pago pago, american samoa wednesday … section wed 05-17-17.pdftaina le pese “liebestraum...

by Fili SagapoluteleSamoa News Correspondent

With the police force facing a shortage of officers,

Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson is out on the road and in the community helping cops, who are described by Le’i as the “unsung heroes” working long hours to protect the people of American Samoa.

And don’t be surprised if the next time a police officer stops you on the road for pos-sible traffic violation and you see Le’i working along side of a police officer or personally inquiring as to why are you speeding.

At least two motorists con-firmed to Samoa News since early this week that Le’i was with a police officer, during traffic stops. “That was a sur-prise to see the Police Com-missioner, right there after our family car was stopped by a police vehicle,” said one of the

motorists who was stopped on Monday and declined to say if Le’i issued a traffic citation.

Samoa News have received several public inquiries about Le’i seen on the road, and some wondering as to why he is out there instead of maintaining his role as “Police Commissioner, overseeing the Department of Public Safety from the main office in Fagatogo.”

Le’i said the police force is “very seriously... undermanned and underpaid” and officers work long hours which “take a toll on the cops and some-times people get sick” causing a staff shortage. He also said that in American Samoa, the per capita figure is 525 citizens per one-cop — and that’s a lot of people for one police officer.

He said the police force works around the clock to pro-tect the community and police officers are “unsung heroes”.

While he oversees DPS, “but you will see me out there,

A group photo of members of the Dancing Fingers, who performed last Thursday evening, May 11th, 2017 at the Calvary Chapel Lepuapua, during their annual Spring concert. The concert was well attended by their parents, families and special guest, including First Lady Cynthia Moliga (center). [photo: Leua Aiono Frost]

C M

Y K

C M

Y K

(Continued on page 5)

Police Commissioner Le’i describes the police force as the “unsung heroes”

SAYS DPS “VERY SERIOUSLY... UNDERMANNED AND UNDERPAID”

Save yourself from paying a hefty fine or serving possible jail time by buckling up. Offi-cers from the Department of Public Safety are cracking down on all drivers – and passengers – not wearing seatbelts.

In addition, cops will be issuing citations for other violations including children riding in vehi-cles without car seats, busted headlights, broken taillights, expired license plates, driving under the influence, etc.

The Click it or Ticket enforcement kicked off Monday, to coincide with Police Week.

Enforcement will continue throughout the busy graduation season, when a number of teenagers – and adults – tend to find themselves behind the wheel while intoxicated.

Graduation season begins this Friday with the first commencement exercise: the American Samoa Community College. (A complete list of dates for each scheduled graduation ceremony for

all local high schools, including Manu’a, is printed in Samoa News).

Program Manager for the Office of Highway Safety, David Bird, who is charged with publi-cizing the Click it or Ticket enforcement every year, says the goal of the mobilization is not only to ensure the safety of the traveling public, but to bring American Samoa within compliance as far as seatbelt and car seat usage.

“People need to realize that wearing seatbelts and buckling up the little ones can save a life,” Bird said. “It’s all about preventing unnecessary deaths.”

Motorists who are pulled over for not wearing seatbelts should not expect to get a second chance, especially with the Department of Public Safety going online and issuing etickets that will send all the information to the judicial system, via the internet.

“Click it or Ticket” – “E Fusi pe Tusi” [photo: BC]

PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA $1.00WEDNESDAY MAY 17 2017

DAILY CIRCUL ATION 7,000ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM

samoa news, Wednesday May 17 2017

Athena Savali of Tafuna Elementary won the Best Teacher essay competition for the Tualauta district, yesterday. Her student Vanessa wrote an inspiring essay about her. Athena will receive $100 cash, and both will each receive a $50 Equator restaurant voucher. Rep. Samuel Meleisea said, “Thank you to all the students for their submissions, it wasn’t an easy decision.” [Courtesy photo]

RUGBY UNION AGM NOTICETHE ASRU WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) AND ELECTIONS ON JUNE 15, 2017, AS REQUIRED BY THE CONSTITUTION. DETAILS AS FOLLOWS:

DATE: THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2017TIME: 12:30PM to 2:00PMPLACE: FAMOUS SEAFOOD RESTAURANTDIRECTIONS: BEHIND TRIPLE “S” SERVICE STATION AT

THE FAGAIMA ‘ROUNDABOUT’DETAILS: A DETAILED NOTICE WILL BE PUBLISHED

ON OR BEFORE MAY 15, 2017 OR YOU CAN OBTAIN A COPY FROM THE FOLLOWING PERSONS:

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:Falefata Moli LemanaTelephone: (684) 733-2750Email: [email protected]

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD:Togiola TulafonoTelephone: (684) 733-4614Email: [email protected]

DEAR ALL SIGHT N SOUND CUSTOMERS:PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE BROUGHT IN ITEMS TO BE REPAIRED OR SERVICED WILL BE DISCARDED OF AFTER 31st OF MAYWE HUMBLY ASK THAT ALL ITEMS BE PICKED UP BEFORE THEN AND PROOF OF OWNERSHIP OR RECEIPT IS NEEDEDFOR ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US @ 633-2490

OUR NEW BUSINESS HOURS ARE:M-TUES: 9 -1PMWED-FRI: 9-4PMSAT: 9-1PMSUNDAY: CLOSEDSoifua,DOUG JESSOP Sight N Sound

Sight n Sound

Translated by Samoa News staffASKA FALEALI’I LAULU

The High Court has taken under advisement, with a decision to be issued later, a request by inmate Aska Faleali’i Laulu for work release, in order to earn money to care for his family and pay a court fine.

However, the court noted the importance of safety of the female victim, who is the mother of the inmate’s son, and the person that suffered in the hands of the defendant. The court also wants assurance and proof that there is a job for the inmate if granted work release.

Laulu’s attorney, assistant public defender, Michael White said that granting work release will allow the inmate to work. He also says that the defendant is remorseful of the crime, which resulted in him been sentenced to serve time behind bars.

While the government supports the defense’s request for work release, assistant attorney gen-eral Gerald Murphy however said the one major concern is the safety of the female victim, who was the common-law-wife of the defendant — they were living together, if the inmate is granted work release.

SAMUEL WRIGHTThe High Court last Friday granted inmate

Samuel Wright’s “motion to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis”. (Upon the court’s granting of ‘forma pauperis’ status or motion, the indi-gent person can proceed in court without pay-ment of the usual fees associated with a lawsuit or appeal, according to Lectric Law Library website.)

