Sir, - Your Editorial of October 11th, "The Right Direction", suggested that the international community was moving in the right direction in terms of its responsibility to take action against dictators and tyrants throughout the world. The case in point was that of General Pinochet, which was pursued through the British courts despite judicial complexities. The importance of such a case cannot be over-emphasised. It sends a message to the people of the world that abuse, torture and crimes against humanity should not go unpunished.
A step in the right direction, however, is not enough. All too often, powerful and wealthy nations support dictators for their own commercial and political reasons. The faceless nature of the power elites in the global world of large corporations allows for happy trade with the devil himself.
Regimes that inflict pain senselessly and needlessly on their citizens cannot continue to be supported. There is need for a systematic and recognised response to such regimes and their leaders. There is also a need for an international understanding that the forces of the marketplace do not take preference over respect for people. Citizens of the powerful nations cannot ignore their responsibility towards those who suffer under brutal dictators, by either silently or ignorantly supporting the organisations that support the dictators.
It is reassuring to know that a stand against such people can be made. I applaud the British legal system for taking on such a complex and legally challenging case as that of Augusto Pinochet. Whether such a stand happens in Arusha, Nuremburg or the British House of Lords, the "direction" that relentlessly pursues those who abuse other people needs to be strengthened. Every Pol Pot, every Obote, Suharto, Gadafy, Hussein, SLORC or Seko needs to hear the message loud and clear - that abuse, torture and crimes against humanity will not be tolerated and will not go unpunished. - Yours, etc.,
John O'Shea, GOAL, PO Box 19, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.