Samoa’s Prime Minister
La’aulialemalietoa (La’aiuli) Leuatea Schmidt has apologised
for a historical video in which he used the term “Heil
Hitler”.
“I have been made aware of historical video
footage reported in the media relating to a private family
gathering in Savai’i in 2007,” La’auli said in a statement
on Monday.
“The footage shows me using the words ‘Heil
Hitler’ and participating in a gesture associated with Nazi
Germany in a private family gathering – not intended for the
public.
“Whatever the context or intention at that
gathering twenty years ago, I recognise that those words and
gesture were inappropriate and capable of causing offence
and hurt and I apologise for using them.”
The prime
minister’s apology comes following a report
by the Samoa Observer on Sunday.
The newspaper
reported that in “previously unseen footage”, recorded when
La’auli was the deputy speaker of parliament, he uttered the
words: “Raise your right hand, Heil Hitler!”
RNZ
Pacific has independently verified the footage through its
correspondent in Apia.
In the clip, Laauli leads a
crowd of around 13 people visible in the footage in raising
their right hands and saying, “Heil Hitler!”
“I reject
Nazism, antisemitism, racism and all forms of political
extremism,” La’auli said in this statement.
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“They do
not reflect my personal beliefs, nor the values of the
Government or people of Samoa as in the public record of
statements I made since becoming Prime Minister.”
He
said Samoa is a constitutional democracy founded upon
respect for human dignity, the rule of law, its traditional
institutions and freedom of expression.
“My government
remains committed to those principles.”
La’auli said
he considers the matter is addressed.
“Our country
faces important economic and social challenges. My
responsibility as Prime Minister is to continue the work
already laid out to strengthen our economy, creating
opportunities for our people and serving all of
Samoa.”
Meanwhile, the Samoa Observer is
currently banned from all government press conferences. The
news outlet is also
banned from covering or taking taking photos of
La’auli.
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