Nauru

The Australia Broadcasting Corporation has been banned from covering the upcoming Pacific Forum Leaders summit in Nauru this September. 

Head of the Pacific Forum Secretariat Dame Meg Taylor says she's been contacted by other Forum nations over the ban, but other than encourage a rethink of the ban, she can't tell Nauru what to do.

"We would urge Nauru to reconsider but in the end, this is a decision for a sovereign state," she says.

Justice Geof Muecke ruled last week that the group called the Nauru 19, which has been facing charges over a parliamentary protest for 3 years, is entitled to legal aid from the state.

Up to now the group has been relying on its Australian lawyers to work for free but it sought a court ruling when that situation became untenable.

The government is required to make a payment today of US$166,606 into the trust account of Sydney solicitor Christian Hearn.

Justice Geof Muecke was ruling on a request from the group known as the "Nauru 19" who had requested government assistance with their legal costs.

The group is facing trial for alleged offences during an anti-government protest more than three years ago.

Mr Muecke ruled the Nauru government pay $US166,606 dollars to the team of Australian lawyers who have been representing the Nauru group mostly pro bono since 2016.

He has given the government until this Friday to make the payment.

Nauru abandoned its court of appeal relationship with Australia late last year but is yet to establish a local final court of appeal.

The Forum's secretary general, Dame Meg Taylor, said she is seeking to discuss several issues of regional security with Nauru's president Baron Waqa in the lead up to the Forum leaders meeting in the country in September.

Dame Meg said Nauru's judiciary will be among them.

Eben Omo, launched in March 2018, is a nationwide, ‘homegrown’ environmental-practice campaign on Nauru, targeting five major community action themes; grow local food; fish right; reduce, reuse and recycle; never litter; and conserve water.

Eben Omo serves as the public awareness and promotional arm of the Ridge to Reef (R2R) initiative, and has partnered with Fiji-based, not-for-profit behavioural change agency, cChange.

The Nauru Electoral Support Project (NESP) will undertake a number of activities which include strengthening civic education and voter awareness in Nauru, supporting the Electoral Commission with legal and technical advisory capacity and enhancing women’s electoral participation.  

In his meeting with the Electoral Commission in Nauru, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator, and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Haoliang Xu reaffirmed UNDP’s ongoing support to the Government of Nauru.  

Starting June 1, Nauru nationals will enjoy reciprocal visa-free entry for visits of up to 30 days, while Tuvalu citizens will get reciprocal visa-free stays of up to 90 days, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) statement.

The decision was made based on the principle of reciprocity as the two countries have already granted Taiwan passport holders visa-waiver entry, according to MOFA.

President Waqa also highlighted 2018 being a special year to host the Education Ministers meeting as it coincides with the 50th celebration of Nauru’s independence, and adds to the build up to the 49th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting which Nauru will host in early September.

He made the comments at the Pacific Islands Forum Education Ministers meeting in Yaren.

Visiting Nauru President Baron Divavesi Waqa made the promise at a meeting with Tsai Monday. He also expressed thanks for various assistance Nauru has been offered by the Taiwan government.

Describing relations between Nauru and Taiwan as stable, Waqa said his country will continue its support for Taiwan and do its utmost to speak for the country on the international stage.

Bhamre, the minister of state for defence, was the chief guest at the 50th anniversary celebrations of Constitution Day of Nauru yesterday, a Defence Ministry statement said.