RECENT official figures, says 'Devout Muslim' (Letters, August 27), reveal that at least half of all ethnic minority communities have been born in Britain."

My one question is: What about the other half? Simple and to the point, that's all I want to know.

The ethnic minorities, as I perceive it, have untold advantages which the indigenous population have no recourse to - the Race Relations Board, ethnic liaison officers within the police force, Urdu translations of town hall policy and a new addition in today's news, an ethnic liaison officer to deal with battered wives!

My voice and many others have been silenced and I am not happy. Thirty years ago this could never have happened.

I feel that my right to freedom of speech has been eroded and would ask 'Devout Muslim' to realise that having to 'pussy-foot' around issues for fear of offending ethnic minorities breeds resentment, quite understandably, in my view.

A much wiser person than you or I voiced my sentiments exactly: "Freedom suppressed and again regained bites with keener fangs than freedom never endangered." (Cicero)

Need I say more?

J CROWTHER, Carlinghurst Road, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.