The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Iraq elections

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Iraq elections

Sir, — The editorial on the recent Iraq elections, "Another false dawn" (Feb. 1), is disappointing. Any legitimately elected representative body in Iraq will primarily be composed of Shias and Kurds. After all, the Sunnis comprise only 20 per cent of Iraq's population. George W. Bush's efforts to fast-forward history by introducing democracy in West Asia deserves our support and the Iraqis deserve a chance.

Natarajan Vijayasankaran,
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Sir, — Tony Blair and Mr. Bush systematically destroyed democracy in Iraq and called their heinous act a resounding success ("An election to anoint an occupation," Feb. 1). This "force of freedom" — to use Mr. Blair's words — was achieved by clamping down draconian security measures, imposing complicated and confusing ballot papers, identifying only a few candidates and not enfranchising the Sunnis. The election is, without doubt, "illegitimate."

Col. (retd.) C.V. Venugopalan,
Palakkad, Kerala

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