Anglican priest, Canon Knolly Clarke, in a "fire and brimstone" speech at a Labour Day rally on June 19, 1990, told a massive crowd he "will call upon them on an appointed day and that they will speak with a clear voice." At the rally, just over a month before the July 27, 1990 insurrection, staged by Jamaat al Muslimeen insurgents, Clarke told the people: "Changing governments, democratically or otherwise, does not help people make decisions that will change their lives." He told the masses they "must take things into their own hands" and that "power belongs to the people." At the time, Clarke was a prominent member of the Summit of the People's Organisation (SOPO), of which the Jamaat also was a part.
At the rally, he cited a litany of criticisms of the then National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) government, saying he discussed the problems the nation was facing with Jamaat leader, Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, Archbishop Anthony Pantin and others. Excerpts from Clarke's speech were read before him yesterday by lead counsel, Avory Sinanan SC, at the Commission of Enquiry into the 1990 uprising at the Caribbean Court of Justice, Port-of-Spain. Clarke, in giving evidence, insisted, however, that knew nothing of the July 27 coup. He said while he understood why the Jamaat staged the uprising, his theological perspective did not condone violence as a means of dealing with conflict.
Clarke's denial came even after Sinanan also read part of former insurgent Jamaal Shabazz's submission to the commission which said he was told by the leadership of the Jamaat "that SOPO would ensure the people took to the streets once the government was overthrown." Sinanan also recalled parts of Bakr's message which he broadcast from Trinidad and Tobago Television after the Muslimeen seized the station.
Bakr said contrary to the belief that he had only a handful of people backing him, he had the support of SOPO, which included the Public Services Association, the United National Congress and trade unions.
Sinanan also recalled a letter written by the OWTU on July 13 to then prime minister, Arthur NR Robinson, raising the Jamaat's land issue.
The OWTU warned Robinson if the union did not get a response by July 27, more serious action would be taken by July 31. Questioned by Sinanan about his involvement in SOPO, Clarke said the organisation was born in 1989 and it held meetings at the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) headquarters at Circular Road, San Fernando. SOPO comprised trade unions, non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, the Jamaat and other groups, he said.It held protests and marches against the NAR's structural adjustment policies, inflation and other economic and social woes, he added. Its mobilisation of the people climaxed in a massive Labour Day rally in 1990, the largest ever, Clarke said, on June 19 in Fyzabad.
However, the July 27 attempted coup took him by surprise, Clarke told the commission. "I was not aware an armed revolution was on the cards. It came as a surprise." he added. Clarke said trade union leaders, like Errol McLeod and David Abdulah, said they knew nothing about it either. He said he also was surprised he was called to the Red House on July 27, 1990. Clarke further said he thought Shabazz's claim that the Jamaat leadership told him SOPO would ensure the people took to the streets was "a figment of his imagination." He added; "We were not prepared for that. We were not told that would have taken place. 1990 was never discussed. "SOPO could not mobilise popular support because we did not know about it. As far as I know no one talked about armed revolution."
Clarke said while he had strong views about the NAR's governance style, he did not advocate violence.
He reminded Sinanan of his plea to the people on June 19, 1990 "let us organise peacefully." "I never saw ousting a government from the barrel of a gun." he added. Clarke said he never knew the Muslimeen were doing military training or were importing arms and ammunition. "SOPO saw them as a religious voice," he added. Clarke also took pains to inform the commission that, contrary to general opinion, he was not a negotiator for the Muslimeen during the attempted coup. It was reported by earlier witnesses that Jamaat second in command, Bilal Abdullah, who was in charge of the rebels who took over the Red House, called for Clarke when they began planning their surrender.
Clarke claimed, however, he did not know Bilal and he was no negotiator or was part of any discussions about the amnesty. He said he was just a messenger, a go-between. He was under the impression, he said, that "both sides" requested him and that he was just carrying messages back-and-forth for the two parties. He also claimed he was under "some kind of house arrest" at Camp Ogden by the army and he was "contained" in a room under armed supervision until the hostages were freed.