“Let’s Prosecute The Thieves Of The Tsunami” Monday November 9, 2009

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I’ve always been disturbed by the attitudes of government officials who pick on private citizens, businesses and non-profit organizations. They fancy their persecutions as courageous acts of bravery, fighting against invincible villains from whom the public have no protection. What a joke!

Take for example the Attorney General Office’s pledge to prosecute violators of Governor Togiola’s price-gouging law. Is it so courageous to threaten people whose licenses (their very means of living) you can revoke if they don’t do as you say? If the AG’s Office had some real balls, they’d focus 100% of their efforts and resources into prosecuting the real gougers of the tsunami’s aftermath: the thieves who ransacked people’s and businesses’ property in our greatest hour of vulnerability.

That would take real courage right there. Instead of doing what government is supposed to be doing (which is protecting our lives and property), what is the ASG doing now? Picking a fight with the Pago Pago Yacht Club. What cowards.

You know, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned growing up back home is that thugs only respect other thugs. They only pick on people they don’t expect to push back. That’s why the thieves of the tsunami will get away with their crimes while innocent people who live at the mercy of the ASG will continue to suffer under the thumbs of bullies.

Talifaitasi Satele
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Comments to this story (5)
Aloha  wrote:
10 Nov 2009 08:15 AM
Looters only hurt themselves because what goes around comes around, they'll get their day when it comes! It's how you're raised, respecting other peoples property...the looters have no sense of that obviously! It's a common thing around the world and it is preventable under the right circumstances. It all comes down to people's own morals and ethics.
It's the faife'aus!  wrote:
09 Nov 2009 01:45 PM
Thugs..this is a great comment; one I have not thought of before, thanks for the education! I can see it; thugs only respect thugs, so this means this whole island is full of thugs, since the island voted all the thugs into power. I KNOW this is NOT true, however, there are many people here who have good hearts and souls, but why did they vote for these kulukus? (thugs). I blame the bad faife'aus!
Sam O.  wrote:
09 Nov 2009 01:09 PM
Where did you get the idea that thugs only respect other thugs? That is untrue, not only in AS but in the world. Have you ever heard of the saying, "There is no honor among thieves." ? Anyway, back to the topic... I agree, the police SHOULD investigate the looting, but it most likely WON'T happen. Have any businesses or private citizens filed complaints? Maybe that'll get the cops to help. To the person blaming village leaders for not guarding against looters; are you kidding me? Were you here when the tsunami hit? People were in a frenzy looking for their loved ones and survivors! The last thing on their mind was standing guard at a business! C'mon now... I do feel sorry for anyone affected by the looters, but playing the blame game isn't going to help. If you really want to blame people, blame the looters!
To Late-- They are All Dead!  wrote:
09 Nov 2009 07:08 AM
What use is it, when the ones you love are no longer here!
looters are punks  wrote:
09 Nov 2009 04:24 AM
I agree 100%, well said. The thieves who used the Tsunami as an excuse and as cover to steal from their neighbor who was suffering and vulnerable is despicable. Those theives feel no remorse because they are heartless. Instead of helping the victims, they chose to take advantage of them and felt that this disaster was their golden opportunity to gain something free at the expense of other's suffering. The businesses that were hit by the Tsunami and then hit again by the thieves are the ones that provide your community with goods, services and jobs...or are you too stupid and greedy to understand that? Some businesses not even hit by the Tsunami were looted and ransacked by the roaming pack of heartless thieves. I also fault the so-called village leaders and chiefs and faifiaus for not having a presence and at least showing some leadership by trying to stop the looting. But they were no shows, missing in action. There were a lot of good folks who made great sacrifices to help their fellow man in a time of need. This is what the true Samoan spirit represents. Now it is time to teach that spirit to the punks that went on a stealing rampage and used a disaster as an opportunity for greed. NO EXCUSES!