Voice of America, 15 May 1996 (1 of 2)

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

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - MAY 15, 1996

[02] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - MAY 15, 1996

INDIA / ELECTION -- INDIA'S CENTER LEFT ALLIANCE HAS BEGUN CRUCIAL TALKS WITH THE CONGRESS PARTY ON FORGING A COALITION TO STOP HINDU NATIONALISTS FROM TAKING POWER IN NEW DELHI. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE SAYS PRESIDENT S D SHARMA IS WEIGHING HIS DECISION WHICH PARTY TO INVITE TO TRY TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. (5/15)

LIBERIA / FIGHTING -- LIBERIA'S CAPITAL, MONROVIA, WAS HIT TUESDAY BY SOME OF THE HEAVIEST FIGHTING SINCE THE CRISIS BEGAN LAST MONTH. AS STRINGER KIRK TROY REPORTS FROM MONROVIA, THE NEW OFFENSIVE DASHED HOPES OF A CEASE-FIRE AMONG THE WARRING PARTIES. (5/14)

US / LEBANON -- FIVE-NATION TALKS ON ARRANGEMENTS TO MONITOR THE CEASE-FIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON-BASED HEZBOLLAH GUERRILLAS CONTINUE WEDNESDAY. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE UNITED STATES HAS ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT FRESH IRANIAN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND ARMS SHIPMENTS TO HEZBOLLAH. (5/14)

BOSNIA / TALKS -- LEADERS OF THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE AGREED ON A NEW DEFENSE LAW AND OTHER ISSUES DESIGNED TO GIVE MORE SUBSTANCE TO THEIR SHAKY FEDERATION. STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (5/14)

CROATIA / FRAGILE OPPOSITION -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' PAMELA TAYLOR WHO VISITED CROATIA REPORTS ON WHAT OPPOSITION LEADERS ARE SAYING ABOUT RECENT MOVES BY PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN TO CONSOLIDATE HIS CONTROL. SHE INTERVIEWS LIBERAL PARTY LEADER VLADO GOTOVAC AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR OF OSIJEK, ZLATKO BENASIC. (5/15)

CLINTON / BOSNIA-CROATIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON IS DIRECTING COMMERCE SECRETARY MICKEY KANTOR TO ORGANIZE AND LEAD A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MISSION TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND CROATIA TO CONTINUE THE WORK BEGUN BY THE LATE COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN. MR BROWN WAS ON A TRADE MISSION TO THE REGION WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN A PLANE CRASH LAST MONTH. MR. CLINTON ANNOUNCED THE NEW MISSION AT A WHITE HOUSE MEETING WITH OFFICIALS FROM BOSNIA'S MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (5/14)

US / QATAR MILITARY -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS SENDING FIGHTER PLANES TO QATAR NEXT MONTH IN A SHOW OF US MILITARY SUPPORT FOR QATAR AND OTHER MEMBER STATES OF THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL. THE PLANES WILL HELP ENFORCE THE UN-DECLARED NO-FLY ZONE OVER SOUTHERN IRAQ. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS. (5/14)

VALUJET CRASH -- FEDERAL AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING SATURDAY'S CRASH OF A 'VALUJET' AIRLINER IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES SAY THE CRASH COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AN EXPLOSION. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE HAS DETAILS FROM MIAMI. (5/15)

VALUJET CRASH -- INVESTIGATORS FROM THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD SAY THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF POWER ON BOARD THE 'VALUJET' PLANE JUST BEFORE IT CRASHED IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS. (5/14)

CUBA PROTEST -- NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RUDOLPH GUILIANI HAS STIRRED DIPLOMATIC CONTROVERSY ONCE AGAIN. LAST YEAR, HE BARRED PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT FROM A CONCERT AT LINCOLN CENTER. THIS TIME, THE NEW YORK MAYOR HAS OFFENDED THE CUBANS. UN CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (5/14)

BRAZIL / PATENTS -- BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO HAS SIGNED A CONTROVERSIAL LAW FOR PATENT PROTECTION, A MEASURE THAT WAS STRONGLY URGED BY THE UNITED STATES. DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN RIO DE JANEIRO. (5/14)

HONG KONG / MOST WANTED -- POLICE IN HONG KONG SAY THEY HAVE CAPTURED THE TERRITORY'S MOST WANTED CRIMINAL. HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS THE MOVE IS FOCUSSING ATTENTION ON THE RISE IN CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE BRITISH COLONY BY GANGS BASED IN CHINA. (5/15)

US POL / DOLE -- SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE, THE PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE WEDNESDAY HIS DECISION TO GIVE UP SOME OF HIS SENATE DUTIES AND DEVOTE MORE TIME TO HIS CAMPAIGN TO UNSEAT PRESIDENT CLINTON. AS STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS, ONE ANALYST SAYS THE DECISION BY SENATOR DOLE SHOULD HAVE COME MUCH SOONER. (5/15)

CONGRESS / DEFENSE -- THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS OPENED DEBATE ON A BILL THAT SETS GUIDELINES FOR DEFENSE SPENDING AND POLICY FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON NOTES THAT WHILE THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS DEFENSE SPENDING TO GO DOWN, REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS WANT IT INCREASED. (5/14)

