Although I think it was the right decision, I'm sorry the wreath
laying ceremony did not go ahead. Nobody wants to offend the memories
of the war veterans, but the war on drugs is costing people their
lives and liberties from the poppy fields of SE Asia to the inner
cities of the UK.

A letter has been handed into the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan,
signed by thousands of international signatories including, from
Britain, judge Anthony Tibber, Colin Blakemore (president of the
association for the advancement of science) Edward Ellison (ex-head of
Scotland Yards drug squad), the Bishop of Monmouth, Ian Sparks (chief
executive of the Children's Society) and MPs Paul Flynn, Austin
Mitchel and Brian Iddon.

They point out how the war on drugs is not only lost, but is causing
more harm than drug use itself could ever do.

As the letter to the UN says: "UN agencies estimate the annual revenue
generated by the illegal drug industry at 400 billion Dollars, or the
equivalent of roughly 8% of total international trade.

This industry has empowered organised criminals, corrupted governments
at all levels, eroded internal security, stimulated violence and
distorted both economic markets and moral values."

Worth a wreath to my mind.

Derek Williams
Norwich