Samoa Observer has declined to concede to the demands of a Hong Kong-based law firm acting for Oceania Blockchain Special Economic Zone Limited.

On 20 March 2025, Boase Cohen and Collins wrote to the Editorial Board claiming three articles based on views and assessments provided by the Central Bank of Samoa, the International Monetary Fund and the Government of Australia’s Department and Foreign Affairs and Trade were inaccurate, unfounded and or defamatory.

Oceania Blockchain Special Economic Zone Limited is a locally listed company with its address listed as Fono Faavae Office, Gagaemauga No.3, Samoa. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour in its Companies Register stated that the company was previously known as Plantation Construction and Development Company Limited. It is stated that it is a private company registered on 10 July 2017 and its business activity is listed as financial and insurance activities such as financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding.

The law firm demanded that Samoa Observer permanently remove the news from its website, refrain from producing such further articles against their clients, undertake not to repeat such allegations, apologise to their clients while paying them compensation and pay all their legal costs.

The Editorial Board also sought legal advice on the matter further to their initial stand on the matter that the articles were not defamatory.

The articles concerned are ‘Warning:  CBS against Special Economic Zone', an editorial titled 'A deal that is too good to be true', and the third article titled 'Sasina Economic Zone very risky:  IMF'.

“None of the articles defame Oceania Blockchain Special Economic Zone Limited and present the views of the authorities,” said the Editorial Board.

“In the editorial titled, 'A deal that is too good to be true', it consisted of an expression of opinion which was fair comment on a matter of public importance, and not actuated by malice but based on facts from the CBS report that the Observer received and believed was true and accurate.

“In the third article titled 'Sasina Economic Zone very risky:  IMF', the statements complained of are prefaced by reference to the IMF report and its assessment of the proposal, the risks associated with it, its objective and intended plans for Samoa.”

The Editorial Board stands by those articles and declines the demands of the law firm. The articles do not make any direct reference to the Oceania Blockchain apart from the fact the company was part of the proposal.

The two news articles and the editorial highlight the danger of such a proposal without proper legislation to safeguard the nation.