<B>?Shakeel appealed for peace and calm?

In the absence of my son, Shakeel, I feel your readers should have a quick reply to the reference made by Ms. Bhookhun in her article -published in Monday?s newspaper at page 9 - which is to my mind libellous.

It is easy to refer to ?cowards? when one belongs to a newspaper and feels that one can write just anything without knowing the facts and without prior verification. My son called for a press conference soon after the judgment of Mr. Justice Lam Shang Leen in relation to the call to prayer on loudspeaker. He appealed for peace and calm as there was apprehension of trouble in the country. Did he do anything wrong or was he being helpful to our country? I was also present at that press conference.

His travel to France had been planned long before the judgment of Mr. Lam Shang Leen fell and was for an urgent personal matter. Hence my son has nothing ?to explain? as required by Ms. Bhookhun. Instead of calling for him to explain Ms. Bhookhun should congratulate him on his rapid initiative to appeal for peace and calm in the country. I am sure had it not been for the meeting at the Sunnee Mosque at Quatre-Bornes and the subsequent demonstration in front of Mr. Gavin Glover?s home on Thursday 29th of March 2007, Ms. Bhookhun would have certainly viewed Shakeel?s press conference in a positive light. My son has been and is sufficiently in the limelight and is not ?desperate? for same.

<B>Y. A. R. MOHAMED</B>