Wright was sentenced in May last year to

serve 35 years in jail after been convicted by a jury in early 2016 of first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a firearm and stealing — all felo-nies. Wright was one of the three defendants in the robbery at gunpoint of the Gold Conda store in Faga’alu May 2014.

Last year, the defendant sought a new trial arguing that new information and witnesses have surfaced and are expected to change the outcome of the jury’s verdict. Early this year, the defen-dant moved to appeal his conviction and sen-tence, and seek a new trial.

The government’s evidence presented at trial states that it was Wright who pointed the gun to the cashier and Wright and his co-defendants — who are also serving lengthy jail terms — made off with a money bag containing $300.

DAVID FO’AThe government has filed a new felony charge

against David Fo’a as the High Court rejected a plea agreement, which was already signed by both sides.

Fo’a was in court last Friday for his change of plea hearing, which was continued from two weeks ago, because the court had some concerns with certain provisions of the plea agreement, in which the defendant was to plea guilty to a lesser burglary charge — but it was still a felony.

However, the court last Friday rejected the plea agreement and the government then announced that it has filed a new felony charge of second-degree burglary against the defendant, who allegedly broke into a family home. The new felony count has been filed in District Court.

(Original Samoan stories published in yester-day’s Lali section of Samoa News.)


NAPA SAMOA 699-NAPA/6272

Did you know that NAPA SAMOA will change your car battery for FREE when you purchase from us?

We will also:Add freon to your car AC after purchasing FOR FREEChange car battery after purchasing FOR FREEChange your light bulbs after purchasing FOR FREEIssue a quote on Special Orders FOR FREECall us today for Quality Napa Auto Parts.

Bring in your old battery and get $18 off the price of your new battery!

We also special order Engines and Windshields.

Le taimi na taua’aoina ai fugala’au na tapena fa’apitoa mo le tama’ita’i sili ona matagofie lana ta piano ma o se tasi sa a’oa’oina lava fa’aleleia mai le la’ititi i le Dancing Fingers Music Center. Na ia taina le pese “Liebestraum Listz” Malaea E. McFall. [ata: Leua Aiono Frost]


The federal court in Hono-lulu has given the Territory of American Samoa later next week to file a response to fed-eral defendants motion early this month requesting the court to reconsider or remand back to the US National Marine Fish-eries Service (NMFS) its deci-sion invaliding the reduction of the large vessel prohibited area in territorial waters.

Federal defendants include NMFS and the US Commerce Department, whose senior offi-cials are also named in the Ter-ritory of American Samoa’s lawsuit filed in March last year. The plaintiff, through the ASG, focused its argument in overturning the 2016 LVPA rule on the Deeds of Cession, which it alleged were not taken into consideration when the final rule was implemented. The federal court agreed and invalidated the rule.

Federal defendants, rep-resented by the US Justice Department, filed early this month its motion for reconsid-eration and or remand the 2016 LVPA Rule back to NMFS, instead of vacating the rule, which the defendants argue benefited the US longline fishing fleet based in American Samoa.

Late last week, the Hono-lulu federal court clerk released a notice saying that the federal defendants’ motion will be con-sidered by US District Court Judge Leslie E. Kobayshi “as a non hearing motion” and that memorandum in opposition or response from plaintiff is due May 25th, with a reply from federal defendants reply due Jun. 8.

Additionally, the motion for reconsideration will be taken under submission thereafter and the court will issue an order at a later time.

Kobayshi is the same judge

who heard arguments in the plaintiff’s complaint and also issued the ruling in favor of ASG.

Among the federal defen-dants arguments in its motion for reconsideration is that the plaintiff failed to show that the 2016 LVPA Rule “actually threatened its alleged interest”. The defendants says that the plaintiff had alleged that the 2016 LVPA Rule will have a “chilling effect on alia fish-ermen participation” and there-fore harm American Samoan culture.

“Critically, however, plain-tiff put forth no evidence of specific facts supporting this allegation, or otherwise showing that application of the Rule will adversely harm the alia fleet or plaintiff’s culture,” the defendants argued.

“In fact, plaintiff offered no declarations, data, or affidavits of any such harm. Instead, it relied solely on generalized speculation as to the effects of the Rule,” the defendants fur-

ther argued. It also noted that the court

quoted the American Samoa Governor’s unsubstanti-ated comment that longliners “present a real risk of entangle-ment” with alia fishing equip-ment, “could easily deplete the stock,” and would “likely dis-courage” local fishermen from “practicing traditional fishing methods for fear of being run over by the larger long liners.”

The court also quoted a joint resolution opining that the rule would “surely undermine the treatied peoples’ property interests in the marine waters” and create “unbalanced compe-tition that will further threaten the collapse of the traditional alia fishing community,” according to the defendants.

According to federal defen-dants, these allegations of “unbalanced competition” and “fear of being run over” in hundreds of square miles of open ocean are speculative and insufficient to demonstrate standing.

“Speculation is insufficient to establish a threat of ‘actual and imminent’ harm to Plain-tiff’s alleged concrete interest with specific facts,” according to the federal defendants, who then pointed out that, plain-tiff did not address why not even one individual American Samoan claiming cultural fishing rights under the Deeds joined plaintiff’s suit as a plaintiff.

On the other hand, federal defendants say plaintiff did recognized that “the size of the [alia] fleet has fluctuated over time” and that “individuals do not enter the alia fishery or leave the fishery for many dif-ferent reasons” including but not limited to “cost, resources, and fish stock supply.”

Federal defendants also emphasized that the longline fishing fleet targets only alba-core tuna, which is sold to StarKist Samoa cannery. Addi-tionally, longline owners are American Samoans.


LETTERS TO THE EDITORSamoa News welcomes and encourages

Letters to the Editor. Please send them to our email [email protected]

Box 909, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799.Contact us by Telephone at (684) 633-5599Contact us by Fax at (684) 633-4864or by Email at [email protected] business hours are Mon. thru Fri. 8am to 5pm.Permission to reproduce editorial and/or advertisements, in

whole or in part, is required. Please address such requests to the Publisher at the address provided above.

Am Samoa must file response to NMFS request for reconsideration by May 25

© OSINI FALEATASI INC. RESERVES ALL RIGHTS.dba Samoa News publishes Monday to Friday, except for some local and federal holidays.Send correspondences to: OF, dba Samoa News, Box 909, Pago Pago, Am. Samoa 96799.Telephone at (684) 633-5599 • Fax at (684) 633-4864Email advertisements to [email protected] the newsroom at [email protected] business hours are Mon. thru Fri. 8am to 5pm.Permission to reproduce editorial and/or advertisements, in whole or in part, is required. Please

address such requests to the Publisher at the address provided above.Please visit samoanews.com for weekend updates.

