The Man Who Tried to Overthrow the Trinidad Government: Interview with Abu Bakr
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- čas přidán 29. 05. 2014
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At his compound on the outskirts of Port of Spain, the man responsible for the only attempted militant Islamic overthrow of a Western government is smiling. "I've been charged with treason, I've been charged with sedition, with murder, conspiracy to murder, [stockpiling] guns...." Abu Bakr, the fiery 73-year-old leader of Jamaat al Muslimeen, rattles off the many accusations that the government of Trinidad and Tobago has leveled against him.
"Nothing has stuck, because it's fabricated," he continues. "They list all the charges in a book, and they just throw the book at me.... That's not prosecution, that's persecution!"
Bakr has mellowed a bit in his old age, but he still relishes the opportunity to serve as a thorn in the side of the government with whom he has clashed for decades. Depending on which local you ask, "The Jamaat" is either a jihadi group, a vast criminal organization, an invaluable community resource providing jobs and social services to Trinidad's disadvantaged, or a combination of all three.
But everyone agrees that the coup that Bakr led in 1990 - which held the state hostage for six days, unleashed widespread looting and chaos, and resulted in 24 deaths and the shooting of the prime minister - changed the country forever.
More on VICE News:
The Islamic Leader Who Tried to Overthrow Trinidad Has Mellowed... a Little - news.vice.com/article/the-isl...
Watch "Murder and Corruption in Trinidad" - news.vice.com/video/murder-an...
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Can’t believe I’m only now seeing this 6 years later in 2020.
Same bro
Same here
Facts
Same here...
Same... Why are we all seeing this at the same time 👀 especially near election time in trinidad 😳
Anyone is watching this in 2020?
Yessir
Yup
Lol Trinidad is not a real place
Yeah
yup
Any trinidadian viewing in 2019 👀
Yurrr
Yuup
Yup.
Yepp
HAITI EK SESEL EK MAURIS PILON!!! LOCEAN ENDIEN PLI ZOLI KI LOSEAN CARAIBYEN. NU PLI RED KI ZOT!!! NU ZIL PLI ZOLI KI POU ZOT!!!! NU ANNAN PLIS DRG KI ZOT!!!! EOULA BEZ SORTI LA DON!!! HAITIEN POU BAT ZOT KALOT FERMAL!!! PILON!!!!! KAPLE DAN OU FES OU. NU SESELWA NU ZAKO. CREOLE!!! PREZAN KWA!!??? KI OU POU FER??? PA SEYE FRERLA OU TANDE,OU POU GANY BATE?? FERMAL. OU POU GANY DIMAL. KOUTPYE DAN FES PARTOU.
abu bakr tall as hell. he was doing the wrong type of shooting in 1990.
LMFAOOOO
This man everywhere boy LMAO
Could have been Trinidad's Kareem Abdul Jabbar lol
O my God give him grace
YH IKR HE RELL TALL
who's here after learning of his death?
Me
Weird how it came up in my suggested
Me
CZcams suggest it
Me
Didn't know that this vid existed, CZcams just suggested it to me.
Same
likewise
Same
Same
"Man tried to destroy the mosque and the tractor flipped on him."
Deeebully 😂
Alhamdulilah
Yeah it never happened
@@VSM101 It never happened, but if it did, it is the mosque that would've flipped.
Allahu Akbar
He's telling the truth. However, the rich and powerful never want peace and unity amongst the poor.
Y would they when they could divide and rule?
FaddaWolf so the poor would be busy fighting each other rather than fighting the rich.
😏
The dude is a jihadi
They are trying to have the ORIGINAL people of that Island kill themselves with this "government" formed gang system throughout the Americas. We have to wake up and get rid of all these foreigners PERIOD.
Any trini watching this with me 😂
skullpoly you’re not a real trini
Yesssir
@@pimpiniseasy2778 but I am doh sorry I now seeing this
@@ien2864 u see the big scene the other day with the riots this gave me some flash backs to this video
skullpoly indo
"you see any swimming pools in John John" 😂😂🤣
🤣
I weak 😂😂
😆😆
Who's watching in Tuesday, July 30, 2019?
