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| 'I couldn’t crack up': Nauru opposition MP recounts his dramatic escape to New Zealand | 'I couldn’t crack up': Nauru opposition MP recounts his dramatic escape to New Zealand |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| For more than a year Nauruan opposition MP Roland Kun was trapped on the 21 sq km patch of baking, mostly barren rock in the Pacific Ocean. | For more than a year Nauruan opposition MP Roland Kun was trapped on the 21 sq km patch of baking, mostly barren rock in the Pacific Ocean. |
| He wasn’t imprisoned, but, just like the 500 asylum seekers and refugees across the island in Australian-run detention centres, he wasn’t exactly free to go either. | He wasn’t imprisoned, but, just like the 500 asylum seekers and refugees across the island in Australian-run detention centres, he wasn’t exactly free to go either. |
| “I couldn’t crack up, because I was determined they wouldn’t beat me,” says Kun, whose Nauruan passport was revoked last year after he was accused by authorities of being involved in anti-government protests and of being a national security threat. Kun has always denied the claims. | “I couldn’t crack up, because I was determined they wouldn’t beat me,” says Kun, whose Nauruan passport was revoked last year after he was accused by authorities of being involved in anti-government protests and of being a national security threat. Kun has always denied the claims. |
| Kun applied for New Zealand citizenship on humanitarian grounds in December last year. Prior to being trapped on Nauru, Kun was the primary caregiver to his three young children, and his wife was unable to live in Nauru after being banned by the government. | Kun applied for New Zealand citizenship on humanitarian grounds in December last year. Prior to being trapped on Nauru, Kun was the primary caregiver to his three young children, and his wife was unable to live in Nauru after being banned by the government. |
| “The government of Nauru was not going to ruin my life, or my family’s life,” he says. “I wouldn’t let them.” | “The government of Nauru was not going to ruin my life, or my family’s life,” he says. “I wouldn’t let them.” |
| Related: Nauru opposition MP secretly granted NZ citizenship flees to Wellington | Related: Nauru opposition MP secretly granted NZ citizenship flees to Wellington |
| But without a job, regular income or any semblance of a normal routine, Kun’s rebellious spirit was tested by empty days and lonely nights – his schedule pivoting around bedtime Skype calls with his wife, Katy, and three children in Wellington, New Zealand. | But without a job, regular income or any semblance of a normal routine, Kun’s rebellious spirit was tested by empty days and lonely nights – his schedule pivoting around bedtime Skype calls with his wife, Katy, and three children in Wellington, New Zealand. |
| “The children didn’t understand what was going on,” recalls Kun. “At one point they were wondering if I was deliberately avoiding the family, and that was heartbreaking. A lot of trust was broken in the time I was away.” | “The children didn’t understand what was going on,” recalls Kun. “At one point they were wondering if I was deliberately avoiding the family, and that was heartbreaking. A lot of trust was broken in the time I was away.” |
| In early 2016, his two eldest children became increasingly disinterested in the patchy, frustrating Skype conversations with their father, where 30 seconds of chat could take 10 minutes of dialling and redialling. Kun’s youngest started potty training and began to talk. As the months marched on, Kun despaired about how, or when his ordeal would end. | In early 2016, his two eldest children became increasingly disinterested in the patchy, frustrating Skype conversations with their father, where 30 seconds of chat could take 10 minutes of dialling and redialling. Kun’s youngest started potty training and began to talk. As the months marched on, Kun despaired about how, or when his ordeal would end. |
| And then, unexpectedly, an Australian stranger knocked on his door. | And then, unexpectedly, an Australian stranger knocked on his door. |
| The man presented Kun with a package containing a New Zealand passport, granted on exceptional humanitarian grounds by the New Zealand government. | The man presented Kun with a package containing a New Zealand passport, granted on exceptional humanitarian grounds by the New Zealand government. |
| “I was very excited, but also full of trepidation,” explains Kun. “I knew the Nauruan government were determined to keep me on the island, and if they heard of my plans they’d try and stop me leaving, even with a foreign passport.” | “I was very excited, but also full of trepidation,” explains Kun. “I knew the Nauruan government were determined to keep me on the island, and if they heard of my plans they’d try and stop me leaving, even with a foreign passport.” |
