Sir, - We fully support the victims of Algeria's struggle for independence to have the French generals who have admitted the use of torture and summary executions during the war brought to justice for these crimes against humanity (The Irish Times, November 27th).
It is one of the sad ironies of history that these same crimes against humanity have been and continue to be inflicted by Algerian generals against their own people to maintain their repressive rule. The recent Amnesty International report on Algeria (November 9th, 2000) was aptly named "Truth and Justice obscured by the shadow of Impunity".
As long as impunity remains, there will be more crimes against humanity committed in the years ahead. Would the Irish Government please give some moral leadership in this area and ratify the Rome statute which would set up the International Criminal Court? Why are we sitting on the coward's fence? Whose side are we on? - Yours, etc.,
Brendan Butler,Ireland-Algeria Solidarity Group, Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2.