Tei Abal

Sir Tei Abal (1932? – 1994) was a member of the parliament of Papua New Guinea (PNG) between 1964 and 1982, during which time he both served as a government minister in several positions and was leader of the opposition. He was known as an unsuccessful advocate of slowing down the process of PNG's Independence, because he considered that the population from the Highlands areas, of which he was one, were unready for independence.

Early life Tei Abal was born, around 1932, near Laiagam, in what was then the Western Highlands of the Territory of New Guinea. He was the only son of Abal Monape, a leader of the Temanga clan. His mother died during his childhood, apparently because of devastating frosts that left the Laiagam valley without food. The hunger led father and son to leave home and travel through the Lai Valley in search of food. Abal witnessed his father being murdered by local tribesmen, and subsequently suffered considerable destitution. A couple from Wapenamanda eventually adopted him.

Abal initially formed the Compass Party and then became the first leader of the Highlander-dominated United Party (UP), which won more seats than any other party at the 1972 election. Consequently, he was expected to become chief minister following the introduction of self-government in December 1973. Instead, Pangu Pati's Michael Somare negotiated a national coalition and formed an administration. This failure led Abal to give up leadership of the party to Matthias Toliman, a member of the party from New Britain. When the latter died in 1973, Abal again became leader, focussing primarily on delaying independence. He was a candidate to become the country's first Governor-General, but was placed third in the first round of voting in parliament.

After Iambakey Okuk, a Highlander, became leader of the opposition in May 1978, in part because of Abal's failure to adequately oppose the government, Abal joined the Somare government with other UP members and became minister for public utilities (1978 – 79). He then advocated a single party state; considered to be a politically inept proposal. He suffered a stroke in 1979 and was partially paralysed by a second in 1980. After performing badly in the 1982 national election, he retired from politics.

Death Abal died at his home near Wabag, on 14 March 1994. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and three daughters. After a state funeral at Wabag Community School, which he had helped found, he was buried at his home in a grave topped by a little house. Over two thousand mourners attended. One of his sons, Sam Abal, later represented Wabag in the national parliament, serving as foreign minister (2007–10), deputy prime minister (2010 – 12) and acting prime minister (2011 – 2012).