Madam, - The unspeakable crime of the slaughter of those little children and their parents and teachers in Russia marks a new low in evil and sheer depravity. This kind of barbaric savagery shocks every civilised human being.
Speaking on British television, the renowned psychiatrist Prof Raj Persaud made the point that all of us have a mechanism within us to inhibit violence and it takes a lot of brainwashing and training to overcome this innate instinct. He described what took place at that school is Russia as "an ominous harbinger for the future". It is as if a certain wall of sensitivity, a particular taboo, has been breached and nothing can ever be the same again.
Here we witnessed the cold-blooded, premeditated murder and torture of innocent children. What cause can justify this monstrous evil?
Yes, the unfortunate people of Chechnya have suffered at the hands of the Russians and the world seems to turn a blind eye, but does that explain the barbaric treatment of those innocent children in that school? Our natural instinct is to protect and cherish children.
Apart from the pain and suffering of the Chechen people, the Palestinians have suffered continual injustice and oppression and there will be no peace in the Middle East while this continues. A very real danger is the sinister infiltration of Al-Qaeda into certain ethnic conflicts.
It is vitally important that the Islamic world expresses its abhorrence and utter condemnation of any act of cruelty and murder committed in the name of Islam by vicious, sadistic fanatics. After this monstrous crime in Russia, I noticed that any Muslim interviewed on TV, in various part of the world, was quick to express sadness and condemnation. We need to hear vociferous outright repudiation and condemnation of these vile acts from senior Islamic clerics around the world so that Islam cannot be associated in any way with inhuman and barbaric deeds. The entire civilised world must speak with one clear, unambiguous voice in denouncing these cruel, depraved acts. - Yours, etc.,
ANTHONY REDMOND, Great George's Street, Dublin 1.
Madam, - The tragic events in North Ossetia have rightly evoked an outpouring of shock and sympathy. It is clear that terrorism is now a major destabilising feature in Russia.
The extreme elements responsible for the school siege do nothing to advance the cause of Chechnya. However, it is important not to lose sight of the recent history of Chechnya. The prospect of ordinary Chechens suffering as a result of the actions of extremists is unfortunately all too real.
A cursory glance at the publications and observations of human rights organisations shows how this republic has been effectively levelled as a civilisation with little attention from the western world. The beginning of the second conflict in 1999 saw thousands killed by indiscriminate bombing. At the height of the conflict over 300,000 people were displaced. Local officials have also admitted the existence of 49 mass graves containing the remains of nearly 3,000 civilians.
Atrocities, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary detentions, torture, forced disappearances and summary executions of hundreds of people have become commonplace in Chechnya for many years due to Russia's policies. Further restrictive action against displaced persons in Ingushetia and the rest of the Caucasus are all part of the so-called "normalisation" process that Russia is engaged in.
Human Rights Watch has commented: "The armed conflict in Chechnya. . .is the most serious human rights crisis of the new decade in Europe. It has taken a disastrous toll on the civilian population and is now one of the greatest threats to stability and rule of law in Russia. Yet the international community's response to it has been shameful and short-sighted".
There is a compelling duty on the international community in commemorating the dead of Beslan to ensure Russia does not step up its abuses in Chechnya. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL McLOUGHLIN, Riverwood Heath, Castleknock, Dublin 15.
Madam, - Dominic Bryan of QUB's Institute of Irish Studies (September 7th) blathers that "we have to attempt to understand why non-state actors commit such terrible atrocities as that in Beslan. We need to understand why they use certain tactics..."
Actually, we need to hunt down such non-state actors and kill them. No excuses. - Yours, etc.,
TONY ALLWRIGHT, Killiney, Co Dublin.