STEALTH BOMBER -- THE US AIR FORCE HAS HALTED ALL FLIGHTS OF ITS B-2 STEALTH BOMBER AFTER AN INSPECTION TURNED UP A MECHANICAL FLAW IN ONE OF THE AIRCRAFT. A TOTAL OF TEN OF THE RADAR-EVADING PLANES ARE NOW IN SERVICE. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS. (5/14)

US / AIDS TEST -- THE US GOVERNMENT'S FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS GIVEN APPROVAL FOR THE MARKETING OF THE FIRST AT HOME BLOOD TEST FOR HIV, THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES AIDS. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE SAYS THE KIT, WHICH THE FDA CALLS HIGHLY ACCURATE, WILL ENABLE PEOPLE TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE HIV AND GET IMMEDIATE COUNSELING. (5/15)

LYNN MARTIN / MITSUBISHI -- MITSUBISHI MOTOR MANUFACTURING OF AMERICA HIRED FORMER US SECRETARY OF LABOR LYNN MARTIN TO INVESTIGATE CHARGES OF SEXUAL HARRASSMENT AT THE COMPANY'S FACTORY IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. CHICAGO STAFFER MIKE JOYCE REPORTS A SEXUAL HARRASSMENT LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY WAS BROUGHT BY THE US GOVERNMENT'S EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION ON BEHALF OF THREE HUNDRED FEMALE EMPLOYEES OF THE COMPANY'S FACTORY IN ILLINOIS. (5/14)

IMMIGRANTS / CITIZENS -- IN 1994, THE US IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE RECEIVED MORE THAN A HALF MILLION APPLICATIONS FOR AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP. LAST YEAR THAT FIGURE DOUBLED, AND THE BACKLOG OF APPLICATIONS PROMPTED THE WHITE HOUSE TO LAUNCH 'CITIZENSHIP USA,' A PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP LEGAL IMMIGRANTS OVERCOME THE PAPERWORK OBSTACLES TO CITIZENSHIP. STRINGER JAN SLUIZER REPORTS THAT INS COMMISSIONER DORIS MEISSNER ANNOUNCED THE PROGRAM WILL BE EXPANDED TO GATEWAY CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. (5/14)

INVESTOR PROTECTION -- ECONOMICS REPORTER ANDREW BAIRD LOOKS AT A NEW REPORT THAT SAYS AMERICANS ON THE WHOLE ARE POORLY PREPARED TO MAKE INTELLIGENT INVESTMENT DECISIONS, AND IT IS COSTING THEM BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY. (5/14)

GERMANY / BAMBOO -- THROUGHOUT EUROPE, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS CENTURY, A POPULAR SPECIES OF BAMBOO IS FLOWERING, ONLY TO WITHER AND DIE A FEW MONTHS LATER. REPORTER DAGMAR BREITENBACH IN BONN SAYS BOTANISTS ARE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT TRIGGERS THIS PHENOMENON. (5/15)

NY ECON WRAP -- STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TUESDAY, LARGELY IN RESPONSE TO CONTINUED GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE US INFLATION RATE. NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS. (5/14)

BEIJING CONFERENCE / MUSLIM SOCIETIES -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' JUDITH LATHAM REPORTS ON THE RECENT CONFERENCE HELD AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY TO DISCUSS HOW TO TURN THE UNITED NATIONS PLATFORM FROM LAST FALL'S WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN INTO ACTION. (5/15)

RUNNING LAS VEGAS / MAYOR JAN JONES -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' KEMING KUO INTERVIEWS LAS VEGAS MAYOR JAN JONES, ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN A RECENT URBAN PLANNING SYMPOSIUM IN WASHINGTON. MS JONES DESCRIBED SOME OF THE CHANGES IN HER CITY DURING RECENT YEARS INCLUDING ITS TRANSFORMATION FROM MOSTLY GAMBLING ACTIVITIES TO A MORE "FAMILY ORIENTED" CENTER. SHE ALSO DESCRIBES ONE OF LAS VEGAS' NEWEST ATTRACTIONS, "THE FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE"A MODERNIZATION OF THE OLDER, DOWNTOWN AREA OF THE CITY, WHICH SHE INITIATED. (5/15)

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN" TURNS 50 -- ONE OF THE BEST LOVED MUSICALS IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATER TURNS 50 MAY 16. AND THIS YEAR, MORE THAN EVER, REGIONAL THEATER COMPANIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE REVIVING "ANNIE GET YOUR GUN," THE STORY OF 19TH CENTURY SHARPSHOOTER, ANNIE OAKLEY. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ROBIN RUPLI SPOKE WITH THE COMPOSER'S DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER WHO REMEMBER WHAT THE MUSICAL MEANT IN THE LIFE OF IRVING BERLIN. (5/15)

OKLAHOMA INDIANS -- THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA WAS ONCE KNOWN AS "INDIAN TERRITORY" AND TODAY HAS MORE PEOPLE OF INDIAN ANCESTRY THAN ANY OTHER STATE. PEOPLE CAN EXPLORE THIS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE AT OKLAHOMA CITY'S CENTER FOR AMERICAN INDIANS. CURRENT AFFAIRS' GREG FLAKUS REPORTS. (5/15)

US / MARYLAND'S EASTERN SHORE -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' TED LANDPHAIR PAINTS A PICTURE OF MARYLAND'S RUSTIC PIECE OF LAND BETWEEN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. IT'S A SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE WHERE THE BURDENS OF HECTIC URBAN LIFE ALMOST FALL AWAY ONCE YOU CROSS THE BIG CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE. (5/15)

