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Nauru president calls criticism of legal sackings ‘attack on our sovereignty’ Nauru president calls criticism of legal sackings ‘attack on our sovereignty’
(about 1 hour later)
Nauru is protecting its borders by sacking its chief magistrate and justice, and suggestions the country has abused the law is an attack on its sovereignty, the president has declared.Nauru is protecting its borders by sacking its chief magistrate and justice, and suggestions the country has abused the law is an attack on its sovereignty, the president has declared.
Baron Waqa says Nauru has the same right as Australia to decide who holds key positions in the country.Baron Waqa says Nauru has the same right as Australia to decide who holds key positions in the country.
"We will determine who comes to our nation, and those coming from overseas who do not act in our national interest won't be welcomed,” he said in a statement released on Friday."We will determine who comes to our nation, and those coming from overseas who do not act in our national interest won't be welcomed,” he said in a statement released on Friday.
He added:  "We would expect any nation to act in a similar way and protect its borders."He added:  "We would expect any nation to act in a similar way and protect its borders."
Waqa’s comment come after Nauru sacked its only magistrate, Peter Law, deporting him last Sunday, and then canceled the visa of the chief justice, Geoffrey Eames AM QC, after he issued an injunction to try to prevent the deportation. Both men have spoken to Australian media, saying the move was politically motivated.Waqa’s comment come after Nauru sacked its only magistrate, Peter Law, deporting him last Sunday, and then canceled the visa of the chief justice, Geoffrey Eames AM QC, after he issued an injunction to try to prevent the deportation. Both men have spoken to Australian media, saying the move was politically motivated.
Waqa has rejected the allegations and equated speculation that Nauru had acted improperly with an “attack on our sovereignty”.Waqa has rejected the allegations and equated speculation that Nauru had acted improperly with an “attack on our sovereignty”.
“The rule of law is respected in Nauru, as is the democratic process. Any insinuation to the contrary is false,” he said.“The rule of law is respected in Nauru, as is the democratic process. Any insinuation to the contrary is false,” he said.
The Nauru Department of Justice has leveled accusations of drunk and disorderly conduct and meddling in cases at Peter Law, which he has emphatically denied.The Nauru Department of Justice has leveled accusations of drunk and disorderly conduct and meddling in cases at Peter Law, which he has emphatically denied.
The department released a statement on Tuesday saying it had lost confidence that Law could act fairly in his role and there had been multiple complaints from former government and judiciary staff as well as members of the public.The department released a statement on Tuesday saying it had lost confidence that Law could act fairly in his role and there had been multiple complaints from former government and judiciary staff as well as members of the public.
“The complaints included inappropriate behaviour towards staff, improper conduct towards staff, drunk and disorderly behaviour, allegations of interfering in cases, advising aggrieved parties on how to conduct their cases, dereliction of performing his duties as a magistrate, undermining senior public servants, and exclusion of certain members of the judiciary staff from needed training, to name a few,” the statement says.“The complaints included inappropriate behaviour towards staff, improper conduct towards staff, drunk and disorderly behaviour, allegations of interfering in cases, advising aggrieved parties on how to conduct their cases, dereliction of performing his duties as a magistrate, undermining senior public servants, and exclusion of certain members of the judiciary staff from needed training, to name a few,” the statement says.
“The government of Nauru deemed it appropriate that Mr Law leave Nauru as soon as possible before any more damage is done to the reputation and good standing of the Nauru judiciary.”“The government of Nauru deemed it appropriate that Mr Law leave Nauru as soon as possible before any more damage is done to the reputation and good standing of the Nauru judiciary.”
Law rejected the statement, saying there had not been an investigation and in three years on the job he had only one appeal to his hundreds of decisions.Law rejected the statement, saying there had not been an investigation and in three years on the job he had only one appeal to his hundreds of decisions.
The sackings of Law and Eames came in a week when two asylum seekers deemed illegal immigrants by Nauru were supposed to face court after Law granted an injunction against their deeportation. Asylum seekers involved in a riot on the island in July were also supposed to start facing court. The sackings of Law and Eames came in a week when two men deemed illegal immigrants by Nauru were supposed to face court after Law granted an injunction against their deportation. Asylum seekers involved in a riot on the island in July were also supposed to start facing court.
Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has said the matter is for the Nauru government and Australia would continue to send asylum seekers there for offshore processing.Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has said the matter is for the Nauru government and Australia would continue to send asylum seekers there for offshore processing.
"But obviously, as a large and friendly neighbour, we are making it clear that the rule of law is very important," Abbott said."But obviously, as a large and friendly neighbour, we are making it clear that the rule of law is very important," Abbott said.