Sir, - As a brother of Father Brendan Forde, as an Irishman, a committed European and as a human being, I call on all the relevant authorities to use their influence to stop the slaughter of innocent civilians by paramilitary forces in Colombia.
That the situation is critical is brought home by the fact that Brendan felt obliged to go public on it, with all the personal publicity which has ensued. This is not his style - he normally shuns such publicity - but, from speaking to him, I know he feels there is no other way.
As a veteran of 30 years' experience in Chile, El Salvador and Guatemala, we must believe him when he says he has never encountered such danger as is now part of his every living moment, and that of the people he serves. President Clinton will visit Colombia next week and it behoves all of us to urge him now, through our public representatives and by other democratic means, to demand of the Colombian government that it brings to heel its surrogate forces. The European Union, too, should be required to take action.
Otherwise, countless more Colombian farmers, teachers, and children will continue to be massacred and a fine, fun-loving Irishman, with a thirst for social justice, may never see his beloved Croke Park again.
Up the Dubs! - Yours, etc.,
Dermot Forde, Westland, Moynalty, Kells, Co Meath.