Samoan Unrest

04/28/08

Even peaceful Samoa has its problems. A party with 80% of the votes controls the democratically elected parliament. It recently passed a law to change driving from the right hand side of the road to the left. Most of the vehicles are US style left hand drive, with a mix of right hand drive vehicles. The switch benefits the importation of vehicles from New Zealand and Australia where most Samoans have relatives anxious to ship their used vehicles to Samoa.

Before the final vote there were several large demonstrations in Apia against the switch. Bumper stickers opposing the switch appeared on taxis and other cars. People cited a loss of the democratic process of their democratically elected officials. Samoa only recently enacted a democratically elected style government.

Another problem in paradise was the recent street fight in Apia between to high schools after a rugby game, one Catholic, and the other public. Molotov cocktails were thrown, one girl being badly burned. The only movie theater was severely damaged in the ruckus. Details are hard to know, except there is a lot of praying for guidance.