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"We are worried different groups are feeling isolated," said Waterloo Mayor Lynne The City of Waterloo is looking at forming a comâ€" munity relations task force, to provide a setting for resiâ€" dents of all religions, nationalities, ages and genâ€" ders to express â€" their thoughts on issues they claim to face on a regular basis. hose caught in the I realm of oppression and threat may soon have a forum to air their concerns. The eâ€"mail, released by local police, read that the charity‘s volunteers should "return to Afghanistan and be on the receiving end of an U.S. cruise missile." "They were very conâ€" cerned about that along with all of the other things that have happened," said Staff Sgt. Dan Anderson of the Waterloo *regional police, which _ investigated _ the threat. "They reported that to police, and decided to close their office for the week." Police investigated the threat, which included the name of the sender, and disâ€" covered it was sent by a local man. Police investigated but City looking at ways to battle discrimination ‘ The Benevolence International Fund (B.LE), a Canadian sister group to the Benevolence International Foundation of the U.S., shut its door after receiving what they characterized as a threat against staff at their Waterloo office. Waterlooâ€"based chariâ€" Alt‘y, accused of having inks to midâ€"east terâ€" rorists, _ temporarily â€" shut down its operations last week after receiving an eâ€"mail threat about its fundraising activities. Local charity closes its doors after threat made 3â€"K Motors Authorized BMW Retoiler â€" 527 King 5t. N. Wat. ‘Telaphone (519) 805â€"5090 Eand wlpOlc kmotrs com Looking For a New By Anprea Baney Chronicle Staff By Bos VrRBANac Chronicle Staff "We‘ve had some inciâ€" dents in the high schools, some Mohammedan women have been (threatâ€" ened), and some synaâ€" gogues are frightened," she said. Woolstencroft. "While 1 feel it‘s not a huge problem within the city, the probâ€" lems that have been stated can‘t be overlooked. "We want to provide a clearing house of sorts; a place for people to talk." Woolstencroft admitted that while such a forum would be useful at any time, the terrorist events of Sept. 11 in the U.S. have helped push the process along. International _ Foundation was in the spotlight of a media investigation last week after officials in the George W. Bush administration talked about seizing the assets of charities and groups that are said to have links to terrorâ€" ists, like Osama bin Laden, accused of masterminding the attacks on the U.S. on Sept. 11. U.S. treasury officials strongly recommended that B.LE and its Waterloo chapâ€" ter be included on that list because of the work it has done in that region of the "We had words with him (the eâ€"mailer) and we‘re satisâ€" fied that it‘s not going to conâ€" tinue, and we‘ll continue to monitor him. We‘ll keep our communication lines open with the people at the B.LE" ily harm or death," said Anderson. "That‘s the threshâ€" old we have to look at. Waterloo regional police said the eâ€"mail didn‘t constiâ€" tute a criminal threat, and are satisfied that there was no intention of any harm being done beyond sending the iniâ€" tial electronic message. "It does not reach the threshold of a criminal threat, where it directly threatens a person with bodâ€" no charges were laid. Benevolence "With this task force, I hope we can get a measure of civility with each other and better understanding; and give the community an opportunity to talk about their fears, so that we can then talk about our values." Woolstencroft said she is no stranger to oppression, having experienced it firstâ€" hand as a female teacher, and as a member of the Waterloo Region District school board in the 1970s. "It was a time when are en police. Despite the denials, the local office received what they described as a threatenâ€" ing eâ€"mail last Tuesday through the aid group‘s webâ€" site found at www.benevoâ€" lence.org. The charity decided to close its doors for the week for its staff‘s safety, and until some of the furor around the UNâ€"sanctioned charity quiâ€" ets down. But the B.LE‘s Canadian chapter released a statement last _ week _ through _ its Torontoâ€"based lawyer, Faisal Kutty, denying the U.S. govâ€" ernment‘s accusations. The group stood by its humaniâ€" tarian work in countries such as Bosnia, Cechnya, Pakistan and Afghanistan. And the agency claims to be one of the first groups to be on site of the World Trade Center attacks, offering supâ€" port and assistance to the victims _ of what â€" they described as an "atrocious" terrorist attack. 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