O se vaaiga i le vasega o ali’i ua fai si leva o a’oa’oina mai i le taina o le Violini i le a’oga musika a le Dancing Fingers i Lepuapua. Matagofie le latou pese sa taina i le latou koneseti i lea afiafi. [ata: Leua Aiono Frost]


every day, even weekends — rain, shine and anytime to help the police officers — the men and women in blue,” Le’i said in a Samoa News interview at his office yesterday morning.

Le’i being out on the road and in the community working along side officers, has come up before and the most recent time was two months ago, when he was seen with police officers on the main road between Futiga and Lepuapua, conducting traffic checks in the area, fol-lowing public complaints of the road being used as a “speedway” or race track.

And early last month during a court hearing, District Court Judge Fiti Sunia cautioned Le’i’s involvement with police officers out there doing their job.

Several days later, Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale presided over the swearing in of Le’i, who said at the time that although the statute gives him the authority as a com-missioner of Public Safety to conduct business just like any other law enforcement officer, the swearing-in was “to make sure that at this point forward all applicable laws and the Con-stitution of American Samoa as well as those directly affecting the job of a police officer is taken care of.”

A Tafuna woman told Samoa News that she observed Saturday morning in front of the Veterans Memorial Stadium a big black truck with DPS license plate, parked behind a taxi. And there was a police officer in uniform talking to the taxi driver, while Le’i was standing a few feet from the tax and Le’i appeared to be observing what was going on.

“I thought to myself, ‘that’s a first, a police commissioner out there with traffic officers’,” said the woman who asked not be identified by name. “If Le’i was observing, that’s fine but if he’s actively pulling vehicles over for suspected traffic vio-lation, then I wonder if he’s trained to do it.”

During the Samoa News interview, Le’i who is a mili-tary retiree, said that “as com-missioner and by the position that I hold, can perform duties like any other cop. So the fact that I’m out there til wee hours of the morning, weekends and so on, is to help, protect and to serve the citizens of American Samoa. I cannot with good and clear conscious execute all of the responsibilities that I’ve sworn to uphold by sitting in my office.”

Additionally, “I feel very uncomfortable, sitting in the comfort of my office, and come in and go home every day, knowing fully well that the cops — men and women — who were sworn to uphold the law and to protect the people who are most important to me” are out there working hard without providing the assistance they

need. Protecting the people, the

young, the old, elected officials such as the governor, lieutenant governor and Fono leaders as well as other top officials such as the chief justice is “of utmost important,” he said.

Le’i said that he is sure that other police commissioners, such as Galeai Tu’ufuli, Tuaolo M. Fruean, Save Liuato Tuitele and William Haleck — who served before he did, have done their best but times have changed “and we need to move with the time. I would rather be with the cops out there helping to protect the community than sitting in my office,” he emphasized.

He also says that police offi-cers “have been very kind out there. We give warning, but there are those out there, who by just the nature of a human being ignore the law. And the collateral damage to that — is innocent people.”

Rain or shine, “I will stop you on the road, if you do not follow rules of the road” he said, adding that motorist not following rules of the road may end up hurting others. He also said that “there should be no room... for lawlessness on the road and in the community” and police will protect the com-munity from those who threaten the lives of elders, children, young kids, elected officials and other senior officials.

“I’m not on the road because I want to be on the road. It is my job and obligation, being sworn in to uphold the law. I can’t sleep at home, knowing people are hurt, people need help,” he said. “So the right thing to do is to be out there, helping those who need help.”

Some members in the com-munity have questioned as to why the Police Commissioner drives his own DPS vehicle instead of having a driver. “I have respect for this posi-tion and the confidence of the public, including the governor, the Fono and the administration that has put me in this post,” he said, adding, “I drive my own car.”

See Samoa News tomorrow and Friday for other issues cov-ered in the interview with the Police Commissioner.

We Also Accept Orders From Off Island!!

Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson during Monday’s celebration of Police Week at the Fagatogo malae. He says the police force faces a serious shortage of officers and is underpaid. The police officers are the “unsung heroes” working long hours to protect the people of American Samoa. [SN photo]

➧ Police …Continued from page 1



In a general memorandum dated May 15, Gov. Lolo Mata-lasi Moliga appointed Alataua county tradition leader Fuamatu J.V. Fuamatu as the new Western District Governor, a post left vacant since the passing early this year of the late Lualemaga Faoa.

The governor’s appointment, which became effective the date of the memo, came a week after a May 8th meeting of Western Dis-trict traditional leaders failed to reached a consensus on the next District Governor and agreed that the final decision would be given to the governor to make.

Western District traditional leaders presented to the gov-ernor the names to decide on for the next district governor: Tuiasina S. Esera of Tualatai county, Fuamatu J.V. Fuamatu of Alataua county and Leatual-evao S. Asifoa of Leasina/Aitu-lagi county. All three traditional leaders are former senators. (See Samoa News edition May 9th for details.)

In the memo, the governor cited provisions of the Constitu-tion, that states in part “the offi-cials of the Government of Amer-ican Samoa including district, county, and village officials shall

be appointed by the Governor.”Prior to appointing a district

governor, “the Governor through the Secretary of Samoan Affairs shall request the recommendation of the appropriate district council as to who shall be appointed” as district governor.

As governor, Lolo said in his memo that he has complied with requirements of the law in selecting the Western District Governor, thereby fulfilling the vacancy caused by the untimely passing of Lualemaga.

“I requested and received three recommended candidates from the Western District Council,” the governor said. “Also, the Sec-retary of Samoan Affairs, con-sistent with requirements of the constitution, provided his recom-mendation for my consideration.”

Lolo did not specify the rec-ommendation from Samoan Affairs Secretary Mauga T. Asuega.

The governor concluded, “I am confident that the new Dis-trict Governor will fulfill his responsibilities honorably and effectively.”

In accordance with the con-stitution, Fuamatu will serve out Lualemaga’s four-year term in office — which has about three and half years left.

AUTO NATIONNU’UULI: (684) 699-7168/1231 FAGATOGO: (684) 633-2239 FAX: (684) 699-7175

AVAILABLE IN STORE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES

$10.00CLOSED SUNDAYBUSINESS HOURS: Mon-Fri 7:30am-5pm • Sat 8am-1pm

Tuesday - Saturday 9am to 4pmMondays (Appointments Only)633-0774

in the Pago Plaza - across from ASPA office.

Veronica & Mali Call for an appointment or stop by and see us!!

