La auli Leuatea Polataivao
Photo: RNZ Pacific/Tipi Autagavaia
The way the controversial remarks on EFKS TV were run appeared be a threat of sexual violence to women by the chair, La auli Leuatea Polataivao.
However he says he was speaking in metaphors and did not mean literal harm to women.
La auli says his comments were aimed at the many anonymous commenters on the Facebook page Teine Samoa, who regularly insult and defame party members.
But he says his words were misinterpreted. What I meant to say is that everyone who defames us - the party, myself, our leader Fiame - all this time, and we re going to take them to court. That s what it means.
From our archives: Fiame s new chapter
× From our archives: Fiame s new chapter Apr 14, 2021
It’s very liberating. I haven’t felt this excited about politics for a long time,” says Samoa’s former Deputy Prime Minister, and now independent member, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa.
In September, Fiame resigned from government and ended her affiliation with the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) over three controversial bills that would set up an autonomous Samoan Land and Titles Court. It means she will contest the April 2021 election with another party for the first time in her political career.
The bills at the heart of her decision have fomented political turmoil in Samoa all year. The Judicature Bill 2020, Lands and Titles Bill 2020 and the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2020 would together create an autonomous Land and Titles Court (LTC) which would operate in parallel to the existing criminal and civil courts, and have equal standing to tho
Samoan PM dismisses Opposition concerns over inquiry rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Samoa s Deputy Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata afa
Photo: Dominic Godfrey / RNZ Pacific
The Prime Minister, Tuila epa Sa ilele Malielegaoi, ordered a Commission of Inquiry to look into the behaviour of Fiame Naomi Mata afa, and three other MPs, La auli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, Faumuina Wayne Fong, and Olo Fiti Vaai.
They are all members of the Opposition Fa atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi, or FAST Party.
Tuila epa said the MPs had been campaigning when they should have been in parliament.
But Fiame said she was not concerned by something that was quite ridiculous really . I have yet to get the formal motion.