The team of Australian lawyers representing a group of Nauruans charged with offences relating to an anti-government protest more than two years ago is seeking donations to cover its expenses.
Nineteen people, including a former Nauru president, are set to face trial for various alleged offences, including serious assault, rioting and disturbing the legislature.
They had not been able to get legal representation on the island so sought help in Australia, with a five person team providing their time for free.
One of the lawyers helping out, solicitor Christian Hearn, says they are seeking help to defray expenses incurred from travel, with return trips to Nauru costing more than $AUD2000.
He explained the plight of the 19 defendants to Don Wiseman.
Lawyers representing the Nauru 19 group Felicity Graham, Stephen Lawrence, Mark Higgins, Neal Funnell and Christian Hearn.
Photo: Supplied
Transcript
CHRISTIAN HEARN: At its core the issue is this: They were denied access to the public defenders when they approached them 12 or 18 months ago or whenever it was. From that point onwards, they have been responsible for coming with legal representation. They have got no money, a lot of them have been put on a black list which means they can't work and have no way of earning money on island. They have been dipping in their own pockets, they have been dipping into their own savings, they have been leaning on family members, they have been leaning on supporters - but that runs out at 12 months down the track and sort of I suppose, I am not going to say a loss of interest but there is some fatigue among the people who have been funding them up to this point. So that cost has been increasingly absorbed by myself and the other representatives who have been going there. But we are looking at a long process. We are looking at another 12 months at least with multiple more trips to the island so the fundraiser is really asking our colleagues within the legal community and people in the wider community who care about the rule of law within the south Pacific to dip into their pockets and contribute, so there is less burden falling on our clients, and to enable us to travel to the island over the next 12 months.
DON WISEMAN: You say this process will take another 12 months or you imagine it will take another 12 months. It seems remarkable since these events occurred over two years ago now.
CH: It is hard to know how long it is going to take but I think we have to assume it could take that long. Me and the other practitioners involved have been working on the case now for almost a year - I think the first time I went to the island was in August 2016. So we are a year down the track and the trial is really yet to kick off. And that is for a number of reasons and once we get started in the Supreme Court things might move more quickly, but I think we have to account for being involved in the matter for another 12 months I would have thought.
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