| Quickly and secretly, Kun plotted escape. He told none of his extended Nauruan family of his plans (even though he was living with them), fearful of island gossip. | Quickly and secretly, Kun plotted escape. He told none of his extended Nauruan family of his plans (even though he was living with them), fearful of island gossip. |
| Suspicious that his phone may have been tapped, Kun devised a simple code to tell his wife and lawyer of his intention to flee. | Suspicious that his phone may have been tapped, Kun devised a simple code to tell his wife and lawyer of his intention to flee. |
| “I told them that the present they sent me had arrived, and I would be meeting a certain friend for lunch on Sunday. They understood that meant I’d be trying to leave.” | “I told them that the present they sent me had arrived, and I would be meeting a certain friend for lunch on Sunday. They understood that meant I’d be trying to leave.” |
| Related: Only 'respectful and objective' media outlets are welcome, says Nauru | Related: Only 'respectful and objective' media outlets are welcome, says Nauru |
| Kun chose the day after the election to escape, when many islanders were tired and hungover from festivities. He hastily bid his Nauruan family farewell on Sunday morning, unsure when or if he would see them again. | Kun chose the day after the election to escape, when many islanders were tired and hungover from festivities. He hastily bid his Nauruan family farewell on Sunday morning, unsure when or if he would see them again. |
| It was “very sad” he recalls, but all his emotional energy was focused on getting to New Zealand to take care of his young family. | |
| Kun’s sister loaded his suitcases into the car and pretended she was on her way to board an international flight and that her brother – Kun – was driving her. | Kun’s sister loaded his suitcases into the car and pretended she was on her way to board an international flight and that her brother – Kun – was driving her. |
| Sweaty, nervous and excited, Kun arrived at the airport an hour before a flight to Brisbane was scheduled to leave. He purchased a ticket in the terminal, then hung back until every other Brisbane-bound passenger had passed through customs and immigration. | Sweaty, nervous and excited, Kun arrived at the airport an hour before a flight to Brisbane was scheduled to leave. He purchased a ticket in the terminal, then hung back until every other Brisbane-bound passenger had passed through customs and immigration. |
| “There was a lot of activity in the airport, two planes about to leave and others landing – the customs official was too busy to be suspicious, they didn’t want any complications. I don’t think the government was aware I had left.” | “There was a lot of activity in the airport, two planes about to leave and others landing – the customs official was too busy to be suspicious, they didn’t want any complications. I don’t think the government was aware I had left.” |
| Back in New Zealand, wife Katy and Kun’s lawyer Claudia Geiringer were on tenterhooks waiting to hear if he’d boarded the flight. From Brisbane, a text message came through – Kun was free. | Back in New Zealand, wife Katy and Kun’s lawyer Claudia Geiringer were on tenterhooks waiting to hear if he’d boarded the flight. From Brisbane, a text message came through – Kun was free. |
| “We had a witness who saw Roland get on the plane in Nauru, but I wasn’t convinced until we had a report of him getting off the plane in Australia,” Geiringer says. “Then, yes, we could breath a sigh of relief.” | “We had a witness who saw Roland get on the plane in Nauru, but I wasn’t convinced until we had a report of him getting off the plane in Australia,” Geiringer says. “Then, yes, we could breath a sigh of relief.” |
| Kun, who spent Tuesday ensconced with his wife and children in the family’s home in Wellington, wants one thing now he’s back in New Zealand as a Kiwi: normality. | Kun, who spent Tuesday ensconced with his wife and children in the family’s home in Wellington, wants one thing now he’s back in New Zealand as a Kiwi: normality. |
| “Normal life is the goal now, the prize” says Kun. “I might think about work a few months down the track, but for now all I want is to spend time with my family. That is all I have ever wanted. To be at home with them.” | “Normal life is the goal now, the prize” says Kun. “I might think about work a few months down the track, but for now all I want is to spend time with my family. That is all I have ever wanted. To be at home with them.” |