HEALTHY FAMILY / SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY LIFE -- AS LABOR SAVING DEVICES PROLIFERATE, PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE LESS TIME. DR STEPHAN RECHTSCHAFFIN, AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK, "TIMESHIFTING," WARNS THAT A LIFE DRIVEN BY THE CLOCK IS STRESSFUL AND PRONE TO DISEASE, AND HE SUGGESTS WAYS PEOPLE CAN BE HAPPIER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE. CURRENT AFFAIRS' JANE HUGHES REPORTS. (5/15)

US / MOTHERHOOD -- DIVORCED MOTHERS GET THE BLAME FOR BREAKING UP THE FAMILY. WORKING MOTHERS GET BLAMED FOR WORKING AND NEGLECTING THEIR CHILDREN. POOR MOTHERS GET BLAMED FOR THE WELFARE STATE. PSYCHOLOGIST DIANE EYER COMES TO THEIR DEFENSE AS SHE TELLS CURRENT AFFAIRS' JANE HUGHES ABOUT HER NEW BOOK, "MOTHERGUILT: HOW OUR CULTURE BLAMES MOTHERS FOR WHAT'S WRONG WITH SOCIETY. (5/15)

US / OLYMPICS -- WITH JUST TWO MONTHS TO GO BEFORE THE OLYMPIC GAMES OPEN IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS COMPLETING ITS PLANS TO HELP ENSURE SECURITY AND PROCESS VISAS FOR FOREIGN VISITORS AND ATHLETES. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (5/14)

MAGIC JOHNSON RETIRES AGAIN -- AMERICAN SPORTS STAR 'MAGIC' JOHNSON HAS RETIRED AGAIN FROM PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME TUESDAY IN LOS ANGELES, WHERE STAFFER CATHY MOSER HAS DETAILS. (5/14)

INSIDE USA:

CLINTON / DOLE / FOREIGN POLICY -- SENATOR DOLE ATTACKED PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR "INCONSISTENCY, CONFUSION, AND INCOHERENCE" IN MANAGING US FOREIGN POLICY, BUT ANALYSTS SAY HE IS NOT FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT FROM CLINTON IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS. STAFFER JIANG TIAN INTERVIEWED ZHAO JINGLUN, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR. (MANDARIN 5/15)

CALCUTTA PROFESSOR / ARIZONA UNIV -- DR ASIT BANDYOPADHYAY, PROFESSOR OF THE ASIA SOCIETY OF CALCUTTA HAS BEEN INVITED TO THE US TO HELP DRAW UP A CURRICULUM FOR THE STUDY OF BENGALI LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA. HE WAS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER ASIM CHAKRABARTI DURING HIS VISIT TO WASHINGTON. DR ASIT BANDYAPADHYAY IS A RETIRED PROFESSOR OF CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY. (BANGLA 5/14)

ELECTION '96 -- STAFFER MANSOUR HATEFI TALKS ABOUT ELECTORAL VOTES AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WITH POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE. THE DISCUSSION INCLUDED A RESPONSE TO A LISTENER'S QUESTION WHETHER A NATURALIZED AMERICAN CITIZEN CAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT. (FARSI 5/14)

LITTLE SAIGON BRIEFS -- ORANGE COUNTY STRINGER BICH HUYEN REPORTS ON MOTHERS DAY FOR VIET RESIDENTS; MEETINGS OF THE VIET-AMERICAN AVIATORS ASSOCIATION AND THE PETRUS KY ALUMNI GROUP, AND WHAT SPRING MEANS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. (VIETNAMESE 5/14)

VIETNAM / HUMAN RIGHTS DAY -- STAFFER NGUYEN KHANH REPORTED ON THE ANNUAL GATHERING TO OBSERVE THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PUBLIC LAW ESTABLISHING MAY 11 AS VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IN THE US. (VIETNAMESE 5/15)

IRANIAN AMERICANS -- STAFFER MOHAMMAD RAZAVI INTERVIEWS PSYCHIATRIST NANAZ PIRNIA, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S OF THE BEVERLY HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. (FARSI 5/14)

ETHIOPIANS IN AMERICA -- STAFFER ADDISU ABEBE INTERVIEWS THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE ETHIOPIAN MUTUAL HELP FUND IN THE WASHINGTON AREA, MR GETACHEW ABEBE, AND M KIFLE SEYFU. THEY EXPLAINED THE OBJECTIVE OF THEIR ORGANIZATION AND HOW IT IS HELPING ETHIOPIANS ABROAD. (AMHARIC 5/14)

SEXUAL HARASSMENT -- ELLEN VARGYAS OF THE US EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, AND DEBORAH EPSTEIN OF GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY'S SEX DISCRIMINATION CLINIC JOIN 'TALK TO AMERICA' TO DISCUSS SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO STOP IT. (ENGLISH 5/15)

INSIDE AFRICA:

LIBERIA / DISEASE -- THE FIGHTING IN MONROVIA HAS RESULTED IN SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THE CAPITAL. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SPOKESMAN MICHAEL LUJAN TELLS REPORTER JOE DECAPUA THERE ARE NOW OUTBREAKS OF THREE DISEASES IN THE CITY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/15)

