Indian children deserve justice

A reader says school management is to blame for the deaths of students who ate a tainted meal. Other topics: good health, insurance and road-rage.

As survivors of the Indian school poisoning recover in hospital, a reader calls for school managers to be charged. AFP

Road-rage case raises questions about privacy

Ayesha Almazroui's excellent analysis, Road-rage video led to open talk among Emiratis (July 22), raises some very important questions in my mind.

How practical is it to enforce a privacy law in the public domain? Does this mean that a person t filming a sunset at a public beach can be in violation, if people on the beach object?

As pointed out in the article, would a journalist be in violation if he or she records or films an incident during the course of his or her assigned duty and reports the same?

Moreover, if an individual decides to take the law into their own hands in the public domain, isn't that individual actually defaming himself?

Why blame others who witness an incident and record it, be it with their cameras or in their minds? Could it mean that even witnessing such an incident is a crime, and that the witness is defaming the perpetrator by talking about it to their friends and family?

Does it mean that I cannot stop or chase a thief or a murderer, or make a citizen's arrest?

Many developers have adopted the practice of publicly naming and shaming defaulters who have not paid their maintenance charges. Is this a violation of confidentiality? Are banks allowed to do the same with loan defaulters and not be guilty of violation of confidentiality?

I believe this matter needs lot of introspection and rethinking.

I Maladwala, Abu Dhabi

Women have the right to feel safe

I am writing in referenc to Pardon for woman jailed in sex case (July 22).

I think it's time to revisit Habiba Hamid's comment article, How do we make women feel safe on the streets again? (September 27, 2010).

As she rightly states: "Women need to know, conclusively, that the law is on their side.

"Many may think that sex attacks are the preserve of the aberrant. But women are vulnerable to attack no matter what they wear, or what their behaviour is.

"After all, most attackers are someone the victim knows."

Élan Fabbri, Dubai

I think that this case highlights the issue of judicial governance.

UAE society consists of expatriates and Emiratis. For that reason, a judicial system that reflects the nation's cultural norms and values may not be congruent with all residents.

There are countries, for example Malaysia, with parallel legal and judicial systems.

Perhaps Dubai could offer better protection to visitors by implementing a similar judicial differentiation.

Peter Hatherley-Greene, Dubai

Many people believe that the law in Dubai says that no rape has been committed unless the attack has been witnessed by four men.

I have heard both men and women say this in recent days, and I think this belief prevents women from reporting it when they have been attacked.

Name withheld by request

School must be held to account

Dozens of children die after eating free school lunch (July 18) was painful to read.

The school management should be held responsible for the deaths of these innocent students in the northern Indian state of Bihar.

Whatever amount of compensation the government offers to the families, it will not bring their children back.

K Ragavan, India

Is good health a commodity?

I am writing about Dubai's 'biggest losers' to be rewarded in gold (July 17).

I am astonished that so many people seem to be eager to lose weight just because they have the chance to win some gold.

Even when it's a matter of an individual's health, can nothing persuade them to lead a healthy life except the temptation of a golden reward?

Iris Smith, Abu Dhabi

Clarification over insurance cover

In response to F Joseph's letter titled Mammograms are essential over 40 (July 22), Daman would like to clarify that free annual mammograms are offered to all female members over 40.

Daman also offers free annual prostate cancer screening for men over 45 and colorectal cancer screening for those over 50.

Basic Abu Dhabi plan members are eligible for a mammogram with a doctor's prescription.

Abdulaziz Almusalam, PR and communication officer, Daman