His home village of Falelatai has taken the Head of State under protective custody and has imposed a roadblock stopping cars passing through nearby Government roads and questioning drivers.  

Some vehicles have been denied passage while most members of the public not from Falelatai are allowed but only under the strict instruction that they cannot stop within the village. 

“We started this security detail for the Head of State on Saturday, when his Highness returned to his village,” said High Chief Nanai Lupematasila Fa’amanu in response to questions from the Samoa Observer. 

His Highness, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualuavi II, is at the centre of unprecedented developments in Samoan politics after the Supreme Court this week issued a ruling directing him to convene Parliament by Monday. 

On Saturday the Head of State signed an order suspending an earlier order for Parliament to sit on 20 May. 

No reason was given for the suspension but the Head of State promised to clarify his reasons in “due course”. He has not spoken publicly since issuing the order. 

It was struck down by the Supreme Court the following day.

(An order by the Speaker of the previous Parliament, Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi, led the Parliament’s locking down and the extraordinary swearing-in of Fiame Naomi Mataafa on Parliament’s lawns on Monday). 

In Falelatai on Wednesday morning, a group of chiefs gathered at the entrance of Matautu screening all incoming and outgoing vehicles. 

The contingent was set apart from the road with traffic cones; untitled men queried people why they were entering the village. 

Lupematasila Si’a at the entrance, told the Samoa Observer the security detail is for 24 hours and there are three posts around Matautu: two at the entrance into the village on both ends and in front of the Head of State’s residence. 

“If you want to see the Head of State, you are not allowed,” he said before adding that anyone who has questions about the arrangement will have to talk to Nanai. 

Asked about the whereabouts of Nanai, the chiefs said that he was in town at the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) compound. 

Speaking over the phone on Wednesday, Nanai said threats were the reason the Head of State opted to go to Falelatai. 

Last week, a group of high chiefs and untitled men from the Falelatai constituency numbering close to 100 arrived at the residence of the Head of State on Wednesday seeking to protect him from the scrutiny that came with the nation being plunged into a constitutional crisis. 

“We came to take his Highness, the Head of State and his wife back to the comfort of their home, so they can be safe," said High Chief Nanai Lupematasila Fa’amanu at the time.

"We have seen and heard threats made against someone whom we hold dear to us; he’s, after all, a member of the tama-aiga (royalty). 

"We cannot stand by and allow this to happen, we have to act. The village is hurting seeing what supporters of political parties are saying against his Highness. 

"However the Commissioner of Police and the [C.E.O. of the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet] Agafili [Shem Leo] said that such action was unnecessary as the Head of State is and will remain under the protective custody of the Police.”

In Falelatai, last week Nanai said they were concerned by the absence of the Head of State and his wife. 

“It is unlike them not to attend the [Congregational Christian Church of Samoa] Annual General Conference held at Malua last week, even this week, we had a funeral for one of our high chiefs and he didn’t attend, hence the visit because we are concerned that if the Government is not allowing him to leave for safety reasons, we have to act too," he said. 

“We have to protect the Tama Aiga; it is our duty to protect His Highness."

The High Chief also made it clear they will not or attempt to interfere with the Head of State regarding his governing duties regarding the governance of the nation. 

“His decisions will not be questioned by our constituency nor will we ever question his responsibility as the Head of State,” he said. 

“But as said before our main concern is the threats, which has placed him under security alert and cannot leave the residence.”

He further appealed to members of the public to stop making threats against the Head of State and refrain from ridiculing him, warning that they will get caught and will be penalised. 

“We know that some of the people disrespecting and making threats are some chiefs from Falelatai and we will have our end of the month meeting and then and there we will discuss [the] fate of those [Falelatai] people overseas,” said Nanai. 

One high chief, who declined to be named because he did not have the authority of a spokesman for the movement, said: 

“There are too many threats against Tumalealiifano hence the move to bring him under the care of the high chiefs,” the chief said. 

"We will not sit idle if threats are being leveled against the Tama Aiga - His Highness, who is highly regarded in our constituency.  

"Life or death we will protect with all that we have."