Voice of America, 98-10-20

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO REBEL (L-ONLY) - CQ BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[02] SERBIA MEDIA CRACKDOWN/REACT (L-ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

[03] EDITORIAL: CRACKDOWN ON PRESS FREEDOM IN SERBIA

[04] FRANCE / STUDENTS (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[05] GERMANY POL (L ONLY) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BONN)

[06] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

[07] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] KOSOVO REBEL (L-ONLY) - CQ BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

RE-ISSUING CR 2-240487 TO CLARIFY NAME OF EDITOR AND NEWSPAPER TITLE IN FINAL, OPT GRAF OF TEXT

INTRO: A SENIOR COMMANDER IN THE ETHNIC-ALBANIAN "KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY", SAYS HIS FORCES WILL ABIDE BY A U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A CEASE-FIRE ONLY IF SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES ARE PULLED BACK FROM THE PROVINCE. BUT THE K-L-A COMMANDER ALSO BELIEVES THE WESTERN DIPLOMATS WHO NEGOTIATED THE PULL BACK AGREEMENT LAST WEEK WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAVE BEEN FOOLED. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM PRISTINA.

TEXT: SENIOR K-L-A COMMANDER SHABAN SHALA SAYS SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO ARE VIOLATING A U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO WITHDRAW AND STOP FIGHTING.

HE SAYS THE K-L-A FAVORED A PEACEFUL END TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS -- BUT INSISTS WORLD POWERS HAVE BEEN DRAWN INTO THE YUGOSLAV LEADER'S OWN GAME.

HE SAYS SINCE THE BEGINNING WHEN WE MET THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HAVE FAVORED ALL INITIATIVES FOR PEACE AND A SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO PROBLEM. BUT, HE SAY IT LOOKS LIKE MR. MILOSEVIC HAS DRAWN THEM INTO HIS GAME.

U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE AGREED WITH THE YUGOSLAV LEADER TO PUT THE THREAT OF NATO AIR STRIKES ON HOLD UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF SERB FORCES FROM KOSOVO.

IN THE MEANTIME, AN ENTIRE BATTALION OF YUGOSLAV TANKS AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONS HAVE TAKEN UP POSITIONS NEAR STRONGHOLDS OF THE K-L-A -- A GROUP SERBIAN LEADERS CALL TERRORISTS.

K-L-A COMMANDER SHALA ACCUSES SERB FORCES OF VIOLATING THE U-N RESOLUTION BY CONTINUING TO SHELL ALBANIAN VILLAGES.

COMMANDER SHALA, WHO WORKED FOR AN ALBANIAN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP UNTIL MAY OF THIS YEAR, REPRESENTS A MODERATE WING OF THE LARGELY MYSTERIOUS COMMAND STRUCTURE OF THE K-L-A, WHICH CLAIMS TO FIELD MORE THAN 10-THOUSAND FIGHTERS.

OTHER MEMBERS OF THE K-L-A HAVE ADMITTED TO EXECUTING THEIR ENEMIES. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN ACCUSED BY SERBIAN AUTHORITIES AND WESTERN OFFICIALS OF ATTACKING SERBIAN POLICE UNITS SINCE LAST WEEK'S HOLBROOKE-MILOSEVIC AGREEMENT.

MANY KOSOVO ALBANIAN INTELLECTUALS AND GUERRILLA FIGHTERS, WHO FAVOR INDEPENDENCE FROM SERBIAN RULE, ARE DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE AGREEMENT.

