Friday, June 26, 2009

Rape as a crime

Men should speak out on rape PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 24 June 2009 11:59

Dear Editor - Congratulations on Mr Hunter’s editorial ‘Crimes of rape are an issue for men’

Yes, I agree that more men should speak to other men publicly about it, if they are concerned for their daughters.
I also think that it should be made a priority from the pulpits of Samoa’s churches especially given it is where a male dominated pastoral service is provided.
The outcome of course should be a genuine commitment to eliminate the crime of rape.

The way Samoa’s name is linked to the highest rates of rape in the world in media overseas should be of great concern to all Samoans.
Whilst we await a reply by the Commissioner of Police as to why a prisoner sentenced for rape was seen at home in the village when he was supposed to be locked away, I pray that more men and women have the courage and integrity to add
ress this issue.
It is a human rights issue.

Perhaps as people become more comfortable to address it publicly, our government will be swayed to sign up to the United Nations Protocol to the Convention of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).This Convention if ratified provides the opportunity to victims of rape to lodge complaint with CEDAW.

Meripa Weir
Keen Watcher from Abroad

Contributions to inside issues in Samoa

Talofa e ia Samoa PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 22 June 2009 11:56

Dear editor - The recent disallowing of nine elected MPs to enter Parliament and the manner in which they were treated at the door of Parliament is absolutely un-Samoan, un-Christian and thus breaches the Constitution.

Where is the ava and fa’aaloalo, and the tofa loloto supposively supreme principles of fa’aSamoa that the nine honorable MPs should have been shown?
There are many interested observers of the Samoan Parliament because they have been told of the unique way Samoan traditions and Samoan culture have been successfully integrated into the Westminster system of parliament. What do they learn now?

I say that the treatment of the nine honourable members was unwarranted. What is the underlying agenda? Is the Speaker aware that switching to different political parties is a very common practice in democracies around the world?
I say th
at the current leadership of Samoa is afraid of the talent and integrity of the break away MPs and if this group of principled men form an opposition party, and to issue a real challenge.

Samoa desperately needs an opposition voice in Parliament not only to represent the alternative view but most important to keep the government honest.

Ma lo’u fa’aaloalo lava,
Meripa Weir
Keen Samoan Watcher from abroad