Hunger striker Barry Horne has achieved at least one of his aims: to secure publicity for his cause. On the 51st day of his hunger strike, Horne's protest is making headlines.

If he continues to refuse food for much longer, Horne will certainly die. That will make him a martyr to many animal rights campaigners. But his death would evoke little sympathy from the rest of the population.

It is too late for Horne to become a hero. He ditched any chance of that as soon as he tried to impose his will on the rest of us with a campaign of violence.Horne undertook his present hunger strike - his third - while serving an 18-year sentence at Full Sutton, near York, for arson and possessing bomb-making equipment.

His arson attacks caused millions of pounds worth of damage and could have cost lives. While he campaigned to protect the welfare of animals, he was prepared to risk the life of humans. This is an irony that animal rights extremists consistently fail to reconcile.

Once Horne used violence to further his aims he became a common criminal and forfeited his credibility as a campaigner.

Only now, when his incarceration prevents further aggression, has he chosen a peaceful form of protest, the hunger strike. He is taking up a York District Hospital bed, but his actions cause no one else any direct harm.

His supporters have organised demonstrations outside the hospital, at Downing Street and in Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency.

These are all valid forms of expression. And although the animal rights extremists will not admit it, peaceful campaigns have achieved far more than bombs or arson attacks.

The fanatics have only put back the cause. Ministers will not pursue any cause if it appears they have been forced to do so by violence or blackmail. That would be like signing a terrorists' charter.

Since the bombs have ceased and democratic campaigning has taken centre stage, animal welfare has progressed significantly.

The public has been persuaded that the testing of cosmetics on animals is repugnant. British farming has become more welfare aware. Anti-hunt campaigners are enjoying a groundswell of support.

Meanwhile, Horne's protest has only served to highlight the extreme wing of the animal rights campaign. No Government is going to give into the demands of a dangerous criminal.

His supporters now say that if he dies "it will make a lot of people very angry." These veiled threats will only serve to harden the public's attitude against their cause.

see NEWS 'Hunger striker close to death'

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