The Mau Movement Teel Paragraph/Pacific History

 LI:To create a Teel paragraph that tells us what your time/event in history is.

Photo by SamoablackSaturday

The Mau was a nonviolent movement for Samoan independence from colonial rule during the first of the 20 century. Mau means resolute or resolved. A tragedy then happened during the Mau movement in the capital of Apia in Samoa on the 28th of December 1929. This day is known as Black Saturday in Samoa. Black Saturday is a day that commemorates Jesus lying in the tomb until his resurrection on Easter day.

The worst circumstance in New Zealand's relationship with Samoa occurred on Saturday 28 December 1929. It was caused by a noisy disturbance that exploded during a Mau parade along Apia's waterfront to welcome home two members who had been forced to leave their home and to never return back to New Zealand. The military police were also sent to target the unarmed and peaceful protesters of Samoa by Stephen Allen. The New Zealand military police started to fire on the peaceful protestors because first the Samoans didn’t trust the police and decided to throw stones at them. Then our brave confident leader who everyone looks up to, Tupua Tamasese Lealofi lll, went in front of the crowd  to stop the people who were throwing stones and to say we have come in peace. Eventually one of the military police officers shot him then shot many more who came to try and comfort the dying soul of our Ofisa (Chief) Tupua Tamasese Lealofi lll and men who were a part of the Mau movement.

The shooting went off for many hours until the clock struck 6:30pm, then the screaming of frightened children and widowed women (those who lost their brave husbands or spouse to a bullet wound caused by New Zealanders military police) had stopped. The day after that the 29th of December 1929 Tupua Tamasese Lealofi lll has fully lost his life along with many other men and children due to the incident that happened during the Mau movement. Sunday was an even terrifying day after the death of many men including the chief Tupua Tamasese Lealofi lll, where the Soldiers of New Zealand were raiding Samoan homes and killing men who were part of the Mau movement who were still alive. They never stopped looking for the men but the men were gone before they even knew it. Many more died during the search for the men of the Mau movement by the military soldiers confusing themselves by thinking they were about to attack but they weren't they were scared and looking for safety.

Many years had passed along with many men who were leaders themselves were set to rest and return to our heavenly father Jesus. To remain in peace and happiness. To pass on the beautiful words Tupua Tamasese Lealofi lll said before his final breath,

“Samoa filemu pea, ma si o’u toto nei ta’uvalea, a ia aoga lo’u mo lenei mea”( My blood has been spilt for Samoa. I’m proud to give it, do not dream of avenging it, as it was too spilled to maintain peace. If I die, peace must be maintained at any price.). 

70 years later Helen Clark the Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2002 gave a full apology on behalf of the government to admit their action and taking families away were wrong. Now from today Samoa is still keeping Tupua Tamasese Lealofi lll’s word. Peace is still being maintained and forgiveness is still hard to give to those that have taken away their loved ones but they forgive to forget.