16 Oct 2018

Nauru 19 believe government still operating 'blacklist'

From , 6:05 am on 16 October 2018

Members of the so called Nauru 19 fear the government is continuing to blacklist them despite their court case being thrown out.

The Nauru 19 were acquitted last month of long standing charges over an anti-government protest.

The judge in the case, Justice Geof Muecke, described the blacklist maintained by the government to ensure the group would struggle to get employment and be handicapped in other ways.

One of the Nauru 19, former justice minister, Mathew Batsiua, told Don Wiseman of two current examples involving members of the group that suggest this blacklisting is continuing.

The first involved diver Rutherford Jeremiah who became ill while diving last week.

T-shirts worn by family and supporters of the 19 Nauruans who were prosecuted by government for staging a protest outside of parliament in 2015.

T-shirts worn by family and supporters of the 19 Nauruans who were prosecuted by government for staging a protest outside of parliament in 2015. Photo: Nauru 19/ Facebook

Attempts by RNZ Pacific to reach the Nauru Government for comment on the allegations raised by Mr Batsiua have been unsuccessful.