Letters from the past

Gulf News looks back over the years at concerns and issues raised by readers in their letters to the newspaper. It's a retrospective that offers an insight into the community, the development of the country and the people. Here is a set of letters from 1986.

Recording history
Through Gulf News I would like to call on history lovers to join in the formation of a UAE Historical Association. The proposed association will seek to promote the study of the UAE's history as well as the ties between the GCC countries and the people of foreign countries who reside here. We think that the GCC countries offer tremendous scope for further research.
From Mr Sulaiman Shahball
Ajman

Go beyond
I would like to congratulate Emirates airlines for introducing the new Dubai-Colombo flight service. I have travelled once to Mumbai through Emirates airlines and enjoyed the flight. I think Emirates airlines' service is better than many other airlines operating in this region. However, I have one suggestion. If the Dubai-Colombo flights were extended to Trivandrum, as some other airlines do, a great number of Keralites living in the UAE would benefit from it.
From Mr G. K. S. Kesavan
Dubai

Kind people
I would like to thank all caring people who stopped to assist my teenage son at the scene of a road accident on Monday morning, May 13 (1986), off Abu Dhabi Road heading toward the National Cement Company. A personal thank you to the man in the yellow truck who gave my son a lift to the nearest telephone. My son was not hurt, thank God, but he was dazed, upset and confused, so did not ask for the gentleman's name.
Ms Joanna Burke
Dubai

One-sided story
As a member of the Sikh community, I object to the headline “Sikhs urge assassinations'' in Gulf News. In these traumatic times that the whole of India, including the Sikhs, are going through, it is important to maintain a clear distinction between the people who have resorted to violence to press their demands and those who still firmly believe in the peaceful negotiating process as provided in our democratic system. Responsible journalism can also go a long way to help them achieve this end.
From Mr Hardeep Sodhi
Dubai

Boomerang purse
I recently went shopping with my friends at Al Ghurair Centre. We stopped at a supermarket for snacks and I forgot my wallet, which had a considerable amount of money in it. I realised that I had misplaced it only the next morning and have given up hope of finding it. To my surprise I got a call from the manager of the supermarket telling me to come and collect my wallet. Apparently someone had found it and given it to the management there. Although there was no telephone number in my purse, I had kept a membership card of a club in there. I wish to convey my sincere thanks to the person who found my wallet and handed it over to the concerned authorities.
From Mr O. Thomas
Dubai