Congratulations on the victory of your party, Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST; Faith in the One True God), Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa; for this you will become Samoa’s next prime minister, and you deserve it.

You found the actions of the outgoing PM, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, questionable. You opposed three bills (such as the Land and Titles Court Bill) which can endanger the country’s judicial independence, that’s why you stepped down last year as the deputy PM. You first refused FAST’s offer to be a member, but you then accepted it, and the party was successfully at par with Tuilaepa’s so-called Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). For days after the 09 April 2021 election, the political landscape was tense, and the Head of State offered a new election for this to be solved, but Tuilaepa’s wishes were not granted, as the Supreme Court this week upheld FAST’s victory, with you unseating him.

Tuilaepa’s 22-year reign deserves to end, after the counter-democratic bills, the production of a homophobic atmosphere, and attempts to prohibit Facebook, among others. These do not protect rights of Samoans but disrespect. If you base your actions in Faith in the One True God (faith itself, I mean), your administration will truly protect human rights.

But I have a concern: there’s the People’s Republic of China, which Tuilaepa enjoyed relations with, which has been seeking to dominate the Pacific by asserting its influence thereover. The longtime ruler wanted the PRC-funded Vaiusu wharf project to proceed, but you decided to scrap this (and I welcome the move). Nevertheless, you plan to still have good relations with the superpower regime, which is at odds with Oceania’s other major powers– the United States and Australia. You seek balanced relations with all of these, though.

I am not a Samoan, yet I care for your country as I care for all other countries. In this period the Communist Party (CCP) is bullyish and maligning third-world nations, it is best to cut ties with it, with PRC.

For the sake of the peoples of Xinjiang (the occupied East Turkestan), Tibet and Inner Mongolia, which all seek to become nations of their own as PRC is Hanifying/Sinicising them, and for the Chinese democracy activists, may they be in the mainland, the Special Administrative Regions, or in Taiwan, all fighting for Chinese freedom, as well as for the Chinese masses, victims of the lies of the regime, it is best to speak up for them.

For the sake of the persecuted Christians in China; they worship the One True God in the underground, and they are not free to practise their faith. If we abide in the faith in the Lord, we shall also voice out for them, resisting the oppressive antitheism of the Regime.

For the sake of China’s neighbours, especially in the seas, where fishermen are being harassed by its ships; one of its vessels rammed a fishing boat from my country in 2019 (luckily the latter’s crew were saved). PRC is also exhausting natural resources in these seas, and this is an attack against biodiversity. For the sake of Mother Nature, it is best to cut ties with the Regime.

For the sake of the Pacific, which is being used as a political battleground. Kiribati broke up with the Republic of China, and so did the Solomons, and in turn a leader of the latter’s Malaita dissented against the country’s decision, while the Regime wants to build an airstrip in the former, which the country’s opposition deplores. It is close to Hawai’i, and such airstrip will put Oceanians’ lives in peril. A neutral position leaves the country vulnerable to political exploitation, and complicity towards PRC’s actions will make nations end up being in its bondage. Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu are resistant; severing ties with PRC will make Samoa a champion of human rights and political integrity.

And for the sake of your nation; you are valuing sustainability in economy, not willing to fall in debt traps. You have set the Vaiusu project aside; please ditch it for good. Samoa can survive without PRC’s help, as the masses are discontented with its behaviour; other nations (not including its key allies) may assist it as well.

By having Faith in the One True God (again, faith itself), it will be easier to uphold justice, freedom, human rights and national integrity (because these shall be upheld). If you cut ties with the PRC, Hon. Fiame, you will be doing the Chinese masses a favour, the country’s freedom fighters a favour, its neighbours a favor, Oceania a favour. You will be doing Samoa a favour, its people a favour. You will be doing the Lord a favour.

Congratulations once again. May the Lord bless and protect you and Samoa in your tenure.

 

Article posted on 21 May 2021, 16:2 (UTC +08:00).