Came back jus got the reminder....everybody's involved!!
I'm watching 1 of August 2019 lol
Friday, August 2 2019
@@kalyaangoordat3773 Same
Saw he recommendation several days now so watching it again after 5 years
We trinis does tear down each other
The whole Caribbean does laugh at we
I’m not Muslim but this man is spitting the truth
we need a strong leader
@@8989321 we need a strong, EMPATHETIC leader.
Nah lie bredda di accent jus inna mi brain
he killed people idiot
As Malcolm X (El Hajj Malik Shabazz) said I don't need a religion which does not allows me to fight for my freedom.
How about a religion where there is no need to fight for freedom? I'm an atheist, and I live in the West. I have no religion or desire for religion, and my life is peaceful with relative freedom. Muslims think islam is being threatened (some muslims) but the truth is that no one give a damn what you believe. No one is trying to keep you from being free. Extremists are keeping people from freedom by using fear to control people.
DaCamponTwee What you need to understand is that the Extremists got a point and yes you guys don't care what we believe but because of what you do the 'Western' Muslim generation is following western behaviour such as adultery, pornography, intoxications (Wine and Alcohol) and other haram (Forbidden) acts within Islam.
Back to the point that in other countries Muslims are fighting for freedom from their dictators what were planted there by western powers for example King Saud of Saudi Arabia was planted by Britain to enforce democracy upon the inhabitants.
The real difference between Extremist and Moderate is the implementation of Shar'iah (Gods Law) and just living in a low where the people hold superiority not God.
Alfred Simcik Im not talking about the Middle East, I am talking about Islam - Islam forbids Adultery, Intoxications, Pornography, Rape and other sinful acts. Unfortunately there is not one Islamic state in the world today, In the middle east and Iran where you say they commit drugs and so on don't follow their religion.
This isnt just with Islam its with Judaism, Christianity (If the people follow it) and other major religons.
I didn't say all Westerners commit acts such as adultery but what I am saying is that it is 'Normal' for a girl and boy 14/15 to meet in a night club and have sex after getting really drunk and high on weed. Yes there are many good westerners especially the westerners of the 19th century that condemn what the young generation commit in their life - just sitting on their phoens all day - going out for sex - getting drunk on a Friday night and so on. Keep in mind that I am not trying to offend you in any way or the west but just displaying me and many others thoughts on the current west.
Just to clarify the middle east doesnt have the highest obesity rates but it is incase America with the highest obesity rates and other European countries
DaCamponTwee
Religion cannot inspire peace, just like psychopathy cannot inspire peace. It's a mental illness.
Arctor kovich That is a very ignorant view and very closed point with no evidence - From that I assume that you don't understand all of religion but instead the negatives of a religion and what the media throws at your face if your sofa back in USA.
Fuck it now makes sense to me thats y the government signed the amnesty because Baka had dirt on them
Exactly!
no you fool
This video is 5 years old and yet today all Abu Bakr said is happening.
Reemee
Just listening to this man you could tell he is well educated
Also very intelligent
I sadly disagree
@@breadstick4187 bruh
Is brilliant people does do these things he went to QRC studied in Canada join the police service left as a sargeant BRILLIANT EH
Nothing he said in this interview was a lie.
What he said is common knowledge...
RIP to Abu BAKR, ABU BAKR died last night (Thursday October 21st 2021) at hospital after collapsing at his home 😭😭😭😭
I'm just watching this and it's very interesting
rest in PEACE ABU
“Collapsing” i would imagine……..
May Allah swt grant him the highest level of paradise.
May Allah swt grant bless soul even in the after life
When Abu Bakr was at my brother funeral he came in an asked who's the father of the lost an he saw it was my father he was shocked because he know my father very well an didn't know cornflakes was my father's son,Abu Bakr bought tears in my eyes when he spoke at the funeral.
@@Only-interested-in-the-truth you can see his heart?
@@showmercytoothers4059 But I know how to smell a rat. Dishonesty leaks out of some people.
@@Only-interested-in-the-truth I see u have trust issues. You need to learn to trust some people.
