Voice of America, 98-11-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] YUGO WAR TRIAL (L-ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

[02] YUGO WAR TRIAL (L UPDATE) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

[03] RUSSIA / ITALY (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

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

[05] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[06] PINOCHET SITREP (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[01] YUGO WAR TRIAL (L-ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: LATER MONDAY, BOSNIAN SERB GORAN JELISIC GOES ON TRIAL FOR GENOCIDE AT THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS. THE MAN WHO CALLS HIMSELF THE SERB ADOLPH HAS ALREADY PLEAD GUILTY TO MURDERING MUSLIMS, BUT HE INSISTS HE HAD NO INTENTION TO COMMIT GENOCIDE ON THE BOSNIAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY. LAUREN COMITEAU EXPLAINS FROM THE HAGUE.

TEXT: JUST ONE MONTH AGO GORAN JELISIC STOOD BEFORE BOTH JUDGES AND A SHOCKED PUBLIC GALLERY, ADMITTING HIS GUILT...

SAYING HE WANTED TO SAVE HIS SOUL, THE 30-YEAR OLD BOSNIAN SERB PLED GUILTY TO 31 CHARGES -- INCLUDING 12 MURDERS, FOUR BEATINGS, AND STEALING MONEY FROM MUSLIMS.

THE CRIMES TOOK PLACE IN 1992, WHEN HUNDREDS OF MUSLIMS WERE HELD IN THE SERB-RUN LUKA CAMP OUTSIDE THE BOSNIAN TOWN OF BRCKO. PROSECUTORS SAY JELISIC HELD A POSITION THERE -- AND THEY SAY HE TOLD HIS VICTIMS HE CAME TO BRCKO TO KILL MUSLIMS, BRAGGING ABOUT THE NUMBER HE KILLED. //OPT// ONE WITNESS RECALLED JELISIC SAYING THAT BEFORE HE HAD HIS MORNING COFFEE, HE MUST FIRST KILL 20 OR 30 PEOPLE. //END OPT//

AND THAT HE MADE IT LOOK EASY. OTHER WITNESSES SAY JELISIC'S PREFERRED MURDER WEAPON WAS A PISTOL, AND INDEED PROSECUTORS RELEASED A PHOTO SHOWING JELISIC SHOOTING A MAN IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD -- ONE OF THE COUNTLESS OF UNIDENTIFIED MUSLIMS PRISONERS, THEY SAY, JELISIC KILLED.

BUT WHETHER THAT ADDS UP TO GENOCIDE IS ANOTHER STORY. JELISIC MAY HAVE PLEAD GUILTY TO SPECIFIC MURDERS, BUT HE PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO GENOCIDE. THAT'S THE MOST SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST HIM -- A CHARGE THAT MEANS HE SYSTEMATICALLY KILLED MUSLIMS WITH THE INTENTION OF DESTROYING A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY. PROSECUTORS -- WHO ARE TRYING JELISIC SOLELY ON THE GENOCIDE COUNT -- WILL HAVE TO PROVE THAT INTENT, SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO BEFORE.

[02] YUGO WAR TRIAL (L UPDATE) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: PROSECUTORS AT THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAVE OPENED THEIR CASE AGAINST A 30-YEAR-OLD BOSNIAN SERB, GORAN JELISIC, WHO HAS ADMITTED BEATING AND KILLING SOME MUSLIMS. BUT LAUREN COMITEAU REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE, PROSECUTORS ARE TRYING TO PROVE JELISIC WAS INTENT ON SOMETHING ELSE -- GENOCIDE, OR DESTROYING A LARGE PART OF BOSNIA'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

TEXT: PROSECUTORS USED WORDS LIKE EFFICIENT AND ENTHUSIASTIC TO DESCRIBE WHAT THEY SAY WAS GORAN JELISIC'S REALIZATION OF HIS GENOCIDAL AMBITIONS. THOSE AMBITIONS, THEY SAY, WERE TO RID THE BOSNIAN TOWN OF BRCKO OF MANY OF ITS MUSLIMS.

THEY SAY JELISIC -- WHO HAD BEEN IN JAIL ON A FRAUD CONVICTION -- WAS SENT TO BRCKO BY BOSNIAN SERB AUTHORITIES AS PART OF THEIR PLAN TO PROVIDE WILLING EXECUTIONERS FOR THE GENOCIDE WHICH TOOK PLACE THERE IN 1992.