VETON SURROI, THE EDITOR OF THE LARGEST ALBANIAN NEWSPAPER IN KOSOVO, "KOHA DITORE," SAYS BECAUSE K-L-A LEADERS WERE NOT CONSULTED LEADING UP TO AND AFTER THE HOLBROOKE-MILOSEVIC DEAL, THEY CANNOT BE COUNTED ON TO ABIDE BY A CEASE-FIRE. (SIGNED) NEB/PS/PCF/RAE/GE
20-Oct-98 3:33 PM EDT (1933 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] SERBIA MEDIA CRACKDOWN/REACT (L-ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: LAWMAKERS IN SERBIA -- YUGOSLAVIA'S DOMINANT REPUBLIC -- HAVE PASSED A NEW LAW BANNING BROADCASTS FUNDED BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS -- CALLING THEM PROPAGANDA. LAST WEEK, SERBIAN AUTHORITIES ALSO SUSPENDED PUBLICATION OF THREE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING A GOVERNMENT ORDER AGAINST SPREADING 'FEAR, PANIC AND DEFEATISM.' THE OFFENDING MATERIAL INVOLVED REPORTS ABOUT POSSIBLE NATO AIRSTRIKES IF SERBIA FAILED TO HALT ITS CRACKDOWN AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR HAS MORE.

TEXT: THE NEW LAW BANS RE-BROADCASTS IN SERBIA OF PROGRAMS PRODUCED BY FOREIGN OUTLETS -- INCLUDING THE VOICE OF AMERICA, DEUTSCHE WELLE AND B-B-C [THE BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION]. IT SETS FINES OF ABOUT 60-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR VIOLATORS.

THE NEW YORK-BASED COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS -- KNOWN AS C-P-J -- HAS APPEALED TO WESTERN GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT SERBIA'S BESIEGED JOURNALISTS. C-P-J DIRECTOR KATI MARTON CALLS THE MEDIA CRACKDOWN AN ENORMOUS STEP BACKWARDS FOR SERBIA AND FOR YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

AND IT IS COMPLETELY AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF THE UNDERSTANDING HE REACHED WITH AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE AND THE NATO ALLIES. I KNOW, BECAUSE I AM IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THAT THEY ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED AND THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG SUBJECT IN THE NEXT ROUND OF MEETINGS WITH (U-S) AMBASSADOR (CHRISTOPHER) HILL IN BELGRADE. BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY UNACCEPTABLE - TO HAVE THIS KIND OF A STALINIST CRACKDOWN.

KATI MARTON SAYS THE TIMING OF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S CRACKDOWN IS ALSO WORRYING. IT COMES AFTER SPECIAL U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC LAST WEEK TO AVERT PLANNED NATO AIRSTRIKES. MS. MARTON BELIEVES THE CRACKDOWN IS AN EFFORT TO PREVENT THE SERBIAN PEOPLE FROM HEARING WHAT CONCESSIONS MR. MILOSEVIC MADE TO AVOID THE STRIKES -- CONCESSIONS SUCH AS AGREEING TO PULLBACK SOME OF HIS TROOPS FROM KOSOVO.

WHAT HE AGREED TO IS NOT GOING TO PLEASE THE EXTREMISTS IN HIS OWN PARTY, BECAUSE HE WAS FORCED TO MAKE CONCESSIONS TO STOP THE BOMBS WHICH WERE READY AND STILL ARE READY, IN FACT.

NATO HAS GIVEN MR. MILOSEVIC UNTIL OCTOBER 27TH TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF HIS AGREEMENT WITH AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE -- OR FACE POSSIBLE AIRSTRIKES. THE AGREEMENT INCLUDES WITHDRAWING A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SERBIAN TROOPS AND SPECIAL POLICE FROM KOSOVO AND ALLOWING TWO-THOUSAND INTERNATIONAL VERIFIERS TO MOVE ABOUT THE AREA. MEANWHILE, THE U-S AGENCY WHICH OVERSEES AMERICA'S INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTS -- THE BOARD FOR INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING -- HAS CALLED THE MEDIA CRACKDOWN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTRICT THE SERBIAN PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO UNCENSORED NEWS. AND THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE SAID THE ACTION WAS A DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST SERBIA'S STRUGGLING INDEPENDENT NEWS MEDIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/PAM/JO/WTW
20-Oct-98 7:06 PM EDT (2306 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EDITORIAL: CRACKDOWN ON PRESS FREEDOM IN SERBIA

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

THE CRACKDOWN ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN SERBIA CONTINUES. YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC RECENTLY CLOSED THREE INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPERS. DNEVNI TELEGRAF, DANAS AND NASA BORBA WERE SILENCED FOR ALLEGEDLY INCITING FEAR, PANIC AND DEFEATISM AND UNDERMINING THE READINESS OF CITIZENS TO DEFEND SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO. SERBIAN AUTHORITIES ALSO SHUT DOWN RADIO INDEKS AND OTHER INDEPENDENT RADIO STATIONS. ADDITIONAL INDEPENDENT MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE BEEN THREATENED WITH SHUTDOWNS, AND INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING HAS BEEN BANNED.

