News Service 186/96

AI INDEX: ASA 34/04/96

14 OCTOBER 1996

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: A FULL, INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION NEEDED INTO LATEST KILLING

Amnesty International is calling on the Papua New Guinea Government to conduct a full and independent inquiry into yesterday’s killing of Theodore Miriung, Premier of the Bougainville Transitional Government at his home in Kapana village in southwest Bougainville.

“Theodore Miriung’s death is the latest in a long line. Sadly it is unlikely to be the last such killing unless the authorities demonstrate greater willingness to investigate human rights violations and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Amnesty International said today.

To date no one has claimed responsibility for the shooting. In the past extrajudicial executions have been carried out by both the Papua New Guinea Defence Forces and the secessionist Bougainville Revolutionary Army.

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