Law and order

Press, 22 October 1984, Page 12

Law and order

Sir,—The Rugby Union being determined to tour South Africa next year, limits must be set for the coming debate. Apartheid is legislated racism, confined to one country and condemned by the United Nations, which calls on all member countries to refrain from sporting and cultural contacts with South Africa, the only nation limiting suffrage by skin colour. Other African, Asian and American nations practise repression, but this is irrelevant to the apartheid argument. We hear of the sanctity of passports, but many countries discriminate. In my case United States entry was limited as I had been a member of a University Labour Club, with party branch status. The S.P.I.R. is not really concerned with individual rights, but actively supports white South Africa and vilifies black African nations. Like the pigs in Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” it claims support for individual freedom, with some being more equal than others.— Yours, etc., VARIAN J. WILSON. October 19, 1984.

Sir,—F. Lean should forget his obvious bias against South Africa, look again at my letter of October 18 and the title, and realise that what is at risk is law and order, without which we do not have democracy. Violence is anticipated by the police, but there is no suggestion that it will be caused by anyone other than the anti-tour protesters, and for these people to be able to impose their will on the rest of the population by threats of violence for whatever reason, is obviously wrong and, as I said before, anarchy. The subject in dispute is immaterial.—Yours, etc., L. R. WILKINSON. October 19, 1984.

Sir,—ln a democracy the usual role of the police is to protect most of the population from the relatively few lawbreakers. L. R. Wilkinson, Eric and others

who support the rugby tour to South Africa expect the police to be used, as in 1981, to enable the wishes of one section of the community to override the, wishes of another section. The All Blacks will be representing New Zealand in South Africa, but a large proportion of the population object to being so represented. The police would be used to ensure the. All Blacks represent New Zealand in South Africa, against the wishes of a lot of New Zealanders. Is this a justifiable role for the police in a democracy? — Yours, etc., JOAN LARSEN. October 19, 1984.