War in Afghanistan prompts Olivia to fight for answers from Downing Street
Plenty of people have questioned government policy on Afghanistan — but not many of them are 12 years old.
Olivia with her letters.
- By Grant Smith
- Published in the Courier : 04.11.11
- Published online : 04.11.11 @ 09.58am
Age proved no barrier for Olivia Adam, however, and she now has letters from 10 Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence to show for her efforts.
Her interest began with the Michael Morpurgo novel Shadow, about an Afghan boy and his mother who flee for Britain only to find themselves held in a detention centre.
Although it is fiction, it reflects real events as many Afghans have ended up here as illegal immigrants or failed asylum seekers since the conflict began.
Olivia, a pupil at St John's High School in Dundee, said: ''I felt it was very moving and I wanted to do something about it and ask why people are being put in prison cells.''
She decided to write to David Cameron to ask him about the treatment of Afghans and the reasons for the war.
She had a reply from No 10 thanking her for getting in touch and explaining that her letter had been passed to the MoD.
A few days later a two-page reply arrived, explaining the threat from Islamist terrorists and the need to help provide security in the country, adding that a drawdown of British troops in the country was being planned.
Olivia said: ''They were quite general in what they said. They did not address one point about what happens to the children and families in Afghanistan, but I am still really happy with the reply.''
Proud mum Keren said: ''She is quite chuffed to have this. Not many people get a letter from 10 Downing Street.''
10.34pm - 04.11.2011 Wully - Dundee, UK Report This
2 things missed in the letter Keeping the terrorists down denies them easy access of the Afghan drug crop, and young girls now get to go to scholl for an education.
01.24pm - 07.11.2011 M.T. - Elie, Scotland Report This
I wrote a very Smililar letter to in 1991 to the then PM John Major when i was 6 years old....i think Olivia got more of a response than i did though!!
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