The constitutional crisis in Samoa has deepened.
The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) has filed a formal complaint against members of the Samoa judiciary, calling the Chief Justice ‘incompetent’ in handling cases since the beginning of electoral petitions, saying the judiciary is on a mission to ‘oust’ HRPP from being in government, and singling out Justice Tuatagaloa for being impartial toward the leader of FAST.
The HRPP has accused the Samoa judiciary of colluding against them, alleging the unfair treatment dates as far back as November 2019, saying, "There has been a ‘pattern’ of decisions which continually favour the FAST party."
JANZ urged the International Judges Association (IAJ) to watch developments closely and issue a statement in support of our brother and sister judges in Samoa. It was timely then that the IAJ President wrote to the Chief Justice yesterday and released a statement of concern (linked below).
Please hold our brother and sister judges close in your thoughts and prayers at this troubling time.
Gerard
President of JANZ
Constitutional crisis in Samoa