THE LATEST CLOSURE OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA IS PART OF AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN AGAINST FREE EXPRESSION. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S LATEST HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS USED THE POLICE TO PRESSURE INDEPENDENT MEDIA OUTLETS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REGULARIZE THEIR LEGAL STATUS. MANY INDEPENDENT BROADCASTERS HAVE APPLIED FOR FREQUENCIES BUT HAVE BEEN LEFT IN A STATE OF LIMBO BY THE MILOSEVIC REGIME.

ECONOMIC PRESSURE HAS ALSO BEEN USED AS A WEAPON IN THE WAR AGAINST PRESS FREEDOM IN SERBIA. STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES HAVE BEEN DISSUADED FROM ADVERTISING IN INDEPENDENT MEDIA. ONE OF SERBIA'S LEADING OPPOSITION PAPERS, NASA BORBA, HAD ITS BANK ACCOUNTS BLOCKED BY THE REGIME. IT IS NOW CLOSED. AND WHILE THE STATE-CONTROLLED PRESS GETS NEWSPRINT AT SUBSIDIZED PRICES, INDEPENDENT PUBLICATIONS HAVE TO PAY SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER MARKET PRICES.

THE UNITED STATES CONDEMNS THE ACTIONS OF PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IS A FOUNDATION STONE FOR DEMOCRACY. UNTIL PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC PERMITS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, SERBIA WILL REMAIN ISOLATED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202) 619-1043.
20-Oct-98 3:40 PM EDT (1940 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] FRANCE / STUDENTS (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: PARIS POLICE STAGED A MASSIVE SHOW OF FORCE (TUESDAY) TO HEAD OFF VIOLENCE DURING A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' DEMONSTRATION. JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS MORE THAN ONE- QUARTER OF A MILLION PROTESTORS ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE TAKEN PART IN MARCHES ALL OVER FRANCE.

TEXT: PARIS POLICE, SMARTING FROM CRITICISM THAT THEY WERE SLOW AND INEFFECTUAL DURING A DEMONSTRATION LAST THURSDAY, MOVED AN IMPRESSIVE FIVE-THOUSAND-FIVE-HUNDRED EXTRA OFFICERS INTO THE CITY FOR THE SECOND NATIONWIDE DAY OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' PROTESTS. LAST WEEK, AROUND ONE-THOUSAND TROUBLEMAKERS SMASHED STORE WINDOWS AND OVERTURNED AND BURNED PARKED CARS. THIS WEEK, THE POLICE SEALED OFF STREETS ALONG THE DEMONSTRATION ROUTE AND TOWED AWAY ALL REMAINING CARS.

ALTHOUGH SOME VIOLENCE WAS REPORTED, IT WAS LESS WIDESPREAD THAN BEFORE. POLICE REPORTED SOME ATTACKS ON STORES AND DAMAGE TO SUBWAY STATIONS. OTHERWISE, THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE PROTESTS WAS MAINLY GOOD HUMORED, EVEN FESTIVE. IN THEIR SLOGANS AND CHANTS, THE STUDENTS SINGLED OUT THE SOCIALIST EDUCATION MINISTER CLAUDE ALLEGRE AS THEIR MAIN TARGET.

THE STUDENTS SAY THEIR CLASSES ARE OFTEN OVERCROWDED, THAT SCHOOL BUILDINGS ARE OFTEN RUNDOWN AND EVEN UNSAFE.

THEY SAY ALSO THAT THEY MISS A NUMBER OF CLASSES BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM FOR SICK TEACHERS NO LONGER WORKS. IN ADDITION, THEY CLAIM THAT THE FRENCH NATIONAL PROGRAM IS TOO DIFFICULT AND REQUIRES TOO MANY HOURS OF HOMEWORK.

THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO UNVEIL A NEW PACKAGE DEALING WITH SOME OF THESE COMPLAINTS THIS WEEK. SINCE 1968, WHEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS BROUGHT FRANCE TO A STANDSTILL AND NEARLY CAUSED THE COLLAPSE OF THE GOVERNMENT, THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN NERVOUS ABOUT YOUTH PROTEST. THIS TIME, OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE THE COMING 10-DAY ALL SAINTS DAY VACATION, STARTING ON FRIDAY, WILL CALM THE YOUNG PEOPLE DOWN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/JWH
20-Oct-98 12:38 PM EDT (1638 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] GERMANY POL (L ONLY) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BONN)

INTRO: GERMANY'S SOCIAL DEMOCRATS HAVE REACHED A COALITION AGREEMENT WITH THE ENVIRONMENTALIST GREENS PARTY. AS SUZANNE KELLY REPORTS FROM BONN, THE AGREEMENT MARKS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE SHAPE OF GERMAN POLITICS.

TEXT: THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS (S-P-D) -- LED BY CHANCELLOR-ELECT GERHARD SCHROEDER -- AND THE GREENS HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT SINCE THE S-P-D OUSTED THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS OF CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL IN ELECTIONS LAST MONTH.

THE COALITION TALKS WERE THE QUICKEST IN POSTWAR GERMAN HISTORY, AND WILL GIVE THE GREENS THEIR FIRST POWER AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PARTY -- WHICH TRACES ITS ROOTS TO THE PEACE MOVEMENT OF THE 1960'S -- HAS MADE GERMANY'S ALLIES NERVOUS WITH DEMANDS LIKE A CALL TO REORGANIZE NATO.

THE COALITION DEAL HAMMERED OUT IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS WILL GIVE THE S-P-D CONTROL OF 13 OF GERMANY'S 16 CABINET POSITIONS. THE OTHER THREE WILL GO TO THE GREENS, INCLUDING THE POSITION OF FOREIGN MINISTER WHICH WILL BE FILLED BY GREENS PARTY LEADER JOSCHKA FISCHER.

AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT IS THE TASK OF LOWERING GERMANY'S 10 PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, AND IMPLEMENTING LONG-NEEDED TAX REFORMS. THE BIG LOSERS OF THE AGREEMENT WILL BE GERMANY'S NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY, SET TO BE PHASED OUT DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

IF THE COALITION AGREEMENT IS CONFIRMED BY BOTH THE S-P-D AND THE GREENS AT SEPARATE PARTY CONVENTIONS THIS WEEKEND, THE ALLIANCE WILL MARK GERMANY'S FIRST LEFT-OF-CENTER GOVERNMENT IN 16 YEARS.

AN APPROVAL ALSO WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR CHANCELLOR-ELECT SCHROEDER TO BE SWORN IN AS GERMANY'S SEVENTH POST-WORLD WAR TWO CHANCELLOR NEXT TUESDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/SK/JWH
20-Oct-98 10:51 AM EDT (1451 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE UP TODAY (TUESDAY) IN THE UNITED STATES AS MANY U-S COMPANIES REPORTED STRONGER-THAN-EXPECTED EARNINGS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK:

TEXT: SELLING PRESSURE IN THE LAST TWO HOURS TOOK THE STEAM OUT OF A MAJOR RALLY. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE, HOWEVER, STAYED IN POSITIVE TERRITORY, CLOSING AT 85 HUNDRED FIVE -- A GAIN OF 39 POINTS. STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED ALMOST FLAT, WHILE THE TECHNOLOGY-DOMINATED NASDAQ LOST NINE POINTS AFTER HAVING BEEN WELL UP MOST OF THE DAY.

