Sir, - As January 17th, the fifth anniversary of the start of the Gulf War, approaches and also the bi monthly renewal of the blockade on Iraq, the case of Dr Mohammed al Masari has shown as nothing else the shameful double standards or our actions in the Middle East. These policies have led to the death of over half a million children in Iraq, according to UNICEF, in the five years of the embargo.
One of the stated reasons for the continuation of sanctions is Iraq's human rights record. Yet the British Government is sanguine over its dealings with Saudi Arabia, which routinely chops off heads and hands and whose human rights violations have been condemned by every respected monitoring organisation in the world.
The al Masari case demonstrates graphically that the nine thousand children dying monthly in Iraq are dying at the altar of arms and oil. If Iraqi oil came' back on stream, the price would drop and Britain and the US would be in danger of not being paid for their arms. When the sanctions are renewed and Saddam Hussein is again condemned for his treatment of his people, it is salutary to reflect that among those on the UN Security Council who will undoubtedly vote for the continuation, as they did two months ago, are Burundi, Rwanda and Nigeria.
Perhaps the UK's Millenium Foundation should erect a monument depicting oil, arms, dead children and Dr al Masari. It would be a suitable epitaph to a millennium ending dedicated only to Mammon. - Yours, etc.,
Homerton High Street,
London €9 6AJ.