A Fiji politics watcher doubts the 2000 coup frontman George Speight will seek to involve himself in Fijian politics, after being released from prison last week.

Speight held the country's first prime minister of Indian ancestry, Mahendra Chaudhry, and dozens of others captive in the parliament building for fifty-six days.

He was granted a pardon last week and released after 24 years in custody.

Victoria University of Wellington political scientist, Jon Fraenkel, told RNZ Pacific Speight's release did not come as a surprise.

"He's been in prison 24 years now, most of the conspirators of May 19, 2000 were released after only one or two years. So it was always likely that Speight would be released," he said.

But, he said, Speight's release has certain sensitivities attached to it.

"Particularly as regards the military because he is in many ways symbolic of everything the military were fighting against when [Frank] Bainimarama was in power, so that made it a little bit difficult.

“But I think most people, think the time has come, although it has raised some concerns in some quarters."

Last week, Chaudhry, 83, told RNZ Pacific that he was very concerned about the release, saying the victims of his violent uprising more than two decades ago have not received justice.

"Now that Speight is free, I hope he enlightens us as to who was really behind the coup, because he said he was just the frontman," he said.

Fraenkel said there are a lot of people in Fiji who were under 24 years old and who were children at the time when Speight carried out the coup.

"They probably would not have that much knowledge of [the coup], although they lived through the consequences of it in many ways.

"The attitudes seem to be so strongly differentiated, still on ethnic lines, especially in the older generation.

"But amongst indigenous Fijians, there would be a strong sense that the time has come to turn the corner and that there should be some degree of forgiveness."

He said after nearly a quarter of a century "there is a strong sense of Christian forgiveness", particularly in the ruling People's Alliance Party.

"I think in the Fiji Indian community, the reactions are more mixed."

"I doubt it very much [he will look at a political career]. I heard one [social media] post suggesting that he was going to become prime minister. I really don't think so. But who knows what role he might play in the future?"

Following Speight's release, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the decision by the Mercy Commission to pardon him was "made following due process, with no external interference".

But on Tuesday, he told the Fiji Sun that he was a victim of Speight's silence due to speculations linking him the events of 2000.

"We want him to tell the truth. I am one of those who have been victims of his silence," Rabuka was quoted as saying by the newspaper.