THE EDITOR, Sir:

In recent weeks (December 29, 2007) we read once again of "thieves being killed by citizens who were not prepared to depend on the due process of the justice system".

This is happening far too often and is a dangerous development in our society, on top of our already alarming list of societal problems.

We must condemn such action not because we want to molly-coddle thieves, but because everyone deserves a fair trial.

I am concerned too, as to whether the public in general and human rights activists in particular, are expressing outrage and demanding full investigation into these events.

Policemen

It cannot be that we condemn reported extra-judicial killings by the police, while we look the other way when this is done by citizens.

After all, policemen are the products of the society we create, notwithstanding their training and special roles.

If our society condones taking lives by its citizens without a trial, how can we expect our young policemen to respect the lives of persons about whom they feel they already have ample evidence?

The entire society must condemn any attempt to bypass the justice system from any quarter. Citizens who abhor this behaviour must speak out lest this too, comes to be considered the norm in our society.

I am, etc.,

ALFRICO D. ADAMS

Kingston 10