Fiji's opposition leader, Mick Beddoes, says the coup front man, George Speight, should be freed in return for turning state witness and providing information about the people really behind the upheaval.
Mr Beddoes says in this way the real culprits can be prosecuted and sent to jail so Fiji can start to move forward with confidence.
Speight is currently serving a life sentence on Nukulau Island for his role in the coup.
His accomplices are serving terms of between two and four years and have applied to be released on compulsory supervision orders so they can be home for Christmas.
Mr Beddoe's call comes after the court martial of 15 soliders for the November 2000 mutiny during which they named several senior military officers and public figures who they said were behind the coup and the mutiny.
