Samoa AG walks back threat to judiciary, HRPP offers ‘olive branch' to Fast Party
Samoa’s Attorney General has recalled a scathing press release questioning the integrity of the country’s judiciary.
The press release demanded the judges appointed to hear an election appeal be disqualified because of, it was claimed, the judges’ alleged potential conflicts of interest and potential favouritism.
“There is now substantive evidence before our office that is questioning the appearance of impartiality and integrity of the Judiciary presiding over this matter,” the statement said.
The statement added it was also apparent that Fast Party leader Fiame Naomi Mata’afa was a close relative of the Chief Justice, Satiu Simativa Perese.
But on Thursday evening, a brief statement was sent out in the AttorneyGeneral’s name, which said the release was not authorised and apologised for what it called an unfortunate situation.
Samoa’s caretaker prime minister said he and his Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) had held out “an olive branch” to the majority Faatuatua I Le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (Fast) Party to resolve the political impasse.
On his weekly TV3 programme, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi urged Fast’s leadership for a dialogue to resolve matters.
But he had a caveat — if the HRPP withdrew petitions in the courts, and Fast did too, the country must go back to the polls.
“That is what it is now, and it is not hard trying to resolve what’s happening. We can easily withdraw our petitions from the court and we should go back to the polling booths,” said Tuilaepa.
That is despite Fast winning the April 9 election by a single seat.
Tuilaepa said the last resort was the court, but with recent judgements by the judiciary his party didn’t believe in its independence anymore.