ACTING leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen, Kala Akki Bua, has demanded an apology from the government, law enforcement officials and unscrupulous sections of the media.

This in the wake of unfounded propaganda peddled in sections of the electronic media and the daily Press, particularly in the Express, that members of the Jamaat al Muslimeen were involved in illegal quarrying in Valencia.

Akki Bua’s insistence of an apology came after National Security Minister Martin Joseph admitted that he was advised by National Security agencies that no member of the Jamaat al Muslimeen was known to be quarrying illegally in Valencia.

Joseph’s confession was made in the Senate on Tuesday when questioned on the issue by Opposition Senator Wade Mark.

The National Security Minister confirmed that none of the 13 men arrested on a joint exercise in the Valencia area for illegal quarrying on November 24 were Jamaat al Muslimeen members.

Akki Bua told Mirror: “It is unfortunate that Joseph had stopped short of telling the nation how many of those held for bombing, kidnapping and other crimes are members of the Jamaat al Muslimeen.

KALA AKKI BUA

MARTIN JOSEPH

DANA SEETAHAL

“Not one of them is a member of the Jamaat,” he said, “not one person who is before the courts charged with any of these offences is a member of the Jamaat.

“This was admitted in court.

“We are simply not into those things and the minister, more than anyone else knows that, because he was the one who had approached us to assist them in the 2002 election.

“Would he have consorted and enlisted the assistance of criminals?

“Anyhow, it was good of the minister to come out and say it, to finally admit that the Muslimeen is not involved in illegal quarrying and those sort of things.

“However, the government needs to apologise for attacking us and making the country feel that we were behind those things just because we parted company with them.

“And everyone else who was pushing that head should as a matter of courtesy also apologise.”

Akki Bua added: “I would like to state categorically that no Muslimeen is involved in kidnapping, none is involved in bombing and none is involved in illegal quarrying.”

He said that Express so-called investigative reporter Camini Marajh and Independent Senator Dana Seetahal, an attorney at law who has been linking criminal activity to the Jamaat in the Upper House, for which she was given a lucrative brief on the prosecution team, “are responsible for Imam Yasin Abu Bakr’s position on some jokey charges today”.

Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Bakr was arrested after a controversial Eid sermon in which he allegedly demanded the payment of zakaat (tax) from wealthy Muslims to his organisation.

He was charged under the recently passed Terrorism Act.

Bakr’s applications for bail have been denied and he remains in custody.

Senior Muslimeen member, Khalil Saif, also called on the National Security Minister to say how many members of the Mucurapo Road-based organisation are in prison for kidnapping.

Saif suggested that the Protective Services take a closer look among their own ranks, saying: “Many accusations have been levelled against members of the Protective Services.

“They should investigate the brother of a senior officer, who is involved in kidnapping.”

Saif added that members of the Protective Services have been using the Jamaat al Muslimeen as scapegoats, labelling them as terrorists, accusing them of the recent bombing incidents in Port of Spain and illegal quarrying.

He further explained that corrupt law enforcement officers were “labelling the Jamaat to cover their own tracks”.