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Published on April 10, 2008

In the Muslim quarter a mosque was burned; probably the first such occurrence in the history of Buddhism.

The Dalai Lama condemned the riots and even threatened to resign, if the violence continued. But there are reasons to believe that the Dalai Lama and his government-in-exile, which no country has ever recognised, are losing touch with and control of what is happening in Tibetan communities in China and in the exile communities in India and Nepal. Andrew Fischer, a fellow at the London School of Economics, says: "Whether or not there are radical Tibetan groups that are thinking of doing suicide attacks, no one knows, but it certainly would never be supported by the Dalai Lama".

However, the Dalai Lama's policy of non-violence has been challenged not only by the Tibetan Youth Congress, but also by members of the establishment in Dharamsala. This does not bode well for the future. Chinese warnings of more violence to come should, therefore, not be dismissed as mere propaganda tactics.

Manfred Liebig

GERMANY

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Abortion debate won't prove who is right or wrong

Re: "Obama's abortion stance a human-rights concern", Letters, April 7.

Paul Kokoski must remember that his is only an opinion and no matter how strongly he may hold it, it remains, simply, his opinion. An equally implacable group of equally worthy people hold the opposite view.

Many people hold the "opinion" that the earth is flat; others that the human race is the product of an "intelligent design". But these are not matters of opinion at all, they are matters of fact. Evidence can be produced to prove or disprove their truth. It cannot, to prove or disprove the proposition of "right to life". Mr Kokoski can go on holding his opinion, safe in the knowledge that no one can ever prove him wrong, but neither can anyone prove him right. It can never be "proved" that it is either right or wrong for a woman to have an abortion. It will always remain a matter of opinion.

One man's opinion that something is "self-evidently" true can be a very dangerous thing. Self-evident truths have had many dire consequences down through the ages. They have led to torture, mutilations, burnings, hangings, crucifixions and worse.

Just look at our own cultures: many self-evident beliefs have been reversed over the millennia, many even in our own lifetimes.

No matter how vociferously the writer may wish to proselytise his views, he will not prove anything and he will convince nobody. The logical conclusion: don't delude yourself Mr Kokoski - no matter how strongly you feel about the matter, you may be wrong!

George Cuppaidge

Kanchanaburi

Correction

In yesterday's "Stoppage Time" column, an editing mistake made the text read as if PM Samak asked the rural fortune-teller responsible for the man-snake marriage to hang himself. In fact, Samak was referring to a high-profile fortune-teller who had predicted the current Thai political situation would end in bloody turmoil; a testy response by the outspoken PM that knocked the man-snake story off the front pages. We apologise for the confusion caused.

Editor