GHANA / LIBERIA REFUGEES -- AFTER ALLOWING THOUSANDS OF STRANDED LIBERIAN REFUGEES ON A SHAKY NIGERIAN BOAT TO LAND AT THE TAKORADI PORT, THE GHANIAN AUTHORITIES ARE CONTINUING ARRANGEMENTS TO ACCOMODATE THE REFUGEES. STRINGER ABDULMALIK DANBIRNI SAYS PRIORITY IS BEING GIVEN TO THE SICK, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. (HAUSA 5/15)

LIBERIA / JOHNSON -- LIBERIAN FACTION LEADER GENERAL ROOSEVELT JOHNSON SAYS HE IS PLANNING TO RETURN TO LIBERIA. HE SPOKE TO REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE AFTER HIS MEETING WITH GHANAIAN PRESIDENT JERRY RAWLINGS IN ACCRA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/15)

GHANA / CHAMBAS -- A HIGH RANKING GHANAIAN OFFICIAL DENIES THAT IT IS PREVENTING LIBERIAN FACTION LEADER GENERAL ROOSEVELT JOHNSON FROM RETURNING TO MONROVIA. REPORTER JAMES BUTTY SPOKE WITH GHANA'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IBN CHAMBAS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/14)

LIBERIA / HOSTAGE -- ULIMO-J LEADER ROOSEVELT JOHNSON SAYS THE GOVERNMENT OF GHANA IS HOLDING HIM HOSTAGE. HE TOLD REPORTER JAMES BUTTY WHY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/14)

GHANA / REFUGEES -- SEVERAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES IN ACCRA, GHANA ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE FOOD RELIEF FOR THE NEWLY ARRIVED LIBERIAN REFUGEES. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH CT AKUMIAH, SPOKESMAN FOR AN EIGHT-MEMBER CONSORTIUM OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. HE IS ALSO THE HEAD OF THE CHRISTIAN COUNCIL OF GHANA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/14)

LIBERIA / REFUGEES / GHANA -- STRINGER ABDULMALIK DANBIRNI REPORTS THAT THE NIGERIAN-REGISTERED FREIGHTER, BULK CHALLENGER, CARRYING THIRTY FIVE HUNDRED LIBERIAN REFUGEES WAS REFUSED ENTRY INTO THE GHANIAN SEA PORT OF TAKORADI MONDAY. AMONG THE PASSENGERS WERE NIGERIAN SOLDIERS SERVING IN LIBERIA. EU AND AMERICAN DIPLOMATS ARE NEGOTIATING WITH THE GHANIAN GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THE REFUGEES. (HAUSA 5/14)

GHANA / LIBERIAN REFUGEES -- THE GOVERNMENT OF GHANA HAS ALLOWED THE NIGERIAN FREIGHTER BULK CHALLENGE TO DOCK IN THE PORT TAKORADI AND THE ESTIMATED THIRTY FIVE HUNDRED LIBERIAN REFUGEES ON BOARD TO DISEMBARK. THE REFUGEES FLED THE FIGHTING IN THE LIBERIAN CAPITAL OF MONROVIA BUT WERE RUNNING LOW ON FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES. STRINGER MAHAMAT AHMAT ADAMOU ASKED FRANCIS KPATINDE, UNHCR SPOKESPERSON IN GENEVA ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION NOW THAT THE REFUGEES ARE TEMPORARILY IN MAKESHIFT ACCOMMODATIONS IN GHANA. (FRENCH 5/14)

SIERRA LEONE / SHIP -- A NIGERIAN SHIP CARRYING MOSTLY SIERRA LEONEANS FLEEING FIGHTING IN LIBERIA HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO DOCK IN FREETOWN. REPORTER KELVIN LEWIS REPORTS FROM FREETOWN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/14)

NIGERIA / CAMEROON -- TROOPS FROM NIGERIA AND CAMEROON HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF CLASHES IN THE DISPUTED BAKASSI PENINSULA. THE HOSTILITIES ARE DRAWING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION. REPORTER EMMANUEL WONGIBE TALKED WITH GRAY COWAN OF THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/15)

NIGERIA / ENAHORO -- A PROMINENT NIGERIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, ANTHONY ENAHORO, FLEES THE COUNTRY FOR THE UNITED STATES. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH FOREIGN POLICY SPOKESMAN OF NADECO AND A FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER, PROFESSOR BOLAJI AKINYEMI FROM LONDON. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/15)

NIGERIA / MRS ABIOLA -- THE LAGOS HIGH COURT HAS ASKED MRS KUDIRAT ABIOLA TO CLARIFY THE DISPUTE BETWEEN LAWYERS ROTIMI WILLIAM AND CHIEF AJAYI ON THE QUESTION OF REPRESENTING HER HUSBAND, MKO ABIOLA, WHO IS ACCUSED OF TREASON. MRS ABIOLA WAS ARRESTED LAST WEEK BY POLICE FOR ALLEGED ANTI-GOVERNMENT STATEMENTS. STRINGER AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (HAUSA 5/14)

US / BURUNDI -- STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA REPORTS FROM BUJUMBURA ON THE VISIT TO BURUNDI BY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR ANTHONY LAKE AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AFRICA GEORGE MOOSE. THE TWO AMERICAN OFFICIALS EMPHASIZED THE CONCERN OF THE US REGARDING THE UNREST AND ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN BURUNDI AND CALLED ON ALL PARTIES TO START MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS. (FRENCH 5/14)

