BAKR TO FACE SEDITION CHARGES?

THERE is keen national interest in whether 1990 insurrectionist Yasin Abu Bakr would face sedition charges over brand-new raw allegations against the authorities. 

Observers are recalling that religious leader Sat Maharaj and trade unionist Watson Duke had endured investigations under the age-old Sedition Act. 

Bakr, who led a bloody attempted coup 31 years ago that caused 24 deaths and multi-million-dollar property losses has delivered an angry “warning” against the Government. 

“This is your last warning,” he said in a lengthy video message. 

He alleged “repression” and “injustice.” 

He cautioned that he knows “how to stand up.” 

Bakr’s inflammatory declarations were made on the weekend the world observed the 20^th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States, which led to the direct killings of almost 3,000 people. 

Maharaj had faced police investigations for stating that Tobagonians were lazy and men were rapists. 

Audio recordings were seized from Radio Jaagriti, but Maharaj was not charged. 

He challenged sections of the Sedition Act, and his appeal was upheld by Justice Frank Seepersad, who ruled that those clauses were unconstitutional. 

But Seepersad’s ruling was overturned by the Appeal Court. 

After the Seepersad judgement, sedition charges against Duke were dismissed by a magistrate. 

Duke had been charged for certain political statements. 

Sedition is defined as speech or action that encourages rebellion against the authorities, and includes subversion of a constitution and incitement toward insurrection. 

Bakr and 113 other members of Jamaat Al Muslimeen were charged with treason for the 1990 attempted coup, but were ordered released by the Appeal Court, which ruled that an amnesty was valid. 

Bakr, who is 80 years old, continues to lead the Muslimeen, which is based at Mucurapo, off Port of Spain.