San Salvador, El Salvador, Aug 16, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Archbishop Fernando Saenz Lacalle exhorted the country’s government and population not to give in to supposed threats by terrorist groups that seek to destabilize the country.
“To be frightened and change our attitude about plans in the face of terrorist warnings, whether they are true or false, signifies a serious weakening in the rule of law,” said Archbishop Saenz.
The archbishop called on all international governments and organizations to discover and control terrorists so they will no longer “keep humanity in suspense.”
At least three Islamic organizations linked to Al Qaeda have threatened to launch attacks on El Salvador if the country continues to maintain its contingent of military forces in Iraq, and they demanded the country reverse the decision to send a third contingent to the country.
Since last March 380 Salvadoran troops are in Iraq working on humanitarian projects.
The Archbishop of San Salvador offered his support to the soldiers and called on the country to “pray much for our fellow countrymen, because to go in these circumstances is heroic.”