VOLUME WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY. BETTER THAN EXPECTED U-S CORPORATE EARNINGS MADE THEIR MARK, WITH THE RECENTLY BATTERED BANK STOCKS DRIVING THE DOW JONES UP THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

A GLOOMY REPORT FROM WASHINGTON ON THE GROWING U-S TRADE DEFICIT WHICH REACHED A RECORD HIGH IN AUGUST -- DID NOT APPEAR TO DAMPEN THE QUIET OPTIMISM INVESTORS HAVE BEEN SHOWING LATELY.

TRADERS SAID INVESTORS SEEM TO THINK THAT THE WORST OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS MAY BE OVER.

TUESDAY MARKED THE FIFTH DAY OF THE CURRENT RALLY ON WALL STREET. MOST OF THE GAINS CAME AFTER THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD -- THE U-S CENTRAL BANK -- CUT THE U-S INTEREST RATE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE WEEKS. ANALYST LARRY WACHTEL OF PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES BELIEVES THE MARKET IS BEING DRIVEN BY EXPECTATIONS THAT THE CENTRAL BANK WILL MAKE FURTHER CUTS. HE SAYS THE GROWING U-S TRADE DEFICIT SHOWS THE WORLD IS STILL SLOWING DOWN:

THE REASON THEY (CENTRAL BANK) MOVED WAS THE ANTICIPATION OF A CONTINUED GLOBAL SLOWING AND HERE'S OUR BALANCE OF TRADE NUMBERS SHOWING EXPORTS ARE DIVING. THAT UNDERSCORES THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE TO GET THE WHOLE WORLD MOVING A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

IF THERE IS A POSITIVE SIDE TO THE TRADE DEFICIT, ECONOMICS ANALYST VINCENT MALENGA SAYS IT WORKS FOR THE AMERICAN CONSUMER BECAUSE OF THE DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON PRICES:

IT IS GOOD NEWS FOR CONSUMERS TO THE EXTENT THAT, IN EFFECT, EVERYTHING IS ON SALE AND PRICES ARE GOING TO BE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE AS WE GO INTO THE HOLIDAY SPENDING SEASON.

[07] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNEXPECTED ARREST IN BRITAIN OF LONG-TIME CHILEAN DICTATOR GENERAL AUGUSTO PINOCHET IS STIRRING QUITE A BIT OF INTEREST IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF TUESDAY'S U-S PAPERS.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS UNDER WAY IN MARYLAND; SOME THOUGHTS ON THE FEDERAL BUDGET; HOW CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IS ADVANCING WITHOUT THE HELP OF CONGRESS; AND TALKS BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN THAT INDICATE RELATIONS ARE IMPROVING. NOW, HERE WITH SOME EXCERPTS IS _________________________ IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: GENERAL AUGUSTO PINOCHET HAS BEEN ARRESTED DURING A MEDICAL VISIT TO ENGLAND, ON THE REQUEST OF A SPANISH JUDGE INVESTIGATING THE DEATHS AND TORTURE OF HUNDREDS OF SPANIARDS DURING HIS REGIME. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE COMMENT IN THE U-S PRESS ON WHAT IS RAPIDLY BECOMING AN INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS IT "A DEVELOPMENT SURE TO BRING SHIVERS TO THE WORLD'S DICTATORS," ADDING:

VOICE: NOT EVERY DICTATOR'S CRIMES BEAR INTERNATIONAL PROSECUTION. /// OPT /// THERE CAN BE NO PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL LAW FOR ROGUE NATIONS LIKE IRAQ OR NORTH KOREA TO SEEK THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PROSECUTION OF CURRENT OR FORMER FOREIGN LEADERS WHO OPPOSED THEM. /// END OPT /// BUT THE ARREST OF MR. PINOCHET IS BASED ON CREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS. HE HAS SUFFICIENTLY INTIMIDATED CHILE'S CIVILIAN AUTHORITIES TO ESCAPE PROSECUTION THERE FOR THE CRIMES OF HIS SECURITY FORCES, WHICH MURDERED OR CAUSED THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MORE THAN TWO-THOUSAND PEOPLE.

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SUGGESTS THAT THE ARREST IS BREAKING NEW GROUND IN INTERNATIONAL LAW DEALING WITH DESPOTS.

