THE EDITOR, Sir:
I RECALL in a letter to you dated January 2000 that I strongly criticised the media's method of protesting an alleged attempt of the Government to muzzle the press. Your colleagues appeared in Parliament with muzzles across their mouths. I complained that it appeared undignified and insulting to our Parliament, the highest court in the land. No group of citizens would get away with that type of display in any court in the land. I warned you were setting a dangerous precedent. Now a group of lawyers attempt a similar insult to our parliament. Quite rightly, they were asked to leave.
The current issue involved is a product of legislation. The procedure adopted by the police was a warrant authorised by the court. These lawyers are citizens subjected to the same laws and procedures like the rest of us. If these lawyers felt that this legislation was flawed, the proper procedure is to appeal to a superior court. In the long run the law could be changed through the normal advocacy in a democratic society. Their display was sheer self-inflated arrogance. Thank goodness, Mr. Speaker, had the courage to have them thrown out.
Finally, I ask Cliff Hughes of Power 106 to be less emotional in dealing with these matters. He spoke of 'this is our Parliament it does not belong to Mr. Speaker'. What arrant nonsense! So irrelevant. Control yourself, Cliff.
I am, etc.,
A. BYFIELD
Boscobel P.O.
St. Mary
