Is might right?

Mine is only a small voice--but I sincerely hope it echoes the feelings of millions and millions of people on this earth.

The UN celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 26, 1995. Its role in the socio-cultural, educational, health, humanitarian areas, etc. is unquestionably praiseworthy. Its political role, however, is blissfully vague and is seemingly dictated by the whims and fancies of the members of the Security Council.

I believe Taiwan's exclusion from the UN to be glaringly unfair. We can't wish Taiwan away as though it just doesn't exist. Until the two Chinas become one, Taiwan being kept out of UN is simply not logical--from whichever angle one looks at it. On what reasonable or acceptable grounds can Taiwan be treated as a non-sovereign nation?

Let's consider the case of the French government's proposal to resume their nuclear tests. It is absolutely unethical for the nuclear powers to continue conducting the tests while insisting that others should not enter the nuclear club. I'm not for one moment suggesting that all countries should be free to go nuclear. Not at all. All nations without any discrimination whatsoever must be barred from conducting any type of nuclear experiments. And merely freezing the tests would not be enough--all types of nuclear arsenals presently possessed by any country should be dismantled forthwith and buried forever. If the UN can achieve this, mankind will be ever grateful.

It is, however, perplexing that the U.S. acts somewhat differently on issues such as Taiwan's re-entry into the UN, the French nuclear testing, etc. Adding insult to injury, the U.S. is considering conducting nuclear tests of its own! Yes, I know there are no permanent enemies or no permanent friends but only permanent interests. Nevertheless, I reckon these permanent interests must be based on normal decent behavior expected of a great nation as the USA.

It is understood that the French government wishes to resume the tests to ensure the reliability of its stockpile. But, pray, for what purpose are these reliability tests meant when the so- called differences among nations could be resolved. But where is the justice or fair play? The collective will of the people of this world is muffled. The UN should reflect the aspirations and interest of all nations and not just the interests of a chosen few in the Security Council.

By the way, the Greenpeace movement deserves total support as it truly represents the immense emotion of millions of people across the world. It indeed serves as the conscience-keeper of the silent majority.

In conclusion, shall we see what the late Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the great philosopher, statesman and former president of India had to say about ethics? He said that if the world is not to sink into a condition of physical misery and moral degradation, and if the common life is to be decent and dignified, ethics must control social action.

D. CHANDRAMOULI

Jakarta