COME AND HAVE YOUR HAIR DONE BY PROFESSIONAL

HAIR STYLISTS:

“Veronica is also a trained barber”

Fuamatu J.V. Fuamatu chosen as the new

Western District Governor

First Lady Cynthia Moliga received her flowers from the youngest member of the Musical school after her performance, in appreciation of her presence and participation during their Annual Spring Concert this year. [photo: Lena Aiono Frost]


C M

Y K

C M

Y K

From the Home of the Flames, some of the territory’s young historians, who competed in the Island Wide History Day competition last month. The group was honored with fresh orchid ulas and monetary gifts from the school director for their outstanding performance.

Standing at far right is their biggest supporter — Pastor Lemmy. [Photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]


ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek workers have walked off the job across the country for a nationwide general strike expected to disrupt public and private sector services. They are protesting new aus-terity measures to be imposed beyond the end of Greece’s third bailout next year.

Public hospitals were func-tioning with emergency staff only Wednesday, while public transport was disrupted.

Air traffic controllers were holding a four-hour work stop-page in the middle of the day, leading to the rescheduling or cancellation of more than 150 flights. Seamen were partici-pating with a four-day strike that began Tuesday, leaving ferries servicing the Greek islands and mainland tied up in port until Friday.

Workers are protesting a raft of new cost-cutting measures, to be voted on in parliament late Thursday that will include pension cuts and tax hikes.

Greece general strike

to disrupt services

across country

C M

Y K

C M

Y K

Ferries are docked at the Athens’ port of Piraeus during a nationwide general strike on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Workers are protesting a new deal with Greece’s interna-tional creditors that impose a raft of new tax hikes and spending cuts beyond the end of the country’s third bailout in 2018.

(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)


T.B. CASES IN SAMOA HAVE DOUBLED SINCE

2011The number of Tuberculosis

(T.B.) cases in Samoa has dou-bled since 2011. And although the annual number of new T.B. cases remains “relatively low” compared to the estimated pop-ulation, the identification and diagnosis of T.B. is poor and screening (especially in remote villages) is limited.

This is according to Ministry of Health’s sixth annual report to U.N.A.I.D.S.

Obtained by the Samoa Observer, the report shows Samoa’s commitment to the global response to H.I.V., A.I.D.S., and Sexual Trans-mitted Infections.

T.B. is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usu-ally attack the lungs, but they can also damage other parts of the body.

T.B. spreads through the air when a person with T.B. of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, or talks. The report says the number of T.B. cases observed between 2009 and 2011 decreased.

However there was a “sharp increase in cases from 2012- 2015.”

The report indicates the main challenges in eliminating T.B. in Samoa include increasing testing, training of providers to accurately diagnose and treat T.B., linking individuals to treatment, and increasing public awareness and education of prevention, transmission and treatment, and ensuring all T.B. cases are tested for H.I.V.

“Though T.B. shares some social determinants in common with H.I.V. and S.T.I.’s, there are a few social contexts that are unique.

“Since Samoan families are typically large and live in close proximity to each other, exposure to T.B. usually occurs between family members. Family members are also highly mobile between villages, which poses significant challenges to contact tracing, testing and treatment.”

(Source: Samoa Observer)A TRAGIC MOTHER’S

DAY FOR AELE FAMILYMother’s Day weekend was

not a time to celebrate for a family at Aele.

Instead, they spent it mourning the loss of a precious life taken as a result of a hit and run incident where alcohol is suspected to have been a factor.

Popese Sipuni, 28, was sit-ting with a friend on the side of the road when he was struck by a “speeding” vehicle.

An attempt to get a com-ment from the Police at the time of this report was unsuccessful yesterday.

But a family member related the chain of events leading up to the incident.

She told the Samoa Observer that Mr. Sipuni and his friend were sitting at the side of the road when the rental car ran him over. “His friend had a lucky escape but Popese did not,” she said.

(Source: Samoa Observer)

MĀORI SMOOTHIE BRAND TO BE SOLD

OVERSEASMāori milk company

Miraka has signed an agree-ment with Malaysian distribu-tion company, Storiiu to have the smoothie brand sold in Sin-gapore, Philippines, China and Malaysia.

The company, which is owned by a number of Māori trusts, described kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, as being at the heart of everything it did.

The two smoothie drinks would be available in two fla-vors — green and berry — and the makers said the ingredients were sourced from around New Zealand.

Whai Ora’s nourishment was said to be drawn from the beginning of time through its connection to Papatūānuku, or earth-mother.

At a signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Māori Develop-ment Minister Te Ururoa Fla-vell said the deal was evidence of Māori innovation and was “building economic value for the future”.

Miraka, which is already exporting whole milk powder and Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) milk products to 23 coun-tries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, runs its processing operations on renew-able steam from the Mōkai geo-thermal field.

The by-products created through the drying process are composted at a worm farm, and the worm castings go to a nursery producing native plants for riparian waterway planting.

The Māori smoothie will also be available in New Zealand.

(Source: RNZ)MAORI AFFAIRS MIN-

ISTER BACKS PROPOSAL FOR BILINGUAL TOWNS

Te reo Māori could soon join te reo Pākehā on traffic signs, ATMs or restaurant menus in several New Zealand towns that are considering going bilingual.

Māori Affairs Minister Te Ururoa Flavell said he had had discussions with the mayors of Otaki and Rotorua about the proposal, and Wairoa is already seizing the initiative.

The Māori Party co-leader said the towns have been pre-sented with guidelines on bilin-gual signage, but it would be up to them to decide how to become bilingual.

He said the proposal pro-vided huge opportunities to cel-ebrate language.

“Street names that might be one part of it. Stop, Go, pedes-trian crossings. Could be that businesses adopt the whole notion of going bilingual by having all of their signs both in English and Māori, to invoices in Māori, to allowing checks to being signed in Māori or being printed in both languages, through to signs over the top of ATM machines.”

Flavell said the idea came from a trip to Ireland last year where local organizations have bought into the bilingual concept.

He said he hoped to offer funding and support to enable a similar buy-in here.

(Photos: Leua)

Pacific Island News in BriefPacific Island News in Brief


AMERICAN SAMOA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT “PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TRAINING”

ASCC Land Grant Program will be conducting a Pesticide Applicator Safety training for those who handle farm chemicals. If you are using farm pesticides, or you are planning to use chemicals in the near future, this is a good opportunity for you to attend this important training. The training schedule is as follows:

Date: May 22 - 26, 2017Time: 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m.Place: ASCC Land Grant Training Room

Registration is FREE. To confirm your participation for this training, please call Joyce or Helen at 699-1575/2019.Thank You.

