Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:14 hours 53 min ago
Lance Small kept in ‘Muslim’ prison
Published: 2 Nov 2009
Lance Small
Former Jamaat al Muslimeen member, Lance Small, who is serving 151 months in a US prison for terrorist activities, is among 30 Muslim prisoners detained at a special prison in Indiana, United States, dubbed, “Little Guantanamo.” Small, also called Olive Enyahooma-El, was sentenced in the US Federal Court in Broward, Fort Lauderdale in 2006, after he was found guilty of conspiracy to export firearms and ammunition to Trinidad. Small, 76, was accused of attempting to export 60 AK-47 rifles, ten Mac-10 machine guns and ten silencers in 2001. He was extradited to the US in 2004 and faced trial two years later. In a six-page letter sent to the T&T Guardian, Small is appealing to the United Nations and Amnesty International to help him. Small said he was being kept at the Communications Management Unit (CMU) at Terre Haute, Indiana. He described the facility as a former federal prison which used to house death row inmates.
He said the facility was condemned 30 months ago, but was reopened for a group of Muslim prisoners who were shuttled secretly from prisons around the US to be housed under strict conditions. Small said there were 30 Muslim prisoners from 15 countries. “I share my tragic story before my countrymen in Trinidad and Tobago, and all the world to see,” he said. Small said he was the victim of political persecution. “On July 27, 1990, I stood shoulder to shoulder with a group of Muslims as part of a political movement to end the tyranny and injustice against fellow Muslims,” he said. “The civil uprising ended with an amnesty deal to all those participating. However, despite high court ruling protecting us, the government had other plans for the country’s Muslim community. “Twenty years later, I am a political prisoner, held captive in the US, lonely, isolated and sequestered away thousands of miles from my wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
He blamed strong-armed tactics to frame him after 9/11 and the so-called War on Terror. After he was released with 113 others for their roles in the attempted coup, Small said he travelled to the United States in 1993, establishing a small cosmetics company in Brooklyn. He said due to complications with official documentation and the long, expensive legal battle with the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service, he returned to Trinidad in 1998, leaving behind his wife, children and grandchildren. Small said while in Trinidad, he formed an international collection company with a business partner. “I later found that this company attracted the attention of US intelligence, although the business was completely lawful and legitimately profitable,” he said. Small said in 2004, the T&T Government fabricated a conspiracy of weapons charges against him, accusing him of trying to purchase weapons to import into Trinidad.
The former Gonzales resident said he was eventually extradited to the US in 2004. He said an attempt was made to coerce him into implicating and framing Jamaat leader, Yasin Abu Bakr. He said: “I was subjected to a circus—a politically-charged trial—and was falsely convicted for events that never took place. I was then subjected to an exaggerated and harsh sentence of 151 months in the US Federal Prison.” He said all appeals had been denied without explanation. Small said despite his age and nature of the charges,he was secreted away and persecuted even further with other Muslim prisoners, being placed in the old death row cells in Indiana. The former Jamaat man said he had been subjected to a number of abuses, including limited visits, and a ban on him saying his prayers. Small said he believed that the prison was bugged for sound and video. He stated that his constitutional rights had been infringed, and there is a cover-up of the abuses at the prison facility. He said in some cases, contact with wives and children had been blocked.
Mr. Small no one is
Mr. Small no one is persecuting you for your so-called desire to free your country from tyranny. You are in prison for your complicit activities in a conspiracy that would have taken countless lives. Its no co-incidence that you are muslim, a political dissident of the lowest order and in a federal prison. You are 76 years old that means you would have seen Trinidad and Tobago go through so many different metaporphoses and this would have been your contribution?
The United Nations is in fact a creation of a political order (secular liberalism) that islam is at odds with, the U.N. being a construct of western democracy is forbidden in islam. So writing to them is equivalent to a Catholic or Christian going to Papa Neezer for help. I hope you get what you desrve which is the best 151 months of your vacation there. It offends me deeply that Taxpayers will have to pay your pension if you live to make it back home. God, I hope you do because then you'll see the terrible legacy that you and the other fanatics of July 27th left to the generations to come. Have a nice trip Lance.
logansrun Dear Doubtful
logansrun
Dear Doubtful about,
I commend you on the above article, especially for your wish
that Mr Small should make it back to T&T when his US vacation ends to witness the terrible tragedy of his 1990 actions. I do hope also
that the Christian leaders who played a part in this event, whether it be by encouragement or instrumental in having Mr Small and his band of marauders set free through amnesty read your article. To date we have not heard any sort of remorse from them and I do think that it would ease a of pain in T&T if they would offer any form of apology. Logansrun.....Toronto
Why is this
Why is this 'news'?
Jumbie's Watch
I am sure if a fuller
I am sure if a fuller (panoramic) picture of Mr. Small were posted it would be obvious that his handlers (escorts) were all armed and not just with guns in holsters but sub-machine guns.
Also, isnt it interesting how criminals immediately start talking about their rights and civil liberties once in custody, but while out committing their crimes they are in complete disregard for all laws including the rights of others. As for these radicals and those questioning the validity of constitutions, its equally interesting how quickly they seek to use it to get off for their crimes against it. Don S. NY
Smalls apparently you are
Smalls apparently you are getting a bit lonely,hang in there brother, Yasin Abu Bakr and some of his flunkies may even join you to provide the comfort you seek.Through your missive I conclude,during your incarceration in conditions unlike the comfort of Trinidad prisons, you had time to reflect on the treasonable acts you and your cohorts committed in Trinidad, and was convicted a second time a few years later for the attempt on another phase of destruction not only to government buildings,but to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.Enjoy your lock up you may never make it back to Trinidad alive,but I hope you continue to remember those who were killed because of the actions of yourself,Abu Bakr and the other flunkies.
SO SAD! I am truly sorry for
SO SAD!
I am truly sorry for the victims of July 27th. Last time I checked we were a democratic country back then, now it is up for discussion. My thing is, aren't all individuals, who rise up against their Gov'ts shot on sight. He is lucky TnT soft gov't didnt give them the firing squad. Can't believe he is actually saying these things, so weak and punked like. These fundamentalist are so funny. What happened to those guys fighting to the end. I say leave him and his friends in jail to suffer like he victims who suffered for those 6 days.
logansrun Dear Mr Small, The
logansrun Dear Mr Small,
The less you speak the better for the vast majority of Trinbagonians. You bring back very sad memories to my mind. My good friend, Sir Arthur, a very helpful peace loving and friendly policeman, a son of Arima soil who was well loved by every true Arimian was senselessly and brutally murdered by you and your cut throat band. Today I am moved to tears as I saw your picture in the news and relive the events of July 1990. The best thing that you can do Mr Small is to spare us the pain and stop contacting us with your letters. Accept your punishment which is quite lenient, but if you must speak please do so by apologizing to the peace loving people of T&T.
Why is this guy complaining
Why is this guy complaining about his incarceration here in the United States? These guys are parasites and leeches. It troubles me as a hard working American taxpayer for the past 30 years to have to foot the bill for this scumbag. He should be sent back to Trinidad to serve his time in Carrera, Golden Grove or Frederick Street, or better yet at Mucurapo with his mentor and co-conspirator Abu Bakr. These guys are not Muslims, they hide behind the name of Islam in order to perpetrate their nefarious deeds. this guy is lucky that he has lived so long. Many innocent people at the Red House in 1990 lost their lives, while Bakr and his bandits are living "high off the Hog". These guys are a disgrace to Muslims and a disgrace to Humanity. They should all rot in Hell.