Civilisational crisis

Sir, - In `Retribution not the answer' (Sept. 18), Mr. Sitaram Yechury, has mentioned: ``It can only be hoped that these horrendous strikes will bring on to the agenda of the world the need for complying with international law, respecting the sovereignty of nations to choose their social order.'' But what history shows to us is otherwise.

We have adequate evidence of a law being formed before society is ready to observe fully its rules and regulations. It was the World War that gave rise to mandates of the League of Nations and the U.N. Charter. International law is formed by international relations, which in turn is formed by international politics and not otherwise.

Every country will undergo a civilisational crisis at least once in its political life, and it has to be allowed to undergo it for its full growth. Foreseeing situations with prudence is different from embarking on premature diagnosis for the remedy.

Parameswaran Krishnasamy,

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