Disadvantaged World Minorities

* “Redefining Sovereignty” (Opinion, May 16) raises many issues beyond Kosovo calling for deliberations and agreement by the international community. Religious minorities in both secular and religious states are suffering discrimination and suppression. There are innumerable ethnic pockets around the globe created by wars, partitions and historical formation of new sovereign states, which are disadvantaged. Minorities do not get representation in government and a say in policymaking.

There are countless people who are denied citizenship by the countries in which they are permanently residing and in which they may even have been born. There are border disputes between sovereign states with ethnic backgrounds. In developing countries, in particular, weaker sections belonging to specific ethnic groups and religions are suppressed.

The issues are: How do we define an ethnic group and what is ethnic discrimination and suppression? How do we differentiate these from basic human rights violations? When is outside intervention called for and who is to decide this?

FRANCIS LEONARD LOBO

Los Angeles

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In World War II we were threatened and attacked. It was necessary to bomb Japan and Germany. Unfortunately our memory of those successful and heroic actions has been twisted into the belief that bombing is the only way to control an outlaw nation.

Even after the tragedy of Vietnam our leaders have not learned to think about a better way.

Now we are making horrible blunders in Kosovo. We have bombed the Chinese Embassy and are killing many innocent civilians, yet our actions have hardly slowed Slobodan Milosevic.

Are the lights on at the White House?

EDWIN G. STAUSS

Woodland Hills