There are always two sides to a story. And so we were reminded after reading the story titled “H.R.P.P. faithful meet to mark darkest day" published on your newspaper yesterday.

The “darkest day” according to the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P) faithful, who gathered wearing black and white at their Petesa headquarters on Thursday, was in reference to the events of 15 September 2021. On that day, H.R.P.P. Members of Parliament insist they were illegally locked outside the chamber. Inside were members of the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.).

This week, former Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, recalled the events like it was yesterday. "People in Samoa and all around the world all saw what happened,” Tuilaepa said.  “The Parliament house was fully barricaded by our Police force, who were ordered to make sure that we do not enter Parliament, even to the extent where we were threatened that we could be arrested right there and then if we did not leave. 

Tuilaepa continued: "The church minister knelt before the Police officers begging them to have mercy on us, we were not given chairs and water, the Council of Deputy and the Head of State also arrived to intervene and try to settle the issue.”

Tuilaepa’s recollection is correct. Like so many Samoans, we also vividly remember what happened. How can we so easily forget such a sorry chapter in the history of this nation? 

On Thursday, however, Tuilaepa vowed that the H.R.P.P. would never allow such an occurrence to happen, if and when they return to power. 

But there was a touch of irony, if not hypocrisy, in this “darkest day” claim from the H.R.P.P. We accept that some politicians suffer from short and selective memories but this is a nation of intelligent people who cannot be hoodwinked. They also have accurate recollection of the events leading up this so-called “darkest day.”

Maybe the H.R.P.P have forgotten and if that is the case, let us remind today that the real “darkest day” happened 45 days after the people of Sāmoa spoke at the ballot box in 2021 and elected F.A.S.T as their new Government. 

On that day, after both the Constitution and the Judiciary called on the Executive and the caretaker H.R.P.P. government to let the people’s choice of government be sworn in, what happened will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. 

The doors of the Parliament building were bolted shut. The former Clerk of the Legislative Assembly withheld the keys to the building and cited the Head of State’s proclamation (which had already been declared unlawful and illegal by the Supreme Court). When the Chief justice, accompanied by the entire bench and the Police Commissioner turned up for the official opening of Parliament, they were denied entry. 

This forced a makeshift tent to become the setting for an extraordinary moment: the swearing in of Fiame Naomi Mata’afa as the Prime Minister and the Cabinet we have running this country today.

It was not just the “darkest day,” it was shameful. It was the moment we saw a most brutal blow to Sāmoa’s democracy and rule of law. It was one of Tuilaepa’s last acts as the Prime Minister of this nation. 

Interestingly, the H.R.P.P were only a few hundred metres down the road at their headquarters at Petesa, where Tuilaepa spoke and made it absolutely clear that in his mind all public servants and all public assets, including the Parliament complex, belonged to the H.R.P.P government. 

Back in front of Parliament, where Fiame and her party were locked outside, we cannot forget what she said.  “O lalo lava e maua ai malo.” Translated to English: “It’s through humility that victory is found.” 

That was more than a year ago. We all know what has happened since. 

Today, Fiame is on her way to New York as this country’s leader to address the United Nations. Meanwhile, the H.R.P.P are still mourning at Petesa and wallowing in petty defeat. Doesn’t that tell a story?

If Tuilaepa and the H.R.P.P are serious about getting back into power, they should take a leaf from Fiame and the F.A.S.T party about how to overcome adversity with poise, class and most importantly humility. Tuilaepa and the H.R.P.P. should also remember that when they point one finger to someone else, they have more fingers pointing back to them. Tuilaepa and the H.R.P.P was the author of their own demise. Accept it and move on! This country has moved on and our people are not stupid. 

So enough with this H.R.P.P “darkest day” nonsense!