The community group, United Citizens of American Samoa, joined by a large group of Samoana High School students and several teachers, staged their first protest against the bill to raise salaries for the legislature this morning.
It started after 6 am and and though it was supposed to end at 8;30, about six demonstrators were still standing in the hot sun with their signs and bull horn after 11am announcing: no to the Fono pay raises, yes to education for our students, supplies for our hospital, overtime for police and no more boil water.
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A military retiree among the group called out to the Fono that he was sad that the Fono leaders way of making decisions is like that of a communist country.
He said they have failed to consult with their constituents because they think the citizens are stupid. Now the people are speaking out.
The veteran who identified himself as Faoa from Ofu, Manu’a quoted civil rights leader Martin Luther King
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Just after 8 am three police on motorcycle units instructed about 50 Samoana High School students who were part of the demonstration to get on aiga buses and go to school.
KHJ News questioned one of the officers if they were sent to disperse the students.
He said the students have to be in class and they were just doing their job.
Later on, Commissioner of Public Safety Save Liuato Tuitele driving DPS 1 parked his vehicle on the road, walked out and instructed the demonstrators to move back.
The group included students from the American Samoa Community College, Faasao Marist, teachers, a few ASG employees and one business woman.
One of the main organizers Val Adam said she’s grateful with the turnout and was especially happy with the number of young people who participated.
She said they got her roaring louder at the same time crying at the experience as they tried to send a message to Fono leaders about setting their priorities right for the community’s sake.
Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui walked out of the chamber and told the demonstrators they were being too loud disturbing the session that was getting underway.
He instructed the group not to use the bullhorn and they obliged.
The protestors were still overheard in both chambers calling out no to Fono pay raises, yes to books for the students and supplies for the hospital.
There was no mention of the group protesting the bill to raise salaries of the Fono during the brief House session.
In the upper chamber, Senate President Gaoteote Palaie said senators have witnessed the many young people outside exercising their rights.
He said the Fono will not be guided by their actions, that senators will make decisions according to what they feel is right and should be done.
He said if it’s right they should not be afraid to speak out and do what is right.
The Senate leader took issue with the Samoa News translation of his Samoan language statements from yesterday concerning the demonstration.
Gaoteote offered to do the English translation of his comments in Samoan for the newspaper.
Senator Galeai Tuufuli said the demonstration was a sign of a healthy democracy and though it may be a foreign scene for them, this was democracy in action.
He said they should thank God for the freedom being exercised by the young people, a freedom that some of them who served in the military fought to defend and protect.
Galeai commented that the exercise of the demonstrators freedom to express themselves, gives reason for senators to pause , reflect and reevaluate matters.
He said the Senate should not waste any more time talking about the demonstration but to make their decisions based on what they know is beneficial not only for the Fono but the whole territory.
