After the announcement late last week that all three families of the Malietoa title had reached agreement on the next title holder, some dissenting views amongst one of the three families is now threatening to sink the ship before it sets sail.
In a Facebook post, Malietau Malietoa, a grandson of the late Malietoa Tanumafili II, declares “no I did NOT agree, nor did my father’s brothers Papali’i Titiuatoa and Papali’i Ioane”.
The only son of the eldest of Malietoa Tanumafili II’s children went on to say that “their sister Seiuli Tutai and Papali’i Douglas as well”.
Malietau points out on his Facebook page that out of the 11 children of the late Malietoa Tanumafili II, six are against the title being bestowed on his uncle Papali’i Moli who previously had his premature title bestowal in 2008 stripped through lengthy court cases.
So if the immediate house is not together, then there is no ‘tasi’ meaning no unilateral agreement, according to Malietau.
He says “this push will end badly again because it’s ill advised by the same actors that brought about their defeat in court in 2008 and 2011.
All three families of the Malietoa title, Talavou, Natuitasina and Moli, announced they had once again reached agreement and that Papali’i Moli would now assume the title with the other two families awaiting their turn after the passing of the new holder.
Efforts by KHJ to get comments from the other families were unsuccessful.
In the meantime Malietau Malietoa says, “another court case is on the horizon.
