Three weeks out from general elections, three Avele College students say all they want is peace between political parties in Samoa.
The three girls shared their thoughts on the current political climate in Samoa, and say they feel unsafe and are afraid by what they see on social media.
Emi Ene from Vaiusu says they have been observing infighting on social media between supporters of political parties, posting vulgar and abusive accusations against each other, and this is making them feel unsafe.
“When I see the tensions between FAST and HRPP, I feel sad, and afraid.”
“Ia a’u lava ia ou te vaai i fevesiaiga ia i le va o le FAST ma le HRPP e lagona lava le faanoanoa..,
Emi says social media is a global public form and she is concerned that overseas observers from countries around the world are able to see this behaviour by our Samoan people.
“This is on social media and many counties of the world are seeing it and that is not a good thing for Samoa..”
“We just want a peaceful Samoa”, says the high school student.
“O lea fo’i e ave i luga o le social media, ma ua vaai iai le toatele o atunuu i le lalolagi e lē o se tulaga lelei lea..
“E manaomia lava se Samoa filemu..”
Pesio Sophiemarie Aiono, a year 11 Science student from Leulumoega village adds that they are disappointed about the exchanges they see and hear in the media, between members and supporters of Samoa’s two main political parties competing in the upcoming elections.
Ms Aiono says above all, she would like to see peaceful relations restored between FAST and HRPP, and calls for stability amongst citizens as elections draw near.
“All we want is for peaceful elections.. especially between political parties..;
“Whoever comes into power doesn’t matter, as long as there is peace amongst the people,” she says.
“Pau lava le mea matou te mananao iai, ia maua se faigapalota filemu, aemaise foi le tatou nonofo ai i le va o vaega faaupufai..,
“O ai foi se faigamalo e tulai mai, ia maua le filemu i le va ma tagata.”
An elderly, Vaifale Iosefa from Leauvaa echoed the pleadings of the young students for peace between HRPP and FAST, and says Samoa must be still and return to God, trusting Him for the selection of a Government.
“I la’u tilotilo o le tele o taimi e talanoa ai tatou, e talanoa lava ma fesili i mafaufauga o le tagata, ae le fesili i le Atua..
“Tensions between political parties are pulling to and from, but we are not asking God”, he said.
“O le taimi nei o lea e fefāloa’i vaega faaupufai, ae tatou te lē o fesili i Le Atua,.
“A tuufesili i mafaufauga ia ona lē maua ai lea o se nofo lelei…fesili i le Atua na te aumai ai le tali o mea uma nei…e ala i le tatalo.”
He said peace can only come from God and it is not God’s will that we live in conflict.
“Tatou te faamoemoe i Le Atua ia maua ai pea lo tatou nofo fealofani”.
Editors Note:
The posts and comments referred to by students cannot be republished here as the language used is vulgar, abusive and defamatory in nature. Comments such as these on Samoa Global News are filtered and deleted. We have observed the most demeaning of comments are made by fake pages, operated by supporters of both political parties.
