Thursday, October 01, 2015



How it works in Nauru III

Back in June, people on Nauru protested against government corruption and the erosion of their democracy. The regime's solution? Cut off their welfare benefits:

A Nauru local has lost his over-60 benefits for allegedly participating in anti-government riots more three months ago.

Ronald Sandy Deduna received a letter from the Nauru government on Monday advising him his welfare payments and Nauru airline benefits had been revoked.

The letter says Cabinet made a decision last week that people involved in protests, riots and other criminal activities should cease to receive government privileges.


Which is both punishment for political speech and punishment without trial, in clear violation of the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and protection of the law affirmed in Nauru's constitution. But with Nauru no longer enjoying an independent judiciary, there's virtually no chance of that being enforced.