Samoan activism group brings public issues to the fore

A recently formed Samoan rights group hopes to fight government corruption and stand up for the public interest, starting with a march this weekend and a demonstration next week.

The Samoa Solidarity International Group will present a notice of opposition to Parliament on Tuesday, claiming that local law strips people of their customary land rights.

A march to mark the day one of the leaders of the Mau movement died will also take place on Saturday.

The Mau movement was an independence group which became prominent in the early 20th century.
 
The SSIG's Faleauto Taua told RNZI the death of Lauaki Namulauulu Mamoe needs to be marked.

He said it seems the memory of the Mau is disappearing from the Samoan people but essentially it was a period of colonization in which the Samoan people insisted that they be treated fairly.