FAAALIGA FA’ALAUA’ITELE “A’oa’oga mo i lātou o lo’o fa’aaogāina vailā ’au o’ona”

‘O le a fa ia se a ’oa ’oga mo i la tou o lo o fa ’aaogā va i lā ’au o ’ona i fa ’a toaga. A fa i o lo ’o ‘ē fa ’aaogā va i lā ’au o ’ona , po o ’ē faamoemoe fo ’ i e te fa ’aaogā i se ta im i o i l uma, o lou avanoa le le i lene i e te ‘aua i a i i l ene i a ’oa ’oga tāua . ‘O ta im i la ne i mo lene i vasega:

Aso: Me 22 - 26, 2017Taimi: 12:00-4:00ileafiafiNofoaga e fai ai: Potu mo A’oa’oga, a le Vaega o Laufanua ma Atina’e a

le Kolisi Tu’u Faatasi ma Alaalafaga a Amerika Samoa

‘E lea i se to tog i o le res i ta la . A fa i e te f ia ‘auai i lenei a ’oa ’oga, fa ’amolemole ia fa ’a feso’ota ’ i mai Joyce po o Helen i le te le fon i 699-1575/2019.

Fa’afetai.

BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. and European officials will discuss Wednesday plans to broaden a U.S. ban on in-flight laptops and tablets to include planes from Europe.

The move would create logistical chaos on the world’s busiest corridor of air travel — as many as 65 million people a year travel between Europe and North American on over 400 daily flights, many of them business travelers who rely on their electronics to work during the flight.

The ban would dwarf in size the current one, which was put in place in March and affects about 50 flights per day from 10 cities, mostly in the Middle East.

Airlines have said it is merely a matter of time before the ban is put in place, but the prospect has alarmed officials in the European Union, who want to know more about any new threats and the disruption such a move would create.

There is also the question of the relative safety of keeping in the cargo area a large number of electronics with lithium bat-teries, which have been known to catch fire.

Experts say a bomb in the cabin would be easier to make and require less explosive force than one in the cargo hold.

Baggage in cargo usually goes through a more sophisticated screening process than carry-on bags.

Experts say that the original ban focused on certain coun-tries because their equipment to screen carry-on bags is not as effective as machines in the U.S.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Secu-rity met last week with high-ranking executives of the three leading U.S. airlines — Amer-ican, Delta and United — and the industry’s leading U.S. trade group to discuss expanding the laptop policy to flights arriving from Europe.

The airlines still hope to have a say in how the policy is put into effect at airports to minimize inconvenience to passengers. The initial ban on passengers bringing large elec-tronics devices into the cabin hit hardest at Middle Eastern airlines.

Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline, this month cited the ban on electronics as one of the reasons for an 80 per-cent drop in profits last year. It said the ban had a direct impact on demand for air travel into the U.S. and it faced rising costs from introducing compli-mentary laptop loans to some passengers.

US, Europe discuss new laptop ban on flights

Members of the Dancing Fin-gers received flowers for their great performance from the man-agement of the Dancing Fingers Musical Learning Center. Their concert was well attended by their parents, families and special guests last Thursday evening, May 11th, 2017 at Calvary Chapel Lepuapua.

[photo: Leua Aiono Frost]


NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Piece by piece, New Orleans’ landscape is changing as city workers take down massive works of bronze and stone that once seemed immoveable in a region where some still cling to a Confederate legacy.

The city announced late Tuesday that it had begun the process of removing a statue of Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beaure-gard — the third of four monu-ments city officials plan to take down. The news release came as police cordoned off the site and what appeared to be a large crane was moved into position.

Workers later wrapped what appeared to be green bubble wrap around the statue and affixed it to a crane with large straps but as the process dragged into Wednesday morning it was not clear how long it would take to remove the massive bronze likeness of Beau-regard on horseback.

“Today we take another step in defining our City not by our past but by our bright future,” New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a news release. “While we must honor our history, we will not allow the Confederacy to be put on a pedestal in the heart of New Orleans.”

Landrieu called for the monuments’ removal in the lin-gering emotional aftermath of the 2015 massacre of nine black parishioners at a South Caro-lina church. The killer, Dylann Roof, was an avowed racist who brandished Confederate battle flags in photos, recharging the debate over whether Confederate emblems represent racism or an honorable heritage.

The removal process has been anything but easy.

The City Council voted 6-1 in 2015 to remove the monu-ments after a succession of con-tentious public meetings where impassioned monument sup-porters and opponents heckled each other. Contractors involved in the removal process have been threatened, and the work stalled for months as monu-ment supporters looked in vain to the courts for help. Workers removing the first two memorials generally wore bulletproof vests, helmets and face coverings to shield their identities as the work took place well after midnight to minimize attention.

More recently, lawmakers in the Louisiana House backed a proposal aimed at keeping cities from removing Confederate monuments in a controversial vote Monday that black law-makers derided as “divisive” and “offensive.”

Workers at the Beauregard removal also covered their faces and wore helmets but the atmo-sphere appeared slightly more low-key, with work starting in the evening after sunset. Local media showed images of monu-ment supporters waving Con-federate battle flags while those supporting their removal stood nearby but reported the situation was largely peaceful. Across a

bayou from where the monument stands, some observers sat in lawn chairs to watch the proceed-ings, and a brass band celebrating the monument’s removal showed up after midnight Wednesday, news outlets reported.

For supporters, the works are a way to remember and honor history.

“Mayor Landrieu’s actions are an insult to New Orleanians who came before us — the vet-erans, widows, parents, children, and citizens — who donated their personal money to build and place these monuments where they stand to honor the memory of their fallen family members,” said Pierre McGraw, President of the Monumental Task Com-mittee which has been advocating keeping the monuments in place.

But for many in this majority black city, the monuments pay honor to a history of slavery and segregation, and they want them down. When the statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis was finally lifted from its pedestal, a cheer erupted from dozens of demonstrators who’d waited for hours to see the city fulfill its promise.

THE WHITE REBELLIONThat granite obelisk, erected

in 1891, was the least promi-nent of the monuments and the first to be removed. But to some it was the most objectionable. It commemorated what came to be known as the Battle of Liberty Place, in 1874 — a rebellion by whites who battled a biracial Reconstruction-era government in New Orleans. An inscription extolling white supremacy was added in 1932.

It had been tied up in legal battles over efforts to remove it since at least the 1980s. It was moved from busy Canal Street to a more obscure location in the 1990s, with a plaque calling for racial harmony.

