Censorship in Samoa

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The United States Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Samoa states that:

The law provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and the government generally respected these rights in practice and did not restrict academic freedom or the Internet. In general the independent media were active and expressed a wide variety of views without restriction. The law stipulates imprisonment for any journalist who refuses to reveal a confidential source despite the issuance of a court order upon request from any member of the public at large. However, there has been no court case invoking this law. [1]

In May 2006, the film The Da Vinci Code was banned from local television stations in Samoa, as well as the country's only cinema. The government censorship office also prohibited the sale or rental of future VHS and DVD versions of the film. The primary objections to the film's content came from leaders of the Samoa Council of Churches, who attended a pre-screening. Alapati Lui Mataeliga, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Apia, said that The Da Vinci Code would "affect the belief of young people whose faith was not strong." The owner of the cinema, local businessman Maposua Rudolf Keil, opposed the ban as an infringement of the right to free expression. [2] Samoan society is, in the words of the British Broadcasting Corporation, "deeply conservative and devoutly Christian". [3]

In late March 2009, Samoa's Censorship Board banned the film Milk , a biography of American gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, from being distributed in the country. Principal Censor Leiataua Niuapu Faaui, asked by the New Zealand Herald about the reason for the ban, said he could not comment. [4] Samoan human rights activist Ken Moala commented:

I do not think it should be banned. It is basically a documentary about the human endeavour to conquer something that people tend to discriminate against. It's really harmless, I don't know how it would affect Samoan lifestyle. It is totally different and not applicable to here, it is pretty tame really. [4]

On April 17, the Pacific Freedom Forum issued a press release stating: "Samoa is the only nation worldwide where censors have specifically banned the multi-academy award winning film, which means those in Samoa will only see the pirated version or overseas-purchased copies smuggled into the country." [5] Papua New Guinean Susuve Laumaea, the Forum's chair, added: "The Pacific Freedom Forum calls on the Samoan film censors to fully and transparently explain themselves to the Samoan people, and re-consider its decision on banning 'Milk'." American Samoan Monica Miller, the Forum's co-chair, stated: "Given the acclaim this film has received worldwide, and given the silence on exactly why it has been banned in Samoa, observers are left to wonder at the censorship standards being applied in a country where fa’afafine have a well established and respected role." [5] Fa'afafine are biologically men raised to assume female gender roles, making them a third gender well accepted in Samoan society.

In August 2009 media reports indicated that four films were newly banned, including National Lampoon's Van Wilder: Freshman Year and The Cell 2 . [6]

In 2019 the country's Censorship Board banned the film Rocketman , about Elton John, from being shown in cinema, describing it as depicting "acts that are not good for public viewing and against the law". [7]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faʻafafine</span> Third gender in Samoan culture

Faʻafafine are natal males who align with a third gender or gender role in Samoa. Fa'afafine are not assigned the role at birth, nor raised as girls due of a lack of daughters, as is often claimed in western media. Rather, their femininity emerges in early childhood, and Samoans recognize them as distinct from typical boys.

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Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people in American Samoa face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity became legal in the territory in 1980, but same-sex couples may not marry. Same-sex couples married legally in other jurisdictions are recognized and must be treated equally under US federal law since 13 December 2022. American Samoa remains the only part of the United States along with select Native American tribal jurisdictions to enforce a ban on same-sex couples marrying.

Same-sex marriage is not currently performed in American Samoa, though same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions are recognized. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry. The ruling legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in the United States; however, it is uncertain how the ruling applies to American Samoa as the territory is unincorporated and unorganized. In July 2015, Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga said he believed that the Supreme Court's ruling does not apply to American Samoa.

Maposua Rudolf Keil was a Samoan businessman and owner of the Radio Polynesia 98FM radio station. In 1997 it was one of the only radio stations in Western Samoa that were independently owned. He is also the owner of the Majik Cinema in Apia, and in 2007 along with fellow promoters, the Hon Peter Paul, the Hon Sala Ulugia Suivai and the Hon Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, was one of 10 recipients of the Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing Honorary Awards. In 2003 he received a recommendation from Samoa's Ministry of health for his "Significant contribution by broadcasting the proceedings of the symposium free of charge".

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Samoa</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Samoa face legal challenges not faced by non-LGBT residents. Sexual contact between men is illegal; punishable by up to seven years imprisonment, but the law is not enforced.

Dan Taulapapa McMullin is an American Samoan artist, known for their poetry, visual art and film. Their major themes are their indigenous Samoan heritage and their fa'afafine gender identity. McMullin has been creating literary and artistic works for over 35 years, and has received numerous awards, fellowships, and grants. They work in a variety of literary styles and visual art modes. In their adult life, they have spent time in Los Angeles, and now live with their partner in Laguna, California, and Hudson, New York.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samoa Faʻafafine Association</span> Human rights organisation

Samoa Faʻafafine Association (SFA) is an organisation based in Samoa, which provides support for LGBTQ+ communities. It organises the annual Miss Faʻafafine pageant, provides sexual health educational programming and advocates for the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Samoa, in particular its faʻafafine communities.

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References

  1. United States Department of State
  2. "Samoa's government censor bans Da Vinci Code film". Radio New Zealand International . May 21, 2006. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
  3. "Country profile: Samoa", BBC, February 29, 2009
  4. 1 2 Jackson, Cherelle (April 9, 2009). "Samoa bans gay rights movie 'Milk'". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved September 23, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "MILK Ban Unhealthy For Samoa", Pacific Freedom Forum press release, April 19, 2009
  6. "Samoa Censors Nix Popular Films" Archived 2019-12-23 at the Wayback Machine , Julia Meredith, Samoalive News, August 2, 2009
  7. "'Not good for public viewing': Rocketman biopic banned in Samoa", Special Broadcasting Service, 11 June 2019