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| Southeast Asia |
| Iraqi diplomat linked to rebel bombing |
| 2003-02-11 |
| This story seems to be getting legs. The Philippines yesterday linked a senior Iraqi diplomat in Manila to a deadly bomb attack by Abu Sayyaf rebels that killed an American serviceman and injured another in the south last year. National Security Council (NSC) head Roilo Golez and Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople confirmed that Iraq's Second Secretary Husham Hussain has been linked to the Abu Sayyaf group. "We are studying the reports that we have received," said Golez. He added that the report on the alleged involvement of Hussain with members of the Abu Sayyaf group who were responsible for the bombing which killed three people, including an American soldier, in Zamboanga City last October 2, came from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).NICA is an affiliate office of the National Security Council. Explaining how Hussain was allegedly linked to the Abu Sayyaf group, Ople said: "It appeared that immediately after the bombing, there was a call to the embassy of Iraq by an alleged Abu Sayyaf guerrilla." Ople, however, did not categorically identify this person as Hussain. But he added: "I have put the Iraqi embassy on notice that these activities are monitored by the intelligence community." Ople said there would be no further investigation on Hussain. He did not hint if the government will file a diplomatic protest. The Iraqi diplomat has immunity from arrest and investigation. From arrest, yes. I do believe continued investigation and explusion are in order, though. But the linkage, if proved, could sour relations between the Philippines and Iraq, analysts said. Several alleged Abu Sayyaf members were arrested for the bombing. Ople said that in his meeting with Iraqi Charge d'Affaires Samir Bolus yesterday, the diplomat vowed to abide by the government's request that Hussain should "cease and desist from actions inconsistent with his diplomatic status and actions that are harmful to Philippine-Iraq relations". Hussain has denied his alleged involvement in the bombing. Golez hinted that the NICA will be closely watching the activities of the Iraqi diplomats. Ople called on Bolus at the foreign affairs office regarding Bolus's continuous presence at protest rallies against the U.S. military assault on Iraq. The foreign affairs secretary complained of Bolus's abuse of diplomatic privilege. Having diplomatic immunity has always been a nice cover, the most that can happen to you is being thrown out of the country and told not to come back. |
| Posted by:Steve |