The former Prime Minister who served between 1988 and 1992 at the height of the Bougainville crisis has apologised to the people of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea.
Sir Rabbie Namaliu said sorry during the pre-reconciliation early last week in Kokopo, to the Bougainville veterans and members of the PNG security force, including the people of Bougainville, for the 10 year crisis and lives lost.
It was a very emotional scene as men of steel broke down in dialogue pre-reconciliation, some meeting for the very first time since the conflict had ended.
An event that focused on those who fought, a call was made to former Prime Ministers to also apologise.
This was suggested as part of the Melanesian solution.
And Sir Rabbie was the first of the Prime Ministers who had served during the 10-year crisis to apologise.
This is a significant progress to the Bougainville Peace Agreement in preparation for the referendum on November 23rd.
(Sir Rabbie Namaliu)