The mythical Chris Ashton

I would refer to the letter from D. Chandramouli published in The Jakarta Post on Sept. 2, 2000 and in which he commented on some of the past writers to the Post.

As a friend of Chris Ashton I would advise Mr. Chandramouli that he does exist in both flesh and blood though very little hair. He returned to Jakarta only last week after a six-month stay in Thailand which included a spell in hospital with hepatitis. His early departure from the "writers" was due to the American company he was working for advising him to cease writing "or else!"

In conclusion let me say that Chris left for his home in South Wales -- the British one, last Sunday, for a second medical opinion. Hopefully he will be back with us early next year.

PETER WARD

Jakarta