By Staff Writer
The threat of getting booted out of Parliament after their Court ordered return from suspension, is still hanging for HRPP opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and party Secretary MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi.
Tuilaepa took particular note of a statement along these lines by the Agriculture Minister that the Court should not have allowed them back in Parliament.
The Minister’s views came up last week during the debate on the Supplementary Budget.
The Speaker added to the opposition members concerns when he sided with the Minister by referring to his pending appeal against the Supreme Court verdict to re-instate the HRPP leaders.
Tuilaepa felt, however, the remarks revealed the many questionable obstacles the Opposition MPs are being forced to struggle against while the House is in session.
He highlighted as well the trespassing of politics into the impartial status of the courts.
The HRPP Leader set out his concerns in a Letter to the Editor circulated to the media under the heading ‘Parliament Plus the Executive Versus The Judiciary.”
The signed letter reads :
The statement in Parliament by the Minister of Agriculture during last Thursday evening’s Supplementary Budget session, that the Leader of the Opposition Hon Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and Hon Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi should have never been allowed back by the Court to sit in Parliament, raised questions on the way our Parliament meetings are conducted.
The Speaker also referred to the same reason why he appealed against the Supreme Court decision which declared illegal the suspension decision by Parliament.
This was unfortunate. It explains the impossible conditions under which the Human Rights Protection Party can effectively perform its functions in Parliament.
The Prime Minister later reminded that the appeal decision is still pending and therefore, Members should refrain from raising matters before the Court.
However, the damage on the dignity and integrity of the Independence of the Court had already been done.
The checks and balances of power between the branches of Government must be observed.
HRPP members were also directed that the Supplementary Budget debate should be closed early to allow for the Government to proceed with its programs.
It is the Constitutional right of all MPs to speak freely both in and outside Parliament regardless, of whatever threats are posed by a Government in a hurry.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP