Voice of America, 27 February 1996

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <ivb19@nfi.com>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: FROM THE SOUTHERN TIP OF FLORIDA TO THE FORESTED SHORES OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE REACTING FORCEFULLY TO THE DOWNING OF TWO UNARMED U-S PLANES BY CUBAN AIR FORCE MIG FIGHTERS THIS PAST WEEKEND. IN OTHER EDITORIALS, TOPICS SUCH AS THE RENEWED BOMBINGS IN ISRAEL; REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PATRICK BUCHANAN'S FOREIGN POLICY VIEWS, AND THE FUTURE OF THE SENATE WHITEWATER COMMITTEE ARE ALSO BEING DISCUSSED. NOW HERE IS ___________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: ONLY A FEW PAPERS REACTED EDITORIALLY TO THE CUBAN SHOOT DOWN MONDAY, BUT TODAY THERE IS A FLOOD OF REACTION. IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, PORTLAND'S " OREGONIAN" AGREES WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RESPONSE TO THE INCIDENT.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON REACTED WITH APPROPRIATE FIRMNESS ... TO CUBA'S .... DOWNING OF TWO CIVILIAN LIGHT PLANES FLOWN BY MEMBERS OF [A] U-S-BASED EXILE GROUP. CUBA'S VIOLENT ACTION WAS A DEPLORABLE VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL NORMS OF BEHAVIOR. ....... [HOWEVER] ... WHILE HE TRIES TO TEACH [PREMIER] CASTRO A LESSON, [PRESIDENT] CLINTON ALSO NEEDS TO CLAMP DOWN ON THE ACTIONS OF BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE AND OTHER EXILE GROUPS."

TEXT: IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" SECONDS "THE OREGONIAN'S" VIEW.

VOICE: "THERE'S NO DENYING THE HORROR OF CUBA'S SHOOTING DOWN OF TWO AMERICAN CIVILIAN AIRPLANES ..... APPROPRIATELY, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS STEPPED UP U-S ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AND OTHER PENALTIES AGAINST CUBA. THE UNITED STATES ALSO IS CORRECT IN PRESSING THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONDEMN CUBA. ...... [BUT] THE IDEA OF U-S MILITARY ACTION IS NONSENSE."

TEXT: TO THE SOUTH, "THE MIAMI HERALD" ALSO AGREES WITH THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE, ADDING:

VOICE: "AFTER THE CUBAN REGIME'S SUMMARY AERIAL EXECUTION ..... OF FOUR CREW MEMBERS ABOARD TWO UNARMED CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT, THIS MUCH SHOULD BE CLEAR ABOUT FIDEL CASTRO'S DICTATORSHIP: ANY ONE ENTERTAINING THE NOTION THAT INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL GESTURES TOWARD IT COULD EVER PERSUADE THE CUBAN REGIME TO BECOME 'KINDER AND GENTLER' IS SADLY MISTAKEN. SUCH BELIEFS ARE UNTENABLE."

TEXT HIGH IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, TODAY'S "DENVER POST" COMMENTS:

VOICE: "THIS ISN'T THE ONLY TIME MILITARY ARMS HAVE DESTROYED CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT - - REMEMBER, THE UNITED STATES NAVY SHIP VINCENNES BLASTED AN IRANIAN AIRLINER OUT OF THE SKY IN 1988, KILLING 290 PEOPLE. ..... BUT UNLIKE THE VINCENNES TRAGEDY, WHICH RESULTED FROM A SERIES OF HUMAN AND TECHNICAL ERRORS, CUBA'S DESTRUCTION OF THE TWO PLANES ...... APPEARED TO BE DELIBERATE AND CALCULATED."

TEXT: AND "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SIZES UP PREMIER CASTRO'S ACTION THIS WAY:

VOICE: "THE BRUTALITY OF THE AIR ATTACK, ORDERED AND DEFENDED BY THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT, WAS ANOTHER REMINDER THAT CUBAN DICTATOR FIDEL CASTRO IS AN EVIL DESPOT. ...... MANY CUBAN-AMERICANS WANT THE UNITED STATES TO RESPOND MILITARILY TO SATURDAY'S OUTRAGE BY ESTABLISHING A NAVAL BLOCKADE AROUND THE ISLAND. SUCH AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH WOULD BE A MISTAKE."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" REACTED WITH THIS COMMENT:

VOICE: "CUBA ..... HAS A RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE AND SECURE AIRSPACE. IT ALSO LIVES WITH A HISTORY OF AMERICAN HOSTILITY AND ATTEMPTS TO OVERTHROW ITS GOVERNMENT. SO IT CAN BE FORGIVEN SOME PARANOIA ABOUT ITS NORTHERN NEIGHBOR ..... BUT NONE OF THAT JUSTIFIES THE CASTRO GOVERNMENT'S MURDEROUSLY DISPROPORTIONATE REACTION TO THE FLIGHT OF THREE SINGLE-ENGINE CESSNAS ..... YESTERDAY PRESIDENT CLINTON RIGHTLY SUSPENDED ALL CHARTER FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA, RESTRICTED THE TRAVEL OF CUBAN DIPLOMATS IN THIS COUNTRY AND ASKED CONGRESS TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION FOR THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES OUT OF BLOCKED CUBAN ASSETS IN THIS COUNTRY. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR WASHINGTON TO HALT TELEPHONE SERVICE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA AND BAN WIRE TRANSFERS OF MONEY FROM CUBAN-AMERICANS TO THEIR FAMILIES ON THE ISLAND."

TEXT: TURNING BRIEFLY TO OTHER TOPICS, WHICH ARE FEW, TODAY'S "PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD", IN DISCUSSING THE RENEWED BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN ISRAEL, SUGGESTS WHAT TO DO WITH THE TERRORIST GROUP HAMAS.

VOICE: "HAMAS MUST BE ELIMINATED. THE PALESTINIAN TERRORIST GROUP'S LEADERS MUST BE HUNTED DOWN, ONE BY ONE, AND BROUGHT TO SPEEDY TRIALS EITHER BY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT OR BY THE NEW PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY. THEY SIMPLY CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO GET BY WITH MURDER, ON THE GROUNDS THE PEACE PROCESS MUST GO FORWARD, REGARDLESS."

TEXT: WHILE IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" ADDS:

VOICE: "MR. PERES [ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SHIMON] WAS RIGHT TO VOW BOTH TO CONTINUE THE PEACE EFFORT AND STRIKE AT THE TERRORISTS. BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO DEFEAT THEM TACTICLY. IT IS ALSO IMPERATIVE FOR ISRAELIS NOT TO LET HAMAS TERRORISTS WIN OR MANIPULATE THE ISRAELI ELECTION, OR HALT THE TALKS ON THE STATUS OF PALESTINE WHICH ALSO BEGIN IN MAY."

TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" LAMENTS:

VOICE: "IT IS ALL TOO EASY TO SAY ... THE PEACE PROCESS MUST GO ON, THAT THE AIM OF THE PALESTINIAN RADICALS BEHIND THE BOMBING IS TO DERAIL THE PEACE PROCESS THAT EVEN THE ASSASSINATION OF [PRIME MINISTER] RABIN COULD NOT STOP. BUT THE REALITY IS MORE COMPLEX AND MORE DIFFICULT. [OPT] THE INABILITY OF YASSER ARAFAT TO PREVENT THE ATTACK JUST TWO DAYS AFTER ISRAEL OPENED ITS BORDERS TO PALESTINIANS RAISES THE MOST SERIOUS DOUBTS IN THE MINDS OF EVEN SUPPORTERS OF THE PEACE PROCESS." [END OPT]

TEXT: AS FAR AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IS CONCERNED, THE RESPONSE TO THE CUBAN SHOOTDOWN BY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE PATRICK BUCHANAN DREW THIS RESPONSE FROM "THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS":

VOICE: "REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHO NEEDED ANY PROOF THAT PAT BUCHANAN ISN'T FIT TO BE PRESIDENT GOT IT IN SPADES [WERE SUPPLIED ABUNDANTLY] OVER THE WEEKEND. FROM CUBA TO THE MIDDLE EAST, THE EVIDENCE WAS OVERWHELMING THAT THE GOP'S PIT BULL [A BREED OF DOG OFTEN GUILTY OF VICIOUS ATTACKS AGAINST HUMANS, AND EVEN DEATHS OF CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY] HAS NO BUSINESS BEING ANYWHERE NEAR THE OVAL OFFICE. THANKFULLY, NEITHER INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT HAS ERUPTED INTO AN UNMANAGEABLE CRISIS. COULD THE SAME BE SAID IF [MR.] BUCHANAN THE ARSONIST WERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE?"

TEXT: AND LASTLY ON THE FUTURE OF THE SENATE WHITEWATER COMMITTEE, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO END ITS INVESTIGATION SOON UNLESS ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND AUTHORIZATION IS APPROVED, TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES" SAYS IT SHOULD CONTINUE.

VOICE: ".... IT IS CLEAR THAT DUE IN PART TO THE DEPTH AND DENSITY OF THE ORIGINAL SKULLDUGGERY, [UNDERHANDED OR UNSCRUPULOUS BEHAVIOR] AND IN PART TO APPARENT COVER-UP ATTEMPTS BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, THE COMMITTEE'S WORK IS FAR FROM DONE; EVEN THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE NEW YORK TIMES AND ... WASHINGTON POST HAVE REACHED THAT OBVIOUS CONCLUSION."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT ITEM, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND THIS TUESDAY IN THE U-S PRESS.

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27-Feb-96 11:06 AM EST (1606 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] ASIA-EUROPE/N-G-O (L-O) BY VIKASH JAIN (BANGKOK)

INTRO: EUROPEAN AND ASIAN LEADERS ARE HEADED FOR BANGKOK AND THE FIRST EUROPE-ASIA SUMMIT BEGINNING FRIDAY. MEANWHILE, CITIZEN'S RIGHTS GROUPS FROM THE TWO REGIONS ARE HOLDING THEIR OWN CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS ISSUES SUCH AS LABOR AND HUMAN RIGHTS. VIKASH JAIN REPORTS, THEY WANT SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS TO CONSIDER THESE AND OTHER ISSUES WHICH ARE NOT ON THE OFFICIAL AGENDA OF THE ASIA-EUROPE SUMMIT:

TEXT: ARUNEE SRITO (SEE-TOH) IS A TEXTILE WORKER AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE LABOR CONGRESS OF THAILAND. SHE SAYS AFTER WORKING FOR MORE THAN A DECADE IN A FACTORY, SHE HAS PERMANENT HEARING DAMAGE.

THE NOISE LEVELS IN HER FACTORY HAVE BEEN MEASURED AT ABOUT 85-DECIBELS. SPEAKING THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, SHE SAYS NOISE LEVELS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE NOT NEARLY AS HIGH.

IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES LIKE GERMANY, THEY ARE 40 TO 50-PERCENT LOWER, BECAUSE THEY HAVE STRICT STANDARDS. SO I AM JUST BEGINNING TO THINK MAYBE WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME KIND OF EARS. WHY DO WE HAVE DIFFERENT STANDARDS? HEARING SHOULD HAVE ONE STANDARD FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. WHEN YOU SHIFT YOUR CAPITAL, YOU SHOULD ALSO BRING ALONG YOUR STANDARDS.

LABOR RIGHTS AND STANDARDS ARE A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE THESE DAYS. AS TRADE BECOMES MORE AND MORE INTERNATIONAL, IT IS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO SET A UNIFORM STANDARD FOR LABOR. BUT, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT LABOR LEADERS AND SOME ECONOMISTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

TEERANAT KARNJANA ARKSORN (KAN-CHANA AHK-SON) OF THE FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AT BANGKOK'S CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY, ARGUES STRONGLY THAT LABOR HAS BECOME LIKE BUSINESS, AN INTERNATIONAL CONCERN. REFERRING TO THAILAND'S PRIME MINISTER BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA, HOST OF THE ASIA-EUROPE SUMMIT, SHE SAYS POLITICIANS MUST STOP TREATING LABOR AS A DOMESTIC ISSUE:

WE ARE NOT LIVING ALONE IN THE WORLD. MR. BANHARN, THE PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND ALONE CANNOT DO MUCH. WE NEED REGULATIONS, CO-OPERATION TOGETHER. THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE BECAUSE WE COMPETE IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET. WE CANNOT JUST SAY, OK, WE WILL RAISE THE STANDARD OF WORKERS IN THAILAND AND THEN NOBODY WANTS TO COME AND INVEST IN THAILAND ANYMORE, AND THE WORKERS THEMSELVES WILL LOSE JOBS. THEY WANT TO HAVE JOB SECURITY, AT THE SAME TIME AS HAVING GOOD STANDARDS OF WORK AND HEALTH IN THE WORKING PLACE AND SO ON.

VIEWS SUCH AS THIS WILL NOT BE HEARD ANYWHERE NEAR THE SITE OF THIS WEEK'S ASIA-EUROPE SUMMIT. THE THAI PRIME MINISTER HAS STATED THE SUMMIT IS NOT THE PLACE FOR LABOR ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED.

WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS, OTHER ASIAN AND EUROPEAN LEADERS AGREE. THEIR SUMMIT IS TO FOCUS ON TRADE AND INVESTMENT ONLY. ISSUES SUCH AS CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, AND REGIONAL CONTROVERSIES SUCH AS EAST TIMOR AND BURMA, WILL BE LEFT FOR OTHER INTERNATIONAL BODIES SUCH AS THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. (SIGNED)

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27-Feb-96 7:35 AM EST (1235 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] ASIA/EUROPE-SECURITY (L-O) BY DAN ROBINSON (BANGKOK )

INTRO: IN THAILAND, TIGHT SECURITY WILL BE IN FORCE THIS WEEK AS LEADERS OF EUROPEAN AND ASIAN COUNTRIES ARRIVE FOR A SUMMIT. V-O-A'S DAN ROBINSON REPORTS, BANGKOK WILL BE EFFECTIVELY SHUT DOWN DURING THE TWO-DAY GATHERING, AND AUTHORITIES ARE FOCUSING THEIR SECURITY EFFORTS ON SOME KEY LEADERS:

TEXT: FACED WITH THEIR BIGGEST SECURITY CHALLENGE EVER, AUTHORITIES ARE LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCE. EIGHT-THOUSAND POLICE HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED. SECURITY HAS BEEN TIGHTENED AT AIRPORTS AND LAND BORDER CROSSINGS.

A SPECIAL ANTI-TERRORISM TASK FORCE IS WORKING WITH A LIST FROM INTERPOL (INTERNATIONAL POLICE ORGANIZATION) OF ONE-THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS CONSIDERED TO BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

SEVERAL EUROPEAN AND ASIAN LEADERS ARE RECEIVING SPECIAL ATTENTION -- INCLUDING THOSE FROM BRITAIN, FRANCE, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND INDONESIA.

COOPERATION BETWEEN JAPANESE AND THAI POLICE LED TO THE ARREST LAST WEEK OF TWO JAPANESE MEN SUSPECTED OF BEING MEMBERS OF THE "SUPREME TRUTH" CULT.

ALTHOUGH THEY APPEARED TO DOWNPLAY MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT A POSSIBLE NORTH KOREAN TERRORIST THREAT, OFFICIALS SAY SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS ARE ALSO BEING TAKEN FOR SOUTH KOREA'S PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG SAM.

POLICE SAY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR IS ON A LIST OF FIGURES REQUIRING SPECIAL ATTENTION AFTER THE RECENT BOMB ATTACKS BY THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY IN LONDON.

SECURITY WILL ALSO BE TIGHT FOR SPEECHES AND PRESS CONFERENCES SCHEDULED AT BANGKOK HOTELS BY SEVERAL EUROPEAN LEADERS, INCLUDING FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MAJOR.

THE SUMMIT WILL FOCUS PRIMARILY ON TRADE. HOWEVER, SEVERAL IMPORTANT BILATERAL MEETINGS WILL OCCUR ON THE SIDELINES -- INCLUDING ONE BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER MAJOR AND HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART LI PENG.

EUROPEAN AND ASIAN LEADERS HAVE BEEN GUARANTEED SOMETHING MANY BANGKOKIANS DO NOT ENJOY ON A DAILY BASIS -- A QUICK RIDE TO THEIR HOTELS AND THE SUMMIT SITE.

THE THAI GOVERNMENT DECLARED A TWO-DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN THE USUALLY TRAFFIC-CHOKED CAPITAL. THAT SHOULD TAME THINGS JUST ENOUGH FOR THE 175 MERCEDES LIMOUSINES CARRYING HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/DR/AC/HVS
27-Feb-96 6:44 AM EST (1144 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA SITREP (L UPDATE) BY WAYNE COREY ( VIENNA )

INTRO: SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE RESUMED CIVILIAN CONTACTS, BROKEN OFF BY THE SERBS EARLIER THIS MONTH. AND, THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS SAYS THE CHAOTIC SERB EXODUS FROM SARAJEVO IS CREATING A NEW HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: PRIME MINISTERS OF THE MUSLIM-LED BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT, THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND OF THE BOSNIAN SERB GOVERNMENT MET WITH INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR CARL BILDT IN THE SERB STRONGHOLD OF BANJA LUKA.

THE MEETING MARKED THE RESUMPTION OF SERB PARTICIPATION IN TALKS ON IMPLEMENTING CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

THE SERBS BROKE OFF CIVILIAN AS WELL AS MILITARY CONTACTS EARLY THIS MONTH AFTER SERB SOLDIERS WERE DETAINED AS SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS.

WHILE THE PRIME MINISTERS WERE MEETING IN A BUILDING IN BANJA LUKA, BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC, AN INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL, WAS APPARENTLY IN A NEARBY ROOM. NATO TROOPS, WHO PROVIDED SECURITY FOR THE TALKS, WERE EITHER UNAWARE HE WAS IN THE BUILDING OR WERE NOT ORDERED TO DETAIN HIM.

THE SERB EXODUS FROM SARAJEVO SUBURBS THAT WILL REVERT TO MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION CONTROL IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED BY THE FORMER WARRING FORCES.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS SAYS THE EXODUS IS CREATING ANOTHER HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN BOSNIA. THE RED CROSS HAS BEGUN AN EMERGENCY AID PROGRAM FOR AN ESTIMATED 25-THOUSAND SERBS. MEANWHILE, IN THE HAGUE, THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITS INDICTMENT OF FORMER CROATIAN SERB LEADER MILAN MARTIC. MR. MARTIC, WHO IS BEING PROTECTED BY THE SERBS IN BOSNIA, HAS ADMITTED HE ORDERED CLUSTER BOMB ATTACKS ON ZAGREB LAST MAY WHICH KILLED AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE. MANY OTHERS WERE INJURED.

A TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR TOLD THE HEARING THE ATTACKS WERE "TERROR RETALIATION" FOR A LIGHTNING CROATIAN ARMY OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE REBEL SERBS.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE TRIBUNAL WILL HEAR AN APPEAL FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF A BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL, ALLEGEDLY LINKED TO WAR CRIMES. THE GENERAL HAS STILL NOT BEEN FORMALLY CHARGED. (SIGNED)

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27-Feb-96 1:51 PM EST (1851 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] E-U / ASIA (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, JACQUES SANTER, SAYS HE INTENDS TO AVOID HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES AT THE EUROPEAN UNION MEETING WITH ASIAN LEADERS BEGINNING FRIDAY IN BANGKOK. AS JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, THE THAI GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS HOSTING THE EVENT, HAS WARNED DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE WOULD BE CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE.

TEXT: PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER SAYS THE EUROPE-ASIA SUMMIT WILL MARK A TURNING POINT IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO REGIONS. HE SAYS EUROPE MUST TREAT ASIA AS A PARTNER, AND HE WANTS THE SUMMIT CONFERENCE TO RESULT IN GREATER COOPERATION ON TRADE, AND IN MORE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT IN ASIA.

MR. SANTER WAS ASKED REPEATEDLY AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IF HE WILL RAISE THE ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS. HE REPLIED HIS IMMEDIATE PRIORITY IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH ASIA -- AND THEN HE BELIEVES IT WILL BE EASIER TO TALK OPENLY ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS.

THE E-U LEADER -- SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER -- SAID INSTEAD OF LECTURING ASIAN LEADERS, EUROPE IS ACTIVE IN PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.

I THINK WE HAVE GOT TO BE ACTIVE IN THE AREA OF HUMAN RIGHTS. IN OTHER WORDS, WE'VE GOT TO TRY AND BRING SOMETHING WHICH CAN HELP SOLVE HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS. NOW IT IS IN THAT SPIRIT THAT THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN DEVELOPING PROGRAMS WITH N-G-OS -- SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT HELPING TO SOLVE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WHICH WE HAVE IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS AREA.

E-U COMMISSIONERS ACKNOWLEDGE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GAG EUROPEAN UNION HEADS OF GOVERNMENT WHO ALSO WILL BE ATTENDING THE BANGKOK SUMMIT. PORTUGAL HAS SAID IT WILL BE RAISING THE PROBLEM OF EAST TIMOR, AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN CHINA ARE ALSO LIKELY TO BE RAISED.

OBSERVERS SAY THIS MAY STAND IN THE WAY OF EFFORTS BY E-U LEADERS TO BUILD A NEW DIALOGUE WITH ASIAN COUNTRIES, AND COULD LEAD TO A RAISING OF THE POLITICAL TEMPERATURE AT THE SUMMIT. (SIGNED)

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27-Feb-96 10:01 AM EST (1501 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] YUGO/WAR CRIMES (L) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN HEARING EVIDENCE FROM SURVIVORS OF CLUSTER BOMB ATTACKS THAT ROCKED THE CROATIAN CAPITAL, ZAGREB, IN MAY LAST YEAR. THE TESTIMONY IS PART OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE EVIDENCE AGAINST KRAJINA-SERB LEADER MILAN MARTIC WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ATTACKS. MR. MARTIC REMAINS AT LARGE AND ON THE BASIS OF THE EVIDENCE OFFERED AT THE HEARING, A JUDGE WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO ISSUE AN INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANT FOR HIM. GILLIAN SHARPE HAS THIS REPORT FROM THE HAGUE.

TEXT: SEVEN PEOPLE DIED AND MORE THAN 200 WERE INJURED WHEN ANTI-PERSONNEL WEAPONS, FITTED WITH CLUSTER-BOMB WARHEADS, SHATTERED THE RELATIVE CALM OF THE CROATIAN CAPITAL LAST MAY.

THE TRIBUNAL WAS SHOWN GRAPHIC VIDEO FOOTAGE AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF INJURIES CAUSED BY SHRAPNEL FROM THE BOMBS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE NOW DEFUNCT SELF-PROCLAIMED SERB REPUBLIC OF KRAJINA, MILAN MARTIC, IS ACCUSED OF VIOLATING THE LAWS OF WAR BY DELIBERATELY TARGETING CIVILIANS.

MR MARTIC WAS SEEN AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEKEND IN THE BOSNIAN-SERB STRONGHOLD OF BANJA LUKA.

PUBLIC HEARINGS LIKE THE ONE TUESDAY IN THE HAGUE ARE AN OPPORTUNITY, IN THE ABSENCE OF THE ACCUSED, TO HEAR THE VOICES OF THE VICTIMS OF ALLEGED WAR CRIMES.

FRANJO TUKSA IS A CROATIAN POLICE OFFICER. HE TESTIFIED, THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, IN OPEN COURT. COURT CAMERAS DISTORTED HIS FACE TO PROTECT HIS IDENTITY.

AFTER THE SHELLING OF ZAGREB, I MUST ADMIT THAT PEOPLE WERE PANIC-STRICKEN. THERE WAS A FEELING THAT ANY MOMENT YOU WOULD BE HIT BY SOMETHING AND YOU WOULD BE KILLED AND YOU WOULD HAVE NO IDEA WHY YOU ARE BEING KILLED. PEOPLE BANNED THEIR CHILDREN TO GO OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE PANICKED ABOUT THE FEAR OF BEING SHELLED AGAIN. INDEED I WOULD NOT LIKE ANY CITY TO EXPERIENCE WHAT ZAGREB HAS EXPERIENCED.

UNLIKE MOST OF THE OTHER INDICTMENTS ISSUED BY THE TRIBUNAL, WHICH DETAIL MURDER, RAPE, AND TORTURE, THIS CASE CENTERS ON WHETHER THE ATTACKS ON ZAGREB WERE LEGITIMATE MILITARY OPERATIONS.

DURING MEDIA INTERVIEWS, MR. MARTIC HAS FREELY ADMITTED HE ORDERED THE ATTACKS, BUT SAYS THEY WERE IN RESPONSE TO A CROATIAN OFFENSIVE AGAINST WESTERN SLAVONIA, THEN HELD BY THE SERBS.

DEPUTY PROSECUTOR, GREGORY KEHOE, DISAGREED. HE TOLD THE COURT THERE WAS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR ATTACKING AN AREA WHICH HE SAID CONTAINED NO MILITARY TARGETS.

LET US ASSUME, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, THAT SOMEONE COULD ARGUE THAT A BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN ZAGREB WAS A LEGITIMATE MILITARY TARGET. QUITE CLEARLY THE WRONG WEAPONS SYSTEM WAS USED TO ATTACK THAT BUILDING. IF ONE WAS GOING TO DESTROY A MILITARY TARGET, THE TYPE OF WEAPON SYSTEM WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AN ORKAN ROCKET FITTED WITH CLUSTER BOMBS -- A SYSTEM WHICH WAS CLEARLY DESIGNED IN THIS INSTANCE TO KILL CIVILIANS IN DOWNTOWN ZAGREB AND TO PUT A REIGN OF TERROR THROUGH THAT CITY AND TO OTHERWISE SCARE THEM INTO SUBMISSION.

PROSECUTORS SAID ZAGREB HAD BEEN LUCKY. GIVEN THE NATURE OF CLUSTER BOMBS, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO BURST INTO TINY PIECES ON IMPACT, MORE CASUALTIES COULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED.

BUT THE PROSECUTION HAS TO CONVINCE THE JUDGES THE TARGETING OF CIVILIANS WAS DELIBERATE. A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS AND STATEMENTS FROM MR. MARTIC AND HIS SUBORDINATES WAS OFFERED AS EVIDENCE.

IN MR. MARTIC'S MOST RECENT PUBLIC STATEMENT, HE SAID HE ORDERED THE ATTACKS TO PROTECT HIS OWN PEOPLE. THE STATEMENT, READ TO THE COURT BY TRIBUNAL INVESTIGATOR KEVIN CURTIS, GAVE MR. MARTIC'S OPINION OF THE TRIBUNAL ITSELF.

EVERY ATTEMPT TO ARREST ME, I WILL REGARD AS A TERRORIST ACT AND I WILL RESPOND ADEQUATELY, MARTIC SAID. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES I WOULD HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO GO TO THE HAGUE TO STAND TRIAL, BUT THERE IS NO HONESTY AND JUSTICE THERE.

THIS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING AGAINST A SUSPECT BY THE TRIBUNAL. LAST YEAR IT HEARD EVIDENCE OF WAR CRIMES AGAINST BOSNIAN-SERB PRISON GUARD DRAGAN NIKOLIC. AN INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR HIM.

JUDGES AT THE TRIBUNAL WILL DECIDE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WHETHER TO DO THE SAME IN THE MILAN MARTIC CASE. BUT IF THEY DO, OBSERVERS SAY THE CHANCES OF MR. MARTIC APPEARING IN THE HAGUE COURTROOM ARE SLIM. (SIGNED)

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27-Feb-96 2:02 PM EST (1902 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] YUGO / WAR CRIMES (S) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAS BEGUN A PUBLIC HEARING IN CONNECTION WITH ITS INDICTMENT OF THE FORMER CROATIAN SERB LEADER, MILAN MARTIC. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS MR. MARTIC ORDERED DEADLY CLUSTER BOMB ATTACKS ON ZAGREB LAST YEAR.

TEXT: SWEDISH PROSECUTOR ERIC OSTBERG TOLD TRIBUNAL JUDGES THE SHELLING OF ZAGREB LAST MAY WAS NOT A SIMPLE REPRISAL FOR A CROATIAN ARMY OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE REBEL SERBS.

MR. OSTBERG DESCRIBED THE SERB CLUSTER BOMB ATTACKS ON THE CENTER OF ZAGREB "TERROR RETALIATION" AND CALLED THEM "UNLAWFUL." AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED, AND MANY OTHERS WERE INJURED.

THE FORMER CROATIAN SERB LEADER, MR. MARTIC, HAS SAID HE ORDERED THE ATTACKS IN ORDER TO PROTECT SERB CIVILIANS, FLEEING FROM A CROATIAN ARMY ADVANCE.

MR. MARTIC WAS INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES BY THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL LAST JULY. BUT HE IS NOT LIKELY TO FACE TRIAL. HE IS BEING PROTECTED BY THE SERBS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, WHOSE POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS ARE ALSO INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS.

BY HOLDING THE HEARING ON THE CHARGES AND EVIDENCE AGAINST MR. MARTIC, THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL WANTS TO FURTHER PUBLICIZE ITS CASE AGAINST HIM AS AN INTERNATIONAL FUGITIVE. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH
27-Feb-96 9:03 AM EST (1403 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America