Condemnation as Opposition MPs try to sabotage Nauruan aid and jeopardise local bank
The Government has condemned
opposition MPs for deliberately damaging Nauru's reputation
overseas and for attempting to influence New Zealand and Australia
to cut their aid programs to the
country.
Minister of finance and justice
David Adeang has called on MP Roland Kun to resign after Mr Kun
suggested to Radio New Zealand and Radio Australia that the two
countries should act against Nauru.
During the interviews Mr Kun called
Nauru an "abyss" and questioned whether New Zealand's annual
funding of the law and justice sector was "a legitimate use of
taxpayers' dollars".
Mr Adeang says Mr Kun's reckless
comments prove he is unfit to be a member of
parliament.
"This is a new low in Nauruan
politics. The Opposition will do and say anything to gain power,
even if it means hurting the Nauruan people and cutting local
services and development."
Mr Kun's comments were more bizarre
given the Government recently appointed a new magistrate and
announced major reforms to increase accountability and transparency
of the judicial process.
During the ABC radio interview, Mr
Kun was asked if his comments were insulting to the new magistrate
and registrar, but refused to answer.
Mr Adeang said the sabotage campaign
led by Mr Kun and fellow Opposition MP Mathew Batsiua had also
resulted in the Bendigo Bank reviewing its decision to start a
branch on the island, proposing an agency
instead.
"We have warned the Opposition
several times that their international campaign to trash Nauru's
reputation will hurt people, but they care only about their thirst
for political power.
"We live in a democratic country and
all MPs have the freedom to speak out, but the appropriate place to
do this is at home, to the Nauruan people and the Nauruan
parliament."
Mr Adeang said it was clear that the
Government's efforts to stamp out cronyism and corruption of the
past were hurting members of the previous
government.
"Last June the Nauruan people gave
us a clear and significant mandate to bring reform, and it is
becoming increasingly clear that the people made the right
choice.
"If aid money is lost due to the
sabotage campaign by Roland Kun and his fellow Opposition MPs, they
will never be forgiven."
The minister called on all
Opposition MPs to stop damaging Nauru's name in the foreign
media.