JEFFERSON DAVISUnveiled in 1911, the memo-

rial to the Confederacy’s only president was in the Mid-City neighborhood on a broad green space and was the second monu-ment to be removed. The monu-ment, an estimated 18 feet tall, had a bronze likeness of Davis standing astride a tall stone pedestal.GEN. P.G.T. BEAUREGARD

Beauregard commanded the attack at Fort Sumter, South Car-olina, that marked the outbreak of the Civil War. His statue sits at a traffic circle near the entrance to New Orleans City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art. It’s been there since 1915.

GEN. ROBERT E. LEEIt is easily the most prominent

of the statues: Lee standing, in uniform, arms crossed defiantly, looking toward the northern horizon from atop a roughly 60-foot-tall pedestal. It was unveiled in 1884. The city said Tuesday that due to “intimi-dation, threats, and violence, serious safety concerns remain” so it would not announce a time-line for Lee’s removal.

American Samoa GovernmentOFFICE OF PROCUREMENT

Equal Opportunity Employer / Affirmative ActionDR. ORETA MAPU CRICHTONChief Procurement Officer

INVITATION FOR BIDSIFB 2400-17

Issuance Date: May 04, 2017 Closing Date: June 07, 2017 No later than 10:00am (local time) INVITATION Sealed bids are being solicited to provide “CIP FY 2017- School Bus” for the

Department of Education- Transportation Division. RECEIPT & OPENING OF BIDS Sealed bids will be received by the Chief Procurement Officer, American Samoa

Government, Tafuna, American Samoa 96799, until 10:00a.m. (local time), Wednesday June 07,2017 at which time and place the sealed bids will be publicly opened and read.

BID DOCUMENTS Bid documents, including Specifications, may be examined at the Office of Procurement

or obtained there from free of charge during normal hours of operation. CONDITIONS The American Samoa Government reserves the right to:

not accept the lowest or any bid.reject all bids and reissue and amended IFB.request additional information from any bidder submitting a bid.waive any informalities in bidding as may be in the best interest of the American Samoa Government.

New Orleans begins takedown of 3rd

Confederate-era monument

A familiar sight during heavy rains and flooding in the territory is the Department of Public Works Maintenance team working hard, draining the water from certain areas in Happy Valley and Ottoville. They had to do it twice this week. [Courtesy photo]


American Samoa GovernmentOFFICE OF PROCUREMENT

Equal Opportunity Employer / Affirmative ActionDR. ORETA MAPU CRICHTONChief Procurement Officer

INVITATION FOR BIDSIFB-2406-17

Issuance Date: May 11, 2017 Closing Date: May 24, 2017 No later than 10:00am (local time)1. INVITATION Sealed bids are being solicited to provide Printers for the Department Education.2. RECEIPT & OPENING OF BIDS Sealed bids will be received by the Chief Procurement Officer, American Samoa

Government, Tafuna, American Samoa 96799, until 10:00a.m. (local time), Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at which time and place the sealed bids will be publicly opened and read.

3. CONTRACT DOCUMENTS Bid documents, including Specifications, may be examined at the Office of Procurement

or obtained there from free of charge during normal hours of operation.4. CONDITIONS The American Samoa Government reserves the right to:

• not accept the lowest or any bid.• reject all bids and reissue and amended IFB.• request additional information from any bidder submitting a bid.• waive any informalities in bidding as may be in the best interest of the American

Samoa Government.

JACKSON, Ga. (AP) — Georgia on Wednesday carried out its first execution this year, putting to death a man con-victed of killing his 73-year-old neighbor 25 years ago.

J.W. Ledford’s time of death was 1:17 a.m., after an injec-tion of compounded barbiturate pentobarbital at the state prison in Jackson, Warden Eric Sellers told witnesses. Ledford, 45, was convicted of murder in the January 1992 stabbing death of Dr. Harry Johnston in Murray County, northwest Georgia.

Ledford smiled broadly as witnesses entered the execu-tion viewing area. When given a chance to make a final state-ment, he appeared to quote from the movie “Cool Hand Luke.”

“What we have here is a failure to communicate. Some men you just can’t reach,” he said, later adding, “I am not the failure. You are the failure to communicate.”

“You can kiss my white trash ass,” he added, continuing to smile. As the warden exited the execution chamber at 1:09 a.m., Ledford began talking again, but the microphones had been cut off so his words weren’t audible to witnesses.

Records from past execu-tions show that the lethal drug generally starts flowing within a couple of minutes of the warden exiting the execution chamber. Ledford raised his head to look at his right arm right after the warden left and about a minute later appeared to speak to a guard to his right.

He then rested his head, closed his eyes and appeared to take several deep breaths before falling still within two or three minutes of the warden leaving the room.

Ledford told police he had gone to Johnston’s home on Jan. 31, 1992, to ask for a ride to the grocery store. After the older man accused him of stealing and smacked him, Ledford pulled out a knife and stabbed Johnston to death, according to court filings. The pathologist who did the autopsy said Johnston suffered “one continuous or two slices to the neck” and bled to death.

After dragging Johnston’s body to another part of John-ston’s property and covering it up, Ledford went to John-ston’s house with a knife and demanded money from John-ston’s wife, according to court filings. He took money and

four guns from the home, tied up Johnston’s wife and left in Johnston’s truck. He was arrested later that day.

Ledford told police he had a number of beers and smoked a couple joints in the hours before the killing.

Ledford’s lawyers had asked the parole board to spare him, citing a rough childhood, substance abuse from an early age and his intellectual dis-ability. After holding a hearing Monday, the board declined to grant clemency. Following its normal practice, the board did not give a reason for its denial.

Ledford’s lawyers also tried to get the courts to stop his execution. The challenges were appealed all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which rejected them shortly after 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Because of changes in brain chemistry caused by a drug Ledford has been taking for chronic nerve pain for more than a decade, there was a high risk that the pentobar-bital Georgia planned to use to execute him would not render him unconscious and devoid of sensation or feeling, his law-yers wrote in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday. That would violate the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment enshrined in the Eighth Amend-ment of the U.S. Constitution, the lawsuit said.

When challenging an execu-tion method on those grounds, a U.S. Supreme Court prec-edent requires inmates to pro-pose a known and available alternative. Ledford’s lawyers, therefore, proposed that he be executed by firing squad, a method that is not allowed under Georgia law.

Ledford’s lawyers also asked a state court judge to halt the execution because he was only 20 and his brain wasn’t done developing when he killed Johnston. Just as juvenile offenders are considered less culpable and not the “worst of the worst” for whom the death penalty is reserved, the execu-tion of those under 21 is also unconstitutional, Ledford’s lawyers argue.

