Swim clothes
From Mrs. S. Hussain, Dubai.
My family and I went to Dreamland Aqua Park, Umm Al Quwain, intending to have a good time. As conservative Indian women we were clad in salwar khameez. After we entered the pool the staff instructed us to get off the premises because we were not wearing proper swimsuits. Yet we had not seen any signs regarding dress code beforehand.

It is very unfair. I can swim quite adeptly in whatever clothing I wear. The staff must consider the swimming ability of the customer before warning them off.

Unhygienic
From Mr. N.R. Barakat, Acting General Manager, Dreamland Aqua Park, Umm Al Quwain.
Thank you for sending us a copy of Mrs. Hussain's letter. We at Dreamland Aqua Park stress hygiene and safety. Since we started we have a reputation for providing customers with the safest and most hygienic environment. Allowing the people to swim in a full dress is simply breaking our rules for hygiene and can also present problems to a lifeguard if a swimmer gets into difficulties.

We have a list of rules at the entrance to the park, among which is that full dress is not allowed inside the pools. On entering, guests receive information guide which again advises the dress code of conduct.

Contrary to what Mrs. Hussain states, we never ask people to leave the premises if they are not wearing proper swimming attire. Many people don't swim but they enjoy the other facilities in the park.

Nevertheless, understanding the traditions of the country we have allocated certain pools where women are allowed to bathe in full dress. These have shallow water and are considered safe to be used by dressed women. The pools also have special water treatment arrangements.

Flog in public
From A Reader, Dubai.
I agree with Mrs. S' letter titled "Harassment" (Gulf News, July 20). Men caught harassing women should be flogged in public as in many other Islamic countries.

I am 16 years old but am accosted every time I leave my home. It is disgusting and degrading. Cars stop and honk at me; men and boys follow me and ask what is my price. It is sickening. All women suffer because of it.

I was nearly hit by a car because some men were accosting me. As for complaining to the police, I am not sure how to do that when there is never an officer in sight. Anyway, by the time the police arrive the offender would be gone.

Many women believe harassment has dramatically increased. It may be due to lenient laws or insufficient police patrols. If offenders are flogged in public as in Iran and Saudi Arabia, men would cease harassment, because as it is now women now are afraid of going out alone even during the day.
* Name withheld by request.

Kashmiri rights
From A Reader, Dubai.
The article "The Indian claim to Kashmir – A reappraisal" (Gulf News, July 16) by Alastair Lamb clarified what happened between October 26 - 28, 1947. He rightly stated that India is the occupier of a free sovereign country, Kashmir.

The subsequent resolution to the UN by Jawaharlal Nehru is proof of this. Nehru stated India would offer a plebiscite for Kashmiris. A UN resolution demanded such. But India will not grant that right to Kashmiris.

Indians and Pakistanis knows that once Kashmir is settled there will be no problems and economic and cultural relations will thrive. That India wants other issues to be discussed as well proves its insincerity towards a successful summit.
* Name withheld by request.

By democracy
From A Reader, Dubai.
I refer to Lamb's article on Indian legitimacy on Kashmir and subsequent criticism from a correspondent's letter titled "Lamb slaughter" (Gulf News, July 19). The question that arises is that if Lamb, not being a Pakistani, is biased (as accused by the correspondent) then by the same token one can ask what is the guarantee that there is no bias towards India in the book written by an Indian P.S. Jha? If Lamb is not speaking the truth how can one believe that Jha is speaking the truth?

It would be nice if, in the interests of peace, Indian leaders honour the commitment made by Nehru to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir. Let democratic India solve the Kashmir problem by democratic means.
* Name withheld by request.

Illiterate mob
From Mr. A.P. Ambujakshan, Abu Dhabi.
I refer to Mr. Prasad's letter titled "Inconsistent" (Gulf News, July 20). Democratic Youth Federation of India, DYFI workers mistaking Karl Marx for Raghavan's uncle was not surprising. Early communists were well-read on current affairs. Somewhere, the comrades left the reading to Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodirippad who was touted as a voracious reader, eminent writer, art critic, intellectual and world famous politician.

He enjoyed this status thrust upon him and wrote film and book reviews, literary criticism and so on. So his words on any subject were considered good for comrades. This resulted in creating a virtually illiterate mob of DYFI supporters who channelled all their energy into killing opponents and thuggery.

Hack attack
From Mr. A. Shah, Sharjah.
I read the article "Spy games" (Gulf News, Tabloid, July 17) and decided to check if my computer had the program "webHancer Customer Companion". I was shocked to find it did.

The program claims only to monitor our use of Internet and send data on how fast our browsers work and the speed of our Internet. But it is invasion of privacy, in other words, a form of hacking. I advise your readers to check their computers if they have the same program and delete it if they don't want it.

On parade
From Mr. G. Patel, Dubai.
On, July 18 I visited my sports club to find a very different atmosphere. The club looked awake with everything in place (including the personnel) and efforts were being made to give a professionally managed look. Even the badminton courts were clean!

I hope the International Standard Organisation, inspections are more routine and unannounced as the special efforts needed for an ISO inspector's visit speaks volumes.

Prescription
From Mrs. J. Karim, Dubai.
I refer to Mr. Mushtaq's letter titled "Dispensation" (Gulf News, July 19) concerning the dispensing of medicines. It seems that he does not realise what Mr. Kinara means ("As prescribed" Gulf News, July 17).

Mr. Mushtaq knows that medicines are not for selling in grocery shops, or if so, should be banned. Most tablets come in strips form, not bottles. Therefore, the question of being unhygienic does not arise. Some medicines have predetermined quantities for cures.

But patients are compelled to buy whole pack when the doctors prescribe its use for only three or four days. Medicines are for use as prescribed by practitioner, not as sold in a pharmacy.

Preposterous
From A Reader, Dubai.
I refer to Mr. Koshy's letter titled "Traffic tips" (Gulf News, July 21) where he recommends a speeding fine of Dh5,000. If implemented it should only be levied on people like him, who is absurd to even consider such a thing. I would ask for an explanation for suggesting this amount.
* Name withheld by request.