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Three Nauruan MPs face charges after protest outside parliament Three Nauruan MPs face charges after protest outside parliament
(35 minutes later)
Three Nauruan MPs face criminal charges after a protest outside the island nation’s parliament. The president of Nauru has attacked foreign media organisations as he confirmed three MPs faced criminal charges after a protest outside the island nation’s parliament.
The government has accused members of the opposition of an orchestrated campaign to disrupt parliament and the passage of the budget.The government has accused members of the opposition of an orchestrated campaign to disrupt parliament and the passage of the budget.
President Baron Waqa condemned their “shameful actions” and said they were guilty of “a campaign of lies backed by foreign media outlets” in a statement issued on Friday. On Friday president Baron Waqa condemned their “shameful actions” and said they were guilty of “a campaign of lies backed by foreign media outlets” in a statement issued on Friday.
He said information from police suggested MPs Sprent Dabwido, Mathew Batsuia and Squire Jeremiah were the ringleaders of a protest held almost a fortnight ago and they would face criminal charges. He named Guardian Australia, the ABC and Radio New Zealand has having an agenda to attack the Nauru government, Radio NZ reported.
Waqa said information from police suggested the former president Sprent Dabwido and fellow MPs Mathew Batsuia and Squire Jeremiah were the ringleaders of a protest held almost a fortnight ago and they would face criminal charges.
The hundreds-strong rally reportedly called on the government to resign over corruption allegations aired on the ABC, new laws cracking down on free speech and the indefinite suspension of the MPs.The hundreds-strong rally reportedly called on the government to resign over corruption allegations aired on the ABC, new laws cracking down on free speech and the indefinite suspension of the MPs.
The government has characterised the protest as a riot.
“Members of the opposition have been speaking loudly and freely against the reform measures of our government for some time,” Waqa said.“Members of the opposition have been speaking loudly and freely against the reform measures of our government for some time,” Waqa said.
“The government of Nauru will not be dictated to by a handful of power-hungry people focused on causing fear and panic.”“The government of Nauru will not be dictated to by a handful of power-hungry people focused on causing fear and panic.”
Waqa accused the organisers of the demonstration of using children as part of their protest and plying them with alcohol. He blamed the organisers for not warning public servants they might lose their jobs if they took part.