@@CaptHC Nope. I am objective. If it sounds like BS. Smells like BS. It usually not the full story. People love to spin their explanations to present the story in a favourable way to meet their objectives. People need to stop hearing what they want to hear and focus on the facts!
@@Only-interested-in-the-truth with that logic,then we shouldn't trust anyone at all?
"I am a very lover man, and all da girls love me"- Abu Bakr.
😂😂😂😂😂
wow slow your role kid he's a pig because he is not because he is islamic
@Jack John you eat pig u pig
" Its out of control"
Lol
I don't know if it's the accent or just his demeanour, he was very enjoyable to listen to.
Doron Berger we accent sweet
@K4 Josiah BMT
We’re known for having one of the most nice sounding accents lol😂
"Poverty Leads To Disbelief"....
Trinidad and Tobago one of the few places in the world where a guy that tries to overthrow the government, kills and harms innocents walks with his head held high in the streets
Most people don't know who he is or what he did
Listen the politicians are being bribed by the cartels of Colombia ! He had to have a smear campaign put on him ! To get you focused on him and not the real problem. Guns and drugs! Wake up. He couldn't be brided!!! 🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹
Kevin Alexander true but treason is treason
We call that a boss player
What he did was necessary and patriotic. Evil prosper when good men do nothing. Not pardoning his actions, because clearly it was heinous to an extent but at the same time, Bakr did what should be a decade/regular drill, and that is to put the government in check when things get to corrupted and out of hand. We need to stop act like the government is saints or their initiative is to provide economic and social incentives to stimulate change, growth and development as opposed to self-satisfaction and personal agenda in the form of ruthless corruption and state sponsored terror sim in the nefarious narcotic trades. In the Caribbean, there has been many uprisings and anarchy in the form of Cuban, Haitian revolutions and Jamaica uprisings. What make this man so bad is the way it is propagated as the first and only Islamic uprising and government takeover, in the Western Hemisphere which is true, but opposed to its prime purpose which was to debilitate corruption and send a message.
0:58 anybody else surprised he was that big!!
😂😂😂 yessss
Nope... it’s common knowledge
A Netflix doc on this would be epic.
He makes sense, They must have control on the streets, and people who follow the rule of law.
he does talk some truth however you cannot learn everything about a man in 14 mins
His metaphorical analogy is accurate. And with that being said, using less discipline and still achieving desired results seems like a solid strategy in approaching anything. Quite a mouthful but it makes sense if you think on it.
he is a mad man that desabilizeed an entire country
He does seem to be an intelligent man, but his morals regarding religion are horrific
FinalTruce just as a reference the biggest backer of his gang is gahdafi(or was)
Can’t believe this was 6 years ago and everything he’s talking about still happening
I still tryna figure out why this now popping up in my feed
Trinidad and Tobago would be so different if he went through with the Coup
He did go through with the coup. They burnt down the red house and people died.
By now he would've had people like you bending over and holding your ankles.
@@kuskut remember the dead have respect for them. Have respect for their families. There’s better ways than violence. Especially if you are a religious leader.
Especially if you hold the ears of many.
Think of the Your neighbors
Your friends
You have to remember people died. Just going to work and minding their business.
They deserved that?
You have no idea about them.
You don’t care.
After all
In your words
“People like you bending over”
You don’t know me
I don’t know you
But I seem to have more respect for you than you have for others
I pray for you and yours and that you never have to lose anyone in the manner that people were lost in the coup
I could watch this over and over and over
Before watching this interview, I had a negative view of Yasin Abu Bakr, thanks largely to my parents and family. This is also due to whatever Islamaphobia they foster. But after watching this interview, I have to say I agree with him to why T&T is the way it is right now.
Praising a terrorist. People died in the coup. It doesn’t matter your faith… murder is a sin. And to holding a country under violence is not admirable.
No this man is not a hero.
Family lost love ones and business were wrecked.
Remember those people when you chose your heroes
@@krystaldegannes618 If someone held your head underwater....what would be a natural response.....People need to think for themselves and to open their eyes hearts and minds.
