WELLINGTON (Radio New Zealand International/ Pacific Media Watch): The Nauru government continues to attack the media in Australia and New Zealand over its coverage of the island nation.
Recent public statements by Nauru's government say misreporting over rule of law in Nauru contributed to the decision by the New Zealand government to stop aid to the justice sector.
Two weeks ago New Zealand suspended aid to the justice sector amid concerns about civil rights abuses.
The President, Baron Waqa, claimed the rule of law on Nauru is being strongly upheld.
He claimed the media were "repeating lies" told by the island's former chief justice and resident magistrate.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully said after a discussion with Justice Minister David Adeang in Port Moresby last week that both governments understood each other but were no closer to resolving the issues between them.
Reporting the facts
Nauru has effectively excluded foreign media from the island by imposing a non-refundable US$7000 fee for journalists' visas.
Nauru's government questioned why media outlets refused to report the facts, but asserted it "does not discuss internal matters of justice with foreign media".
It has made a number of attacks on the media on its official Twitter feed, including last week's critique of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over its coverage of Nauru's deportation of a Chinese resident without charge.
News flash. The Govt of Nauru is not answerable to the ABC. Their lies & unethical meddling in our domestic affairs is outrageous #auspol
— Republic of Nauru (@Republic_Nauru) September 17, 2015
This week the government sent Radio New Zealand International a release, calling on media to report facts.
The Waqa government claims that much of the Australian and New Zealand media misrepresent what is happening in Nauru because it "suits their political agenda more to paint a negative picture and ignore the facts".
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