Protesters say “No to new Elections”

Protesters shouting their messages through placards, megaphones and singing.

Story by Lagi Keresoma/Photos by Gerwin Polu

APIA, SAMOA – 07 MAY 2021:  Over a hundred vocal protestors made their message heard infront of the Court House, Mulinu’u this morning under a heavy police presence.

The protesters that included children in school uniform, carried placards with messages against the Head of States call for new elections and the political impasse created by the appointment of an additional woman MP.

By 8.00am this morning the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration (MJCA) was warned about a protest march heading towards the area, so an order was given to seal off the main entrance not to disrupt the public access to the Courts.

The MJCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Moliei Vaai told Talamua that the Court is an independent entity and should be respected.

On Wednesday this week, while the matter between the Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party and the Office of the Electoral Commissioner was in progress in court, a group of protesters were singing and making loud calls on the front steps of the Court House main entrance.

“We got a complaint from the District Court about the interruption of their matters due to the disturbance from the protesters, hence the decision to seal off the main entrance today,” said Moliei Vaai.

“They can protest from anywhere outside but not on the premises of the Court house,” said Moliei who said she is aware of the importance of people’s rights to express themselves.

“They have the right to their belief but there are also boundaries they should respect but they can still exercise their rights of free speech,” she said.

Armed with megaphones and placards carrying messages protesting the holding of another general election, police moved them outside the main road facing the court house main entrance.

Some of the protesters were children in school uniform.

“They are not breaking the law” – Police Commissioner
There was heavy police security that included the police special Tactical Operations Squad (TOS). Police also flew a drone above the protestors and had  resources on standby while Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil and Assistant Commissioner Au’apa’au Logoitino watched the event closely.

Not to interrupt public access, the police directed the protesters away from the main Court entrance to the Parliament grounds directly opposite.

Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil told the media that the protesters were not breaking any law.

He said people have the right to voice their views and protest as long as it’s done peacefully.

Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil negotiating with protest leader Unasa Iuni Sapolu.

The only concern he noted was the interference with the court proceedings and traffic coming in and out of the court house, so he called to the protest organiser Unasa Iuni Sapolu to move the people onto the field of the Parliament grounds and to get them out of the sun.

He commended Unasa for being very supportive of their instructions.

Unasa a lawyer and a leader of Samoa First who organized last Wednesday’s protest at the same place said she did not expect the number of people that turned up today to support them.

“This isn’t about fame but doing something for our people and it’s a matter of standing up for our rights,” she said.

“This is one way of voicing our concern is through a peaceful protest,” she said.