MOST OF THE KILLINGS WERE COMMITTED IN THE SERB-RUN LUKA CAMP, WHERE PROSECUTORS SAY JELISIC HAD AUTHORITY OVER HUNDREDS OF MUSLIM AND CROAT PRISONERS. PROSECUTOR TERREE BOWERS TOLD JUDGES THAT JELISIC KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING AND THAT HE DID HIS JOB SO WELL THAT EVENTUALLY HIS OWN BOSSES HAD TO REMOVE HIM FROM THE CAMP.

HE HELD THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH IN HIS HANDS, AND SYSTEMATICALLY AND REGULARLY WENT ABOUT KILLING THE MUSLIM DETAINEES AS WELL AS SEVERAL CROATS. HIS TRADEMARKS WERE A BLUE POLICE SHIRT, A PISTOL, AND A PREFERENCE FOR EXECUTING DETAINEES OVER A METAL DRAINAGE GRATE.

PROSECUTORS SAY THEY WILL BASE THEIR CASE LARGELY ON THE TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES.

JUDGES GOT TO HEAR SOME OF THAT TESTIMONY WHEN PROSECUTORS CALLED THEIR FIRST WITNESS, IDENTIFIED ONLY AS WITNESS "A." HE IS A 37-YEAR-OLD MUSLIM WHO WAS IMPRISONED AT THE LUKA CAMP. IN EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY, HE DESCRIBED THE TERROR THAT REIGNED THERE, WHERE MINUTES APPEARED LIKE HOURS AND HOURS LIKE YEARS AS PEOPLE WAITED TO BE EXECUTED.

SPEAKING THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, THE WITNESS EXPLAINED HOW JELISIC FORCED A MAN TO PUT HIS HEAD OVER A GRATE, BEFORE SHOOTING HIM.

THE MAN PLEADED. "DON'T. LET ME GO." THE SAME WORDS WERE USED BY ALL. EVERYONE WANTED TO LIVE. NOBODY WANTED TO BE KILLED. BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP.

THE MAN WAS KILLED. AND WITNESS "A" SAID HE HAD TO CARRY HIS BODY TO A TRUCK.

THE SCENE WAS REPEATED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, SAID THE WITNESS, AND FOR SEVERAL FOLLOWING NIGHTS UNTIL JELISIC'S SUPERIORS REMOVED HIM FROM THE CAMP. (SIGNED)
NEB/LC/JWH/PT
30-Nov-98 3:03 PM EST (2003 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] RUSSIA / ITALY (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAMBERTO DINI HAS MADE A BRIEF VISIT TO MOSCOW TO DISCUSS THE CASE OF KURDISH GUERRILLA LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTER DINI FLEW INTO MOSCOW MONDAY FOR WHAT ONE WESTERN DIPLOMAT DESCRIBED AS A FRANK TALK WITH HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART, IGOR IVANOV.

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE AFTERWARD, BOTH MEN ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAD DISCUSSED THE OCALAN CASE, BUT DECLINED TO ELABORATE.

MR. DINI SIDESTEPPED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE KURDISH REBEL LEADER, SAYING IT WAS "NOT THE FOCUS OF (HIS) VISIT." BUT HE SAID HIS TALKS WITH MR. IVANOV, AND LATER WITH PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, DID PROVIDE A CHANCE TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ABOUT THE ROLE EACH PLAYED IN THE MATTER". EARLIER, MR. DINI WAS QUOTED BY AN ITALIAN NEWSPAPER AS SAYING HE HOPED TO FIND OUT ABOUT EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE KURDISH REBEL LEADER'S JOURNEY TO ROME, AND WHAT RUSSIA'S POSITION HAD BEEN ON THE HIS DECISION TO COME TO ITALY.

ITALIAN DIPLOMATS HAD EXPRESSED SURPRISE WHEN THE KURDISH REBEL CHIEF ARRIVED IN ROME ON A FLIGHT FROM MOSCOW AND ASKED FOR ASYLUM. RUSSIA EARLIER DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WHEREABOUTS, EVEN THOUGH TURKEY, WHICH CONSIDERS HIM A TERRORIST, HAD PINPOINTED HIS LOCATION IN A MOSCOW SUBURB.

