Ivor Caplin should be thoroughly ashamed of his foolish comments (The Argus, April 4) on the students who showed solidarity with the Palestinian refugees.

It was an act of courage and bravery and should be applauded.

If Ivor wants to boast about visiting Arafat, he should visit him now when his visit would be of some real benefit (Sharon might be more reluctant to oversee yet another massacre if a British MP was likely to share a mass grave with Palestinian refugees).

When war crimes and atrocities against humanity are being committed against an oppressed people, I for one am glad independent witnesses are prepared to take the risks needed to provide support and secure testament.

I visited Palestine during the first intifada and I agree with Dr Ghada Karmi, it's not a holiday.

I had the rare opportunity to express my support to a brave people who are refugees in their own country, subject to apartheid, arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, house demolition and harassment by the security forces.

I will always remember the old man who spat on the floor when my guide explained we were British. He remembered the British occupation and the confiscation of his land.

You see, Ivor, sometimes listening to the British Government is not in everybody's best interest - ask a Palestinian refugee.

If Mr Caplin is seriously concerned about innocent people suffering, he should table a motion in Parliament calling for Sharon to stand trial as a war criminal for his actions during the Lebanese occupation.

-L. Townsend, Buller Road, Brighton