PUBLICAI Index: ASA 43/11/00

5 October 2000

Further information on UA 305/00 (ASA 43/06/00, 29 September 2000) - Fear for safety

SOLOMON ISLANDSEric Rove (Solomon Airlines pilot)

Eric Rove was released from captivity today (5 October) by the armed political group that was holding him, and has been reunited with his family.

He had been kidnapped on 16 September by the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army (GRA), an armed political group involved in the Solomon Island’s ongoing ethnic conflict. The GRA, which is believed to have tortured and killed other civilians, had said it was holding him because the government had been too slow in fulfilling compensation promises made to armed political groups during peace talk.

No further appeals are required. Many thanks to those who sent appeals.