Sir, - There is a serious possibility that in the aftermath of the September 11th atrocity all internal dissent within countries may be presented as the work of an international conspiracy. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s many states, especially in Latin America, labelled legitimate civilian protest as the work of international communism and human rights were violated in the interests of prevalent ideology of that time - the national security of the state.
Today there is a real danger that legitimate civilian grievances within Western states will be conveniently identified as "terrorism" and that the vast armoury of anti-terrorism will be used against them.
In Islamic countries legitimate protests and internal dissent against injustice and corruption are now labelled by the ruling Θlites as the work of Islamic fundamentalists and again the true nature of their grievances is conveniently misinterpreted.
While we must protect ourselves from the real dangers of criminals operating on a transnational level we must never allow personal human rights and international law to be made subservient to any "isms". - Yours, etc.,
Brendan Butler, Pennock Hill, Swords, Co. Dublin.