Letter: Jury has okayed a wanton act of violence

OPINION: The acquittal of perpetrators of vandalism by a Wellington jury (March 18) is another blight on New Zealand's international credibility and will probably draw another comment of support from terrorist organisations.

The premise that violence is OK, as long as you believe in a cause, shouldn't be tolerated.

It disturbs me that someone can undertake wanton acts of violence in this country, blame it on the politics of another, and get away with it. This is just terrorism.

The propaganda the perpetrators spout provides no evidence of a causal link and has only possibly a vague nexus based on hearsay. It is either just as likely, or more likely, that their actions could have prevented terrorist cell activities from being detected and, therefore, not saved the lives of the victims of a suicide bomber.

The true character of these people is shown to be that they will resort to violence.

That a jury has okayed this shows how pervasive, ingrained and, sadly, accepted violence is in our society. Violence begets violence. Their acts are no more justified than the belief that all beardies with religion are fanatical nutters.

ANDREW STEWART

Woburn

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