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Freedom in the World - Nauru (2004)

Political Rights: 1
Civil Liberties: 1
Status: Free
Population: 10,000
GNI/Capita: $3,540
Life Expectancy: 61
Religious Groups: Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)
Ethnic Groups: Nauruan (58 percent), other Pacific Islander (26 percent), Chinese (8 percent), European (8 percent)
Capital: Yaren

Ratings Change
Nauru's civil liberties rating improved from 2 to 1 due to a reevaluation of the scope of freedom of the media, association, and rule of law.

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Overview

Severe party and factional competition resulted in several changes in national leadership in 2003. The tussle involved a no-confidence vote in parliament, a supreme court ruling, and the sudden death of a competitor. Such intense political rivalry has been a major hindrance to sustaining policies and good governance for economic development.

Nauru, a tiny Pacific island nation located 1,600 miles northeast of New Zealand, was a German protectorate from 1888 until the close of World War I, when Australia began administering it under a League of Nations mandate. The Japanese occupied Nauru during World War II. Australian administrators returned to Nauru after the war under a UN mandate, and Nauru gained independence from Australia in 1968.

On January 8, 2003, President Rene Harris was ousted by a parliamentary vote of no confidence following opposition allegations of economic mismanagement and corruption. Harris and six of his ministers boycotted the vote. On January 17, Nauru's chief justice ruled that the 8 to 3 no-confidence vote was invalid without an absolute majority in the 18-member parliament and ordered that Harris be reinstated.

Parliament voted Bernard Dowiyogo to replace Harris, but the Supreme Court barred Dowiyogo from claiming the presidency, and the speaker of parliament resigned in protest. Both acts blocked Dowiyogo from passing a new budget. Parliament then refused to nominate a new speaker, without whom a new parliament session cannot convene to pass legislation.

This impasse ended with Dowiyogo's death in March in Washington, D.C., following heart surgery. Derog Gioura was appointed acting president to lead the caretaker administration until new elections in May. Ludwig Scotty was elected to replace Gioura, but in less than four months, Scotty was ousted by a vote of no confidence. Parliament subsequently chose Harris to lead the government.

Apart from troubles in the political arena, the economy continued its downward spiral. Nauru has become highly dependent on foreign aid. Phosphate, which was plentiful and mined by Australia for use as fertilizer, is almost entirely exhausted, leaving behind broken lands and other environmental problems. More than 80 percent of this eight-square-mile island republic is uninhabitable. Although phosphate mining had made Nauru one of the richest in the world in per capita income, government financial mismanagement squandered much of this wealth. A trust fund built on phosphate royalties will likely be depleted in a few years. The country is also saddled with a large foreign debt relative to its size.

Recent administrations had been seeking new ways to generate income. As an offshore tax and banking center, Nauru has been implicated in international money laundering and is still working to reform its banking sector. The country was also under international pressure, particularly from the United States, to crack down on passport sales when two alleged al-Qaeda operatives were arrested in Malaysia carrying Nauruan passports.

The country also switched diplomatic recognition back and forth between China and Taiwan to secure the most financial aid from the two competitors. Nauru switched recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in July 2002. In 2003, Nauru closed its embassy in Beijing to resume ties with Taiwan. Taiwan agreed to pay Nauru's outstanding loan of $2.7 million on a 737-jet aircraft owed to the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Since 2001, Nauru has served as a refugee processing and detention center for Australia in exchange for financial aid. Nauru provides temporary housing for hundreds of mainly Middle Easterners seeking asylum in Australia. Additional U.S. financial assistance was also agreed to in exchange for the establishment of an intelligence listening post in the islands.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Citizens of Nauru can change their government democratically. Suffrage is universal and compulsory for all citizens 20 years and older. The 18-member unicameral legislature is elected by popular vote for three-year terms. Members of parliament choose from among themselves the president and vice president.

There have been no reports of government monitoring or censorship of any media. The government owns and operates the only radio station. Nauru TV is government owned, and there is a private sports network. The government is the sole provider of Internet services. Nauru's telecommunications system is fragile; telephone service was unavailable for nearly two months when a frequency amplifier was damaged in January.

The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this in practice. There were no reports of any government suppression of academic freedom.

The government respects the right of assembly and association in practice. There are a few advocacy groups for women, development-focused groups, and religious organizations, but there are no trade unions or labor protection laws in this largely agriculture-based subsistence economy. In September, workers at the Nauru Phosphate Corporation, the country's largest employer, went on permanent strike to demand six months of back pay.

The judiciary is independent, and defendants generally receive fair trials and representation. Appeals can be lodged with the High Court of Australia. Nauru has no armed forces. Defense is the responsibility of Australia under an informal agreement. A police force of fewer than 100 persons is under civilian control.

Strict immigration rules govern foreign workers. Those who leave Nauru without their employer's permission cannot reenter, and immigrant workers must leave Nauru within 60 days of termination of employment.

The law provides equal freedoms and protection for men and women, but societal pressures limit opportunities for women to fully exercise these rights. Prostitution is illegal and not widespread. Sexual harassment is a crime, but spousal rape per se is not a crime. Domestic violence is frequently associated with alcohol abuse. Although the government and judiciary generally respond seriously to cases filed, most incidents are reconciled informally within the family or communally by traditional leaders. Consequently, reliable figures are not available.

Topics: Human rights,