U.N. is still technically at war with N. Korea

In his April 14 letter, Ted La Fore asks whether North Korea has as much right to possess nuclear weapons as France. I'd like to point out that the United Nations is not technically in a state of war with France but has been with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea since the invasion of the Republic of Korea in June 1950. The current condition on the Korean Peninsula is an armistice, not peace.

To equate France and North Korea (in spite of our recent differences with the French) is ludicrous. North Korea with nuclear weapons is much more of a threat than France.

The recent indication from North Korea that it is willing to participate in multilateral talks is a promising sign. Such talks could lead to a resolution of the Korean conflict, the political split that has divided the Korean people since 1945, and keep that part of Asia nuclear-free.

Thomas Sprague

State should ensure the rights of victims

As the lawyer for the grieving family of Johnelle Tapu, whose life was snuffed out when her automobile was smashed into by Ronald S. Kubo Jr. on Feb. 21 on the H-1 Freeway, I was perplexed and outraged when defense attorney Guy Matsunaga accused me of denying his client his rights because I filed a lawsuit against Ronald Kubo.

Does Mr. Matsunaga not believe that the 36-year-old Johnelle Tapu had the "right" to live and her six children had the "right" to the love and support of their mother? What about Johnelle's husband, Kelly, and her brothers and sisters? They, too, had the "right" to enjoy the love and support of their wife and sister.

The state of Hawai'i has need for a "victims rights" amendment to the state Constitution. Such an amendment should require that victims and their families be guaranteed speedy access to all police and investigatory reports, have the right to be present during all criminal proceedings, are provided grief counseling and are promptly notified of all insurance compensation that might be available to help dependents and aged parents survive the loss of the victim's income.

Richard Turbin

What has women's commission done?

I am bemused, and somewhat amused, by the letters about Hawai'i's Commission on the Status of Women. The writers have implied that since our governor is female, she should automatically support funding for this commission, whether or not it is doing anything worthwhile.

I checked out the commission's Web site, hoping to find some statistics on its accomplishments. The last update was in early September 2002, and it was touting Women's Month activities taking place at that time. I did find it has received federal money for use in school programs, largely to educate students about abuse. I didn't find what has actually been accomplished.

Of particular interest, however, was a section on the Hawai'i Women's Coalition, which is composed of people in the community who follow legislation on women's issues and provide support for favorable legislation and also provide support for agencies involved with women's issues. This group works with our large bipartisan women's caucus in the Legislature. There is also a group at UH-Manoa, Office of Women's Research, that seems to be doing some of the statistical things the commission claims to be doing.

I wish I didn't have the feeling that this is just another group trying to cling to its funding to perpetuate itself, useful or not. Instead of bemoaning the loss of funding, at least those maintaining it should tell the public exactly what its purpose is and, more importantly, how it is being achieved.

Shirley Hasenyager

Viloria's high-stepping in ring was uncalled for

Congratulations, Brian Viloria! Your KO victory in the eighth round on April 15 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel was very gratifying and impressive.

As a longtime boxing fan in Hawai'i, I've seen many great local fighters who have come up through the ranks and represented Hawai'i with class and integrity. Great fighters such as Dado Marino, Carl "Bobo" Olsen, Stan Harrington, Paul Fujii, Ben Vilaflor, to name a few.

All of these fighters had special skills and determination, and they were humble in victory.

After the third round when it was evident that your opponent was not in the same class as you, your actions of waving your hand in a circular motion and high-stepping in the ring, in my opinion, were not really in the best interest of your career. Where I grew up, we call those actions "bo-rrot," or showing off, and your image could be tarnished.

As the old saying goes, "monkeys sometimes fall off trees," Brian, and someday you may be on the canvas. I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate your opponent high-stepping and fist-waving over you. Mahalo for your efforts.

Hal Omori

Doubts about park improvements gone

In the beginning, I was not sure about the "improvements" planned for the Lanikai side of Kailua Beach Park. But now the park is lovely and open to more people. I wonder if the people who object to improving the Kalapawai side do not want to share the park with the handicapped, tourists or any other park-goers. Not much aloha there.

Mary Moore
Kailua

Quackenbush never exonerated

Unrepentant. That is the stance of Chuck Quackenbush, California's elected insurance commissioner who resigned just ahead of certain impeachment and then moved to Hawai'i.

The Advertiser's feature story ("Politician looks for new life, new career in Hawai'i," April 15) points to an obviously orchestrated campaign by Mr. Quackenbush to establish a political career in Hawai'i.

The $50,000 fine levied against him by California's Fair Political Practices Commission was one of the largest of its kind in the state's history.

I was hired by the California Legislature as a special consultant to work on the investigation and hearings that culminated in Mr. Quackenbush's resignation. When he says "I was completely exonerated of any allegation of wrongdoing," that is categorically false. No one exonerated Mr. Quackenbush. To the contrary, a bipartisan committee of the California Assembly held lengthy public hearings that were detailed and painstakingly fair. The Legislature was then prepared to impeach, but Mr. Quackenbush resigned and moved to Hawai'i.

Hawai'i residents should understand the severity of what Mr. Quackenbush did. The scheme was simple. The huge Northridge earthquake in Southern California left tens of thousands of Californians, many impoverished, with their homes destroyed or seriously damaged. Mr. Quackenbush gave insurance companies an attractive option: If they would donate several million dollars each to nonprofit organizations controlled by him or his political allies, then the California Department of Insurance would forego any further regulatory activity after they systematically underestimated damages or denied claims outright. The nonprofit organizations were then able to use the millions of dollars of "contributions" for advertising and other campaign expenses to further Mr. Quackenbush's political career.

Mr. Quackenbush is proud of his role in helping to initiate California's "three strikes and you're out" law, the nation's most extreme and punitive sentencing statute. He and his family have every right to rebuild their lives, but another political career is a different question. How many thousand "strikes" against poor people who elected him does it take before he is "out" of the public trust for life?

I have done professional work in Hawai'i intermittently for over 25 years. I have great regard for the state and its people. With regard to Mr. Quackenbush, Hawai'i's Republican leaders should recognize that if you lie down with dogs, you do not get up with aloha spirit.