Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Estrada deserved formal reception

Regarding John Witeck's Sept. 12 letter on the visit of Philippine President Joseph Estrada to Hawaii: While it is certainly true that Estrada's tenure has left much to be desired, he is still the head of state for a strategic U.S. ally. Due to the large Filipino population in Hawaii, he deserved a formal reception.

In addition, Witeck's letter contained a misstatement of fact: Estrada's predecessor, Fidel Ramos, successfully negotiated a peace with the main Islamic rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front, or MNLF. The peace accord established an autonomous Muslim region within Mindanao.

Current hostilities are with a faction of the MNLF -- the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF -- which is bent on secession from the Philippine Republic. The Abu Sayyaf group, which has been in the news recently for its rash of kidnappings, is in fact an even more militant splinter of the secessionist MILF.

At least credit the Philippine government for its successful peace accord with the main faction of Islamic rebels in Mindanao, and hope for a peaceful resolution of the hostilities there. If given a chance, the previously negotiated peace could produce positive results.

Eric Neher
Chandler, Ariz.

Quotables "Koko thought we would be in Hawaii years ago. She's intrigued by all the beautiful flowers we've shown her of her new home. She asks when we're moving." Francine "Penny" Patterson WHO STARTED WORK 27 YEARS AGO WITH THE GORILLA FOUNDATION AND KOKO, THE FAMOUS 'TALKING' GORILLA Relating that Koko is growing impatient about her long-delayed relocation from a Northern California reserve to the Allan G. Sanford Sanctuary in West Maui "I hope you folks will not be rubber stamps, because that is the feeling (about)...why you were selected." Johanna Lawrence REGULAR ATTENDEE OF OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS MEETINGS Addressing the interim trustees

Online edition tracks Hawaii Olympians

As a former Hawaii resident living in Japan, I've had to watch the Olympic Games -- held in Seoul, Barcelona, Atlanta and now in Sydney -- through the eyes of the Japanese media.

Therefore, it's hard to know how well the American and especially Hawaii athletes are faring, since television coverage here depends largely on the participation of Japanese athletes in Olympic events.

There is virtually no coverage of boxing, since there is almost no representation in the sport from Japan.

But thanks to your online edition, I could follow the progress of boxer Brian Viloria. I can also see if Amy Tong can face up to the challenges of Japan's reigning world champion, Noriko Anno, in the half heavyweight judo weight class.

Following the Hawaii connection in Sydney just got a lot easier, thanks to starbulletin.com.

Adrian Mangiboyat
Tokyo

Supreme Court wasn't late with OHA ruling

In a Sept. 2 column, "Court that couldn't rule straight," David Shapiro charged that the Hawaii Supreme Court "sat on the (Office of Hawaiian Affairs vs. Cayetano) case for five months without answering." This statement was inaccurate and misleading.

The Supreme Court filed its opinion 28 days after the parties completed their arguments. The case was filed five months before it was decided, but was not ready for decision until OHA filed its last brief on July 31. Due process or fairness could not occur if the court ruled before the parties presented their positions.

Shapiro also charged that the justices "took a pass on the grounds that the state hadn't filed the correct paperwork with the court." Once again, wrong. The court responded to the questions asked:

Under Hawaii law, did the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Rice vs. Cayetano create trustee vacancies.
If so, how should those vacancies be filled?

After thorough review of the applicable law, the court answered the first question, "No, the Rice decision did not create trustee vacancies under Hawaii law." Thus, the second question did not need to be answered.

James L. Branham
Staff Attorney State Supreme Court

Inouye's plan would divide Hawaii's people

Sen. Daniel Inouye is determined to split Hawaii's population along racial lines. He has spent much time and effort convincing the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and its minions should be granted self-governance.

This, in effect, would separate one race from other ethnic groups living in Hawaii and grant the new sovereigns huge economic privilege at the expense of the rest of the population.

The senator tells the committee not to worry, that no funds will be taken away from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He says this new native nation will be financed by other appropriations. Yeah, and we know where those appropriations will come from: the taxpayers of Hawaii.

Island residents should clearly understand that, if OHA succeeds, we will be hocking the economic health of this state, and the future of generations to come.

Apparently, Senator Inouye doesn't listen to his own vice presidential candidate, Joe Leiberman, who says: "One nation or it is nothing."

Art Todd
Kaneohe

OHA Special

Rice vs. Cayetano arguments

Rice vs. Cayetano decision

Holo I Mua: Sovereignty Roundtable

---

Council's also to blame for infrastructure woes

With interest and a chuckle, I read the Sept. 19 letter from Craig Watase. I was unaware of the tremendous backlog of road resurfacing and sewer line repairs. That damn Harris, sitting on his okole doing nothing!

I must assume by the tone of Watase's letter that all these road and sewer problems started when Harris was elected mayor. Until his election, all road resurfacing was up-to-date, all sewer lines in A-1 condition. Right?

Watase would have had more credibility in his letter if he had just stated that he was a Mufi Hannemann supporter and was slinging mud, much like Mufi does.

If I'm not mistaken, Hannemann has been a City Council member longer than Harris has been mayor. So where were our Council members during this alleged degradation of roads and sewer lines? Answer: fighting among themselves, jockeying for power positions, contemplating higher office and recharging their electric cars with taxpayer-paid electricity.

No, I'm not a Harris supporter. I support no political party because it is my belief that supporting a political party, rather than an individual, is like supporting the Mafia.

John Shupe

---

Write a
Letter to the Editor

Want to write a letter to the editor?
Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think.
Please keep your letter to about 200 words.
You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com
or you can fill in the online form for a faster response.
Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509.
Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.