Death and state funeral of Malietoa Tanumafili II

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Death and state funeral of Malietoa Tanumafili II
State Funeral for the Head of State of Samoa.jpg
Malietoa Tanumafili's coffin lying in state outside parliament
Date
  • 11 May 2007 (2007-05-11), 18:45 (SST) (death)
  • 18 May 2007 (2007-05-18)(state funeral)
Location

Malietoa Tanumafili II, the O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) of Samoa and paramount chief of the Malietoa lineage, died on 11 May 2007 in Apia at the age of 94. At the time of his death, he was the oldest incumbent state leader and head of state for over 45 years, having been appointed for life to the post when Samoa gained independence in 1962. [1] His state funeral was held on 18 May and was attended by a significant amount of domestic and regional dignitaries.

Contents

Death

Malietoa died at 18:45 on 11 May 2007 (local time), at the Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole National Hospital in Motoʻotua, Apia, where he had been hospitalised for pneumonia. [2] Sources said that his death was a result of "chest complications". [3] During his final illness, Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi visited Malietoa's relatives at the hospital, where a church service had been conducted. [3]

His death was announced on state broadcaster SBC TV1 by Secretary of State Vaʻasatia Poloma Komiti, who added that Tuilaʻepa would address the nation later in the day. [4] Malietoa was survived by two sons and two daughters. [4]

In addition to being the oldest state leader, he was also the world's longest serving incumbent head of state after King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Elizabeth II, and the longest serving non-monarchical state leader (a distinction which passed to Gabonese president Omar Bongo). [5] His death was the last of a series of high-ranking dignitaries in the region within the preceding years, following those of Fijian former leader Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Māori Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu, Tongan monarch Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, and the king of the French chiefdom of Uvea, Tomasi Kulimoetoke II. [6] [7]

State mourning

Samoa entered a state of official mourning from the time of the Malietoa's death until his state funeral, during which all Samoan flags were lowered to half-mast. [8] Many Samoans wore white and black as a sign of respect for the Malietoa, in accordance with tradition. The government encouraged traditional Samoan dress for the funeral, specifically "a black lavalava or sulu and a white top with traditional elei patterns." Samoans were also asked to include the teuila flower, the national flower of Samoa, with their mourning attire. [9]

State funeral

Malietoa's remains were taken from a private funeral home to his residence at Faʻatoʻialemanu on 16 May, which marked the beginning of his funeral proceedings. Members of his family attended a special private service that night. [10] His coffin was then moved to the grounds of the Legislative Assembly building in Mulinuʻu, near Apia, to lie in state on 17 May. [11]

The state funeral was held on 18 May in Mulinuʻu, in the form of an interdenominational service which combined foreign and Samoan cultural protocol. [4] [8] [12] It included eulogies by Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa and Malietoa's son. [11] [13] Following the ceremony, the coffin was taken by a police national guard for burial at his family's mausoleum. [11] [13] The date of the funeral was declared a national holiday. [14]

The New Zealand delegation at the funeral was led by Governor-General Anand Satyanand, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Māori King Tūheitia Paki. [13] Other foreign guests included King George Tupou V of Tonga, Governor-General of Australia Michael Jeffery, American Samoan Governor Togiola Tulafono, and officials from Fiji, Tuvalu, Niue, Japan, China and French Polynesia. [1] [15] The United States was represented by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs, Papaliʻi David Cohen, whose matai title was conferred by Malietoa. [16]

Succession

Malietoa's death created a vacancy in the headship of state. The Council of Deputies performed the functions of head of state in the interim, pending a new election to determine a permanent successor. On 17 May, the speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Tolo Fua Falemoe, announced that nomination forms had been sent to its members with a deadline of thirty-five days from notification. Two candidates who were seen as likely to succeed Malietoa were fellow paramount chiefs Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II, both at the time members of the Council of Deputies. [6] On 16 June, Tui Ātua, the sole nominee, was unanimously elected by the Legislative Assembly. [17]

Following an extended period of deliberation, the Malietoa title passed to his eldest surviving son, Malietoa Faʻamausili Molī, having formally being decided by a court ruling in 2017. [18] The title was formally bestowed upon him during a ceremony in August 2018. [19]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samoa</span> Polynesian island country

Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, consisting of two main islands ; two smaller, inhabited islands ; and several smaller, uninhabited islands, including the Aleipata Islands. Samoa is located 64 km (40 mi) west of American Samoa, 889 km (552 mi) northeast of Tonga, 1,152 km (716 mi) northeast of Fiji, 483 km (300 mi) east of Wallis and Futuna, 1,151 km (715 mi) southeast of Tuvalu, 519 km (322 mi) south of Tokelau, 4,190 km (2,600 mi) southwest of Hawaii, and 610 km (380 mi) northwest of Niue. The capital and largest city is Apia. The Lapita people discovered and settled the Samoan Islands around 3,500 years ago. They developed a Samoan language and Samoan cultural identity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Samoa</span>

The Samoan Islands were first settled some 3,500 years ago as part of the Austronesian expansion. Both Samoa's early history and its more recent history are strongly connected to the histories of Tonga and Fiji, nearby islands with which Samoa has long had genealogical links as well as shared cultural traditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Samoa</span>

Politics of Samoa takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic state whereby the Prime Minister of Samoa is the head of government. Existing alongside the country's Western-styled political system is the faʻamatai chiefly system of socio-political governance and organisation, central to understanding Samoa's political system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malietoa Tanumafili II</span> O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa from 1962 to 2007

Malietoa Tanumafili II was a Samoan paramount chief who was O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa from its independence in 1962 until his death in 2007. He was appointed to the high title of Malietoa in 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi</span> Prime Minister of Samoa from 1998 to 2021

SusugaTuilaʻepa Lupesoliai Neioti Aiono Saʻilele Malielegaoi is a Samoan politician and economist who served as the sixth prime minister of Samoa from 1998 to 2021. Tuilaʻepa is Samoa's longest serving prime minister and was leader of the opposition from 2021 to 2022. Since 1998, he has led the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). Tuilaʻepa first entered parliament in 1981 when he won a by-election to represent the electorate of Lepā. He also served as deputy prime minister and minister of finance in the government of Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana, and also held the portfolios of Tourism and Trade, Commerce & Industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole</span> Samoan politician

Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole was a Western Samoan paramount chief. He held the royal title of Tupua Tamasese from 1929 to 1963, and O le Ao o le Malo jointly with Malietoa Tanumafili II from 1962 until his death the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi</span> Former O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa, 3rd Prime Minister of Samoa

Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi is a Samoan political leader and paramount chief, as holder of the maximal lineage Tupua Tamasese title. He also holds the royal pāpā title of Tui Ātua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malietoa Laupepa</span> Malietoa

Susuga Malietoa Laupepa was the ruler (Malietoa) of Samoa in the late 19th century. He was first crowned in 1875.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prime Minister of Samoa</span> Head of government of the Independent State of Samoa

The prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa is the head of government of Samoa. The prime minister is a member of the Legislative Assembly, and is appointed by the O le Ao o le Malo for a five-year term. Since independence in 1962, a total of seven individuals have served as prime minister. The incumbent was disputed due to the 2021 constitutional crisis, when Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi refused to accept the results of the 2021 general election. On 23 July 2021, the Samoan Court of Appeal ruled that the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party had been in government since 24 May. Tuila'epa then conceded defeat, resulting in FAST party leader Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa becoming prime minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malietoa Tanumafili I</span> Malietoa

Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili I was the Malietoa in Samoa from 1898 until his death in 1939. After the death of his father, Malietoa Laupepa, who was recognized as king of Samoa by many Western countries, Tanumafili was immediately crowned, with Tupua Tamasese Lealofi I serving as vice-king. Tanumafili was backed by the United States and United Kingdom, however Germany supported rebel chief Mata‘afa Iosefo who was eyeing the throne. The battle between the two made up the Second Samoan Civil War and in the end caused the Tripartite Convention that split the islands. After the war, Malietoa pursued education in Fiji and then came back to Samoa, where he was appointed as an advisor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malietoa</span> One of Samoas four paramount chiefs

Mālietoa is a state dynasty and one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa. It is the titular head of one of the two great royal families of Samoa: Sā Malietoa. Literally translated as "great warrior", the title's origin comes from the final words of the Tongan warriors as they were fleeing on the beach to their boats, "Malie To`a, Malo e tau...".

