Savea Sano Malifa
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Savea Sano Malifa (also known as Fata Sano Malifa) is a Samoan Poet, Journalist Newspaper Editor and Publisher. The author of Alms for Oblivion. Savea was awarded the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Pacific Freedom of Information award for defence of the right of the Samoan people to freedom of information and expression. In 1998, he received the Commonwealth Press Union's Astor Award and INDEX on Censorship Press Freedom Award.
Savea an outspoken critic of former Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana and his government lost a civil claim over a story alleging the use of public funds to upgrade a hotel owned by Tofilau's children for a visit by Prince Edward of Britain. The Samoa Observer was ordered to pay, $WS 75 000 court costs to Tofilau as well $50 000 damages for defamation.
In 1994 the printing plant of his paper The Samoa Observer burned down under suspicious circumstances during the Prime Ministership of Tofilau Eti Alesana. It was later revealed during the investigation of the assassination of Minister of Works Luagalau Levaula Kamu that Minister of Women's Affairs Leafa Vitale a former Minister of Works had arranged the burning of the printing plant.
Prior to the burning of the printing plant the paper had run a story naming Leafa linking him to a scandal involving the sale of cattle after which the then Minister of Works had threatened to kill Savea and his family. He was also assaulted by Minister's brothers.
References: International Press Institute http://www.freemedia.at/IPIReport/Heroes_IPIReport2.00/31Sano.htm Pacific Media Watch http://www.pmw.c2o.org/docs98/samoa1780.html
Fiji Daily Post, 3rd November 1998 http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/news/malifa.html
http://www.pmw.c2o.org/docs/sep01sam.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/intl/article/0,9171,1107000424-44318-1,00.html
Police Report of Interrogation of Eletise Leafa Vitale
