Chinese burial grounds and MTA’s obligations

As a transplanted Angeleno working as an archeologist in England, I was heartbroken to read your article on the discovery of the late 19th century Chinese burials discovered during the Gold Line rail development (March 15).

In Britain, it is government policy to have an archeologist present during development if there is potential for archeological or human remains. If such remains are found, all work is stopped while a team of archeologists record, photograph and excavate the findings. Property developers are informed of the archeological potential of an area before work commences, including the cost of any archeological work if necessary. Property developers do not have the option to opt out without incurring severe fines.

The fact that the development site was next to a historical cemetery and in the vicinity of Chinatown should have been reason enough to allow archeologists to examine the area before the bulldozers rolled in.

JULIE MARTIN

Faversham, England

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I was pleased that The Times gave prominence to the past and continuing discrimination against the Chinese in America. However, I am concerned that a key fact regarding the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s involvement was omitted from the article.

As a board member of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, I was present at a community meeting when the MTA official claimed that he only learned about the many Chinese artifacts and remains after receiving the archeologist’s preliminary report in November 2005. However, the MTA only contacted the society in January in response to our inquiry about the artifacts and remains when rumors surfaced about the results of the excavations. Why did the MTA delay notifying the Chinese community?

SUSAN G. DICKSON

Los Angeles

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The Chinese were the victims of a majority who collectively held a bad idea: that some people were inferior because of their race. Action should be taken to repair the indignity of being forced to pay for a grave in a potter’s field. If the MTA is holding back or dragging its feet, it should immediately cease to do so. Keeping back information on this subject would be a new insult to the Chinese people.

Also, offering some of the MTA’s own money toward the reburial of the bodies would be an honorable thing to do. Let the Chinese community rebury its dead, if it so chooses, in Evergreen Cemetery.

SARAH ABBETT

La Mirada