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Amnesty: Bougainville Peace Agreement

Implementations

Amnesty – 2001

The PNG Government Attorney General sought an opinion from the Supreme Court on whether amnesty and/or pardon could be granted under the constitution to persons in the commission of offences in the Bougainville crisis.¹

“Papua New Guinea: Court asked to rule on Bougainville pardons,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, October 9, 2001.

Amnesty – 2002

On August 1, 2002, the PNG government approved an amnesty from prosecution for war crimes committed during the bloody 13-year secessionist struggle in Bougainville, where up to 15,000 people died. Exceptions to the amnesty were made for crimes related to infanticide and sexual offenses.²

“Papua New Guinea approves amnesty,” The Globe and Mail (Canada), August 1, 2002, PA15.

Amnesty – 2003

A former commander of Papua New Guinea’s Defence Force was believed to have become the first person to seek amnesty under the provisions of the Bougainville Peace Agreement. He faced charges of sedition over the 1997 Sandline affair.³

“Papua New Guinea former defense commander seeks amnesty,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, June 10, 2003.

Amnesty – 2004

No further information is available on how the amnesty law was carried out once the government had approved the amnesty provision.