@@krystaldegannes618 better than Trinidad govt corruption
@@krystaldegannes618 u a real idiot
Why don’t you become Muslim? It’s the solution to all the problems, it’s the only religion that wasn’t forced on the people of Trinidad, not just Trinidad but the whole world
Part 2 let’s goooo😭😭
So he killed my cousin and my friend's husband.Left my friend's children fatherless.That's justice for the poor?C'mon Bakr.your people committed lots of murders
Oh my
It's sad a beautiful country is crumbling with crime and drugs, something must be done, just can't sit back and watch. As a film producer, I am working on a project about this problem Trinidad is facing.
Facts
I know this is an old comment but have you finished?
Also there is a documentary called "The Great Hack" which spoke about the interferance in tnt elections in 2010. Highly recommend you watch.
@@cookwithcel1455 Thanks to Covid it put the project on the back burner but starting to work on it again, thanks for asking,
@@luckyboypictures waiting
@@kevonjames2621 Thanks Kevon, all the best.
How ironic I'm watching this July 27th, 2020
Is there a part 2? I want more!!
Big up to anyone watching in 2020
Believe it or not but my grandfather trained Abu bakr to be a police officer
That interviewer ask questions in a detective manner patiently and picking when to.
Everything else aside and his past, This guy made a whole lot of reasonable sense here. It's only one video and he obviously has other opinions but this one video is better said about the situation in Trinidad then anything I've seen.
True but it is one sided.
CROSS
True but the other side isn't doing a lot lot of good, His side is at least accurate. I'm not referring to his religious side, That side of him is fucked as with any religious side to anyone ever lol. His political ideology however is right on. Not even the rich are happy when they can't leave there homes and be 100% safe. Mass killings, drive bys, Gangs, drugs etc...Just my opinion i suppose.
you are right
CROSS i live here the government is f**ked up
Barry these older heads only tell half truths a lot of the time, that's all I'm saying.
Nice to hear the other side of that story. The corruption is way too deep in Trinidad.
May God's light arise within the minds of those who have thought it could be otherwise, and liberate us from the fear that seems to have control. God is !
08:40 discipline better than laws
The gentleman who speaks his heart. I love his voice and accent. Pure joy to listen.
This man lead a coup. People died and he was not charged. As a Trini his actions are shameful. He is not to be praised
WTF is wrong with you? Do you have any idea what this man did to TNT. Wake up you FUCKING idiot!
It's how in 2018 we are seeing what he's talking about
💪🏾 Ralo brought me here. Thanks for spreading the message my brother
insightful
Nobody:
CZcams: let’s recommend this 6 years later
He should do it again. Police corruption has increased by 10,000% and they are unpunished.
Politicians are the worst especially those that are Lawyers.
The story of Dole Chadee lines up with what he is saying.
2020 learning about my mother homeland
His own foot soldiers became the worst gangs still around today.
I was just in Morvant in April and I'm so happy to see that Vice is bringing attention to Trinidad. In my short visit being with family I felt safe but at night was a little nervous by the gun shots I could hear ringing out. Every morning reading the headlines of murder was a grim reminder of where I was. Everyone will tell you the same thing, "Trinidad has resources and money". The problem is that its bigger then Trinidad, the international drug trade that flows through the island is a world wide problem and cannot be simply cleaned up. Side note about Muslims in Trinidad, they are not your stereo typical extremist. When slaves were brought over from the east, Muslims, Hindus and others had to put aside their differences and work together for survival, along with the vast mixed population of people from all over the planet that still exist today.
Extra judicial killings
I'm a Jamaican and the same problem exist here criminals in high places is the problem.
@Da Royal General a politicians mash up the world with them isms and schism nutten for the masses fill up dem pocket and use the Babylon vampire system suck the blood of the sufferer.
@Da Royal General system a fraud .
@Da Royal General nobody nha fight fi equal rights again dem tek food and suppress wi fighting spirit. look when Nanny and Codjoe dem de a bush a fight against the system u think them stop fight Saturday evening fi come a supermarket dem eat of a the land and gwaan fight the struggle but right ya now man wi stop fight fi go buy credit put pon dam phone.
@Da Royal General dat me say to general we all living a lie.
