Fast-spreading rumours of various threats to the State promptedthe National Security Ministerto issuea strongly worded release on July 3, giving assurances that any attempt at unrest would fail.
"In response to the latest attempt to destabilise the smooth operation of the State through malicious rumours of instability, especially via the abuse of channels of communication on the social media, the Minister of National Security Senator the Honourable Gary Griffith again advises the national public that, at any time now and in future, they should be guided by faith in the mechanisms of National Security and not by panic and rumour mongering," said the release, which was signed by the minister.
"The State's security mechanisms, intelligence gathering and law enforcement response are second to none, and that while there are no guarantees that the lawless among us might not be tempted to test them, there is every guarantee that they would fail in those endeavours every time."
In the statement, Griffith assured the public "that the combined forces harnessed seamlessly through the National Operations Centre provide a formidable challenge to any and all who might consider any activities of this nature."
It added that the police, defence force and other arms of state security "stand ready to defend this nation with the highest degree of professionalism, patriotism and training."
"Any information pertaining to threats to the State or disruption of public order will be generated from the National Operations Centre."
Hours beforeGriffith's statement was released, an official message was issued from his ministry'sNational Operations Center, which said that "there are no threats to any state or other infrastructure, government or other wise and the National Operations Center rejects as nonsense and mischief mongering any and all rumours to that effect."
The statements came on the heels ofan instant messagesent by Fuad Abu Bakr early on July 3, which said,"We apologize to the general public for the inconvenience. Action against the injustice in our society stars today. Walking round and round has been ignored. It is time for a people who talk too much and take too much to act. To act now and ensure a better tomorrow. Our leaders will listen if we make them listen. Message from the JAM please pass it on!"
JAM, in this context, appears to refer to the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen, an organisation led by Mr Abu Bakr's father, Yasin Abu Bakr. The senior Mr Abu Bakrled Jamaat members in an attempted coup against the governmentin July 1990.