31 Jan 2016

Nauru warns of refugee protests

4:23 pm on 31 January 2016
Nauru's Justice Minister David Adeang

Nauru's Justice Minister David Adeang Photo: Supplied

The Nauru government has warned that violence and unlawful acts will not be tolerated, saying it has credible information that a group of refugees on the island are planning provocative protests and civil unrest.

The justice minister, David Adeang, said the protests were expected this coming week to coincide with the nation's Independence Day celebrations and the pending Australian High Court decision on the legality of Canberra's detention policy.

Mr Adeang said there was a small element of trouble-makers who didn't care about Nauru and didn't value its hospitality.

He said they were told by Australian refugee advocates and lawyers that the best way to get to Australia was to cause trouble in Nauru.

Australia has said that asylum seekers it sent to its detention centres abroad will never be settled in Australia.

Protesting refugees at the asylum seeker processing centre on Nauru.

Protest in Nauru in 2015 Photo: Supplied

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