18 Sep 2003

Chiefly title holders banished from American Samoa village

9:41 am on 18 September 2003

Five ranking chiefly title holders of the Manu'a Island Group, including two cabinet members, a Senator and a Judge have been ousted by the Ta'u Supreme Village Council in American Samoa.

The council issued a public notice saying that cabinet members, Sotoa Savali and Alalamua Filoialii, along with Judge Atiulagi Pese and Senator Fa'amausili Pola are banished from the village and the supreme council.

The fifth chief banished is Fofo Sunia, the brother of the late governor Tauese Sunia and former congressional delegate.

The village council said that the individuals are banished but their ranking chiefly titles remain part of the supreme council.

Council Spokesman Taulealea Moliga says that the expelling of chiefs has been a usual affair in village history and it is for the retaining of village order and compliance to custom.

However he did not give any specific reason for the latest banishments.

This is the second time in the last 10 months that the same chiefly title holders have been banished by the council.