An Australia-based academic Brij Lal says the Fiji prime minister's apology over the 1987 and 2000 coups is selective.
Speaking to expatriates at Fiji Day celebrations in Australia, Frank Bainimarama apologised to those who had to flee and invited expatriates to return home and invest.
Professor Lal was expelled from Fiji in 2009 after his criticism of the interim regime's decision to expel Australian and New Zealand diplomats.
He says Mr Bainimarama's apology does not include people like himself who were pushed out for having different political ideals.
"There is kind of a selective reading of things here but I hope that in the fullness of time, wisdom will prevail, and all Fiji citizens, irrespective of their political beliefs and so on will be allowed to return to Fiji."
Brij Lal says it is not suprising Mr Bainimarama did not mention his own coup in 2006 in the apology.
Academic Prof Brij Lal who was deported from Fiji in 2009 Photo: Supplied
