September 6 1999

Refugees: Global community has failed to uphold rights

Sir, Many thanks to Sir Cyril Townsend ("Palestinians' right to return", Letters, September 2) for his comments concerning the legal rights of refugees which are treated so arbitrarily by the global community and only invoked on a selective basis according to political allegiances. Why else were we deafened by the indignation of the US, UK and other leading western countries when the Kosovan Albanians were made refugees, yet silence reigns from these same countries on the subject of Palestinian, Greek Cypriot, Kurdish and other refugees.

The precedent of failing to uphold the rights of all refugees was set many years ago. If action had been taken then, it would have served as a warning to others intent on breaking international law. Instead we see "friendly countries" carry on with no fear of any response, and "non-friendly countries" being bombed and attacked.

Yours faithfully
Lobby for Cyprus