Request for proof

I REFER to the article, “What Zille’s mindset conveys to us” (Cape Times, March 22), and seek proof of one of the statements made by the article’s author, Iqbal Survé.

I am currently preparing a paper “Colonialism: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” and obviously wish to present a balanced argument.

One of the claims made by Survé is: “…peaceful communities and civilisations (have) ... existed for thousands of years and ... produced immense knowledge, innovation and prosperity”.

I need to know which communities and civilisations: I need names and dates.

I also need hard evidence of the immense knowledge produced – and evidence that these people were peaceful and prosperous.

Please note, I have already included both China and India in my article.

I would be very grateful if this information could be supplied, either by printing it in the paper, or by responding to this letter.

I thank you in advance. John Hill Plumstead