Belden Namah
Encyclopedia
Belden Namah is a Papua New Guinea
n politician and former military officer.
In the 1990s, he was an officer in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, with the rank of captain. He was involved in the aftermath of the Sandline affair
in 1997. In July, he and three other soldiers accompanied Captain Bola Renagi to see newly appointed Prime Minister
Bill Skate
, following Prime Minister Julius Chan
's resignation under military pressure over the use of mercenaries in the conflict in Bougainville province. Renagi asked Skate to disband the Special Operations Group, to which the military was hostile. Namah, Renagi and the three other men were arrested and charged with sedition
for their approach to the Prime Minister; the public prosecution argued that they had been attempting to obtain a pardon from the government for the military personnel involved in the near-coup of the Sandline affair. He was tried, convicted and jailed with his fellow officers in late 1997. He was parole
d in 2003.
Before entering politics, he was also a businessman, describing himself as being "into the multi-billion-dollar business of logging".
As MP
for Vanimo-Green
in the Eighth National Parliament (2007-2012), he served for a time as Minister for Forestry under Prime Minister
Sir Michael Somare
.
In 2009, it emerged that he had bought "prime properties, worth more than [Kina|K]4 million", in Samoa
. Namah "initially denied the story, but after the Samoan Central Bank announced it was launching an inquiry into possible money laundering offenses, he admitted making the purchases", saying he had done so for "business associates".
He subsequently joined the Opposition. When Sir Mekere Morauta
stepped down from the leadership of the Opposition and of the PNG Party, in May 2010, Namah was elected to take over both, with Sam Basil (MP for Bulolo) as his deputy. Upon becoming Leader of the Opposition, and leader of the PNG Party with an eye to the 2012 general election
, Namah said that any government he might lead would aim to provide free universal education (noting that education was "a right guaranteed under the constitution") and healthcare, and "fix the law and order problem in this country". In that regard, discipline would be instilled by compelling prospective students to undergo a two year military service
before entering university. There would be support for Papua New Guinean scientists working on climate change
. He also said he supported the Somare government's bill on introducing reserved seats for women in Parliament.
In August 2011, the government of Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal
(standing in for Somare while the latter was in hospital for a serious heart condition) was ousted in a parliamentary motion of no confidence
. Peter O'Neill
was elected to the premiership, and appointed Namah as his Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Forestry and Climate Change. Upon taking office, Namah stated that the new government would, as a matter of priority, commit funds to provide free education to all the children in the country. As Minister for Climate Change, he also said he would be replacing PNG Climate Change Ambassador Kevin Conrad
. Namah said that Conrad, who was born in the United States
and lives there (although he grew up in Papua New Guinea), had insufficient knowledge and understanding of the country, its people and culture. He added that he wanted Conrad's successor to live in PNG. "Let some of our own men who know landowner issues very well take on the responsibility", he said.
In November, as the Supreme Court
prepared to hear a case on the legitimacy of the O'Neill government, Namah ordered the supension of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia
, as Injia was facing charges of "breaching a contempt order, and mismanaging court finances". The government said Injia's removal had nothing to do with the pending case on the government's legitimacy. The Supreme Court responded by ordering Namah's arrest, and that of Attorney General Dr Allan Marat
.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
n politician and former military officer.
In the 1990s, he was an officer in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, with the rank of captain. He was involved in the aftermath of the Sandline affair
Sandline affair
The Sandline affair was a political scandal that became one of the defining moments in the history of Papua New Guinea, and particularly that of the conflict in Bougainville. It brought down the government of Sir Julius Chan, and took Papua New Guinea to the verge of military revolt...
in 1997. In July, he and three other soldiers accompanied Captain Bola Renagi to see newly appointed Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, is Papua New Guinea's head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the National Parliament. Since 2 August 2011, the Prime Minister has been Peter O’Neill of the People's National Congress Party.-List...
Bill Skate
Bill Skate
Sir William Jack Skate KCMG was a Papua New Guinea politician and statesman. He was the son of an Australian father and a native PNG mother...
, following Prime Minister Julius Chan
Julius Chan
Sir Julius Chan GCL GCMG KBE was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1980 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1997. He is currently Member of Parliament for New Ireland Province, having won the seat in the 2007 national election...
's resignation under military pressure over the use of mercenaries in the conflict in Bougainville province. Renagi asked Skate to disband the Special Operations Group, to which the military was hostile. Namah, Renagi and the three other men were arrested and charged with sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
for their approach to the Prime Minister; the public prosecution argued that they had been attempting to obtain a pardon from the government for the military personnel involved in the near-coup of the Sandline affair. He was tried, convicted and jailed with his fellow officers in late 1997. He was parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
d in 2003.