VOICE: THE ESSENCE OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IS THAT THEY DENY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN, THUS IMPERILING EVERYONE EVERYWHERE. .... THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PINOCHET CASE IS THAT IT WILL TEST THE WILLINGNESS OF GOVERNMENTS TO PUT THE THEORY [OF UNIVERSAL RESPONSIBILITY] INTO PRACTICE. IF [GENERAL] PINOCHET CANNOT COUNT ON IMPUNITY OUTSIDE HIS NATIVE LAND, THEN NEITHER CAN OTHER CRIMINALS IN POWER, FROM THE BALKANS TO BURMA.

TEXT: AND IN FLORIDA "THE MIAMI HERALD" CHEERS ON THE DECISION:

VOICE: GENERAL PINOCHET'S CLAIMS OF DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY ARE GOSSAMER [FLIMSY]. HE WAS NOT AN ACCREDITED DIPLOMAT, NOR WAS HE ON ANY DIPLOMATIC MISSION. HE TRAVELED TO LONDON FOR PERSONAL REASONS ... NOTHING MORE. IT IS THE ARROGANCE OF TYRANTS THAT ALLOWS THEM TO THINK .... THEY ARE ABOVE ALL LAW. THEY ARE NOT ..... FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, THERE MUST BE NO SAFE HAVENS.

TEXT: TAKING THE GENERAL'S SIDE, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" POINTS OUT THAT GENERAL PINOCHET RESCUED CHILE FROM A FRAGMENTED SOCIETY OF STRIKES AND FOOD LINES UNDER LEFTIST FORMER PRESIDENT SALVADOR ALLENDE, AND HAS LEFT IT "PROSPEROUS AND DEMOCRATIC." REGARDING THE GROUNDS FOR HIS ARREST, "THE JOURNAL," WONDERS, IF BRITAIN CAN ARREST GENERAL PINOCHET AT SPAIN'S REQUEST, WHY DOESN'T SPAIN ITSELF ARREST FIDEL CASTRO WHO IS VISITING THERE TODAY. ADDS "THE JOURNAL:"

VOICE: HIS [CASTRO'S] KILLING AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS DWARF THE MOST EXAGGERATED ACCUSATIONS AGAINST GENERAL PINOCHET. INDEED, [MR.] CASTRO'S PROGRAM FOR SUBVERTING LATIN AMERICA WAS THE REAL ROOT OF THE BRUTALITY THAT SWEPT THE REGION IN THE 1970S. HIS ATTEMPTS TO SPREAD REVOLUTION GAVE LIFE TO THE BRUTAL MILITARY DICTATORSHIPS THAT ONCE MARRED THE LATIN SCENE. .... FOR THE PAST QUARTER-CENTURY MARXIST ROMANTICS HAVE BEEN SEEKING REVENGE IN PARTICULAR AGAINST GENERAL PINOCHET, THE MAN WHO PROBABLY DID MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE IN LATIN AMERICA TO ROLL BACK THEIR REVOLUTION.

TEXT: YET ANOTHER TERRORIST ATTACK, THIS ONE WITH HAND GRENADES ON A CROWDED STREET IN BEERSHEBA, ISRAEL, HAS CAST A SHADOW OVER THE MIDEAST SUMMIT UNDERWAY IN MARYLAND. IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" SAYS "COWARDS WIN ONLY IF PEACE [IS] ABANDONED."

VOICE: THE BEASTLY GRENADE ATTACK AT THE BEERSHEBA BUS STOP THAT RIPPED THE FLESH OF SCORES OF VICTIMS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO CLAIM AN EVEN BIGGER VICTIM - - THE TERRORISTS' REAL TARGET - - ANY PROSPECT OF PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT CAN DEAL THE COWARDS AT BEERSHEBA THE GREATEST BLOW BY REFUSING TO DO THEIR WILL: ABANDON THE SEARCH FOR PEACE THAT BEGAN ANEW LAST WEEK .... ON MARYLAND'S EASTERN SHORE.

TEXT: ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" HEADLINES ITS EDITORIAL"AFTER THE BLOODY GRENADE ATTACK, [MR.] ARAFAT CAN HARDLY DENY THE DANGERS ISRAEL FACES."

