Wednesday 28 July 2010

BBC features interviews on 1990 Trinidad and Tobago coup

Twenty years ago on the evening of 27 July 1990, 114 members of the islamic group, Jamaat-al-Muslimeen took over the country's parliament during a sitting of the House of Representatives, and also took over the then only state TV station, Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT). YasinAbu Bakr broadcast several transmissions to the Trinidad and Tobago public saying he had overthrown the government and asking for public support. The armed forces cut off transmissions from TTT, and a state of emergency was imposed with a five-day hostage crisis  ensuing.

The surrender of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen insurrectionists and the release of their hostages brought an end to six of the bloodiest days in Trinidad's history. Twenty four people died, many were injured, and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage was done to buildings and shops in the capital of Port of Spain.

BBC Caribbean is charting the personal stories of the key players in the events of 1990 and memories of those caught on the front line during the crisis at TT coup: 20 years on

starting with an interview with Jamaat leader Yasin Abu Bakr who spoke to BBC Caribbean's Tony Fraser in July 2010.

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