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Two Rivals Claim Samoa's Prime Ministership As Political Crisis Deepens

Phil Mercer

   SYDNEY - The political crisis in Samoa has deepened as two rivals claim
   to be prime minister of theSouth Pacificislandnation.Samoa lies about
   halfway between Hawaii and NewZealand, andhas a population of about
   200,000 people.

   Samoans voted in a general election in early April.The result was very
   close, and both major parties have claimed victory.

   The opposition FAST Party,led byFiameNaomiMata'afa,said it had secured
   the crucial support of an independent lawmaker to formagovernmentwitha
   26-25 majority in parliament.

   However, Samoa's long serving leader,Tuila'epaSa'ileleMalielegaoi, who
   has been in power since 1998, disputed the result. His refusal to stand
   down was described as a 'coup' by his opponents.

   On Monday, the Samoan parliament was scheduled toadminister the oath of
   office toFiameNaomiMata'afaas the nation's first female prime minister.
   However, she and her colleagues were locked out of the building by
   officials loyal to the previous government despite a Supreme
   Courtrulingthat the session proceed.

   So, instead prime minister-electFiameNaomiMata'afa-- who is also the
   daughter of the country's first prime minister --tooktheoath of office
   in an ad hoc ceremony in a largetentoutside after her party was locked
   out of parliament.Her political rivals said the swearing in was
   unconstitutional.

   Court challenges are expected to follow.

   George Carter, head of the Australian National University's Pacific
   Institute, is urging both sides to resolve their differences calmly.

   "At the moment the country is still at peace despite the difference in
   Samoa's ideology and ideals. But this is part of (the) political
   process in Samoa and part of that is being patient to allow this to
   take place,"Carter said.

   The first nation to formallyrecognizeFiameNaomiMata'afaas prime
   minister was the small Pacific archipelago of the Federated States of
   Micronesia.

   A spokesperson for the United Nations secretary-general has urged Samoa
   "to find solutions to the current political situation through dialogue
   in the best interest of the people and institutions of Samoa."

   Australia and New Zealand have insisted democracy in Samoamustbe
   respected.

   Samoa's economy has traditionally been dependent on foreign aid and
   remittances from citizens overseas as well as tourism, agriculture, and
   fishing.

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