Date:20/01/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/20/stories/2004012001661022.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

World Social Forum

Sir, — The writer, Arundhati Roy, has become a leading voice of human rights and social justice. She believes not just in formal protests but action-packed participation by one and all to undo the damage caused by the lone superpower. She has rightly pointed out to the agony of war. We only wish her tribe grows in strength.

K. Malikul Azeez,

Chennai

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Sir, — It is indeed preposterous for Ms. Roy to suggest that the World Social Forum and the Mumbai Resistance jointly select two American companies, prepare a list of their offices around the world and "shut them down." While the American war on Iraq is certainly condemnable, nurturing of the anti-American sentiment to the point of carrying it to other realms is not justifiable. For, such a reaction would only support "the end justifies the means" principle — precisely the basis of George Bush's unilateral attack on Iraq.

N.K. Suryanarayanan,

Bangalore

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Sir, — This refers to the text of Ms. Roy's speech published in the Insight (Jan. 18). Her mention of 80,000 people having been killed in Kashmir since 1989, "most of them Muslim" and again "most of them by Indian security forces" was disconcerting. The war in Kashmir is against militancy, which can be fought by only the security forces.

V. Gopinath,

Cuddalore, T.N.

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Sir, — Ms. Roy refers to the `fact' that the Indian security forces have killed most of the 80,000 people who have died in Kashmir since 1989. Even assuming this to be the case, Ms. Roy fails to say what percentage of these were terrorists. And while she is quick to object to the displacement of Adivasis, why does she not show the same concern for Kashmiri Pundits?

Vikram Vasu,

Chennai