BURUNDI / US -- THE BURUNDI GOVERNMENT DESCRIBED THE VISIT BY US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER ANTHONY LAKE, AS CONSTRUCTIVE. THE US DELEGATION ALSO INCLUDED ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS, GEORGE MOOSE. REPORTER SHAKA SSALI DISCUSSED THE THE VISIT WITH THE CHIEF OF CABINET IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE, AMBASSADOR MARK NTETURUYE FROM BUJUMBURA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/15)

ANGOLA / UNITA TROOPS -- UNITA LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI HAS ANNOUNCED HE WILL ASK FIFTY THOUSAND OF HIS TROOPS TO RETURN TO THEIR BARRACKS WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER A MEETING WITH UN SPECIAL ENVOY TO ANGOLA, ALIOUNE BLONDIN BEYE. STAFFER IDRISSA FALL INTERVIEWED M BEYE. (FRENCH 5/14)

CHINESE PRESIDENT SPEECH / OAU -- THE PRESIDENT OF CHINA, JIANG ZEMIN ADDRESSED AFRICAN DIPLOMATS AND LEADERS AT THE AFRICA HALL IN ADDIS ABABA BEFORE HE LEFT FOR A FOUR-DAY VISIT TO CAIRO. THE CHINESE LEADER SAID THAT THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF HIS COUNTRY WILL DOUBLE BY THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND. HE ALSO SAID THAT HIS COUNTRY WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND TRADE RELATIONS WITH AFRICAN COUNTRIES. STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE COVERED THE STORY FROM ADDIS ABABA. (AMHARIC 5/14)

DISPLACED PERSONS / MIGRATIONS -- STAFFER ELIZABETH MONNAC FEATURES A SPECIAL A UN PROGRAM ON DISPLACED PERSONS AND THE EFFORTS OF THE GENEVA-BASED INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATIONS TO RETURN THE REFUGEES HOME OR RESETTLE THEM. THIS ORGANIZATION HAS FOR SEVERAL DECADES HELPED REFUGEES AND DISPLACED POPULATIONS. INTERVIEWED WERE EUGENIO AMBROZZI, CHIEF OF HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS FOR AFRICA AND JOOST VAN ALST, CHIEF OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO RWANDA. (FRENCH 5/14)

US / VISITING NIGERIAN CHANCELLORS -- ABOUT FIFTEEN NIGERIAN VICE CHANCELLORS ARE VISITING THE US UNDER A USIS SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. IN INTERVIEWS WITH STAFFER ALIYU MUSTAPHA, PROFESSORS BELLO BAKO DANBATTA OF THE BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO; DR NENFORT EDWARD GOMWALK OF THE UNIVERSITY OF JOS; AND DR MOHAMMED ZAYYANU ABDULLAHI OF THE USMAN DANFODIO UNIVERSITY OF SOKOTO, SAID THE VISIT IS TO PROVIDE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND LEARN FROM SEVERAL AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES WITH A VIEW TO INTRODUCING SOME ASPECTS OF THE US EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN THEIR OWN INSTITUTIONS. (HAUSA 5/15)

NIGERIA / COACH -- NIGERIAN FOOTBALL COACH, DUTCH-BORN JO BONFRERE, WHO DISAPPEARED WITHOUT NOTICE IN APRIL, HAS SUDDENLY RETURNED TO CONTINUE COACHING NIGERIA'S SENIOR SOCCER TEAM. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO STRINGER AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM, TENSION REMAINS HIGH BETWEEN THE COACH AND NIGERIA'S SPORTS AUTHORITY. THE COACH IS SAID TO DISAGREE WITH THE TIMETABLE DRAWN FOR THE SOCCER TEAM REPRESENTING NIGERIA AT THE UPCOMING ATLANTA OLYMPICS. (HAUSA 5/14)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

EGYPT / CHINA -- FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE EGYPTIAN INTELLIGENCE AMIN HUWAIDI SAYS THE VISIT OF THE CHINESE PRESIDENT ZEMIN TO EGYPT HAS A SPECIAL STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE. AN INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY STAFFER IMAN RAFI. STRINGER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO THAT THE VISIT DEMONSTRATES CHINESE SUPPORT FOR EGYPT AND PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. (ARABIC 5/13, 5/14)

LEBANON / ISRAEL / CLASHES -- A MEMBER OF THE PRO-ISRAEL LEBANESE MILITIA IN SOUTH LEBANON WAS KILLED TUESDAY IN A CLASH BETWEEN ISRAELI FORCES AND LEBANESE HEZBOLLAH FIGHTERS. STRINGER MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 5/14)

ISRAEL / LEBANON CEASE-FIRE -- THE LEBANESE MINISTER OF INFORMATION FARID MKARI SAYS ISRAELI ATTACKS ON LEBANON ARE AIMED AT FORCING LEBANON TO ACCEPT CERTAIN CONDITIONS FOR PEACE. INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN. (ARABIC 5/14)

IRAQ / SYRIA -- IRAQI PRESS SAYS A PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IS VISITING SYRIA TO ATTEND THE ARAB PARLIAMENTARIANS CONFERENCE AND SEEK SUPPORT FOR BAGHDAD'S POSITION IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UN TO SELL OIL FOR FOOD. STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 5/14)

