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Nauru’s Justice Minister, David Adeang, has issued a press release defending, on moral and religious grounds, his government’s decision to control access to the internet.
However some are claiming the social media blackout was directed by the Australian government to assist its Cambodian resettlement policy.
The Nauru government says it is restricting internet access to block pornography, especially child pornography.
In a statement issued to explain the ban, the government says “pornography is not consistent with the faith and values” of the people of Nauru.
The opposition in Nauru claims the government ordered the country’s only internet service provider Digicel to shut-down certain sites, like Facebook.
But the government says it has not blocked access to Facebook and claims to the contrary are politically motivated.
It says it is possible some social media sites have been blocked since it issued a ban on pornography sites.
Suzette Clark, a catholic sister and the former vice-chair of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, says a ban on Facebook, even for a short time, will be distressing for asylum seekers on Nauru.
Pamela Curr from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre says her sources say this ban on Facebook has nothing to do with the government of Nauru, but is a directive from the Australian government.
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News category: Asia Pacific.