Before entering politics, he was also a businessman, describing himself as being "into the multi-billion-dollar business of logging".
As MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Vanimo-Green
Vanimo-Green River District
Vanimo-Green River District is a district of the Sandaun Province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Vanimo....
in the Eighth National Parliament (2007-2012), he served for a time as Minister for Forestry under Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, is Papua New Guinea's head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the National Parliament. Since 2 August 2011, the Prime Minister has been Peter O’Neill of the People's National Congress Party.-List...
Sir Michael Somare
Michael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
.
In 2009, it emerged that he had bought "prime properties, worth more than [Kina|K]4 million", in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. Namah "initially denied the story, but after the Samoan Central Bank announced it was launching an inquiry into possible money laundering offenses, he admitted making the purchases", saying he had done so for "business associates".
He subsequently joined the Opposition. When Sir Mekere Morauta
Mekere Morauta
Sir Mekere Morauta, KCMG is a Papua New Guinean political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea between 1999 and 2002, and later as Leader of the Opposition. He is the sitting member for Moresby North-West in the national parliament, and he was until recently the...
stepped down from the leadership of the Opposition and of the PNG Party, in May 2010, Namah was elected to take over both, with Sam Basil (MP for Bulolo) as his deputy. Upon becoming Leader of the Opposition, and leader of the PNG Party with an eye to the 2012 general election
Papua New Guinean general election, 2007
General elections were held in Papua New Guinea from 30 June 2007 to 14 July 2007.For the first time, the election did not use first past the post , but rather Limited Preferential Voting, in which voters number...
, Namah said that any government he might lead would aim to provide free universal education (noting that education was "a right guaranteed under the constitution") and healthcare, and "fix the law and order problem in this country". In that regard, discipline would be instilled by compelling prospective students to undergo a two year military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
before entering university. There would be support for Papua New Guinean scientists working on climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
. He also said he supported the Somare government's bill on introducing reserved seats for women in Parliament.
In August 2011, the government of Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal
Sam Abal
Samuel Tei "Sam" Abal is a Papua New Guinean politician. Abal, who previously served as Foreign Minister from August 2007 to December 2010, became the Deputy Prime Minister of the country in a cabinet reshuffle by Michael Somare on 7 December 2010...
(standing in for Somare while the latter was in hospital for a serious heart condition) was ousted in a parliamentary motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
. Peter O'Neill
Peter O'Neill
Peter Charles Paire O'Neill, CMG is the current Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. He is the leader of the People's National Congress and represents the constituency of Ialibu-Pangia.-Biography:...
was elected to the premiership, and appointed Namah as his Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Forestry and Climate Change. Upon taking office, Namah stated that the new government would, as a matter of priority, commit funds to provide free education to all the children in the country. As Minister for Climate Change, he also said he would be replacing PNG Climate Change Ambassador Kevin Conrad
Kevin Conrad
frame|right|Amb. Conrad in GhanaKevin Mark Conrad, born in the United States to parents living in Papua New Guinea in 1968, is a Papua New Guinean lawyer and environmentalist...
. Namah said that Conrad, who was born in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and lives there (although he grew up in Papua New Guinea), had insufficient knowledge and understanding of the country, its people and culture. He added that he wanted Conrad's successor to live in PNG. "Let some of our own men who know landowner issues very well take on the responsibility", he said.
In November, as the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea
The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has been the highest court of Papua New Guinea since 16 September 1975, replacing the pre-Independence Supreme Court and the overseas appellate tribunals from 1902 to 1975 of the High Court of Australia and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council...
prepared to hear a case on the legitimacy of the O'Neill government, Namah ordered the supension of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia
Salamo Injia
Sir Salamo Injia Kt is a Papua New Guinean judge. Injia became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea in 2008, succeeding Mari Kapi....
, as Injia was facing charges of "breaching a contempt order, and mismanaging court finances". The government said Injia's removal had nothing to do with the pending case on the government's legitimacy. The Supreme Court responded by ordering Namah's arrest, and that of Attorney General Dr Allan Marat
Allan Marat
Allan S. M. Marat CBE is a Papua New Guinean politician. He served as Minister for Justice and Attorney General in Prime Minister Michael Somare's Cabinet from August 2007 to May 2010. In May 2010, he publicly stated that major mining projects in the country brought little benefit to local...
.