Farewell Boutros-Ghali!
Dear Sir,
It was with infinite sadness that one heard the news of the passing away of Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former secretary-general of the UN. He was the first African to head the global organisation.
During his term of office, he was much concerned with the awakening and fermenting continent of Africa. At the heart of his stellar career was his supreme belief in one world, for all of humanity, though.
In the UN Charter,  he saw a guide to what he called an organised international community.
He earnestly and sincerely believed that there were invisible bridges on which people could meet as fellow global citizens, above the confines of different ideologies.
In today’s divided and violent world, the victims of brutal war look to the UN for the peaceful settlement of disputes. To men and women everywhere the UN Plaza is more than glass and steel, stone and mortar.
Farewell Boutros-Ghali, deeply respected former Egyptian foreign minister, distinguished son of Africa. May your departed soul rest in peace!

Farouk Araie
farouk.araie@telkomsa.net

Violence on campuses
Dear Sir,
This refers to reports regarding protests and attacks on journalists demanding action against lawyers following the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) incident in India.
With the attack on the journalists, the events have taken a new and complex turn.   
The much-debated University of Hyderabad tragedy earlier and the recent JNU events prove that campuses and court premises  in India have become zones of protests and violence with the backing of certain political parties and groups.  Even though targeting journalists is not something new, the latest developments have been so unfortunate and against the core values of  India’s constitutional rights.   
I also feel that university campuses should not be used to spread or encourage anti-national sentiments or slogans.   

Ramachandran Nair
(Address supplied)