Ledford was the first inmate executed this year in Georgia. The state executed nine inmates last year, more than any other state and the most Georgia had executed in a single calendar year since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the death penalty to resume 40 years ago.

Georgia carries out

first execution of the year

O se vaaiga i se tasi o tina ma lona alo o lo’o aotauina i le Dancing Fingers Music Center ua fiafia e fa’alogologo i le taumafaiga a si ana tama o Chloe Leiato i lea afiafi. [ata: Leua Aiono Frost]

Po Box PPB, Pago PagoAmerican Samoa 96799Phone No.: (684) 699-3057Fax No.: (684) [email protected] Management Office

AMERICAN SAMOA POWER AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR QUOTES (RFQ)RFQ NO: ASPA17.035.WW Closing Date & Time: May 31, 2017Issuance Date: May 12, 2017 No later than 2:00 p.m. local timeThe American Samoa Power Authority issues a Request for Quotes (RFQ) to invite qualified firms to submit quotes for the:

“Supply & Delivery of an Automated Screening System and Wash-Press for the Tafuna Waste Water Treatment Plant”

SubmissionAn original and one (1) PDF must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked: “RFQ #ASPA17.035.WTR Supply & Delivery of an Automated Screening System and Wash-Press for the Tafuna Waste Water Treatment Plant.” Submissions are to be sent to the following address and will be received until 2:00 p.m. (local time), Wednesday, May 31, 2017:

Materials Management Office American Samoa Power AuthorityPago Pago, American Samoa 96799 Attn: Ioana S. Uli, Procurement Manager

Any quotation received after the aforementioned date and time will not be accepted under any circumstances. Late submissions will not be opened or considered and will be determined as being non- responsive.DocumentThe he RFQ package outlining the quotation requirements is available at The Materials Management Office at ASPA’s Tafuna Compound and may also be obtained from our Website: http://www.aspower.com.Right of RejectionThe American Samoa Power Authority reserves the right to reject any and/or all quotations and to waive any irregularities and/or informalities in the submitted quotations that are not in the best interests of the American Samoa Power Authority or the public.Approved for Issuance: Utu Abe Malae, Executive Director


Homeland security and counterterrorism adviser Tom Bossert speaks about malware known as WannaCry, Monday, May 15, 2017, during the daily press briefing at the White House in Wash-ington. President Donald Trump’s homeland security adviser has a message to those blaming U.S. intelligence agencies for the cyberattack encircling the globe: Don’t point a finger at the National Security Agency. Blame the hackers. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

What we currently know about the global

cyberattack NEW YORK (AP) — The

danger from a global cyberat-tack that spread to some 150 nations continues to fade, and that’s only some of the good news.

After two security researchers greatly slowed down that attack , which effec-tively held people’s documents, photos and other digital files hostage, hard-hit organizations such as the U.K.’s National Health Service seem to be bouncing back. While it’s a crude measure of the impact, it also appears that relatively few of those affected were des-perate enough to actually pay the ransom demanded by the attackers.

On the other hand, the attack has served as a live demonstra-tion of a new type of global threat, one that could encourage future hackers.

Here’s what we currently

know about the ransomware known as WannaCry, which locked up digital photos, docu-ments and other files to hold them for ransom.

WHERE IT CAME FROMResearchers are still puz-

zling out how WannaCry got started. Figuring that out could yield important clues to the identity of its authors.

The malware spread rap-idly inside computer networks by taking advantage of vulner-abilities in mostly older ver-sions of Microsoft Windows. That weakness was purportedly identified and stockpiled for use by the U.S. National Security Agency; it was subsequently stolen and published on the internet.

But it remains unclear how WannaCry got onto computers in the first place. Experts said its rapid global spread suggests it did not rely on phishing, in

which fake emails tempt the unwary to click on infected documents or links. Analysts at the European Union cyberse-curity agency said the hackers likely scanned the internet for systems that were vulnerable to infection and exploited those computers remotely.

Once established, Wann-aCry encrypted computer files and displayed a message demanding $300 to $600 worth of the digital currency bitcoin to release them. Failure to pay would leave the data scrambled

and likely beyond repair unless users had unaffected backup copies.

RANSOM PAYMENTSInvestigators are closely

watching three bitcoin accounts associated with WannaCry, where its victims were directed to send ransom payments. The digital currency is anonymized, but it’s possible to track funds as they move from place to place until they end up with an identifiable person.

So far, there have been no withdrawals from those accounts.

Given the scope of the attack, relatively few people appear to have actually paid the ransom. According to a Twitter account that monitors those accounts , they’ve received only about 250 payments worth a total of slightly more than $72,000.

NORTH KOREASeveral sets of investiga-

tors have now reported ten-tative findings that suggest hackers linked to North Korea might have been involved with WannaCry. But they could all be drawing conclusions from a very small set of clues.

On Monday, the Russian security firm Kaspersky Lab said portions of the WannaCry program use the same code as malware previously distributed by the Lazarus Group, a hacker collective behind the 2014 Sony hack. Another security company, Symantec, related the same findings, which it characterized as intriguing but “weak” associations, since the code could have been copied from the Lazarus malware.

Two law enforcement offi-cials likewise said U.S. inves-tigators suspect North Korea based on code similarities; the officials called that finding pre-liminary. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on con-dition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.

But WannaCry remains a puzzle, in part because some of its elements seemed ama-teurish. Salim Neino, CEO of the Los Angeles-based security

firm Kryptos Logic, said the WannaCry worm was “poorly designed” — patched together and consisting of a “sum of dif-ferent parts” with an unsophis-ticated payment system.

Typical ransomware also generates a unique bitcoin account for each payment to make tracing difficult. That wasn’t done here.

DIGGING OUTOne of the organizations

hardest hit by WannaCry — the U.K.’s National Health Service — appears to be recovering. On Friday, many NHS hospitals had to turn away patients after WannaCry locked up com-puters, forcing the closure of wards and emergency rooms.

NHS Digital, the body that oversees cybersecurity in Brit-ain’s health system, said that as of now, it has “no evidence that patient data has been compro-mised.” The agency told hos-pitals to disconnect all infected computers, apply a Microsoft patch that closes the vulner-ability, then “roll back” the infected computers and restore them from backed-up files.

U.K. hospitals are supposed to back up data frequently and at multiple locations. It’s pos-sible that some data that wasn’t backed up could be lost.

SIGN OF HACKS TO COME

WannaCry could also serve as a kind of template for future cyberattacks.

