Samoa’s International Reputation ‘Shot’: Fiame
The Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party is turning to the United Nations and the Commonwealth over the events that followed the General Election, calling it an abuse of the Constitution. Party leader Fiame Naomi Mata’afa told the Samoa Observer that the country’s international reputation as a stable democracy is being damaged in the tussle for power playing out over the election results.
Her comments come after the Head of State, Tuimaleali’ifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II said he was declaring the results of the April General Election void and calling a new election for Friday May 21.
It is the second intervention by the Head of State into the election results since polling day, after signing off on the addition of another Member of Parliament, allegedly required to make up the 10 per cent representation quota for women in the House.
FAST label’s actions unlawful, unconstitutional
Both actions have been called unlawful and unconstitutional by the FAST Party.
This week the party wrote to the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations over “abuses of the Constitution […] and the instability of Government,” Fiame said. “First of all it’s about international reputation. I think development partners will also have to review whether this is the kind of Government they want to work with,” she said. “The reputation is shot. I am terribly embarrassed by it.”
Bilateral relationships now questionable: Fiama Asked whether the next Government will have to do damage control among development and bilateral partners over Samoa’s reputation, Fiame said they will at least have to assure others that the country is safe.
So far no national leaders have made public statements about the legal fallout from the general elections, which so far resulted in two court cases and 28 election petitions, with yesterday being the last day to file counter petitions. Lawyer and constitutional expert Fiona Ey said even if no one goes public, certainly development partners should be considering their next moves.
“This raises more concerns about the rule of law and the kind of democracy that is practised in Samoa and I think that Samoa’s development partners that support good governance and democracy should be very concerned about what is happening,” she told the Samoa Observer on Wednesday.
“Whether they actually make any public statements or not is another matter.
“When election processes are underway usually international partners do their utmost to encourage the process to continue in accordance with the law and that is what we would want to see here: let the courts do their job.”
FAST leader accuses Tuilaepa of manipulation This week Fiame accused the Caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi of manipulating public officers and even the Head of State to hand him back power for another fiveyear term.
She said in the meeting between herself, Tuilaepa and Tuimalealiifano it was the Prime Minister and not the Head of State who explained the legal basis for which a new election could be called, and the previous results voided. “We’re not causing the instability, they are,” she said on Wednesday.
“We are just going through the due process and are ready to accept the results of due process but they are manipulating the whole thing and abusing the role of officials, the likes of the Commissioner of Elections and the Attorney General.”
She said the court process should be allowed to take its natural course to hear the case over whether an additional Member of Parliament should have been signed off on, and the election petitions.
It is a normal and expected part of Samoa’s election process, she said.
Their new case filed on Thursday, FAST is arguing that Tuimalealiifano has no legal power to revoke the results of the April General Election, nor to call a new one, both of which he did on Tuesday evening.
It will argue the party should have waited until Parliament’s first session, where it will be clear whether or not any party has the majority and can, or cannot form a Government.