Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has launched a verbal attack on “lawyers.”

Speaking in Parliament, he accused them of “lies posted on Facebook” designed to mislead members of the public.

Tuilaepa did not name anyone or a group of lawyers. 

But he was clearly unhappy about what the government believes is the abuse of social media to attack senior government leaders. 

“If you continue to lie, lie, lie to the public on Facebook, eventually people will believe it,” Tuilaepa said. 

“Even one who is well educated will fall for these lies.”

Tuilaepa made the comments when Parliament was deliberating the Supplementary budget this week.

While Tuilaepa did not name anyone, social media blogger, Ole Palemia, has been extremely critical of Prime Minister Tuilaepa, some of his Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials. 

Tuilaepa said he believes he knows who is behind the blogs and posts.

 “That is what they are doing, they are lying,” he said. “Yet they are well educated and they are lawyers, I know all of them. 

“What I am worried about is their safety. We all have families, including those who are off in the head and they are the ones who are after these people who continue to defame us. 

“It will not end well if they are caught. 

“And that is why I am protecting them although it is very demeaning what they are saying.”

Tuilaepa added that it is also why the Government needs to explain its work and how it is going about developing the country.

It’s to avoid people being misled by such bloggers.

Tuilaepa also pointed to the book “Mein Kampf” written by Nazi Party leader, Adolf Hitler, which Tuilaepa says it indicates “when you put effort in lying to someone, you continuously lie until they believe the lies. That is the psychology behind this whole thing”. 

 He said the posts on Facebook were lies and that was Hitler’s philosophy. 

“Even the smartest people believed Hitler, the German scientists eventually believed Hitler.

“The philosophy of ‘Mein Kampf’ as well as Hitler, is how to make people believe you, even a very stupid lie, they will believe you, if you keep on repeating and repeating.”

Tuilaepa also said good governance, transparency and accountability were essential tools in any democracy. 

It’s a principle his Government adheres to.

According to the Prime Minister, as part of this, consultations are held to get feedback from the community before making any decisions. 

“Such as land leases,” he said. “Consultations were held for a lengthy period of time and were led by the late Reverend Oka Fauolo, a wise man.”

Tuilaepa assured that Samoans have absolutely nothing to worry about as their customary land is secured. 

“Again when the lease is finished, the land will return to its sole owner,” explained Tuilaepa.

Parliament resumes on Monday.