Madam, - Paul Cullen is correct to raise the issue of whether Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda are entitled to debt relief (The Irish Times, July 7th).
As Mr Cullen points out, the Ethiopian government spent millions on a "pointless civil war with Eritrea" which killed 70,000 people between 1998 and 2000. Last month its soldiers killed dozens of unarmed protesters on the streets of Addis Ababa.
He goes on to confirm that Uganda and Rwanda are among the seven countries implicated in the civil war in the Congo which has led to 5 million deaths.
The debt issue aside, why in heavens name is the Irish Government still willing to deal with the Ugandan and Ethiopian governments? This year they will receive more than €65 million of Irish taxpayers' money.
What acts of brutality do these governments have to commit before our Government is prompted to act? - Yours, etc,
JOHN O'SHEA, Goal, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.