MR. DINI'S TALKS IN MOSCOW APPEAR TO HAVE ENDED ON A CORDIAL NOTE. PRIME MINISTER PRIMAKOV WAS QUOTED BY THE ITAR-TASS NEWS AGENCY AFTERWARD AS SAYING HE WAS INSPIRED BY THE FACT THERE WOULD BE NO CURTAILMENT OF BUSINESS TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

ABDULLAH OCALAN'S ARRIVAL IN ROME BADLY STRAINED ITALY'S RELATIONS WITH TURKEY, WHICH WANTS HIM EXTRADITED TO FACE TRIAL. ITALY HAS REFUSED, BECAUSE ITALIAN LAW FORBIDS RETURNING SUSPECTS TO A COUNTRY WHERE THEY COULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/JWH
30-Nov-98 1:23 PM EST (1823 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES CLOSED DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (MONDAY) IN A BROAD SELL-OFF. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST ALL OF LAST WEEK'S 174-POINT GAIN, AND THEN SOME. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FSOM NEW YORK:

TEXT: THE DOW JONES LOST TWO POINT THREE PERCENT, OFF 216 POINTS, TO CLOSE AT 91 HUNDRED 16. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED DOWN 28 POINTS AT 11 HUNDRED 63.

THE VOLUME WAS VERY HEAVY ON THE FIRST DAY OF TRADING THIS WEEK. OVER ONE BILLION SHARES CHANGED HANDS. AIRLINES, OIL AND MANY FINANCIAL STOCKS TOOK A MONDAY DIP, PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE DOW. INTERNET-RELATED STOCKS -- LIKE AMAZON.COM AND YAHOO -- STUMBLED BADLY AFTER IMPRESSIVE GAINS IN RECENT DAYS.

ANALYSTS SAY THE MARKET MAY HAVE MOVED TOO FAR, TOO FAST, AND IS SIMPLY PULLING BACK.

OBVIOUSLY THE STOCKS HAVE GONE UP SO DRAMATICALLY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE GYRATIONS. I THINK SOME OF THEM WERE EXTREMELY OVERVALUED AND IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME TO SEE THEM COME DOWN. NOW SOME OF THE STOCKS LIKE THE LARGER STOCKS -- AMAZON.COM, YAHOO -- I THINK THEY'RE AROUND FOR THE LONG-TERM. THEY MAY BE OVERVALUED TO SOME EXTENT. BUT THESE ARE THE TOP TIER OF THE INTERNET STOCKS.

A BIG STORY ON WALL STREET MONDAY WAS DEUTSCHE BANK OF GERMANY AGREEING TO BUY BANKERS TRUST -- THE EIGHTH LARGEST BANK IN THE UNITED STATES -- FOR OVER 10 BILLION DOLLARS. THE DEAL, NOT EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED UNTIL NEXT APRIL, WOULD CREATE THE WORLD'S LARGEST BANKING INSTITUTION.

CRUDE OIL PRICES ARE HOVERING AT A 12-YEAR LOW. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS U-S OIL COMPANIES EXXON AND MOBIL ARE DISCUSSING A MERGER WORTH MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. NOTHING FIRM HAS EMERGED YET FROM TALKS BEING HELD HERE IN NEW YORK. BUT SOME OBSERVERS EXPECT AN ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK. MEANWHILE, U-S OIL COMPANY TEXACO AND ROYAL DUTCH/SHELL HAVE CALLED OFF THEIR TALKS AIMED AT A JOINT VENTURE IN EUROPE. THE VENTURE WOULD INVOLVE CONSOLIDATING THEIR OIL REFINING AND MARKETING ACTIVITES. BOTH SIDES SAY THE DEAL WOULD NOT BE PROFITABLE ENOUGH FOR THEIR SHAREHOLDERS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/PT
30-Nov-98 5:18 PM EST (2218 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AMONG THE TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION IN TODAY'S PAPERS ARE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RESPONSES TO THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRIES OF CONGRESS; GENERAL PINOCHET FACING THE POSSIBILITY OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HIS PAST; /// OPT /// AN IMPORTANT VOTE OVER THE QUESTION OF SEPARATISM IN QUEBEC; /// END OPT /// AFRICA GETS A NEW SATELLITE NEWS CHANNEL; AND OFFERING A CARROT INSTEAD OF A STICK TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BURMA.

NOW HERE IS _________________ WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS ARE REACTING TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ANSWERS TO 81 QUESTIONS POSED BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AS IT PONDERS HOW TO DEAL WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT. "THE NEW YORK POST" IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL:

VOICE: BEWARE, AMERICA: BILL CLINTON IS GETTING COCKY. THE PRESIDENT'S ANSWERS' TO THE 81 QUESTIONS POSED BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON THE LEWINSKY MATTER REVEAL HIS CONTEMPT FOR THE TRUTH, WHICH IS NOTHING NEW. WHAT IS NEW IS THE FEARLESSNESS HE AND HIS ALLIES ARE DISPLAYING AS HE LIES -- AND THEY MAKE IT CLEAR THEY DON'T CARE. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THEY DO NOT WANT [MR.] CLINTON IMPEACHED, LIES UNDER OATH OR NO. ..... THE PRESIDENT CLEARLY BELIEVES HE CAN NOW SAY OR DO ALMOST ANYTHING -- WHICH EXPLAINS HIS ALMOST COMICALLY DISINGENUOUS AND DECEPTIVE ANSWERS TO THE ... QUESTIONS.

TEXT: "USA TODAY" IS ALSO UNHAPPY WITH THE PRESIDENT'S ANSWERS, NOTING:

VOICE: THE NET RESULT [OF HIS ANSWERS] IS TO SHOW THE PRESIDENT AGAIN AT HIS LAWYERLY WORST. HE HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ANSWER QUESTIONS -- EVEN FATUOUS, PARTISAN ONES LIKE THESE -- OPENLY, IF ONLY TO HASTEN THE DAY WHEN THIS GRUBBY LITTLE WINDOW-FOGGER OF A SCANDAL IS LAID TO REST.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE EXTRADITION CASE INVOLVING FORMER CHILEAN DICTATOR AUGUSTO PINOCHET, THERE ARE MORE COMMENTS ON THE RULING BY BRITAIN'S HOUSE OF LORDS THAT MR. PINOCHET MUST REMAIN IN ENGLAND TO FACE THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTRADITION TO SPAIN TO STAND TRIAL FOR HIS CRIMES. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE "MAKE [GENERAL] PINOCHET FACE HIS PAST," ADDING:

VOICE: /// OPT /// JUSTICE DEMANDS THAT DICTATORS WHO TRAMPLE THE HUMAN AND LEGAL RIGHTS OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS OR FOREIGN NATIONALS SHOULD ULTIMATELY ANSWER TO THE LAW. THIS IS THE LESSON OF THE RULING BY BRITAIN'S HIGHEST COURT DENYING IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION FOR AUGUSTO PINOCHET, CHILE'S FORMER STRONGMAN. /// END OPT /// THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY THE CHILEAN ARMY AFTER PINOCHET'S 1973 COUP D'ETAT OUSTED THE CONSTITUTIONALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT OF SALVADOR ALLENDE HAVE BEEN AMPLY DOCUMENTED. .... JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED IF THE FORMER DICTATOR IS SENT TO MADRID TO FACE HIS ACCUSERS.

TEXT: AFTER TALKING ABOUT GENERAL PINOCHET'S CASE, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" GOES ON TO ANOTHER, SOMEWHAT SIMILAR SITUATION, CONCERNING A KURDISH LEADER FROM TURKEY.

VOICE: MEANWHILE, THE ITALIANS HAVE A SIMILARLY HOT POTATO ON THEIR HANDS, ABDULLAH OCALAN, THE KURDISH TERRORIST, ARRESTED TWO WEEKS AGO. THE ITALIANS ARE EVIDENTLY IN A BIND [DILEMMA]. THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN FIGHTING THE KURDISH PEOPLE'S PARTY (P-K-K) FOR 14 YEARS, VERY MUCH WANTS HIS EXTRADITION FOR THE DEATH OF SOME 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED OVER THE YEARS. (THAT'S ABOUT TEN TIMES THE NUMBER KILLED UNDER GENERAL PINOCHET.) THIS THE ITALIANS HAVE REFUSED, CITING THE FACT THAT TURKEY HAS THE DEATH PENALTY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GERMANS WHO ALSO HAVE AN ORDER OUT FOR MR. OCALAN'S ARREST, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT HIM EXTRADITED TO GERMANY .....[FEARING] THE REACTION AMONG GERMANY'S TWO MILLION TURKS, ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF WHOM ARE OF KURDISH ETHNICITY. .... ALL OF WHICH, NEEDLESS TO SAY, BEGS THE QUESTION: EXACTLY UNDER WHAT INTERNATIONAL LAWS ARE THESE TWO CASES BEING CONSIDERED? WITHOUT SYMPATHIZING WITH PERPETRATORS OF ATROCITIES ... SURELY THERE IS REASON TO PAUSE WHEN THE PRINCIPLE OF SOVEREIGNTY ... THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, IS BEING DISMISSED SO READILY. ... IF THIS BECOMES PRECEDENT, IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT NO FORMER HEAD OF STATE, MAYBE NO SITTING HEAD OF STATE, CAN FEEL ABSOLUTELY SAFE WHEN TRAVELING ABROAD.

TEXT: RETURNING TO THIS HEMISPHERE, CANADA'S FRENCH-SPEAKING PROVINCE OF QUEBEC HAS AN IMPORTANT ELECTION TODAY, BUT ACCORDING TO THE "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD," SEPARATION IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE DIVIDING THE TWO LEADING CANDIDATES.

VOICE: CANADA DOESN'T NEED A 'SAVIOR BUT A LEADER,' JEAN CHAREST SAID LAST MARCH IN ANNOUNCING HIS PLANS TO LEAVE THE FEDERAL PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE PARTY AND SEEK THE LEADERSHIP OF THE QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY. [MR.] CHAREST'S LIBERALS ARE CHALLENGING [QUEBEC PREMIER LUCIENT] BOUCHARD'S PARTY QUEBECOIS TODAY IN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS ....... [WITH] THE LIBERALS TRAILING SIGNIFICANTLY. ... [MR.] CHAREST ... HAS FAILED IN HIS ATTEMPT TO PORTRAY [MR.] BOUCHARD AS A COMPULSIVE SECESSIONIST. .... [MR.] BOUCHARD HAS SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE AN ABLE ADMINISTRATOR, SLASHING QUEBEC'S DEFICIU AND VOWING HE WILL PRESENT A BALANCED BUDGET NEXT SPRING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 40 YEARS. A FUTURE VOTE ON SOVEREIGNTY STILL IS VERY MUCH AN OPTION. [MR.] BOUCHARD IS POLITICALLY ASTUTE ENOUGH, HOWEVER, NOT TO PUSH IT UNTIL HE KNOWS IT CAN WIN.

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" HERALDS THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW TELEVISION SATELLITE NEWS CHANNEL FROM SOUTH AFRICA, REPORTING ON AFRICA, BY AFRICANS, BUT WONDERS WHETHER IT CAN SUCCEED.

VOICE: /// OPT /// OF ALL THE WORLD CONTINENTS, AFRICA HAS THE LEAST-DEVELOPED PRESS AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. THAT'S WHY A 24-HOUR-SATELLITE TELEVISION CHANNEL EXCLUSIVELY DEVOTED TO ITS NEWS AND DEVELOPMENT IS SUCH A BREAKTHROUGH. SO FRAGILE IS AFRICA'S INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IN MOST CASES EVEN ITS OWN MEDIA RELY ON REPORTING FROM THE LARGE WESTERN NEWS AGENCIES. IN CONTRAST, SABC AFRICA WILL HAVE 'AFRICANS REPORTING AFRICA TO AFRICA,' EDITOR ALLISTER SPARKS PROMISES. /// END OPT /// ... IT HAS BEEN GREETED WITH QUITE A BIT OF SKEPTICISM IN ITS HOMELAND. NOT ONLY IS IT A SHOE-STRING [UNDER FINANCED] OPERATION IN A FIELD DOMINATED BY SUCH AROUND-THE-CLOCK NEWS-GATHERING GIANTS AS CNN AND THE BBC, BUT SABC'S PREVIOUS SATELLITE VENTURE COLLAPSED WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOSSES. IF SABC AFRICA AND A SECOND CHANNEL DEVOTED TO AFRICAN ENTERTAINMENT CAN FIND U-S DISTRIBUTORS AND MAKE MONEY THAT WAY, THE PICTURE MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE BRIGHTER.

