By Lagi Keresoma/
Apia, Samoa – 30 July 2025 – Falelatai village, seat of Tuimalealiifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi 11, the Head of State has issued a letter signed by village chiefs to stop any political rallies from the village.
The letter was given the leaders of the FAST and SUP political parties emphasizing the village council decision to ban political rallies from their village.
The constituency includes Falelatai and Samatau and the decision has already drawn criticisms questioning the constitutionality of the decision and the notion of free and democratic elections from political interference.
The Falelatai and Samatau constituency has been represented by an HRPP candidate for the last two terms and is seeking a third term. The HRPP Chairman is a high chief of Falelatai, Lupematasila Fa’amanū Ivara who served time in prison for arson. Falelatai also banned political rallies in the lead up to the 2021 general elections.
Talamua spoke to a member of one of the leading chiefs – the Faaaloaloga of Falelatai who believes the village is pushing to support Lupematasila Tologata Tile Tuimalealiifano for a third term in Parliament and they have also been informed against anyone running against the chosen candidate.
However, the constituency is fielding three candidates, Lupematasila Tologata Tile for HRPP, Faalavaau Fasitau Ula for SUP and Teleiai Christian Ausage for FAST.
Faalavaau and Lupematasila are both from Falelatai and Teleiai is from Samatau.
Village sources believe that whilst the village decision is pushing a particular candidate, the people are free to vote for whoever they wish.
He said people should have the choice to choose instead of being intimidated by such threats and he also confirmed that Falelatai village have strict penalties if someone goes against a village decision.
In his regular press conferences leading up to next months general elections, the Electoral Commissioner, Toleafoa Tuiafelolo John Stanley, emphasized that any action taken by a candidate or their committee against another candidates’ campaign preparation is considered an offence under the law.
Toleafoa emphasized that for a transparent election, political parties, candidates and voters should all have a chance to choose and vote freely.
