The Editor, Sir:

I am listening to hear the voices that are crying out against jungle justice in this so-called Christian nation.

In the parish of Westmoreland, on Saturday night, December 29, 2007, three men were murdered for stealing a goat. I hear no voice crying out, "We want justice." Was justice served? Was the punishment equal to the crime?

One troublesome question for me is, was there not one voice to say, "Let us not kill them; this is enough; let us call the police?" The action stirred my memory to what took place at the University of Technology a couple years ago when it was alleged that a man attempted to steal a car. He was chased, beaten and left to drown in a cesspool while students stood around and watched. From whom did these university students learn to be so heartless?

Is there no law against these crimes? Why are people not held accountable?

The Old Testament teaches, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth", meaning the punishment must not be more severe but equal to the crime.

I understand the anger of persons who are constantly losing livestock to thieves and the farmers who lose their crops, but are we weighing human lives on the same scale as that of animals?

Jungle justice, in all forms, is wrong and as a people we need to put a stop to it. We need to raise our voices against it.

I am, etc.,

ELAINE COOKE

Royal Flat

Manchester