RHD Protesters Wear White, No Anti-Govt. Placards or Banners Allowed

Written by Pio Sioa
Wednesday, 05 December 2007
Committee Chairman , Lawyer Toleafoa Solomona To'ailoa The “People Against Switching Sides” protest committee, has set the ground rules for the thousands who are expected to march on Parliament on the 17th December. The Committee Chairman, lawyer Toleafoa Solomona To’ailoa, announced today that all who will take part are to wear white on top, and no anti-Government banners or placards are allowed. Buses travelling into town from the rural villages on the day, are urged to pick up only the people who will be wearing the colours of the march. Others not wearing white will be asked to look for transport elsewhere. All buses and taxi owners are also asked to park their vehicles once they have dropped the marchers off, and return to service only after the march is over. The protesters will assemble in front of the Government building in the centre of town, in time for the planned 8.30am march. The marchers will hand deliver a signed petition to Parliament when it is called into session at 9.00am in the morning. The committee is also arranging for special booths around Apia and in the bigger island of Savaii for people to personal sign their names and the villages they come from on petition forms. The committee set the ground rules during their first meeting on Tuesday night, following the public forum last Friday where members were appointed and mandated to plan the march. Chairman Toleafoa in a media conference today emphasized strongly that the march is a non political one. “We want to make it very clear that we are protesting against plans by the Government, for people to drive on the left side of the road by the 1st of July 2008,” he says. “We are not there to call for a new Government, or change the Prime Minister or remove the Human Rights Protection Party, we are simply there to show that we do not support the changing of the side of the road we drive on.” Toleafoa also made the position of the protest clear that it is not about bringing in right hand cars, but about switching to the ‘wrong side’ of the road. “Government brought in right hand cars before and no one protested, it is only now when they have decided to switch to driving on the left hand side of the road that people are against.” He underlined as well the statement by the Prime Minister, supporting the rights of the people to march as a democratic freedom they are free to exercise if they want. “The RHD protest cannot be compared to the VAGST march, because there were many who supported the new tax system, especially the tax paying workers. There were counter measures as well like reduction in income taxes to off set the VAGST system.” Toleafoa argued that the Government road switch policy does not carry any counter measures. “ All the Prime Minister has said is that by 1st of July 2008, we will all drive on the left hand side of the road.” Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 December 2007 )

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