Refugees must abide by Nauru’s law like anyone else, says Government
The Government of Nauru says
refugees on the island will not be treated differently from locals,
and they will be arrested when they break the
law.
Justice Minister David Adeang said
Australian refugee advocacy groups are sensationalising and
politicising current events, supporting a campaign of public
disorder and coaching refugees to use social media to generate
public support, but should instead be telling the refugees to abide
by Nauru's laws.
"This is not a refugee issue to us,
it's a law and order issue, and we treat all people the same way,
whether they are locals or refugees."
Mr Adeang said the Government and
Nauruan people have opened their hearts and homes to the 500
refugees that have been temporarily resettled under the program,
and have no reason to be aggressive towards
them.
"This talk about police harassing
refugees during lawful protests is simply wrong. We have nothing to
gain by that."
The Government has revealed that 183
refugees have now been arrested and are being held at the country's
correctional centre, following more arrests yesterday
afternoon.
Mr Adeang said a minority of
refugees have been threatening other refugees to join their
campaign, and are trying to take the country's police force to the
brink in their quest to influence the Australian
Government.
"They had the opportunity to stage
peaceful protests but refused. They were asked to respect our
Christian culture and not protest on a Sunday, but they
refused.
"Instead they insisted on breaking
the law by blocking traffic and refused police requests to move,
even goading police to arrest them.
"Police in Nauru took action and
arrested them in the same way police in Sydney would if this
happened in Pitt Street."
The Minister said reports of
children being arrested were wrong, however some refugees were
placing their children in front of them, using them as shields when
police tried to arrest them.