Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

PNG opposition leader apologises for pre-election antics to oust Somare

Posted at 20:53 on 24 October, 2012 UTC

Papua New Guinea’s opposition leader, Belden Namah, has publicly apologised for his part in last August’s political impasse, saying he was ready for any reconciliation move in the Melanesian way.

Mr Namah apologised to the Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, and other members of the judiciary for all that had transpired over the past 10 months.

He says the faction led by Peter O’Neill had orchestrated the move to change government in August last year and he was part of it.

Mr Namah also apologised to Sir Michael Somare, who was ousted in the August move.

The courts ruled that Sir Michael remained the prime minister but the group led by Mr O’Neill ignored the ruling.

Meanwhile, he has called for a Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of this year’s national elections.

In a statement to parliament, he alleges serious fraud with the printing of 280,000 generic ballot papers that were allegedly used by some politicians to get voted into office.