Letter: Execution of Saro-Wiwa flouted justice

Sir: I have been a regular reader of-your newspaper since its first edition as I admired fair-minded reporting, so it was all the more of a shock to read Richard D North's appalling piece on the late Ken Saro- Wiwa.

The picture he paints both of Ken's character and motivation, along with the environmental state of the Ogoniland, is completely at odds with the many detailed reports which have been done over the past few years, both by human rights organisations and respecting environmentalists.

Ken Saro-Wiwa was not a saint, I am sure, but he was an extraordinarily courageous man who sacrificed his own comfort and safety to campaign for justice for the Ogoni people. He died a truly terrible death after many months of torture and near-starvation.

Ken was an Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience and the recipient of the Right Livelihood Award and the Goldman Prize for services to the environmental movement. His case was also taken up by International PEN, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace.

Can all these organisations be wrong and Mr North be right?

DIANA MORANT

London SW3