Residents, families and generations of families before them who have resided on Leauva'a and neighbouring lands for over 100 years are now being forced to evict their beloved homes. For these residents, it is the only place they have ever lived, known, cherished and maintained their whole lives and the land dispute has now intensified tensions between residents of Leauva'a, Levi and Lotoso'a and their neighbouring village, Afega who are seeking the eviction orders.

According to a leading Samoa news media publication TALAMUA , Maulolo Tavita Amosa, an MP for HRPP who is leading the Afega side, said in a recent Land and Courts hearing in December, that Afega won the 1963 land dispute case between Afega and Tuanai on these lands and only recently they decided to activate the 1963 decision and started work on the lands only to be met by a strong rejection from the people of Levi. 

A week prior to this December eviction hearing, Afega won a court decision against the application to stop the development of disputed land at Levi and Alamutu. 

As Heartbroken families of Leauva'a come to terms with the possible eviction orders and separation from the lands that they, their parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents have lived on and had looked after for over a century, disappointment and anger are also surfacing as they prepare to appeal and fight against greed, commercialism, ownership and the overall accountability for their predicament, while questioning the moral compass and the lack of traditional values and Samoan Fa'aaloalo that is being demonstrated before them.

The history of these lands date back to 1905 and 1911, when the Matavanu volcano in Savai'i erupted destroying large lands and villages including Satapatu, Malaeola, Salago, Toapaipai, Lealatele and Saleaula. Most villages were shifted inland. However Lealatele and Saleaula were relocated by the German Colonial Administration and settled in Upolu. Families from Lealatele settled in Leauva'a and families from Saleaula resided at Salamumu.

Residents of Leauva'a believe the Samoa Government need to intervene to help find a solution to what is essentially the result of historic decisions and Colonial Administrations that are long gone. It is unfair to displace descendants of Leauva'a who exist now because of their forefathers that had been displaced before them over a century ago. Residents of these Leauva'a lands are urging the Samoa Government to provide a firm solution to a situation and a decision that occurred over 100 years ago. Leauva'a also seeks an empathetic and compassionate court response particularly considering that the original displacement of the Lealatele/Leauva'a people in the early 1900's are a poignant and important part of Samoa history. Leauva'a seeks a realistic outcome that is of mutual benefit to all parties that aligns with respectful Samoan cultural values.

The Land and Titles Courts have postponed the date of Leauvaa's appeal for Afega to stop works for the time being until a decision is delivered. We are aiming for as many signatures as possible which the Leauva'a team can present to the Court appeal in the hope it will strengthen Leauvaa's case. 

Photo Credit: Talamua Media