Bougainville MP feared killed

Amnesty International has called on its supporters to petition the Papua New Guinea government over what Amnesty fears has been the illegal killing by PNG security forces of a prominent Bougainvillean.

According to the Pacnews News Service, Amnesty said on March 31 that it was very concerned for the safety of Ken Savia, a member of the suspended North Solomons Provincial Assembly.

Savia was among a number of Bougainvilleans whom Papua New Guinea acknowledged its troops captured at the Arawa Hospital when they entered the provincial capital in force on February 13.

Radio Australia's Sean Dorney says that when Amnesty contacted him some weeks ago saying they feared Savia had been killed, he tried to track him down. He was told by PNG officials that Savia had been taken to the PNGDF's base at Wakunai on Bougainville.

There has been no further information of Savia's whereabouts or condition.

Amnesty says it has had reports Savia and others were tortured and killed. The Papua New Guinea government has been urged to clarify Savia's fate and to give lawyers, relatives and doctors immediate access to him if he is still in military custody.

Sporadic fighting continues between the forces of Bougainville Revolutionary Army and the PNGDF in and around Arawa.

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