Human Rights Protection Party will mark what they describe as the "darkest day in Samoa" on Friday evening after the by-elections for three constituencies previously held by members of their party. 

This was confirmed by the Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi during his weekly press conference on Thursday afternoon. 

A special service will be held at the party's headquarters at Petesa on Friday evening to mark two years since members of the party who won the 2021 General Election were denied entry into the Legislative Assembly's precinct in September 2021. 

The "darkest day" according to Tuilaepa is a reminder to the younger generation, especially the Opposition party's faithful of how they were treated by the current administration on 14–15 September 2021. 

 On that day, H.R.P.P. Members of Parliament claimed that they were illegally locked outside the chamber with members of the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party inside. 

"People in Samoa and all around the world all saw what happened,” Tuilaepa said.  “The Parliament House was fully barricaded by our Police force, who were ordered to make sure that we do not enter Parliament, even to the extent where we were threatened that we could be arrested right there and then if we did not leave. 

"They refused to have us sworn in as elected Members of Parliament hence why we sought help from the judiciary. It's a reminder of the cruelty and how those in power abused their authority to deny us from entering parliament."

Tuilaepa also explained the significance of the service and commemoration of these particular political events. 

"We are also grateful that despite the unfortunate experience we had to endure, God's love and comfort were upon us all. Not only for members of our party but all our supporters who turned up to support us and have been praying for us. 

"We tried to maintain the peace and remain calm for the sake of our supporters and Samoa so the mantra behind commemorating these events is to remind our children to refrain from repeating these same mistakes again in the future. 

"We don't want this to happen in the future because these demonic activities do not reflect democratic practices. That is why we will not get tired of telling these stories even if we have to tell is a hundred times. 

"We want to make sure that our children know of what happened and to refrain from repeating the same mistakes again."

The service will begin at 5 pm on Friday and Tuilaepa has extended an invitation to anyone who wishes to join them at Petesa to mark the "darkest day" in Samoa.