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" IS WEIGHING THE WISDOM OF OFFERING A "CARROT," RATHER THAN A "STICK" TO THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP OF BURMA, BUT CONCLUDES THAT INTERNATIONAL AID, MAINLY FROM THE U-S GOVERNMENT BY WAY OF THE WORLD BANK, WOULD BE A MISTAKE.

VOICE: /// OPT /// THERE IS TOUGH COMPETITION ..... BUT PERHAPS NO AUTHORITARIAN REGIME IN THE WORLD TODAY IS MORE BRUTAL AND BENIGHTED THAN THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP OF BURMA. THAT SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATION HAS BEEN CONDEMNED TO LIVE IN POVERTY AND FEAR BY THE THUGGISH, DRUG-TAINTED, CORRUPT GENERALS WHO WIELD POWER. .... BURMA'S PLIGHT IS ALL THE MORE TRAGIC BECAUSE, UNLIKE MANY NATIONS THAT HAVE LIVED LONG UNDER DICTATORSHIP, IT HAS A READY ALTERNATIVE. AUNG SAN SUU KYI, DAUGHTER OF BURMA'S HERO OF POST-COLONIAL INDEPENDENCE AND HERSELF A NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE, HEADS A POLITICAL PARTY THAT OVERWHELMINGLY WON AN ELECTION IN 1990. .... NOW THE UNITED NATIONS AND WORLD BANK HAVE FLOATED THE POSSIBILITY OF INDUCING THE DICTATORS TO BEHAVE BETTER BY OFFERING THEM 'CARROTS' SUCH AS ONE BILLION OR MORE IN LOANS IF THEY ENTER A DIALOGUE WITH AUNG SAN SUU KYI. SHUNNED UNTIL NOW BY PRIVATE INVESTORS AND MOST AID DONORS, THE JUNTA COULD USE THE CASH (MUCH OF WHICH WOULD COME, THROUGH THE WORLD BANK, FROM THE U-S GOVERNMENT. /// END OPT /// .... UNDER A LEGITIMATE AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT, BURMA WOULDN'T NEED MUCH WORLD BANK HELP; THE COUNTRY IS BLESSED WITH ABUNDANT NATURAL RESOURCES AND A LITERATE, HARD -WORKING POPULATION OF 46-MILLION. UNDER THE CURRENT RULERS, ANY LOANS WILL FURTHER ENRICH THE CORRUPT FEW. /// OPT /// LONG AT THE TROUGH, /// END OPT /// THEY DON'T NEED ANY CARROTS FROM U-S TAXPAYERS.

TEXT: TURNING AGAIN TO THIS HEMISPHERE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" WORRIES ABOUT THE AFTEREFFECTS OF HURRICANE MITCH WHICH DEVASTATED MUCH OF CENTRAL AMERICA, AND RENEWS ITS PLEAS FOR HELP AFTER A VISIT BY THREE HONDURAN CHURCH OFFICIALS.

VOICE: IN HONDURAS ... REMINDERS OF THE TERRIBLE STORM ARE EVERYWHERE. ..... THOUSANDS DIED AND TWO-MILLION PEOPLE WERE LEFT HOMELESS BY THE WORST HURRICANE TO HIT CENTRAL AMERICA IN 200 YEARS. IT WAS THE WORST NATURAL DISASTER OF ANY KIND IN THE REGION'S RECENT HISTORY. ... THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER ... [FORGIVING] HONDURAS' SIX BILLION DOLLAR DEBT ... AND CERTAINLY SHOULD CONTINUE OFFERING HUMANITARIAN RELIEF. THIS IS THE SEASON OF GIVING, THE SEASON OF THANKS, THE SEASON OF HOPE.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, SOME THOUGHTS ON THE TERRIBLE INDIAN TRAIN WRECK FROM FLORIDA'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL."

