19/06/03 13:29:13.46 ypD2woI9.net
The New York Times wrote that
"Britain's prime minister Thatcher is right in refusing to yield political status to Bobby Sands,
the Irish Republican Army hunger striker",
but added that by appearing
"unfeeling and unresponsive" the British Government was giving Sands "the crown of martyrdom".
The San Francisco Chronicle argued that political belief should not exempt activists from criminal law.
Terrorism goes far beyond the expression of political belief.
And dealing with it does not allow for compromise as many countries of Western Europe and United States have learned.
The bombing of bars, hotels, restaurants, robbing of banks, abductions, and killings of prominent figures are all criminal acts and must be dealt with by criminal law.