Mathew Batsiua

Mathew Jansen Batsiua (born 27 May 1971[1]) is a Nauruan politician.[2] Batsiua, a former health minister and former foreign minister of Nauru, has served as a member of parliament for the constituency of Boe since 2004.[3]

The Honourable
Mathew Batsiua
Member of the Nauruan Parliament
for Boe
In office
October 23, 2004 – July 9, 2016
Preceded byKinza Clodumar
Succeeded byAsterio Appi
Personal details
Born (1971-05-27) 27 May 1971
Nauru
NationalityNauru Nauruan
ResidenceBoe
Professionpublic servant

Parliamentary role

Batsiua has been elected to parliament in the 2004 general elections, ousting long-time parliamentarian and former president Kinza Clodumar. He has been re-elected in the 2007 and 2008 elections.

He was Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Marcus Stephen from July 2011[4] to November 2011. He was appointed as Minister Assisting the President of Nauru in the short-lived cabinet of Frederick Pitcher in November 2011.

Parliamentary constituency

He represented the Boe Constituency in the Parliament of Nauru. He was defeated in the 2016 parliamentary election.[5]

Protest and trial
Main article: Nauru 19

In 2014, Batsiua along with other opposition MPs were suspended from their parliament seats.[6] In June 2015, there was an anti-government protest against this.[7] Batsiua was arrested, and 18 other people in total were charged, dubbed the Nauru 19.[8][9] On 13 September 2018, they were granted a permanent stay on their case.[10] The government appealed, and the stay was lifted. In December 2019, Batsiua was sentenced to 11 months in prison.[11] He was released in April 2020.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Hon Mathew Batsiua MP - Member for Boe - The Government of the Republic of Nauru". 4 April 2014. Archived from the original on 4 April 2014.
  2. Parliament of Nauru
  3. "Asylum plan on course despite Nauru power shift". ABC News (Australia). 2011-11-10. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  4. "Assignment of Responsibility for the Business of Government : July 2011" (PDF). Ronlaw.gov.nr. Nauru Government Gazette.
  5. Cain, Joseph (10 July 2016). "General Parliamentary Election 2016" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (132): 4.
  6. "Nauru opposition MPs still in limbo over suspensions". Radio New Zealand. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  7. Doherty, Ben (3 April 2018). "Nauru's former president accuses Australia of being complicit in 'political prosecution'". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  8. "Extra cops called in to protect Govt". The New Zealand Herald. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  9. "Lawyers for "Nauru 19" seek help with costs". Radio New Zealand. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  10. "Permanent stay for Nauru anti government protestors". Radio New Zealand. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  11. Davidson, Helen (19 December 2019). "Nauru 19 members jailed over protest against crackdown on opposition MPs". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  12. "Last of 'Nauru-19' released". Radio New Zealand. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2023.


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