Nauru parliament takes a stand for nation’s future
The parliament of Nauru
yesterday (14 May) voted to protect the nation's international
standing and future investment by suspending three opposition MPs
for "intending to inflict maximum damage to Nauru's
reputation."
The motion to suspend MPs
Mathew Batsiua, Kieren Keke and Roland Kun was moved by the
Government following many months of interviews by the three members
where they called for Australia and New Zealand to intervene in
Nauru's domestic affairs and suggested that the two countries
should reconsider aid programs.
The motion noted that Nauru
has come a long way since 2005 to take Nauru "forward from an
economic abyss to greater prosperity through the community designed
Nauru Sustainable Development Strategy".
It further noted that,
"recent comments made in the foreign media by certain Members of
the Parliament in the Opposition….detract from Nauru's development
goals."
The motion read, "Noting
also that these remarks did, and were intended to, inflict maximum
damage to Nauru's reputation and to Government efforts to improve
the livelihood and well-being of the people of
Nauru".
Justice Minister David
Adeang said that the people of Nauru were becoming increasingly
worried at the behaviour of the opposition MPs, who have continued
to put their quest for political power ahead of the national
interest.
"There is a place to argue
your point and that is here in the parliament. These MPs have done
what no other country would deem acceptable - use the foreign media
to trash our international reputation," Minister Adeang
said.
"They were suspended due to
their deliberate attempts and damaging comments to foreign media
undermining the good work of the Waqa Government to introduce
Bendigo Bank to the island, and which also led to concerns raised
by donors, and considerations to suspend aid programs to
Nauru."
"The Government and people
of Nauru have had enough."
Mr Adeang said he was not
surprised that the first thing Dr Keke did after the parliament
suspended him was to again go to the international
media.
"This has nothing to do with
censorship and the claims made by Mr Keke yesterday have been
outrageous."
Following the vote, Mr Keke
further inflamed the situation by refusing to leave his seat in the
house.
Mr Adeang said Mr Keke tried
to incite a riot by organising his constituents and supporters to
mass outside parliament.
"Government will not
tolerate this lawlessness, but has given the MPs the option of
settling the matter peacefully.
"I call on all MPs and all
Nauruans to work together in the national
interest."
The Parliament of Nauru has
resumed sitting today (15 May).