Posted on 07/10/2004 3:44:43 AM PDT by Cagey
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A Filipino worker held by Iraqi insurgents made a last appeal for his government to spare his life and withdraw its troops from Iraq, according to a video broadcast Saturday.
The kidnappers of Angelo dela Cruz had threatened in a video broadcast Wednesday to kill him if the Philippines didn't pull its 51 police and soldiers from Iraq within three days.
"Please, Arroyo, withdraw your forces from Iraq," dela Cruz pleaded on the new video broadcast on Al-Jazeera, referring to Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. His voice was inaudible, but an announcer read an Arabic translation of his words.
The Al-Jazeera announcer said the video was intended as the hostage's last appeal to his family, government and friends. The government had earlier said it would not bow to the insurgents' demands, thought Arroyo has already barred new workers from traveling to Iraq.
Moments before the tape was aired, the Philippines announced it would withdraw its 51-member peacekeeping contingent from Iraq as scheduled after its mandate ends Aug. 20. The government could still decide to renew its troops' mandate, and it wasn't clear if the announcement was acquiescence or defiance to the insurgents' demands.
Dela Cruz was reportedly snatched near the restive city of Fallujah in an attack that left his Iraqi security guard dead. He reportedly worked as a truck driver for a Saudi company.
"To my colleagues in the Saudi company, and all Filipinos who are coming to Iraq. I advise you not to come to Iraq, because there are a lot of problems, and the Iraqi police won't be able to protect you, like what happened to me," he said, according to the announcer.
Dela Cruz was alone on the video Saturday wearing a bright orange jumpsuit like that worn by American hostage Nicholas Berg and South Korean hostage Kim Sun-il when they were beheaded by Iraqi militants.
Behind him was a black banner that read: "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his only prophet," and identified the group that captured him as "The Islamic Army of Iraq - Khalid bin al-Waleed Brigade."
The withdrawal of the 51 Filipino troops would have little effect on the 160,000-strong foreign force here, but the 4,100 Filipino contract workers here are crucial to the running of U.S. bases.
""Please, Arroyo, withdraw your forces from Iraq," dela Cruz pleaded on the new video broadcast on Al-Jazeera, referring to Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. His voice was inaudible, but an announcer read an Arabic translation of his words. "
his voice was inaudible. this leads me to think he was tortuted into saying this. had they simply scared him and he gave in, he would have been more frantic.
they are tearing people apart to make them say words that the people would not believe under normal circumstances. this is a vile method, and it MUST NOT be given in to. it gives them an edge on the weaker nations of the world, but hopefully the Filipinos know better. hopfully they realize, this man either dies in their hands now, or his family tree gets it's throats slit after the WOT fails.
i know it sounds heartless to recognize the victim in a minimalist way, but the terrorists see him only as a tool. they are not only willing, but adept at making a single life turn a war simply because they know our value of it (while they themselves hold no value of it)
my prayers to the victim and his family and people. my prayers also to our boys taking out the victim's catpors.
May dela Cruz be spared and returned to his family..
The enemy is just as much al Jezeera. (and anyone else who accepts these videos). This is the kind of crap that Bush needs to demand of the Saudis to STOP. They control alJazeera. If the terrorists didn't have an outlet for showing their videos, these brutal displays would cease.
All countries should announce that they will no longer air them or any part of them. This isn't rocket science.
Stop Giving The Terrorists What They Want.
STOP BEING TOOLS Of The TERRORISTS
countries of hostages should announce compliance if the hostage is released unharmed... in like 10 minutes... and say that they will make islam their national religion if these insurgents will unmask themselves and sacrifice to allah...
these terrorists are stupid enough to believe it...
after all it is part of their religious creed to law and deceive... something like it is ok to denounce islam to save your life and fool the non-believers so they will release you so you can kill them later...
this pestulence must be irradicated and i fear the coalition will not have the heart to do it...
time to buy that ak this september...
teeman
Reminds me of the Korean (Kim Sun-Il I think).
He was forced into saying something like this.
I worry about him in part because he is a Filipino. The Philippines has been fighting Muslim radicals for years, and the worst thing that could happen is if these guys decide to kill him to "avenge their Muslim brothers."
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