Fiji's prime minister has dismissed the mounting outcry against his government's controversial Reconciliation and Unity Bill as the views of a vocal minority.
Laisenia Qarase says those raising objections such as the political parties, NGOs, and the Fiji Trades Union Congress represent very few people but are very vocal.
He says he is sure the silent majority support the Bill.
The Bill will set up a commission with powers to fast track amnesty for coup convicts like George Speight, erase their criminal records, give immunity to those not yet prosecuted and suspend court proceedings against those facing charges.
As Fiji marks the fifth anniversary of the Speight coup today, Mr Qarase says the government is trying to put a closure to the events of May 2000.
He says if investigations continue, there is no guarantee that there may be other evidence implicating other people who will come on the scene and there would be no end to it.
Mr Qarase says the government has done a lot and no one can say they have not bothered to carry out investigations.
One of the Bill's critics, former opposition leader, Mick Beddoes, says the bill could in fact encourage future coups by allowing political motives to be reason enough to overthrow a government.
He says they're hoping to mount a legal challenge because the government has the numbers in parliament to be able to push the bill through to make it law.
"Therefore, we felt it was important for us to stop this bill even finding its way to parliament. We are also concerned that we have the military, who is also very opposed to it, and our fear is that if the government insists and pushes this bill through, it may be the catalyst that will see some military intervention."
Mr Beddoes says he doesn't think this will necessarily happen and the military itself has said that while it will do all it can to stop the bill becoming law, it will do so within democratic means.
Mr Beddoes says a formal complaint has been lodged with the Human Rights Commission which has the power to take the issue to court