EGYPT / SYRIA -- ARMED MEN SHOT AND KILLED THREE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE SOUTHERN EGYPTIAN SUHAJ REGION. STRINGER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO THAT A POLICE COLONEL WAS AMONG THE VICTIMS. THE ATTACKERS MANAGED TO GET AWAY. (ARABIC 5/14)

US PRESIDENTIAL RACE -- THE LATEST POLLS SHOW PRESIDENT CLINTON AHEAD OF HIS REPUBLICAN RIVAL, BOB DOLE IN THE RACE FOR THE PRESIDENCY. STAFFER USAMA FARAG INTERVIEWED JIM ZOGHBY OF THE ARAB AMERICAN INSTITUTE ON THE SUBJECT. (ARABIC 5/14)

WEST BANK SHOOTING -- ISRAELI TV ANALYST AHARON BERNIEH IN A COMMENT ON A SHOOTING INCIDENT IN THE WEST BANK, SAID BOTH JEWISH AND ARAB RADICALS ARE DOING THEIR UTMOST TO UNDERMINE THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. HE WAS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN DENOUNCED THE SHOOTING INCIDENT IN WHICH AN AMERICAN YOUTH WAS KILLED NEAR THE CITY OF RAMALLAH. STAFFER MAHA RABIE REPORTS ON THE INCIDENT. (ARABIC 5/14)

LIBYA / US -- LIBYA HAS ACCUSED THE US OF PREPARING FOR MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IT. MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 5/14)

JORDAN TOURISM -- FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JORDAN CONCLUDED PEACE WITH ISRAEL TWO YEARS AGO, THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING THAT COUNTRY HAS REACHED A RECORD LEVEL. STRINGER MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN THAT QUARTER OF A MILLION TOURISTS VISITED JORDAN IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1996. (ARABIC 5/14)

IRAN / AZERBAIJAN -- STAFFER MANSOUR HATEFI INTERVIEWS ROBERT EBEL, DIRECTOR OF THE ENERGY PROGRAM AT THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, ABOUT REPORTS THAT AZERBAIJAN HAS GIVEN A COMPANY WITH IRAN ITS MAJOR SHAREHOLDER, A TEN PERCENT SHARE IN A PROJECT TO DEVELOP THE OFFSHORE SHAH DENIZ OIL FIELD IN THE CASPIAN. EBEL SAID THAT THE MOVE IS CONTRARY TO US POLICY. IT IS ALSO, HE SAID, A GAIN FOR IRAN, WHICH WANTS VERY MUCH TO BE INVOLVED IN THE EXPLORATION OF CASPIAN OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS. (FARSI 5/14)

NEW IRANIAN FUNDAMENTALIST GROUP -- STAFFER BEHRUZ NIKZAT ASKED EXPERT DR MOHAMMAD BORGHEI ABOUT A NEW GROUP OF IRANIAN FUNDAMENTALIST ACTIVISTS CALLED ANSAR-I HEZBOLLAH. PHILOSOPHER ABD AL-KARIM SOROUSH, WHO SAYS THAT ISLAM DOES NOT NEED A CLERGY, CANCELLED A SPEECH AT A TEHRAN UNIVERSITY WHEN ANSAR-I HEZBOLLAH THREATENED TO DEMONSTRATE. DR BORGHEI SAYS THE ANSAR IS A NEW RIGHT WING GROUP SO EXTREME, THAT IT MAKES THE OLDER, MORE ESTABLISHED UNIVERSITY ISLAMIC SOCIETY LOOK LEFT-WING. SOROUSH WAS INVITED TO SPEAK BY THE UNIVERSITY ISLAMIC SOCIETY. (FARSI 5/14)

AFGHANISTAN / ECO -- A HIGH RANKING MEMBER OF THE AFGHAN DELEGATION TO THE ECO SUMMIT IN ASHGABAT SAYS HIS COUNTRY JOINS UZBEKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, AND PAKISTAN IN BUILDING A GAS PIPELINE FROM TURKMENISTAN TO PAKISTAN THROUGH THE AFGHAN TERRITORY. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER JALIL GHANI, AFGHAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER RAHIM GHAFURZAI ALSO SAID THE PROJECT IS A LONG-TERM VENTURE THAT IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND. CONSTRUCTION OF THE PIPELINE IS EXPECTED TO COST MORE THAN FOUR BILLION DOLLARS. (DARI, PASHTO 5/15)

AFGHAN POLITICS -- A SPOKESMAN OF AFGHAN PRESIDENT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI SAYS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE OPPOSITION HEZB-E ISLAMI PARTY OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER GULBUDDIN HEKMATYAR HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS. THE TALKS ARE AIMED AT FORGING AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT RABBANI AND THE HOLD GROUP OF MR HEKMATYAR. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN IN KABUL, RABBANI'S SPOKESMAN AZIZ MURAD SAID SIMILAR NEGOTIATIONS ARE PLANNED WITH OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES. (DARI, PASHTO 5/14)

BEIJING AND BEYOND -- STAFFER FARAH JAHANGIRI REPORTS ON LAST WEEKEND'S WASHINGTON CONFERENCE ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION IN MUSLIM SOCIETIES. SHE CONCENTRATED ON PRESENTATIONS BY MOROCCAN AUTHOR FATIMA MERNISSI, IRANIAN LITERATURE PROFESSOR, DR AZAR NAFICY, AND MARIAM ELAHI, AN IRANIAN-AMERICAN WHO HEADS THE MIDDLE EAST PROGRAM AT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S WASHINGTON OFFICE. (FARSI 5/14)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

