6 Sep 2005

Fiji opposition leader rejects call to forgive coup perpetrators

10:14 am on 6 September 2005

Fiji's opposition leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, says no one who was involved in the May 2000 coup should be forgiven.

Radio Legend says Mr Chaudhry's comment is in response to the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase's calls that the victims should try to forgive the coup perpetrators and move on.

But Mr Chaudhry says the time to time to forgive and forget is over.

He says the Labour Party has been removed from government twice and he wants the coup plotters to pay for their crimes.

Mr Chaudhry says one cannot take treason lightly and Fiji has been through three coups which have cost the country a lot.

He says one cannot let these elements continue what they are doing and each time ask for forgiveness to get away with it.

Mr Chaudhry also says the coup investigations should continue as George Speight was only a front man and not the main person behind the coup.