Call on Mahathir to establish an all-party
mechanism to evolve a truly national strategy to combat terrorism that
addresses both the root causes of domestic discontent as well as the reason
Malaysia has been placed on top of international “terrorist danger” list
Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang
(Petaling Jaya, Thursday):
On Monday, the Prime Minister,
Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad expressed disappointment
over the move by certain countries to place
Malaysia on top of the "danger threat" list issued to travelers as well as
the cancellation of international programmes which had been scheduled to be
held in Malaysia which could affect tourist arrivals and the entry of
foreign investment.
But Mahathir’s public
displeasure could not prevent an even more serious “Terrorist Alert”
involving Malaysia which was issued by the United States Government and
reported by the international news agencies this morning warning that
attacks similar to last month's Bali bombing which killed nearly 200 people
could take place in other Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia.
On its website,
http://travel.state.gov/wwc1.html, US Department of State posted a
“worldwide caution” public announcement dated November 20, 2002 which said:
“Worldwide Caution
November 20, 2002
“This Worldwide Caution supersedes the Worldwide
Caution dated November 6. It is being issued to alert U.S. citizens to the
need to remain vigilant and to remind them of the continuing threat of
terrorist actions that may target civilians. This Worldwide Caution
expires on May 20, 2003.
“In light of the statement released by Usama Bin
Ladin on November 12, 2002, the Department of State reminds Americans that
U.S. citizens and interests remain at increased risk of terrorist attacks,
including by groups with links to Usama Bin Ladin's Al-Qaida organization.
Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to, suicide operations
or kidnappings. These individuals have proved that they do not distinguish
between official and civilian targets. Because security and security
awareness have been elevated within the United States, the terrorist may
target U.S. interests overseas. Recent events include the terrorist
attacks in Kuwait and Bali. We remind American citizens to remain vigilant
with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution.
“On November 14, 2002, the State of Virginia executed
Mir Ahmad Kasi, a Pakistani national, who was convicted in 1997 of the
1993 murders of two CIA employees. The potential exists for retaliatory
acts against U.S. or other foreign interests in response to the execution.
“Attacks on places of worship and schools, and the
murders of private American citizens and other westerners, demonstrate
that as security is increased at official U.S. facilities, terrorists and
their sympathizers will seek softer targets. These may include facilities
where Americans or possibly other foreigners are generally known to
congregate or visit, such as residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places
of worship, schools, hotels, outdoor recreation events or resorts and
beaches. Americans should increase their security awareness when they are
at such locations, avoid them, or switch to other locations where
Americans in large numbers generally do not congregate. There is a
possibility that American citizens may be targeted for kidnapping or
assassination.
“U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a
heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or
suspend public services from time to time to review their security posture
and ensure their adequacy. In those instances, U.S. embassies and
consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to
American citizens. Americans are urged to monitor the local news and
maintain contact with the nearest American embassy or consulate.
“As the Department continues to develop information
on any potential security threats to Americans overseas, it shares
credible threat information through its Consular Information Program
documents, available on the internet at
http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet,
U.S. travelers can hear recorded information by calling the Department of
State in Washington, D.C. at 202-647-5225 from their touch-tone telephone,
or receive information by automated telefax by dialing 202-647-3000 from
their fax machine.”
Although the Malaysian
government had co-operated with the US Government in allowing a team of
United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to question an Internal
Security Act detainee, Yazid Sufaat about his
connections with Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person to have been put on
trial in the United States over the Sept 11 attacks on New York and
Washington, as well as agreeing to the establishment of a US-Malaysia
Regional Anti-Terrorism Centre in the country, was the Malaysian Government
informed beforehand about the latest US Government travel advisory warning
involving the country?
DAP calls on Mahathir to
establish an all-party mechanism to evolve a truly national strategy to
combat terrorism that addresses both the root causes of domestic discontent
as well as the reasons Malaysia has been placed on top of international
“terrorist danger” list.
(21/11/2002)
*
Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman
|
http://dapmalaysia.org