Richard Leakey and Africa

* Re “Richard Leakey to Discuss Human Rights,” Feb. 11.

Thanks to The Times for notice of Richard Leakey’s participation in Soka University’s Human Rights Lecture Series on Feb. 13.

But where was the follow-up of the discussion, which focused on the need for democratic reform in Africa (“Africa’s Perilous Sport: The Hunt for Democracy”)? When the world’s most famous living paleoanthropologist and former director of Kenya’s Wildlife Service travels halfway around the globe to share his views, don’t The Times’ readers deserve to know them?

Remembering Leakey’s plea that Africa not be forgotten, that it be helped to become a player in today’s world, makes me realize that The Times’ omission of a review is a chance missed for heightening the awareness of its readers. When we don’t hear about all the human rights abuses that are still unchecked on this continent today, we do forget. And that’s not to our credit.

DALIA KEYSER

Tarzana