Banned Samoan matai form their own village council
Fifteen Samoan matais and their families who were banished last week have formed their own village council.
They were penalised because they did not support the village high chief who was defeated in the election.
One banished orator, Ga Sakaria, says several other matais from his village of Satapuala have supported their move by
joining the new council.
He says the decision by the high chief to ban them has caused grave concerns amongst people.
The matai says the high chief and his supporters have no power to remove them from their own lands.
But high chief To’alepaialii Si’ueva says he will take legal action against the new authority.
He is seeking a court order to dissolve the new council.