The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Playing on fear

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Monday, Jun 20, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Playing on fear

The article "Playing on fear, from Godhra to Guantanamo" (June 13) is a good analysis of how lethal anti-terrorist laws can be if they are not applied with the right intention. The decision of the Central Review Committee on POTA that the Godhra incident did not attract the provisions of the Act, the acquittal of all the eight accused in the Ghatkopar blast case by a special POTA court in Mumbai, and the report that U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld approved the use of "harsh" interrogation techniques at Guantanamo Bay bear testimony to this fact.

It is important that states exercise utmost caution while enacting and implementing such special laws.

Aman Mohd Kahn,
Aligarh, U.P.

* * *

The state derives legitimacy from people's fears to arm itself with the power to violate human rights. The best illustration is post-9/11 U.S. and the re-election of Narendra Modi in Gujarat.

M. Anver,
Vaniyambadi, T.N.

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