<i>O le Ao o le Malo</i> Head of state of the Independent State of Samoa

The O le Ao o le Malo is the ceremonial head of state of Samoa. The position is described in Part III of the 1960 Samoan constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mulinuʻu</span>

Mulinuʻu is a small village situated on a tiny peninsula on Upolu island in Samoa. It became the site of the colonial administration in Samoa in the 1870s and continues to be the site for the Parliament of Samoa. It is located on the central north coast of the island and is part of the urban area comprising Apia, the country's capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Samoan general election</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Samoan o le Ao o le Malo election</span> Election of the head of state of Samoa

An indirect election was held in Samoa to elect the O le Ao o le Malo on 16 June 2007 after the death of the country's head of state for four and a half decades, Malietoa Tanumafili II, in May 2007. Former Prime Minister Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi was elected unopposed by the 49-member strong parliament. This election was the first to occur for an O le Ao o le Malo since Samoa gained independence in 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baháʼí Faith in the Samoas</span>

The Baháʼí Faith in Samoa and American Samoa begins with the then head of the religion, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, mentioning the islands in 1916. This inspired Baháʼís on their way to Australia in 1920 to stop in Samoa. Thirty four years later another Baháʼí from Australia pioneered to Samoa in 1954. With the first converts the first Baháʼí Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1961, and the Baháʼí National Spiritual Assembly was first elected in 1970. Following the conversion of Malietoa Tanumafili II, Samoa's then-head of state, the first Baháʼí House of Worship in the Pacific region was completed in 1984 and the Baháʼí community reached a population of over 3,000 by the year 2000.

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References

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  2. 1 2 Sagapolutele, Fili (12 May 2007). "Samoan Head of State Passes Away". Pacific Magazine . Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  3. 1 2 "Dark day for Samoa". Samoa Observer. 12 May 2007. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jackson, Cherelle (13 May 2007). "Samoa's Head of State Malietoa dies aged 95". The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Samoa's king, one of world's longest reigning monarchs, dies". International Herald Tribune . Associated Press. 12 May 2007. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
  6. 1 2 McCammon, Belinda (20 May 2007). "NZ will work with whoever Samoa elects – Clark". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  7. ↑ "King of Wallis dies aged 88". Radio New Zealand International. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Flags in Samoa at half mast, mourning death of head of state Malietoa Tanumafili". Radio New Zealand International. 14 May 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "Thousands expected to pay respect and honour to former Samoa Head of State". Radio New Zealand International. 15 May 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  10. ↑ "Friends and family of Samoa's late Head of State gather in Apia". Radio New Zealand International. 16 May 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  11. 1 2 3 "Samoan leader laid to rest". The New Zealand Herald . NZPA. 19 May 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  12. ↑ "Thousands farewell Samoan leader". ABC News. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 "Photos: 60-strong NZ party at funeral of Malietoa". NZ Herald. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Tributes from Pacific leaders follow death of Samoa's Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II". Radio New Zealand International. 14 May 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  15. ↑ "Thousands turn out for state funeral for Malietoa Tanumafili II". Radio New Zealand International. 19 May 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  16. ↑ "High level delegations to attend funeral of Samoa Head of State". Radio New Zealand International. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  17. ↑ Sagapolutele, Fili (18 June 2007). "Samoa Head of State Announced". Pacific Magazine . Archived from the original on 14 June 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  18. ↑ "Court rules in favour of Fa'amausili Moli as the next Malietoa". Samoa Observer. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  19. ↑ "Malietoa paramount title bestowed in Samoa". Radio New Zealand International. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  20. ↑ "President Mori sends condolences to Samoa (Government of FSM Press Release)". Government of the Federated States of Micronesia . 22 May 2007. Archived from the original on 25 September 2007. Retrieved 24 May 2007.
  21. ↑ "Samoa mourns King's death". ABC News. 12 May 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  22. ↑ "Samoa: Death of Malietoa Tanumafili II". 2001-2009.state.gov. United States Department of State. 14 May 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  23. ↑ "Assemblée générale - Soixante et unième session - 96e séance plénière - Mercredi 16 mai 2007, à 15 heures - New York" (PDF) (in French). United Nations Digital Library. 16 May 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
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