AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON NAURU TO UPHOLD FREE SPEECH - TopicsExpress

AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON NAURU TO UPHOLD FREE SPEECH OVER MP SUSPENSIONS (16 May 2014) Australias Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop is encouraging Nauru to allow its opposition MPs to speak out. The parliament of Nauru remains in disarray, after three opposition MPs were suspended indefinitely for speaking to foreign media. Dr Kieren Keke, Roland Kun and Mathew Batsiua have been accused of damaging the reputation and development of the country. All three have been critical of the government for allowing an Australian detention centre, deporting Naurus only resident magistrate and cancelling the visa of its chief justice. In a statement, Ms Bishop says robust political debate underpins democracy. I encourage the government of Nauru to uphold the fundamental values of a robust democracy, including freedom of speech, she said. Parliamentarians are encouraged to engage in robust political debate for it is the contest of ideas that underpins democracy. Australia provides almost $30 million worth of aid annually and the tiny nation houses one of Australias offshore immigration processing centres Roland Kun says other countries need to pay attention to what is happening in Nauru. Beyond the Australian money thats flowing through the country, any country that is interested in the development of Nauru, and regards itself as a development partner of Nauru, cannot shy away from the issue that there is a problem with rule of law on Nauru, he said. The three MPs are calling for an independent legal ruling on the governments motion to bar them from parliament. Naurus parliament says it has voted to protect the nations international standing and future investment by suspending the three opposition MPs. Justice Minister David Adeang issued a statement on Tuesday saying the government and people of Nauru have had enough. There is a place to argue your point and that is here in the parliament, he said. These MPs have done what no other country would deem acceptable - use the foreign media to trash our international reputation. Mr Kun says the suspensions are a move to gag the opposition and scrutiny of the Nauru Government over its actions in relation to the judiciary. Weve spoken to the international media of recent about the governments breach of the rule of law, as if that was something that was under wraps and revealed by opposition parliamentarians, he said. Obviously thats not the case - its just public knowledge. Mr Kuns wife, Naurus former parliamentary counsel Katherine Le Roy, is an Australia citizen and she has had her Nauruan visa revoked. He says his current priority is resettling his family in New Zealand. Ive got three young children who need to be in school, we havent been able to put them through school on the island, because my wife is not on the island, she isnt allowed back on the island, he said. But Im still a member of parliament on Nauru and I intend to go back to Nauru for parliament sittings. abc.net.au/news/2014-05-16/an-australian-foreign-minister-calls-on-nauru-to-uphold-free-sp/5457262