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EMBASSY CAUTIONS FILIPINOS ON QAEDA THREAT MESSAGES
BULLSHIT! The Saudis will love to say that the people massacred in Khobar was due to resentment about the US war in Iraq. I cannot wait to see how they will use that excuse to explain the deaths of Hindus, Sri Lankans, a Swiss, etc.By Edgar C. Cadano The Saudi Gazette THE Philippine Embassy issued a security advisory to all Filipinos in the Kingdom after it received anonymous threats identifying Filipinos as next terrorist targets aside from Westerners. The threat is believed to have come from terrorist groups after reports spread through the Internet alleging that the Filipinos are included among Al-Qaeda targets, along with the Americans and the British, because of the Philippine government s open support to the US war on terror. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said the government would not soften its anti-terrorism stance amid reports the Philippines is number three in the Qaeda hit list. Arroyo said backtracking is not the correct response to such reports but continued vigilance. The Philippine government is taking all steps to protect its citizens, she said. The Philippine Embassy said it has referred the letter of threat to the Saudi diplomatic police. Vice Consul Adrian Cruz said the threat was received before the Khobar attacks that killed 22 people, including three Filipinos. According to the advisory, the messages are detrimental and damaging to the general standing of Filipinos and the cordial ties between them and their employers. Among other reasons for the threats, the messages cited current directions of Philippine foreign policy in the region. The embassy calls on all Filipinos in the Kingdom to stay calm and take all necessary precautionary measures under the guidelines and in cooperation with the host government and the Philippine authorities. The advisory added that the embassy is confident about the continuing support and protection by Saudi authorities to ensure the welfare and security of its expatriate workforce. Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla and other embassy officials met with Filipino community leaders and informed them the embassy has received threats from an anonymous source aside from the warning posted on the Internet. The email is based on information relayed by Saudis listening to a radio program run by a Saudi opposition group. The radio broadcast from London is reportedly used by terrorists to relay their statements a day after the Al-Khobar terrorist attacks. Filipinos are being included in their target (Westerners) because our government openly supports the war against terrorism), reads the email. We are called obedient puppets of Americans and we do not deserve to stay in the Kingdom since the Philippine government openly sides with the United States, it adds. Posted by: Anonymous4617 2004-06-06 |
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