Protest March

The unauthorised march in Noumea was held just a day after the government imposed a limit of 30 people for any outside gathering.

Police say while the meeting was illegal, they didn't intervene because many children were in the crowd.

However, according to the public broadcaster, police used teargas after the end of the rally to disperse some demonstrators.

The march was called to oppose the health pass required to enter venues, such as restaurants and museums, and to protest against the law making vaccinations mandatory.

The protestors marched to the Malae o Tiafau in Mulinuu calling for the Constitution to be upheld and the restoration of the powers of the Head of State.

Rain and gusty winds didn’t dampen the spirits of the protestors as they waved flags and carried placards during the march.

The party’s leader and former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi waited for his fellow Members of Parliament and supporters at Malae o Tiafau.

The march by residents of Mataiea was held despite a statement by the government of Edouard Fritch in February that its deal with the Americans had become void.

The demonstrators, who included local fishermen and families, are opposed to building the islands in the Atimaono lagoon, saying the area is their food source.

The government said its agreement with the Seasteading Institute was not a legal document and that it expired at the end of 2017.

It also said it hoped that this would end the debate about the floating islands.

They were marching against the Registration of Land and Titles Act of 2008, which requires the registration of public land, freehold land, and customary leases and licences.

Critics say the law violates customary land rights by breaking communal land into individual - private - titles.

A paramount chief, lawyer, and former opposition politician, Leota Su'atele Manusegi, who was at the protest, says the law opens land for sale and exploitation.

Tu'u'u Dr Ieti Taulealo has told the Samoa Observer that he has not issued any letters to public servants ordering them not to take part in the march as has apparently been circulating on social media.

He said he only heard about the reports last week after his wife asked him about the Facebook reports.

The chairman, who was a leader of the public servants strike in 1981 which eventually toppled the government of the day and ushered in the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, said all public servants were free to attend any march or event they choose.

Among the marchers were community leaders, politicians, church ministers and youth advocates.
 
Journalists estimated the crowd at over 200 that marched from the town's central market to the main government building, not far from the office of Prime Minister Mannaseh Sogavare.
 
One of Sogavare's daughters and a niece were among the pro-West Papua marchers, and it came a day after Sogavare announced that his government would not support the West Papua pro-independence's application for full membership of the MSG.