Double standards?

Sir, - The Qatar-based television network, Al Jazeera's recent broadcast of Osama bin Laden's speech has caused considerable anger in the U.S. Government circles. While its ire is justified, one is amazed at the double standards of the Western world.

In 1980, a British cameraman, Anthony Thomas, produced a documentary on the execution of a Saudi princess. The Saudi Government expressed its displeasure and demanded an official ban on the screening of the film on British TV.

Lord Carrington, then British Foreign Secretary, visited the Kingdom to meet the Saudi King and apologise for showing the documentary. He pleaded that under the British law, the Government could not impose a ban.

In the 1980s, when terrorism in Punjab was at its height, two Sikh extremist leaders were shown every now and then on CNN and BBC, giving interviews and delivering provocative speeches.

The West - champion of democracy, human rights and freedom of speech - apparently does not like to see these principles being pursued when it does not suit its interest.

Fasihur Rahman,

Delhi

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