@Da Royal General dem a celebrate all progress and don't even realize a backward them a go. Brainwashed education through church and university, the foolest one a the educated ones dem with their heads held high Babylon school dem and fool dem with piece a paper say they're educated with them bachelor's and masters and doctorates.
2021... I missed it till now too!
Very interesting interview.
Rest In Peace 🙏
I really like his metaphor for running a home correctly and reflecting your wife and children, great metaphor for any and all government..
I'm actually one of his granddaughters 🙂🤚
He is a good man
Rip to your grand dad.
No charges stuck because of the amnesty which was offered, but presently charges can now be pressed because that ruling has since been overturned.
Here we are 31 years after.
I now watching dis in 2021 n everything is coming tuh past💀💀
lol... Vice be having some really good thought provoking interviews and Documentarys, these are real Journalist not the two bit ass kissers on CNN & NBC... there was a lot of sense spoken in this vid
13:00 a Jewish nose ?
I learned a lot including a new word reciprocate
I like this guy. Religion is good for helping the downtrodden and weak members of society and seeking social justice. But Religion becomes bad when it has too much political power. Religion should stay at the grassroots level.
*****
Sorry dude i don't believe in hell or heaven. I am an agnostic. You are entitled to your stories about the afterlife. i am from Singapore. We have a sizable muslim community here. The neighboring countries are all Muslims majority. Sharia & Hudud is in action in places like Kelantan and Aceh near my country. I am familiar with your Din. Thanks but no thanks :)
agreed
***** Lol, western culture is spreading to eastern countries like an uncontrollable fire. Why? Simply because it's better. "Especially in Islam you cannot split politic and religion because they both work together to create peace and harmony in a state."
***** I don't agree with what your saying but even I could have put across your argument in a much more coherent manner. You mention Egypt, Libya, Ukraine and Germany and I have no idea what point you were making
Kaelyzz "Lol,western culture is spreading to eastern countries like an uncontrollable fire.Why? Simply because it's better."
no stop lying to yourself the only reason western culture is spreading is organized violence and corporations. Even then its not spreading like fire like you say.
I've always said that abu bakr is a ver charismatic leader, able to make the most determined men follow him after a few conversations. That being said, he was once one of the most dangerous men in the western underworld. While he makes a lot of sense in this interview, he also has to answer many questions with variations of the truth and always to make sure that he protects himself at all times during the questioning.
Yes there was a lot of control by the jamat in the criminal underworld and they kept things relatively civil. But the also whiped out anyone who could oppose them. Yes they had the best intentions of cleaning up the country with their attempted coup, but they also had their own agenda. Not to mention they went about it completely wrong. It's not what you do, but how you do it.
All this being said, the journalist may not have even realised how much danger he was in when abu bakr said "you are insulting my intelligence". Remember at all times, this man controlled the likes of powers, wolfy, wounded, malik, nigga, sappy and a host more of overlords, seasoned and skilled killers, and men with the means of overthrowing a country or rot it out with murderous crimes, rage and bloodshed to rival some of the most bloody ecounters in latin america.
Had he not been involved in the underworld and crime, he would have been 1 hell of a politician.
For real. This man brought so much pain for so many families. And now he gets to gloss over it with a smile.
@@andycalimara Exactly. A truly evil man we do not need at all.
@@Isochest so the government is good, the government always had and have the citizens interest ent??? You all are brainwashed and blinded by what's truly happening.
@@marcoprimo4042 Bakr is like them. A Power Seeking crook
@@Isochest that's your person opinion, not based on facts.
Who’s watching this August 12 2019
Born & raised in T&T! I was there for this. This is eye opening!
Big up to da realest 💯
#takber 🔥
Still here 2021
I like this guy.
Wow I cant believe some of the ridiculous comments ppl have posted. what is more important here is to read between the lines (for the trinis). this was a dark time in our history. I myself was six at the time and still don't understand why it happened and why the state chose to sign amnesty with Bakr and not persecute him but when this came out it was clear that drugs have been a big part of our economy and that 1990 was indeed the catalyst for where Trinidad is at this point in time. rampant with corruption, drugs crime and no resolve. people are struggling everyday to make ends meet and if your a nobody who doesn't know a somebody your arse is screwed. smh
facts
I guess most people are not free minded like you, they only talk what they hear, have no understanding and never seek knowledge, that's the true meaning of the word NIGER, what a shame on them.
