The Papua New Guinea Cabinet has finalized an agreement to grant immunity from prosecution for war crimes committed during the Bougainville crisis. Prime Minister Mekere Morauta said that “crimes such as infanticide and sexual offenses” will not fall under the immunity decree, as such crimes could not be considered “crisis related”. The secessionist struggle on Bougainville Island resulted in 15,000 casualties in a 13-year period. The amnesty will apply to crimes committed between Oct. 1, 1988 and Aug. 30, 2001.
