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Pressure on Nauru over deteriorating democracy

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Thu, 2 Jul 2015, 10:59AM
Nauru's Parliament building (File Photo)

Pressure on Nauru over deteriorating democracy

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Thu, 2 Jul 2015, 10:59AM

AUDIO: Marcelo Rodriguez-Ferrere speaks to Newstalk ZB about why he and others signed the letter regarding Nauru. 

New Zealand is set to put the pressure on Nauru, over the deteriorating justice situation.

Twenty nine academics, including former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer, have put their names to an open letter, asking for New Zealand to intervene as the Nauruan government becomes increasingly hardline.

Concerns have been raised about suspension of opposition MPs, and the recent removal of an opposition MP from a flight heading to New Zealand.

Roland Kun is one of five Nauru opposition MPs who've been suspended and had their passports cancelled.

He's the primary caregiver of his three Wellington children, but is unable to come home.

Otago University's Marcelo Rodriguez-Ferrere said the island's Chief Justice was forced out of office last year, "all simply because the current government disagrees with what they're saying."

Foreign Minister Murray McCully said he's requested a meeting with the country's representatives in Sydney next week.

He said New Zealand takes its position as a donor to Nauru's justice sector seriously, and will discuss those contributions at the meeting.

Green MP Kennedy Graham said our government should stop the $600,000 worth of justice funding it provides to Nauru annually, while the country's democracy is in disarray.

He said continuing funding sends the message we support the flagrant abuse of power of a South Pacific neighbour.

 

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