Claims and counterclaims after Nauru parliament protest

Transcript

An opposition MP has been arrested after hundreds of people turned out to anti-government protests on Nauru yesterday.

The protests were in support of five MPs who have been suspended from parliament for more than a year, ostensibly for speaking out about the government's actions

But the protest has been dubbed a 'riot' by the government, which accused protesters of vandalising parliament by smashing windows and letting off fireworks inside.

Johnny Blades spoke to our reporter Jamie Tahana, who has been following developments:

JOHNNY BLADES: This event has been termed a riot, is that reports you are hearing, is that accurate?

JAMIE TAHANA: Well, the government has termed it a riot saying there was damage done to the parliament, fireworks was set off inside the parliament, windows smashed and that the protestors spilled onto the airport runway blocking flights to the island but pictures seen on social media and reports from protestors themselves indicate that it was nothing more than rowdy, and that there were was a window smashed and maybe a few fireworks let off.  So the extent of the riot is very much disputed by both sides.

JB:  This seems to be the latest in a series of events on Nauru where the opposition has really been at odds with the government, and that the government is doing things which I guess has attracted criticism.

JT: Basically the protest was in support of the five members of the opposition who were suspended from parliament last year, basically meaning zero opposition in parliament but there has also been other developments in recent weeks the government has passed a number of laws that have been criticised internationally, they limit freedom of speech and the right to protest, it has also banned Facebook and again very controversial, with opponents saying that's an attempt to criticism of what are controversial and actions not scrutinised, and there's also been allegations in Australian in recent days that David Adeang, the Justice Minister, has received huge payments from an Australian phosphate buyer and again that turned to a head at the protest when the opposition MP, Mathew Batsiua who has been suspended since last year was arrested, the government says on charges of disrupting the legislature but again sources on Nauru say he was set-up saying Mr  Batsiua was informed by the police that he would be able to meet with the president Baron Waqa to discuss the the opposition situation and they claim that when Mr  Batsiua stepped through the police line in Parliament he was arrested from behind because he's banned from entering parliament.