CENTRAL / SOUTH ASIA / RAIL -- REPORTER SUSAN YACKEE SPEAKS WITH CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN IN TURKMENISTAN ABOUT THE NEWLY INAUGURATED RAIL LINE THAT GIVES CENTRAL ASIA ACCESS TO THE INDIAN OCEAN, THE GULF, AND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. IT IS OPENING CENTRAL ASIA TO IMPORTS FROM OTHER NATIONS AND MAKES IT EASIER TO GET EXPORTS OUT. (ENP 5/14)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

BANGLADESH / TORNADO -- SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND SEVERAL THOUSAND OTHERS WERE INJURED BY A POWERFUL TORNADO THAT SWEPT THROUGH NORTHERN BANGLADESH. TANGAIL WAS THE HARDEST HIT AREA. THE RELIEF ADVISOR TO THE CARETAKER GOVERNMENT, AZM NASIRUDDIN TOLD NEWSMEN AFTER VISITING THE DISASTER AREA THAT FOUR HUNDRED THREE PEOPLE DIED IN THE STORM. ACCORDING TO THE BANGLADESH TELEVISION NEWS, THIRTY TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE INJURED AND THOUSANDS WERE LEFT HOMELESS. THE BANGLADESH ARMY HAS BEEN DISPATCHED TO THE AFFECTED AREAS TO HELP WITH RELIEF OPERATIONS AND THE CIVIL ADMINISTRATION. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 5/14)

INDIA ELECTION / ALLIANCE LEADER -- THE NATIONAL FRONT-LEFT FRONT ALLIANCE HAS CHOSEN KARNATAKA CHIEF MINISTER DEVE GOWDA AS ITS CANDIDATE FOR THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA AFTER COMMUNIST LEADER AND WEST BENGAL CHIEF MINISTER JYOTI BASU DECLINED THE OFFER. THE THE THIRD LARGEST GROUPING IN THE NEW PARLIAMENT, NF-LF ALLIANCE IS TRYING TO BLOCK BJP, THE LARGEST PARTY, FROM BEING INVITED TO FORM THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. STRINGER KV RAO GIVES DETAILS. (HINDI 5/14)

INDIA ELECTIONS / JYOTI BASU -- THE NATIONAL FRONT AND LEFT FRONT GROUP IN THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT SELECTED WEST BENGAL CHIEF MINISTER JYOTI BASU AS THEIR LEADER, IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE ELECTIONS WHICH GAVE NO PARTY THE ABSOLUTE MAJORITY IN THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT. THE PEOPLE OF WEST BENGAL WAITED FOR HOURS WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THIS TIME INDIA MAY HAVE A BENGALI PRIME MINISTER. BUT THE COMMUNIST PARTY MARXIST (CPM) DECIDED NOT TO ENTER A COALITION WITH THE SUPPORT OF CONGRESS PARTY. STRINGER GAUTAM GUPTA REPORTS FROM CALCUTTA ON THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE BENGALEES AND THE POST ELECTION PROBLEM FACING INDIA. (BANGLA 5/15)

INDIA ELECTIONS / FRIENDS OF CONGRESS -- KAMAL DANDONA, WHO HEADS THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICA, SEES NO POSSIBILITY OF CONGRESS PARTY FORMING A GOVERNMENT DESPITE THE LACK OF MAJORITY FOR THE REMAINING TWO GROUPS, BJP AND NF-LF ALLIANCE. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH REPORTER GULSHAN MADHUR HE SAYS THAT ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION WILL CONTINUE EVEN IF COMMUNIST LEADER JYOTI BASU ENDS UP FORMING THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF INDIA. (HINDI 5/14)

EVEREST / RESCUE -- THE TOURISM MINISTER OF NEPAL, CHAKRADHAR VASTULA EXPLAINS THE RESCUE EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN WHEN INTERNATIONAL CLIMBERS INCLUDING AMERICANS FAILED TO RETURN TO THEIR HIGH ALTITUDE CAMP AFTER SUCCESSFULLY SCALING MOUNT EVEREST. A NEPALI HELICOPTER SUCCEEDED IN RESCUING ONE AMERICAN CLIMBER. REPORTER BHAGWAN PRAKASH INTERVIEWS THE MINISTER. (HINDI 5/14)

DUBAI / INDIANS -- SHIRIN GHULAM MOHAMMED KHAN OF BOMBAY HAS BEEN LIVING AND WORKING IN DUBAI FOR OVER A DOZEN YEARS. SHE DESCRIBES THE LIFE OF INDIAN WOMEN IN THAT GULF COUNTRY IN AN INTERVIEW WITH REPORTER SUMAN GUPTA. (HINDI 5/14)

FIELD HOCKEY -- SOUTH KOREA WON THE AZLANSHAH CUP CHAMPIONSHIP IN MALAYSIA BY DEFEATING AUSTRALIA FOUR GOALS TO TWO. INDIA'S JUNIOR TEAM FINISHED FIFTH PLACE, BUT ITS TWO TOP PERFORMERS, GOALKEEPER EDWARD AND RIGHT-IN VIRKE WON BERTHS FOR THE ATLANTA OLYMPICS AS MEMBERS OF INDIA'S SENIOR HOCKEY TEAM. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 5/14)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