Fast forward 2019 and things are just getting worst
Wow.... I hope the youths see this
The Trinidad accent is so elegant,sounds like old British mixed with a Caribbean inflection.
All these people praising this man and his action!!! People!!!!!! The coup cost some folks their lives!!!!!! How in the world could that be praiseworthy?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????!! Brutal, ignorant, selfish people!!!! Sad... sad... sad, only until it hits home negatively for us we have a problem, but, "it did me good" so "bless him!" nasty human beings. Rest in peace to all those whose lives were snatched from them... and my sympathies to their loved ones who are still mourning their loses to this day.
Trini bago the point he was making was that there was no actual coup. It was staged according to him. I’m not praising him and I’m not agreeing with him. I’m just saying that you seem to have missed the point.
@mark daniels Kamla? MADMAN!
@mark daniels No matter what! Indeed.
mark daniels Stop spreading your racism . Where ever you’re from I can say don’t trust y’all.
His guys are some of the biggest criminals yet they praise him. Trinidad is in a mess because the people are allowing others to divide us by race. Abu Baker can’t play as if he was a rescuer because they’re one of the main groups contributing to crime. He’s full of it.
Can't help but wonder if there's anything behind him being let out for that coup.
I heard him before on radio and he's a convincing man and high charisma. High potential to lead this country if *had he* decided to follow the law and be elected.
they definitely gon rig the elections, no way them corrupt men Dem letting him win. it was either he took it by force which he tried or he just let things be which he's doing right now
WOW he recalled the Rodney King situation...you right..when the land is saturated with discontent..explosion.
CZcams suggesting this to me on the 30 anniversary of the incident. Well done algorithm
One of the best convos i have ever seen ...
are ANY of you ppl commenting Trinidadians? Have yall lived in this country post the Coup? Are any of you commenting lost family and/or friends due to Abu Bakr's actions? ................... *crickets....
Thought so.....setta myopic keyboard thugs.
It does not matter who is whiching in what year, but what's happening now in trinidad is needed of us to talk about right now.
Exactly things hadda change
Trinidadian watching in October 2021 🇹🇹
Love u Abu
First time I'm hearing the part about the WPC always 2 sides to every story
R.i.p.,... 😢😢😭😭😭
Peaceful humble
Who's here when he passed away.... R.I.P
Interesting time for this to be recommended
He passed a few days ago
Am new here, although I learned/know about the history. Talking about it today with my friend I decided to come here
Very good bro!
Any Trinidadian viewing in 2021 👀
Good to hear the other side of the story!
God Bless Brother
That slim white, red an yellow magazine on the corner of his desk is the most recent version of T&T's constitution... nice placement.
lol...the part where he called him a jew because of his nose is hilarious. lol.
that was so left field. Anyway..how the hell are people finding it hard to understand what he's saying? he's speaking clearly. Listen closely and you're good.
some wise words! good video nice to hear another view point he speaks some sense and truths not rocket science! peace out
Best interview I've watched
Peace
@3:13
Allah knows best💪❤
7:27 this is exactly the truth
How did this get reccomended all of a sudden 🇹🇹🇹🇹
My Hero!💪💪🙏
I want to meet this guy
Ok as a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago I have something to say on the matter. Firstly if Abu Bakr is innocent as he claims to be, how did he get the guns to "police" the streets and form a coup. Guns are not manufactured in Trinidad nor were they cheap to get in mass numbers. Now I'm not saying he's the only one who was involved in the coup as ministers were conveniently missing that day. But he is free today because of a forced amnesty at gunpoint in Parliament.
You know your opinion should be heard. Listen to this what about now in 2019 ? The deaths, the rapes, The drug dealing in the poorest regions of the country. He isn't reponsible for this last 15 teen years of lawlessness. The politicians are allowing hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the island illegally. Thats for the prostitution to go hand in hand with drug use. That brings tourism!!!!! Wake up! Ya sleep! Dont let them distract you.
Wise man
Im from trinidad. The violence is at an all time high