Customary land rights

Samoa group seeks support for anti-land law petition

One of the group's leaders the lawyer, Unasa Iuni Sapolu, said it is beginning village visits in Salelologa to get more signatures and build awareness.

The group wants to inform as many Samoans as possible about what it said is a need to repeal the Lands and Titles Act of 2008 because customary land could now be used as collateral for loans and mortgages.

Unasa Iuni Sapolu said the plan was to present the petition to parliament when it resumes on January 23.

Samoans to petition govt on customary land rights

The Samoa Observer reported members of the Samoan Solidarity International Group will present the petition when parliament opens on the 23rd of this month.

Group member Unasa Iuni Sapolu says they want the 2008 Lands and Titles Act to be repealed.

Unasa says many of their concerns surround the Torrens system of registry of land titles which is enabled under the Act but which they say is contrary to traditional Samoan land rights.

Unasa says Torrens systems have "wrecked indigenous land ownership in other countries".