WITH reference to the contributions of Amar Jaleel (February 1 and February 8), he tries to hold the State responsible for suicidal acts, because “the persons who create frustrating situations or circumstances that ultimately compel the victim to commit suicide are not held responsible for his death.”

I beg to differ and for good reasons too. When a jilted lover, a rape victim, one who fails in exams, an inebriated person, a gambler, a terminally ill patient to cite a few resort to suicide, a State by no means can be or should be responsible.

Suicidal behaviour has numerous and complex causes. The biology of the brain, genetics, psychological traits, and social forces all can contribute to suicide. Although people commonly attribute suicide to external circumstances — such as divorce, loss of a job, or failure in school — most experts believe these events are triggers rather than causes in themselves.

It is a measure of the depth of feeling among Palestinians, Kashmiris, Chechens, Iraqis and others -anger, resentment and in some cases despair-that there appears to be no shortage of recruits ready for suicide bombings. Some media reports have speculated that suicide bombers take drugs before they go on their missions, but this would run contrary to the strict religious teachings they adhere to. They are likely to be motivated by religious fervour.

Every 17 minutes in the United States, someone commits suicide — it is the eighth leading killer in the United States, leaving family, friends, co-workers and doctors to wonder what they could have done to prevent it. Where lies the state responsibility, one wonders?

DR P. NASIR
Gujrat