Maj. General Brown (Rtd.) questions Alfonso's earlier testimony before coup probe

Retired Major General Ralph Brown told the Commission into the failed 1990 Muslimeen coup the army sent 150,000 rounds of ammunition for troops to fight back the insurgents during the coup attempt.

That figure is in conflict with the one given in earlier testimony by Brigadier Carl Alfonso who said 500,000 rounds of ammunition were sent to the troops.

"Mr Chairman, I guarantee you, go look at the records, if 90% were used, were not returned. I suspect that 90% of that ammunition or more were returned to the bunkers at Tetron Barracks, 500,000 rounds? Somebody is playing games with that. Again, maybe it is lack of experience," Brown said.

In testimony in June, Brown said one of the options he had during the uprising was to blow up the Red House and kill everybody. He was not in favour of an amnesty.

“I heard the word amnesty. I wanted no part of that. From a military point of view the situation was contained,” he told the commission.

Brown said at that time he was highly incensed when he heard leader of the uprising, Yasin Abu Bakr, telling the nation on state-owned television they had seized the station that the army was on their side.

“I didn’t think for a moment that was so," he said. adding that he escorted a television crew to Cumberland Hill where the television transmitters were located.

“We shot off the lock with an SLR rifle and the technicians cut off the TTT transmission and hooked up the outside broadcast,” he added. Then in an address the nation Brown said the Government had not fallen, giving the assurance that the army did not collaborate with the rebels or had any intention to.

“We said the army was in charge and will take control of the situation,” Brown told the commission.