VOICE: THE TRAIN WRECK THAT CAUSED ALMOST 200 DEATHS LAST WEEK IN INDIA DEMONSTRATED WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MISPLACE THEIR PRIORITIES. THE DEATHS OCCURRED WHEN AN EXPRESS TRAIN RAMMED ANOTHER TRAIN THAT WAS DERAILED. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS INDICATE THAT THE ACCIDENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF A WARNING-SIGNAL LIGHT HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON THE LAST CAR OF THE DERAILED TRAIN. OFFICIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT RUN RAIL SYSTEM SAID IT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE SUCH SIMPLE SAFETY MODIFICATIONS. WHAT A TRAGIC RESPONSE FROM A GOVERNMENT THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR CELEBRATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NUCLEAR-ARMS PROGRAM WITH TEST EXPLOSIONS OF SEVERAL WEAPONS. INDIA WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF ITS GOVERNMENT INVESTED MORE IN THE SAFETY OF ITS OWN CITIZENS THAN ON WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/KL
30-Nov-98 12:37 PM EST (1737 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] PINOCHET SITREP (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: CHILE'S FOREIGN MINISTER HAS LEFT LONDON FOR MADRID AS HE CONTINUES HIS MISSION TO LOBBY FOR THE RELEASE OF FORMER CHILEAN LEADER AUGUSTO PINOCHET. BRITAIN IS CONSIDERING SPAIN'S REQUEST FOR MR. PINOCHET'S EXTRADITION TO FACE CHARGES OF GENOCIDE AND TORTURE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON THE CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER DID NOT HAVE MUCH SUCCESS IN BRITAIN.

TEXT: CHILE'S FOREIGN MINISTER, JOSE MIGUEL INSULZA, MET WITH BRITAIN'S DEFENSE SECRETARY ON MONDAY BEFORE HEADING OFF TO MADRID. THE BRITISH OFFICIAL GAVE MR. INSULZA THE SAME RESPONSE BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY GAVE HIM LAST FRIDAY.

BRITAIN'S GOVERNMENT SAYS IT IS KEEPING ITS HANDS OFF THE PINOCHET CASE ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT IS A LEGAL, NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.

MR. INSULZA HAS ARGUED THAT THE 83-YEAR-OLD FORMER GENERAL SHOULD BE RELEASED ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS. HE ALSO ARGUED THAT GENERAL PINOCHET COULD STAND TRIAL BACK HOME WHERE THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE-DOZEN CASES PENDING AGAINST HIM. BUT THAT APPEARS UNLIKELY BECAUSE THE FORMER GENERAL ENJOYS IMMUNITY THERE AS A SENATOR-FOR-LIFE. FOR NOW, IT IS UP TO BRITAIN'S HOME SECRETARY, JACK STRAW, TO DECIDE WHETHER TO APPROVE SPAIN'S EXTRADITION REQUEST FOR THE FORMER CHILEAN LEADER. HE REFUSED TO MEET THE CHILEAN DIPLOMAT.

A LEADING BRITISH DAILY SAYS THAT U-S DIPLOMATS ALSO HAVE QUIETLY URGED BRITAIN TO DROP THE EXTRADITION CASE AND LET MR. PINOCHET GO HOME. THE NEWSPAPER, THE GUARDIAN, SAYS THE C-I-A DOES NOT WANT THE CASE TO DREDGE UP ITS LINKS TO THE 1973 COUP THAT BROUGHT MR. PINOCHET TO POWER IN CHILE.

THE BRITISH HOME SECRETARY HAS UNTIL DECEMBER 11TH TO ANNOUNCE HIS DECISION. MR. PINOCHET WILL HAVE TO APPEAR IN COURT ON THAT DAY TO HEAR IT.

THE FORMER GENERAL'S WIFE DESCRIBES HIM AS DEPRESSED. HIS LAWYERS HAVE HINTED THEY WILL ARGUE MR PINOCHET IS MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL.

MR. PINOCHET HAS BEEN UNDER POLICE GUARD AT A PRIVATE LONDON CLINIC SINCE HIS ARREST LAST MONTH. HE IS RECUPERATING FROM BACK SURGERY. BUT HE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THIS WEEK TO A PRIVATE SUITE AT A LONDON AIRPORT HOTEL AND THEN TO A PRIVATE VILLA IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WHILE HIS LAYWERS CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR HIS RELEASE. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
30-Nov-98 9:54 AM EST (1454 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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