
Tuilaepa made it clear that under the Electoral Act, a sitting member will have to be convicted of a criminal offence, punishable by a maximum prison sentence of 4 years, before he/she can be removed from Parliament.