Namah challenges PM to go to court

 By SHIRLYN BELDEN 

OPPOSITION leader Belden Namah says he is prepared for any defamation suit Prime Minister Peter O’Neill institutes against him.

He told a press conference at parliament yesterday that he has evidence for the claims he made against O’Neill in the media on matters of corruption and he would present them in court if required.

 “We (the opposition members) are duty-bound to keep the         government and its leaders, including the prime minister, in check so why is O’Neill running to the courts when we are debating corruption at the national government level? 

“I challenge the PM to take it to the courts and sue me for defamation and I will produce evidences,” he said. 

O’Neill said on Tuesday he intended to take legal action against Namah and Media Niugini’s television station, EMTV, and its journalist Scott Waide for defamation over EMTV’s broadcast of unsubstantiated claims made by Namah against him.

Namah said O’Neill should not be charging against the opposition or the media like that as they were just doing their jobs. 

“It is the traditional role of the opposition to criticise, speculate, oppose and to even take pre-emptive measures on issues that concern the welfare of our people. 

“I ask the prime minister to leave media freedom to be practised without fear or favour in our democracy.”

 O’Neill said while he welcomed public debate on any issue of national importance in the media, “these debates must be based on facts. 

“When serious allegations are raised in the media against a person, evidence must be provided to support the claims made.

“This applies to everyone, including the opposition leader. 

He said he was also considering referring Namah to the Ombudsman Commission for misconduct.