Samoa

Among the issues that made headlines in Samoa in 1998-99 were those related to by-elections, party politics, Tofilau's resignation as prime minister and his succession by Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, Tuila'epa's cabinet reshuffle, Malietoa's "royal" decrees (malelega), the ban on new religions at Salamumu village, Tofilau's controversial decisions as prime minister, Tofilau's police card, and the action by the leader of the opposition, Tupua Tamasese Efi, against the government's alleged media ban against him.

Following the appointment of Matai'a Visesio Europa to the council of deputies on 6 July 1998, the parliamentary seat of Faleata East became vacant. Matai'a was elected to Parliament in the 1996 general election as a member of the opposition Samoa National Development Party (SNDP) whose leader, Tupua Tamasese Efi (one of four tama-a-aiga--paramount titles), is his first cousin (their fathers were brothers). He became an independent member following a disagreement with some of his party colleagues on SNDP-related issues. Thereafter Matai'a became a vocal supporter of the policies of the governing Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). His elevation to the council of deputies was thus seen by the SNDP and some sections of society as a reward for his political support of the Human Rights Protection Party and also as a way of hurting Tupua and his supporters. Worse still from the point of view of his critics, Matai'a accepted the government's political carrot ahead of the party he rightly belonged to, and its leader, who is not only his "brother" but the incumbent tama-a-aiga titleholder of his family. In short, Matai'a should have refused the government's offer in loyalty to and respect for his brother and the title he held.

The constituency of Faleata East comprises the two villages of Lepea and Vaimoso. In preparation for the by-election to elect a new member of Parliament, Matai'a's village, Vaimoso, held a meeting to request the support of its voters for the proposed candidate. The meeting was called by two matai (chiefs) of Vaimoso who jointly hold the title Vaiotu'u. One of them is the incumbent deputy speaker of Parliament and represents the Human Rights Protection Party under his other matai title Mulitalo. Mulitalo (or Vaiotu'u) is married to a Vaimoso woman whose brother was the HRPP candidate whom the two Vaiotu'u wanted Vaimoso village to support in the upcoming by-election. The Vaiotu'u meeting was quickly followed by another, called by Vaimoso matai who, in accordance with traditions and village customs, were the only people who could legitimately call meetings of the Vaimoso Council of Matai at traditionally allocated venues. Because of "Vaiotu'u's insensitivity and total disregard of village authority" (SO, 7 July 1998), he was ostracized by Vaimoso's village council. Vaimoso (except the two Vaiotu'u and their supporters) in its "official traditional meeting" had endorsed the SNDP candidate as their preferred member of Parliament.

The Faleata East by-election, held on 28 August 1998, was a victory for the Samoa National Development Party. Its candidate, Patau'ave Etuale, topped the poll by 1,112 votes to 433 for his only rival, the HRPP candidate. Following the official announcement of the election results, the SNDP candidate said "We forgive our brethren who had destroyed the district ban." He was referring to his opponent's decision to run against him after Faleata East authorities had chosen him to be their representative in Parliament (SO, 30 Aug 1998). Rumors were that the outgoing member and his supporters were among the supporters of the unsuccessful HRPP candidate. The victory of the Samoa National Development Party brought the number of its supporters in Parliament to ten (SO, 11 Aug 1998). Patau'ave was sworn in on 23 November (SO, 24 Nov 1998).

The second member for A'ana Alofi...