Anti-Muslim film in The Hague doesn't affect Pinoys

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Filipinos residing in The Hague, Netherlands are not alarmed by the possible danger brought by the release of anti-Muslim film Fitna, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

The controversial film made by Dutch politician Geert Wilders, which is against the Islamic religion, was finally released on March 27 via the LiveLeak website and has since spread on the Internet, mainly from clips posted on Youtube.

The film has already sparked negative reactions and has been condemned by Muslims even prior to its release so that the Dutch government intensified security for its embassies, consulates and even military installations.

In fact, the level of national terrorist threat in the Netherlands was raised from limited to substantial on March 6.

Substantial is the second to the highest of four levels of threat, with critical being the highest and minimal as the lowest.

The Hague, which is home to a lot of expatriates of all nations, appears to be a high-risk area being the legal capital of the world and host to many international organizations.

"Our lives could be endangered and our peacefulness as Filipinos would be affected in the sense that we are in the center of the turmoil. And since religion is also a way of life, an attack on the Muslim religion is an attack on the Muslim way of life," overseas Pinoy Leandro Bautista told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

Even if the reactions after the film was released were milder than expected, the national terrorist threat still remains at the same level today.

However, the Pinoys in The Hague do not yet perceive any looming imminent danger.

"I know that was the level of threat here in the Hague, all over in the Netherlands. But I have to put things in perspective. I grew up in the Philippines and we’ve had so many street demonstrations, bombings, threats of bombings or whatever. So I’m not really so alarmed about it but I do take precautions," overseas Pinoy Carmela Javier said.

Pinoy businessman Joey Gonzales also feels that there is a minimized threat to Dutch Pinoys.

"I don’t think there’s any threat because we Filipinos don’t even look Dutch. I guess the terrorist will not stop to ask you first if you’re Dutch," Gonzales said.

"For us, Filipinos, the threat is minimized. It’s more for the white Dutch instead of the Dutch passport holders who are foreigners. For us, especially for Filipinos, I really think there is no threat for us or even for me," Gonzales added.

But even if they don’t feel any fear at the moment, the Pinoys think that it is still too early to feel a sense of relief.

The Pinoys are wary that there may still be repercussions in the future from those who were gravely offended and angered by Fitna.

"I make sure that my kids are not alone on the streets at a certain time. I observe the curfew hours, not really curfew hours, but the hours I impose for my kids to be inside the house," Javier said of the measures she has taken.

Javier added "personally, I don’t necessarily hang out in places where such things could possibly evoke some strong emotions. There are areas like ghettos here in The Hague that could possibly be very sensitive around this time because of the presence of that film."

Bautista opts to be on the safe side but with full respect to cultural diversity and religion.

"I’ll try to stay in the middle. We have to respect each other’s religion. Not just our own religion, but the religions of other people," Bautista said.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=114140