19 Dec 2019

Plea for Nauru president to grant protesters a pardon

3:31 pm on 19 December 2019

A public plea has been made in Nauru for the president to pardon a group convicted of offences over an anti-government protest.

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

The request, circulating through social media, is from an unnamed source, signing off as a 'Citizen of Nauru'.

They call for the group, which has become known as the 'Nauru 19', to be pardoned because its members have suffered enough over the four and a half years since they were charged.

The writer said it was time for Nauru to heal, "leaving no-one behind".

The 'Nauru 19', which now numbers 12, is presently going through the sentencing process after being convicted last week of rioting, unlawful behaviour and assault.

The legal process followed has been criticised by legal experts in New Zealand and Australia - who have described it as a sham and further sign of the decline of the Nauru judicial system.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs