Shocking Attack On Iraq Outrage Brunei People
By Ignatius Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - As US led forces mounted a sudden attack on Iraq early yesterday, which most people in Brunei consider unjustified, a stunned population called for prayers to save the lives and alleviate the sufferings of the Iraqi people.

Today being Friday most mosques in Brunei are expected to be especially crowded and many have suggested the Imams lead special prayers calling the Almighty to aid Iraq.

"Calling for mass prayers is the right thing to do," said Haji Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, a government office worker yesterday. "I hope that will be possible. But that is up to the Imams (prayer leaders)," he added.

But there is unlikely to be any anti war demonstrations here unlike in other capitals.

Most people here expressed outrage and vented their anger against the war in letters to the local website which have been hardly complimentary to US leader George Bush.

They called him a warmonger and a devil.

The letters also urged the boycott to US and Israeli products giving long lists.

And despite all that there is considerable bewilderment. But many like Haji Abdul Rahman are feeling powerless confronted with this massive display, as he and his many friends call it, of outrageous and unjustified action against a sovereign Muslim country.

Meanwhile the US Embassy, Australian and British High Commission offices took precautionary measures to avert any untoward eventualities.

Since September 11 attacks in New York security have been stepped up at the US Embassy in the Brunei capital.

There has been only one instance against the US Embassy here recently in the build up of war against Iraq when a powdery substance was mailed to the Chancery at Teck Guan Plaza, in Jalan MacArthur leading it to believe it was anthrax. But it was not and a stern government warning ensued against any such acts.

Meanwhile people were seen huddled around radio and glued to televisions all day long wanting to know the latest on the war front.

"It is not looking an easy war," said a Bandar Seri Begawan resident. "But I pity the thousands of woman and children and other innocent people who are going to die," he added.

The feeling here is that the US and the British are avoiding large-scale action to prevent further shock to the world.

"It looks like that they are applying incremental pressure on Iraq hoping that Saddam will give up eventually," remarked another local person.

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