A former justice minister in Nauru says the government is using the judicial system to try and persecute its political opponents.
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Mathew Batsiua, who is one of 19 facing charges over an anti government protest, said the Nauru Government has made this clear by the secretive way it ended the opportunity to appeal to the Australian High Court.
The government terminated the relationship before the end of last year and it has taken effect in the past week, despite no local appeal court being in place.
Mr Batsiua said his group is convinced the government has made the move to frustrate their case.
"The government has frequently commentated openly on the progress of the case in parliament and has expressed a lot of interest," he said.
"It has been following the case quite closely, and involving themselves, we believe, in the tactics in trying to catch out the defendants, and making sure we lose."
"This latest move to take away the appeal avenue to the High Court is just another step in that direction, we believe."