VOICE: THE ATTACK IS PRECISELY WHY ISRAEL IS HOLDING OUT FOR GREATER SECURITY ASSURANCES FROM PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATORS. IT'S ALSO WHY IT HAS BEEN SO DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE ISRAELI HARD-LINERS THAT PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN YASSER ARAFAT CAN BE TRUSTED TO LIVE UP TO HIS PLEDGES TO CRACK DOWN ON TERROR CELLS IN PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. STILL, HOWEVER DISRUPTIVE THE ATTACK .... IT CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO BRING THE TALKS TO A HALT.

TEXT: TURNING TO U-S POLITICAL ISSUES, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SUGGESTS THAT REPUBLICAN INEPTNESS ALLOWED PRESIDENT CLINTON TO SCORE A MAJOR POLITICAL WIN WITH HIS BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON CONTINUES TO BE BLESSED IN HIS ADVERSARIES. HE EASILY OUTMANEUVERED THE CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS IN LAST WEEK'S BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, AS EVEN MANY OF THEM CONCEDED. THE VICTORY WAS A VIVID REMINDER OF HIS FORMIDABLE POLITICAL SKILLS, BUT AN EQUALLY VIVID REMINDER OF THEIR INEPTNESS. ON MAJOR ISSUES, THE REPUBLICANS ARE DEEPLY DIVIDED, POORLY LED AND HOBBLED MORE THAN HELPED BY SHOPWORN DOCTRINE. HE BEAT THEM WITH A FEATHER.

TEXT: TUESDAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" NOTES THAT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, THWARTED BY THE LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS, HAS REAPPEARED IN SEVERAL STATE ELECTIONS.

VOICE: IN THE WEEKS SINCE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM WAS KILLED IN WASHINGTON, [MEANING IN CONGRESS] IT HAS BEEN FASHIONABLE TO SAY ... THE ISSUE NEVER HAD MUCH POPULAR SUPPORT. BUT ... IN MASSACHUSETTS AND ARIZONA ... VOTERS ARE BEING ASKED TO CREATE PUBLICLY FINANCED CAMPAIGN SYSTEMS THAT WOULD FREE POLITICIANS OF THEIR DEPENDENCE ON MONEY FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS. APPROVAL .... WOULD PROVIDE A MODEL FOR HOW TO CLEAN UP LOCAL POLITICAL RACES AND SEND A STRONG SIGNAL TO WASHINGTON TO ENACT [UNDERSTOOD HERE: "NATIONAL"] REFORM LEGISLATION NEXT YEAR.

TEXT: LASTLY, SOME SIGNS OF A THAW IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF TAIWAN AND CHINA DRAWS THE ATTENTION OF "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" WHICH CALLS THE JUST-COMPLETED TALKS A "VAGUE BUT DEFINITE PLUS."

VOICE: WHEN CHINA'S PRESIDENT TALKS AMIABLY WITH TAIWAN'S SEMI-OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE MEANING OF DEMOCRACY, NOTHING GETS SETTLED. BUT NO CONCRETE RESULTS WERE EXPECTED. MEANWHILE BOTH SIDES CONTINUE TO LET TAIWAN'S BIG BUSINESS INVESTORS VOTE WITH THEIR CAPITAL, ESTABLISHING HUNDREDS MORE NEW ENTERPRISES ON THE MAINLAND. AND THE FACT THAT A RECIPROCAL BEIJING VISIT TO TAIWAN WAS AGREED TO CERTAINLY BEATS ANOTHER VISIT BY CHINESE MISSILES. /// CHINA HAS LATELY LISTENED TO A STRING OF HUMAN RIGHTS-RELATED VISITORS. IT HAS KEPT HANDS OFF HONG KONG. BEIJING HAS MILES TO GO, BUT IT CONTINUES TO SHOW IT'S AWARE OF OUTSIDE WORLD SCRUTINY AND STANDARDS.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENTS FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S PAPERS.
NEB /ANG/KL
20-Oct-98 12:08 PM EDT (1608 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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