Vaʻai Kolone's son rails modern H.R.P.P.

By Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi 07 August 2021, 10:30PM

Heavily using his father's image in their post-election anti-judiciary marches, the son of Vaʻai Kolone says the modern day Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) are hiding behind former founders' images to push "baseless" campaigns.

One of the founding members of the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.), Vaʻai Kolone's name was invoked this week as the former ruling party made a failed attempt to bring their protest movement to the big island.

Va'ai Papu Va'ai, the son of Samoa's former Prime Minister, Va'ai Kolone said he was utterly disappointed when he saw an advertisement on television from the party using his father's likeness.

The TV ad has been aired on TV1 since Tuesday this week to promote the party's demonstration in Savai'i. It has also been shared on social media. 

The ad features the founding members of the H.R.P.P. party and former Prime Ministers, Tofilau Eti Alesana and his father, Va'ai Kolone. It is sympathetic towards the leaders and what they claim are their efforts in upholding Samoa's constitution which they say has "been tarnished" by Samoa's judiciary and the current Government. 

A former Member of Parliament himself, Va'ai Papu Va'ai says former Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, is "using his father's name in vain" to lend legitimacy to a campaign.

Nonetheless, Va'ai is of the belief that the party had brought up the honorable names of Tofilau and Va'ai to lure the support of Savai'i residents as they were well-respected people. 

He thought that it was "pathetic" of them to do such a thing. 

According to Va'ai Papu, Tuilaepa and the members of the H.R.P.P. "should be ashamed" and refrain from bringing up the names of their father as they (current H.R.P.P.) had "damaged the reputation of the party their father and Tofilau worked hard to establish."

In saying that, Va'ai Papu has once again called on Tuilaepa to rename their party. 

"Initially the party was supposed to be called, Human Rights Party," Va'ai Papu said. 

"But Tofilau added the word protection onto it and that's why it's called the Human Rights Protection Party.  

"The word protection means the party should always stand and protect the rights of the people, not themselves. But that's no longer the case as it is reflected in their actions and behaviors. 

"Therefore they should change the name of the party."

Instead of calling it Human Rights Protection Party, Va'ai suggests that the party should now be called the "Malielegaoi Human Rights Demolition Party (M.H.R.D.P.)"

"They have rejected and demolished the rights of our people instead of protecting them. So they should change the name of the party because their behaviors are an insult to those of us who were there when the party was formed. 

"I was young when my father and Tofilau started that party so I know everything. 

"Tuilaepa did not care anything about the policies and principles of the party when it was started because he was not there nor was anyone from his family. But we know because we were there."

The opposition party rallied in Savai'i on Thursday to protest what they claim is the "disintegration" of Samoa's Constitution, after the Appellate Court ruled last month that the H.R.P.P. Government had been illegally occupying office after the 9 April general election 

The party planned to tour the whole island and offer flowers to acknowledge the service and legacy of former politicians and leaders, Tofilau Eti Alesana, Va'ai Kolone, and Namulauulu Lauaki Mamoe. 

However, the party only managed to offer wreaths for Tofilau and Namulau'ulu on Thursday. Several villages on the island did not allow the party to continue on with their rally so the leader, Tuilaepa had to cut it short.

They only traveled from Lalomalava to Patamea. They could not get to Va'ai Kolone's tomb. 

Va'ai Papu on a live stream on Thursday morning declared his objection to the proposed plans by the H.R.P.P. party to visit his father's tomb. 

While he said he acknowledged the kind gestures, he said it was not necessary for them to visit his father's resting place. 

Speaking from Vaisala, in Savai'i in front of his late father's tomb, Va'ai Papu declared his full support for Samoa's new Government and offered his sympathies towards Samoa's Chief Justice and the panel of judges. 

"They (H.R.P.P.) claim that the Judiciary has tarnished our Constitution, and I do not agree with that.

"To me personally, I don't agree that the judiciary has destroyed our constitution nor they have usurped the powers of the Head of States. 

"That's why I reject their proposed plans to come to my father's place."

Va'ai Papu is of the belief that the H.R.P.P. 's actions in the previous weeks have "stirred up peace" within the country. 

He insisted that they should change the name of the party claiming that "they no longer protect the rights of the people."

"They should no longer use that name and they should change it. My father and Tofilau founded that party and it's not what it used to be. It has changed so much.

"Therefore, they should change the name of their party to M.H.R.D.P. (Malielegaoi Human Rights Demolition Party)."

Despite an eventful day in Savai'i where the H.R.P.P.'s car convoy was interrupted by roadblocks and gunshots by Savai'i villages, Tuilaepa declared that it "was a day of victory" for him and his party. 

There were roadblocks at Salelavalu, Salelologa, Samalaeulu, Sasina and Vaisigano No.1. 

 

 

 

 

 

 




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Politics
Savaii
By Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi 07 August 2021, 10:30PM
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