Human rights
• China's history and on-going violations of human rights are common knowledge throughout the world. Its one-child family policy clearly demonstrates the state's total control over the family.
Mothers have no choice other than to abort all other children conceived because that is what the state dictates. Family honour and security favour the survival of the male child, who is perceived as the one most likely to get gainful employment and be in a position to support the parents in their old age.
Other human rights are likewise violated in this last major bastion of communist dictatorship, where tens of thousands of innocent people are either locked up or missing.
In common with our Government, the Chinese are also in dispute with the Pope and the Vatican and they appoint their own bishops to the Catholic Church in China.
When the vice-president and future leader of this dictatorship, Xi Jinping, visited us, the hypocrisy of our politicians and our civil rights activists was amazing.
There was no public condemnation of these abuses, no attacks on or protests outside the Chinese Embassy by our usual motley crew of obliging and destructive liberal socialists.
No, not likely. That type of gross misconduct is reserved for the Pope, the Vatican or any honourable world leader who would challenge such a dictator. We really are politically, financially and morally bankrupt
John Ferry
Sligo Town
• The Celtic Tiger is now no more but is there a dragon about to roar?
Let's hope it has more stamina.
G Carroll
Address with editor
Irish Independent
