Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt
Encyclopedia
On Friday 27 July 1990, 114 members of the Jamaat al Muslimeen
, an Afro-Trinidadian Islamic organisation, led by Imam Yasin Abu Bakr
and Bilaal Abdullah (located at the Red House) attempted to stage a coup d'état against the government of Trinidad and Tobago
. Forty-two insurgents stormed the Red House
(the seat of Parliament
) and took the Prime Minister, A.N.R. Robinson
and most of his Cabinet hostage, including Horace James, while seventy-two of their compatriots attacked the offices of Trinidad and Tobago Television
(TTT), then the only television station in the country at that time and the Trinidad Broadcasting Company, then one of only two radio stations in the country. At 6.00 pm Yasin Abu Bakr
appeared on television and announced that the government had been overthrown, and that he was negotiating with the Army
. He called for calm, and said that there should be no looting.
The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
and the Police responded by sealing off the area around the Red House. Widespread looting and arson took place in Port of Spain
and other parts of the East-West Corridor
, but the remainder of the country was calm. A State of Emergency was declared by Acting President Emmanuel Carter and Martial Law
was imposed. Several members of Cabinet who had not been present in the Red House at the time of the attack set up office in the Trinidad Hilton
. On the night of 27 July the army took control of the TTT transmitter on Cumberland Hill, thus taking TTT off the air. After six days of negotiation, the Muslimin surrendered on 1 August, and were taken into custody. They were tried for treason, but the Court of Appeal upheld the amnesty offered to secure their surrender, and they were released. The Privy Council
later invalidated the amnesty, but the Muslimeen members were not re-arrested.
About twenty-four people died during the coup attempt, with millions in property losses. Among the dead was Member of Parliament for Diego Martin
Central, Leo Des Vignes
. Many people saw the coup attempt as the end of the power of the National Alliance for Reconstruction
government.
In late July or early August 2010, the court ruled that many properties owned by the Jamaat,would be sold to make up for the cost of the destruction of buildings in the 1990 Coup. An enquiry was formally been launched and was taking place as of 26 January 2011.
Jamaat al Muslimeen
The Jamaat al Muslimeen is a Muslim organisation within the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with a membership of predominantly Afro-Trinidadians....
, an Afro-Trinidadian Islamic organisation, led by Imam Yasin Abu Bakr
Yasin Abu Bakr
Yasin Abu Bakr, born Lennox Philip is the leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen a Muslim group in Trinidad and Tobago. The group has long-standing links with Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. Under the leadership of Abu Bakr and Bilaal Abdullah, the group staged an attempted coup d’état in 1990.Abu...
and Bilaal Abdullah (located at the Red House) attempted to stage a coup d'état against the government of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. Forty-two insurgents stormed the Red House
The Red House (Trinidad and Tobago)
The Red House is the seat of Parliament in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The architectural design of the Red House is of Greek revival style. The original building was destroyed in the 1903 water riots and was rebuilt in the year 1907. The Red House is located centrally within the capital...
(the seat of Parliament
Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the legislative branch of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Parliament is bicameral. It consists of the elected House of Representatives, which has 43 members elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies, and the Senate which has 31...
) and took the Prime Minister, A.N.R. Robinson
A. N. R. Robinson
Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, OCC, TC was the third President of Trinidad and Tobago, serving from 19 March 1997 to 17 March 2003. He was also Trinidad and Tobago's third Prime Minister, serving in that capacity from 18 December 1986 to 17 December 1991...
and most of his Cabinet hostage, including Horace James, while seventy-two of their compatriots attacked the offices of Trinidad and Tobago Television
Trinidad and Tobago Television
The Trinidad and Tobago Television Company ', was a national television broadcaster in Trinidad and Tobago. The company operated two stations, ttt on channels 2 and 13 and Alternative Television on channels 9 and 14...
(TTT), then the only television station in the country at that time and the Trinidad Broadcasting Company, then one of only two radio stations in the country. At 6.00 pm Yasin Abu Bakr
Yasin Abu Bakr
Yasin Abu Bakr, born Lennox Philip is the leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen a Muslim group in Trinidad and Tobago. The group has long-standing links with Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. Under the leadership of Abu Bakr and Bilaal Abdullah, the group staged an attempted coup d’état in 1990.Abu...
appeared on television and announced that the government had been overthrown, and that he was negotiating with the Army
Trinidad and Tobago Regiment
The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is the main ground force element of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. It has approximately 2,800 men and women organized into a Regiment Headquarters and four battalions. There is also a Volunteer Defence Force that has been renamed the Defence Force Reserves...
. He called for calm, and said that there should be no looting.
The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago...
and the Police responded by sealing off the area around the Red House. Widespread looting and arson took place in Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
and other parts of the East-West Corridor
East-West Corridor
The East-West Corridor is the built-up area of north Trinidad stretching from the capital, Port of Spain, 15 miles east to Arima. The term was coined by economist and political philosopher Lloyd Best, after gleaning the works of a technocrat named Lynette Attwell. The Corridor includes such towns...
, but the remainder of the country was calm. A State of Emergency was declared by Acting President Emmanuel Carter and Martial Law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
was imposed. Several members of Cabinet who had not been present in the Red House at the time of the attack set up office in the Trinidad Hilton
Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
. On the night of 27 July the army took control of the TTT transmitter on Cumberland Hill, thus taking TTT off the air. After six days of negotiation, the Muslimin surrendered on 1 August, and were taken into custody. They were tried for treason, but the Court of Appeal upheld the amnesty offered to secure their surrender, and they were released. The Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
later invalidated the amnesty, but the Muslimeen members were not re-arrested.
About twenty-four people died during the coup attempt, with millions in property losses. Among the dead was Member of Parliament for Diego Martin
Diego Martin
Diego Martin is a town in northwestern Trinidad, just north-west of the capital Port of Spain and east of Carenage. The Diego Martin Valley in the Northern Range was once filled with a number of small villages but is now a densely populated area. It was named after a Spanish explorer Don Diego...
Central, Leo Des Vignes
Leo Des Vignes
Leo Des Vignes was a Trinidadian politician. He served as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Diego Martin Central from January 12, 1987 until his death on August 1, 1990. He also served as a Parliamentary Secretary during that time...
. Many people saw the coup attempt as the end of the power of the National Alliance for Reconstruction
National Alliance for Reconstruction
The National Alliance for Reconstruction was the governing party in Trinidad and Tobago between 1986 and 1991.-History:The party was established in 1986, aiming to be a multi-racial party...
government.
In late July or early August 2010, the court ruled that many properties owned by the Jamaat,would be sold to make up for the cost of the destruction of buildings in the 1990 Coup. An enquiry was formally been launched and was taking place as of 26 January 2011.