Sir, - We live in interesting times. In the period May 11th 1998 to December 31st 1998, the UK Government granted a further 25 licences for the export of arms to Indonesia; only one application was refused.
Joe Murray of AfrI is reported as saying (The Irish Times, February 1st) that Irish defence contractors were now exporting to 30 countries worldwide. Britain and Ireland have more than the North in common!
When one juxtaposes our recent wearing of white ribbons with our imminent joining of the NATO-sponsored Pfp, I think it is fair to say that a certain five-letter word beginning with "p" has all but lost its meaning. - Yours, etc., Mark Doris,
Coote Street, Portlaoise, Co Laois.