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.