September 27, 2005

The Indian dilemma
India has now overtly pledged its support to the United States in the International Atomic Energy Agency meeting.

Although the decision is subject to criticism, India certainly has no alternative.

The country, in its current predicament, has to go with the US and dump Iran, if its effort to normalise its relationship with the US is to succeed.

It would not come as a surprise now if the gas pipeline project through Pakistan is also dumped.
From Mr G. Parthasarathy
Dubai

Capital punishment
The editorial "Courts must punish harshly" (Gulf News, Online, September 22) was not only superb but also thought provoking.

Rape is a crime of power, dominance and control. It is a crime of sex, too.

Recently, in the Indian state of Kerala, a former minister who attempted to harass a bureaucrat got a three-month jail sentence and a fine of Rs50,000.

Rape and sexual assault increase all over the world mainly due to the lack of harsh punishment.

As in drug trafficking cases all over the world, capital punishment should be imposed on rapists. The United Nations should take this seriously.
From Ms P. Sundaram
Kerala, India

Based on the law
On September 21, Gulf News reported two rape incidents. First, about the 18-year-old girl who was raped five times at a farm.

Second, two teenagers luring a girl from Al Warqa into their tinted window car and gang-raping her.

Under Article 354, the first rapist is liable to the death penalty and the second, under Article 356, to one year imprisonment.

The Court has let them off unreasonably lightly with two years imprisonment and reprimand, respectively.

Harsh punishment is called for if society is to be free of rapists.
From Mr A.A. Khan
Dubai

Victim of molestation
Recently, a teenage boy, apparently drunk, groped me in a crowded party. I instinctively brushed off the hand but my mind kept replaying that incident.

I felt pain around the area, I felt anger about my not twisting his arm and hurting him.

I am reluctant to tell my husband about this because he is liable to joke about my having enjoyed the sensation.

I am gathering the courage to tell my daughters so that they are alive to the dangers. Compare my reaction to this trivial incident and that of a rape victim.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request

Glaring irony
On September 23 you published a picture on page 3 of construction workers who had not been paid for several months and on page 4, a picture of a woman feeding some stray dogs.

We are in an ironic situation.

The UAE is developing into a tourist destination with excellent facilities.

But the workers who make this happen are housed in abysmal conditions and rarely paid their salaries on time.

If Dubai is to be known as a city that cares, it must look after its most disadvantaged segments.

The news of the abuse of workers' rights does no credit to the UAE.
From Mr R. Whatmore
Abu Dhabi

Points to ponder
On September 23, Gulf News carried an article on page 3 titled "Unpaid workers survive on dates", which had an area 168 sq cm; photo area 414 sq cm.

On page 4, the article "Getting out of her way to help and feed strays" had an area of 308 sq cm; photo area 420 sq cm. Well just a thought.
From Mr S.J. Ahmad
Dubai

Raise their rights
Gulf News is pushing for animal rights in the UAE. I am not against it, but I do not see this as a major issue in this region.

You published articles profiling an animal rights worker feeding stray dogs with fresh meat, and unpaid construction workers not able to feed themselves and forced to eat abandoned and fallen dates.

What a pity! It is good to feed and take care of stray animals and at the same time it is more important to raise one's voice against injustice to these starving labourers.
From Ms A.S. Datta
Mumbai, India

Food for thought
Many fast food chains in the UAE throw away excess food at the end of the day.

I wonder if it can be arranged to instead distribute this to workers' housing compounds, where the occupants can hardly afford a good meal.

This is common in cities like Mumbai where five-star hotels distribute food as a form of community service. I am sure outlets here can follow suit.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request

Unnecessary pass
Coimbatore Airport Immigration officers have their own laws every passenger travelling on a visit visa has to provide a letter from the sponsor in the UAE.

I witnessed this on September 11 while travelling to Sharjah.

No wonder the person in trouble was made to run helter-skelter till the final moment before being allowed to board.

While industrialists are planning more international flights, hiccups like this will deter passengers from using the airport.
From A Reader
Sharjah
Name withheld by request

It's Down, not Down's
I refer to the article "New insights into Down's syndrome likely" (Gulf News, September 24).

In 1866, John Langdon Down, physician at the Earlswood Asylum in Surrey described the phenotype of a syndrome which now bears his name.

However, it was not until 1959 that it was determined that this disorder is caused by an extra chromosome 21.

The correct designation is Down syndrome.
From Dr A. Pothen
Dubai