27 Nov 2015

Nauru's former CJ says treatment of MPs "outrageous"

4:32 pm on 27 November 2015

A former judge of Nauru's highest court says the treatment of current opposition MPs in the country is "outrageous".

Geoffrey Eames, who had his visa cancelled last year and was sacked as Chief Justice, says it's very hard to communicate with people in the country, as dissent is no longer tolerated.

Opposition MPs involved in a peaceful protest outside parliament in June had their passports cancelled, and three of them of have been charged.

Suspended Nauru MP Roland Kun with his family at home in New Zealand

Suspended Nauru MP Roland Kun with his family at home in New Zealand Photo: Supplied

Mr Eames says the treatment of Roland Kun, who has not been charged, and can't travel to see his family in New Zealand, is particularly harsh.

"You've got for example a member of parliament, who's had his passport removed, whose wife and children are in New Zealand. They can't get to him, he can't get to them, and this is just tolerated by government, and he's not been charged with any offence. This is just outrageous conduct."

Geoffrey Eames says Australia's silence on the breakdown of the rule of law has been "pathetically weak".

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