Neino of Kryptos Logic, for instance, said the leak of the NSA hacking tools have significantly narrowed the gap between nations and individ-uals or cyber gangs.

“The concern has always been, when are the real bad guys, the ones that don’t care about rules of engagement, the ones who are really out to hurt us, will they become cyber-capable?” he said in an interview Monday night with The Associated Press. “I think today we found out that those who really want to hurt us have begun to, because they became cyber-capable the moment that the NSA cybertools were released.”


JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Legislature on Tuesday rejected the appoint-ment of Drew Phoenix, a transgender man, to serve on the state’s human rights commission.

The vote came near the end of an hours-long joint session called to consider Gov. Bill Walker’s nominees to boards, commissions and administra-tion posts. Phoenix was the only nominee to be voted down.

Leading up to the vote, some conservative groups sought to paint Phoenix, who has advo-cated for LGBT rights, as too political for the post.

Sen. John Coghill, a Repub-lican from North Pole, said there’s no problem with being an advocate “until you get on that commission and then what you want to do is you want to look at protecting all rights.”

Sen. Bill Wielechowski, an Anchorage Democrat who supported Phoenix’s nomina-tion, asked whether the state is willing to appoint people to boards and commissions who understand discrimination first-hand and will work to end it or if people want to live in a state intolerant of those different from the majority or who have different views.

In a phone interview Tuesday evening, Phoenix said he was “incredibly upset and disheart-ened” by the vote.

“I just find it so ironic that somebody like myself, with so much years’ experience person-ally and professional working on behalf of human rights, that they would not confirm me to the commission on human rights,” he said.

Phoenix said a state Senate committee that held confirma-tion hearings asked him ques-tions related to his work as a transgender man with the LGBT community and if, given the opportunity, he would work to advance issues of equality for the LGBT community through the commission. He said he replied that, if that’s what the commission seeks to do, he would.

He said one conservative group has framed the advance-ment of LBGT people as posing a threat to religious freedom. He said he is an ordained Christian minister and values religious freedom. Phoenix thanked Walker “for having faith in my qualifications.”

“I’m so sad I won’t be able to use my expertise and experience to advance the work of the com-mission,” Phoenix said.

NATIONAL PACIFIC INSURANCE LTDInvites written tenders for 1 only damaged 2017 HYUNDAI

TUCSON LIC# 031B on “as is, where is” basis. Viewing appointments can be scheduled with Accords Collision &

Towing Inc Shop in Tafuna on 699-1633.All Tenders sealed in envelope and addressed to:

Tender - 68223988Agnes Polu

Country ManagerNational Pacific Insurance Ltd

P O Box 1386Utulei, Centennial Building

Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799Highest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted.

Tender closes at 4pm on Friday, May 26th, 2017For any further details please contact Maria.

Phone: 633-4266

“Working with the Community”TEL: 633-4266 OR 699-1267 • FAX: 633-2964 OR 699-1263

Alaska Lawmakers deny transgender for

human rights post

BANDA ACEH, Indo-nesia (AP) — A Shariah court in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province has sentenced two gay men to public caning for the first time, further tar-nishing the country’s moderate image after a top Christian politician was imprisoned for blasphemy.

The court on Wednesday said the men, aged 20 and 23, would each be subjected to 85 lashes for having sexual rela-tions. One of the men cried as his sentence was read out and pleaded for leniency. The chief prosecutor, Gulmaini, who goes by one name, said they will be caned next week, before Ramadan starts on about May 25.

The couple was arrested in late March after neighbor-hood vigilantes in the provin-cial capital Banda Aceh sus-pected them of being gay and broke into their rented room to catch them having sex. Mobile phone footage that circulated online and formed part of the evidence shows one of the men naked and visibly distressed as he apparently calls for help on his cellphone. The second man is repeatedly pushed by another man who is preventing

the couple from leaving the room.

International human rights groups have described the treatment of the men as abu-sive and humiliating and called for their immediate release. Human Rights Watch said in April that public caning would constitute torture under inter-national law.

Prosecutors had asked that they receive 80 lashes.

The lead judge, Khairil Jamal, said the men were “legally and convincingly proven to have committed gay sex.”

He said the three-judge panel decided against imposing the maximum sentence of 100 lashes because the men were polite in court, cooperated with authorities and had no previous convictions.

“As Muslims, the defen-dants should uphold the Sha-riah law that prevails in Aceh,” Jamal said.

Indonesia’s reputation for practicing a moderate form of Islam has been battered in the past year due to attacks on religious minorities, a surge in persecution of gays and a polarizing election campaign for governor of the capital

Jakarta that highlighted the growing strength of hard-line Islamic groups.

Earlier this month, the outgoing Jakarta governor, a minority Christian, was sen-tenced to two years in prison for campaign comments deemed as blaspheming the Quran. The judges also imposed a tougher sentence than sought by pros-ecutors who had ultimately downgraded the charge from blasphemy and asked for just two years of probation.

Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia allowed to practice Shariah law, which was a concession made by the national govern-ment in 2006 to end a war with separatists, but other some other areas have introduced Shariah-style bylaws.

Aceh implemented an expanded Islamic criminal code two years ago that allows up to 100 lashes for morality offenses including gay sex.

Caning is also a punish-ment for adultery, gambling, drinking alcohol, women who wear tight clothes and men who skip Friday prayers. More than 300 people were caned for such offenses last year.

Shariah court in Indonesia sentences gay couple to caning

Police officer escorts two men accused of having gay sex into a holding cell to wait for the start of their trial at Shariah court in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. A Shariah court in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province has sentenced two gay men to public caning for the first time, further tarnishing the country’s moderate image after a top Christian politician was imprisoned for blasphemy. (AP Photo/Heri Juanda)

FAIRNESSWe make an issue

of it every day.If you want to commentabout our fairness, call

Lewis at 633-5599.

FAIRNESSWe make an issue

of it every day.If you want to commentabout our fairness, call

Lewis at 633-5599.We’re here for you! 633-5599


C M

Y K

C M

Y K

O se va’aiga i le vasega o fanau ua feololo le latou taumafai i le aoga musika a le Dancing Fingers ma e matua matagofie fo’i le tu’ufa’atasiga uma o latou taleni i pese sa latou taquina fa’atasi i le latou Koneseti i le afiafi aso Tofi ua te’a, May 11, 2017, i Calvary Chapel, Lepuapua. [ata: Leua Aiono Frost]

pago pago, american samoa wednesday … section wed 05-17-17.pdftaina le pese “liebestraum...

Documents