Yasin Abu Bakr, Former Trinidadian Coup Chief, Dies
Yasin Abu bakr, the chief of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen, who staged an unsuccessful coup towards the federal government of then prime minister of Trinidad, ANR Robinson on July 27, 1990, died on Thursday night time, family have confirmed.
In a message posted on social media, the family mentioned that Bakr, 80, died on the St. James infirmary, simply on the outskirts of the capital, simply after 9.00 pm (native time).
“My father-in-law Imam Yasin Abu Bakr has handed away. From Allah we got here to Allah we will return,” wrote journalist Kristy Ramnarine, who’s married Fuad Abu Bakr, one among Bakr’s sons and who additionally posted an analogous message on his Fb web page.
Abu Bakr reportedly collapsed at his house and was taken to the medical facility the place died, regardless of efforts by medical personnel to resuscitate him. It’s unclear right now what led to his passing.
Bakr celebrated his eightieth birthday earlier this week.
Abu Bakr was born Lennox Philip, the eighth of 15 youngsters. On July 27, 1990, armed members of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen invaded the Parliament throughout a sitting, taking hostage Robinson and a number of other different parliamentarians in an try and overthrow the federal government.
Abu Bakr and different Jamaat members concurrently stormed the state-owned tv station, Trinidad and Tobago Tv (TTT) and Radio Trinidad and Bakr would seem on TTT that night to tell the inhabitants that the federal government had been “arrested.” He urged the inhabitants to be calm and “to not loot.”
What adopted was a six-day nightmare for the hostages. Robinson was shot within the leg when he refused instructions to order the military to face down.
The Muslimeen demanded Robinson’s resignation and an assurance that contemporary elections could be held in 60 days. The insurgents wished to type a brand new authorities, with Abu Bakr because the Nationwide Safety Minister.
Outdoors the Parliament and TTT, the capital metropolis was looted and burnt. Companies, livelihoods have been destroyed, leaving a mark that’s nonetheless evident as we speak.
Then performing as Prime Minister, Winston Dookeran and a number of other others have been capable of negotiate an amnesty with the Muslimeen insurrectionists.
Six days after it started, the hostages have been freed and the 113 Jamaat-al-Muslimeen members walked out of the Parliament, TTT and Radio Trinidad with their weapons above their heads. They have been all arrested and brought to jail. Nevertheless, they have been freed some 14 months later when the Privy Council upheld the amnesty.
Bakr failed to look earlier than a Fee of Inquiry that had been arrange in 2014 to inquire into the occasions that led to the failed coup.
Final month, the police introduced they’d not examine statements made by Abu Bakr, after session with the Workplace of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Appearing Police Commissioner Mc Donald Jacob mentioned Particular Department officers reviewed the statements and located they didn’t warrant any additional motion.
Throughout a 75-minute broadcast from his mosque on September 10, Abu Bakr supposedly made threats towards the Authorities.
“I warn you as we speak. I warn you 3 times. You haven’t any warning after this. I’m warning the Authorities of TT, I’m warning the police, the military, Coast Guard. I’m warning all people who’s concerned within the repression, oppression of the African individuals, that is the last-day warning. If you don’t change, if you don’t modify the society, it approaching you,” he instructed his followers.
“God goes to destroy you. You haven’t any weapons to defend your self. It’s confirmed already as a result of proper now now we have COVID and you’ll’t do nothing.”
CMC
