I forgive those who removed me: Qarase
Sunday September 02, 2007

Deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase says he has forgiven all those that have "sinned" against him.

Qarase made this statement in a televised interview yesterday following the end of his nine-month "exile" at his island home in Lau following the December 5 coup.

"I have forgiven everybody whom I regarded as people who have sinned against me," he said.

"I never hold these things for any length of time. When people do things against me, I am very quick to forgive and forget."



Qarase said it is important that "sooner rather then later" there is a definite move towards democracy.

He had earlier said he was willing to work with the interim administration led by military commander and current interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama to return the country to democratic rule.

But Qarase said there is "no way" he is willing to work under interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.

Chaudhry, the leader of the Fiji Labour Party, has been Qarase's political arch rival since 2000.

"I am not working under him, no way," Qarase said.

"I could work with him in the sense we can discuss things.

"We have had a lot of differences in our political philosophy."

Bainimarama said yesterday he would consider Qarase's offer of assistance only if Qarase is "serious" about getting the country back to democracy.