A recently formed rights and activism group will hold a march through the Samoan capital of Apia this weekend to mark the death of one of the leaders of the Mau movement.
The movement was an independence and indigenous rights group which became prominent in the early part of the 20th century.
Photo: supplied
The Samoa Solidarity International Group has been granted a permit to hold the march to commemorate the movement and the death of Lauaki Namulau'ulu Mamoe on Saturday.
The group's Faleauto Taua said Lauaki's sacrifice and death should be marked.
"Since independence it seems that the memory of the Mau is disappearing from our Samoan people, but essentially it was a period of colonisation in which the Samoan people insisted that they be treated fairly and certain matai leaders stepped up, as we expect them to do, and complained to both the German and New Zealand administrations," he said.
Samoa Solidarity International Group's Ruta Lealaitafea Westin handing out pamphlets to people at the Makeki in Apia. December 2017. Photo: Samoa Solidarity International Group/Facebook
The Samoa Solidarity International Group has also become vocal on public issues such as government corruption and customary land rights and will hold events surrounding its concerns next week.
