One of the pro-democracy activists who were allegedly beaten by Fiji's interim Prime Minister in December 2006 says he has forgiven all those involved in the incident.
The allegation by the former senior Fiji officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, came in his latest statement from Tonga where he fled to this month after being charged with sedition.
Col Mara accuses Commodore Frank Bainimarama of personally beating four pro-democracy activists, including three women, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks on Christmas Eve 2006.
Peter Waqavonovono of Fiji's Young People Concerned Network confirms he and the others were arrested and abused.
"I can confirm that there were high profile faces, characters, that were there on the day. We were subject to many, many things that happened that night. But I guess the most important thing is how we've all responded to those events and that is we've decided to continue to respond peacefully."
Peter Waqavonovono
