Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry confirmed that George Speight has not sought forgiveness for his role in the 2000 coup, which forcibly removed Chaudhry from office. When asked whether he would be open to accepting an apology if Speight were to offer one, Chaudhry declined to elaborate further, reiterating that he had already addressed the question.
Chaudhry expressed hope that now that Speight is a free man, he would disclose the full truth regarding the events of the coup. In the meantime, Unity Fiji has expressed its support for Speight’s release. Party leader Savenaca Narube warned Fijians against normalizing the actions of the other coup leaders, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who Narube claims have been unjustly rewarded with positions of power.
Narube emphasized that all coups unconstitutionally dismantled a democratically elected government. He stated that Speight has served his time for his actions, while his counterparts have faced no repercussions. He questioned the fairness of allowing Rabuka and Bainimarama to hold prime ministerial roles.
Highlighting the severe consequences of the coups, Narube lamented the loss of lives, increased racial distrust, corruption, and economic suffering. He estimated that without the coups, Fiji’s economy would be substantially stronger and that the cost of each coup averages around $3 billion, excluding the human cost involved. Narube stressed the importance of preventing future coups to safeguard the nation’s future prosperity.