Nauru 19

Last of 'Nauru-19' released

Mr Batsiua and 11 others, were sentenced to terms of up to 11 months in December, over what had been an anti-government protest in 2015.

The controversial, drawn out political process was called a 'chilling precedent' by Australian barrister Stephen Lawrence who had worked with the Nauru 19 for several years.

He said at the time that the sentencing meant "no matter how grave the state crimes and no matter how unconstitutional the anti-protest laws are, in Nauru, if you protest you will be imprisoned, even if you are standing up against grave crimes."

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Nauru 19' trial a 'blight on justice' - NZ Law Society

The New Zealand Law Society's Rule of Law Committee said the trial of the group of anti-government protesters, dubbed the 'Nauru 19', was bordering on a sham.

The 'Nauru 19', which is now down to 15, are charged with rioting and disturbing the Legislature after a protest against government corruption outside Nauru's Parliament in June 2015.

The Law Society's committee convenor, Austin Forbes QC, said the criminal charges against the group had been a "blight on justice" in the Pacific for the last four years.

     

'Nauru 19' fail to have judge stand aside over bias concern

Closing arguments in the trial of a group of anti-government protesters who became known as the 'Nauru 19', ended on Wednesday.

The Nauru 19 was accused of rioting, unlawful assembly, obstructing police and other charges during a protest outside Parliament four and a half years ago.

Last year, they were granted a permanent stay on the charges when the Australian judge brought in by the Nauru Government to hear the case, said they could never get a fair trial given the government's interference in the judicial process.

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Controversial trial of Nauru 19 about to open

And the group, which now numbers 15, will be facing the court without legal representation.

The Nauru 19 were involved in an anti-government protest in June 2015 and have been put through a convoluted legal process ever since.

Last year, an Australian appointed as judge, Justice Geof Muecke, granted them a permanent stay, saying the group's judicial rights had been abused by the then Nauru Government.

The government had refused them proper legal aid and placed them on a blacklist, ensuring they would struggle to find work.

'Nauru 19' again seek permanent stay

In the new trial, which began on Tuesday, the Nauru 19 are seeking for the second time to have a permanent stay placed on the charges.

The prosecution view is that any attempt to stay the charges cannot be heard since the higher Appeals Court has already ruled on the matter.

In June this year, the Appeals Court overturned a decision granting a permanent stay, given by Australian judge Geof Muecke.

'Nauru 19' facing further trial over protest

The group, dubbed the 'Nauru 19', is seeking a permanent stay on the charges on the grounds that the previous govenrment had misused the judicial process.

A permanent stay was originally granted by Justice Geof Muecke in September last year, but the Nauru Court of Appeal set this aside in June.

     

Nauru 19 appeal put back to 2019

The new Nauru Court of Appeal was set to hear their application this week but it has been put off until next year, although a date is yet to be set.

The Nauru 19, which includes a former president of the country, had been charged over an anti-government protest more than three years ago.

In September the group successfully sought a permanent stay on legal proceedings against them, arguing the trial process had dragged on too long and that the government had not met a court order to meet some of the costs.