CHINA / AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL -- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAID IN A REPORT RELEASED TUESDAY THAT CHINA USES A VAGUE DEFINITION OF "STATE SECRETS" TO DENY ITS PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. THE REPORT POINTS OUT THAT THE OFFICIAL DEFINITION GOES FAR BEYOND THE SCOPE OF NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS. STAFFERS XIAO JING AND TIAN YE REPORT WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH PIERRE ROBERT OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. (MANDARIN 5/15)

INDIA / NATIONALIST PARTY IS TO FORM NEW GOVERNMENT -- STAFFER WILLIAM CHIEN INTERVIEWED PROFESSOR BUHUGUNA, NEW DELHI UNIVERSITY, INDIA, ON INDIAN POLITICS AND THE FORMATION OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT. (MANDARIN 5/15)

CHINA / US TRADE / HONG KONG REACT -- BEIJING-BACKED NEWSPAPERS IN HONG KONG CRITICIZED THE DECISION BY THE US TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST CHINESE GOODS. STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWED SOME CHINESE OFFICIALS VISITING HONG KONG WHO SAID THE US SHOULD NOT BE TOO HARSH ON CHINA AS LONG AS CHINA IS WILLING TO COOPERATE ON THE IPR ISSUE. INTERVIEWS WITH TAO YANMIN AND WANG SUIMING, OFFICIALS FROM SHENZHEN, AND LU GONGHUI, HONG KONG LEGISLATOR. (MANDARIN 5/15)

CHINESE VICE-PREMIER / THAILAND -- VICE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI IS TO VISIT THAILAND TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. STRINGER KUO WEIYONG REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, CHINA AND THAILAND HAVE HAD GOOD RELATIONS IN RECENT YEARS. THAILAND IS TRYING TO TAKE THE LEAD IN PROMOTING ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND ASEAN COUNTRIES. STRINGER KOU WEIYONG REPORTS FROM IN BANGKOK AND STAFFER SUN CHENG IN WASHINGTON. (MANDARIN 5/15)

NORTH KOREA / US / JAPAN / SOUTH KOREA TALKS -- SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN AND THE US SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE EFFORTS TO BRING NORTH KOREA TO THE TABLE FOR PEACE TALKS. THE US AND JAPAN HAVE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS TO EXTEND FOOD ASSISTANCE BUT WILL KEEP THE SITUATION UNDER REVIEW. SOUTH KOREA WILL HOLD BACK RICE AID UNTIL THE NORTH ACCEPTS THE PROPOSED PEACE TALKS. STAFFERS TIAN YE AND WILLIAM CHIEN REPORT. INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR JIANRONG ZHU, EXPERT IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AT DONGYANG UNIVERSITY, JAPAN. (MANDARIN 5/14)

CHINA / NUCLEAR -- CHINA SAID FOR THE FIRST TIME MONDAY IT WAS PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE ON ITS DEMAND THAT A NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY ALLOW PEACEFUL NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS--PROVIDED OTHER NUCLEAR POWERS MAKE CONCESSIONS. CHINA HAS BEEN ALONE IN INSISTING THAT THE TREATY ALLOW PEACEFUL NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS FOR CIVILIAN OR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES. STAFFERS LI WEIQING AND JIANG TIAN REPORT WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH LIN CHANGSHENG, MILITARY SPECIALIST AT CLAREMONT INSTITUTE. (MANDARIN 5/14)

INDIA / POLITICS -- STAFFER XIAO HUA INTERVIEWED THE DEPUTY EDITOR OF THE OBSERVER NEWSPAPER OF NEW DELHI ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIAN POLITICS. THE DECISION BY THE INDIAN COMMUNISTS NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RACE FOR THE POSITION OF NEW PRIME MINISTER HAS LEFT THE CENTER-LEFT ALLIANCE SCRAMBLING FOR A CANDIDATE. (MANDARIN 5/14)

US SOFTWARE / CHINA -- AS US-CHINA IPR NEGOTIATIONS BROKE DOWN IN BEIJING, THE US SOFTWARE BUSINESS COMMUNITY EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR POSSIBLE SANCTIONS AGAINST CHINA. STAFFER CHEN JIAN COVERED A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE BUSINESS SOFTWARE ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS AND A SPEECH GIVEN BY ROBERT HOLLOYMAN, PRESIDENT, BUSINESS SOFTWARE ALLIANCE. (MANDARIN 5/14)

CHINA / CULTURAL REVOLUTION -- ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION, INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ARE ATTENTIVELY EXAMINING THE PHENOMENON, BUT CHINA IS NOT DOING MUCH TO MARK THE EVENT. SOME SCHOLARS SAY THIS INDICATES CHINESE AUTHORITIES FEAR LOSING POWER IF PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE REVOLUTION STARTED BY MAO ZEDONG AND HIS FOLLOWERS TO SUPPRESS THEIR POLITICAL OPPONENTS. STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWED DR DING XUELIANG, AUSTRALIA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FELLOW, DAI QING, CHINESE JOURNALIST, AND PROFESSOR WU GUOGUANG, HONG KONG CHINESE UNIVERSITY. (MANDARIN 5/14)

TOKYO / CHINESE SUSPECTS ARRESTED -- TOKYO STRINGER XIAO YU REPORTS ON THE ARREST OF FIVE CHINESE SUSPECTED OF ROBBING A TOKYO NIGHT CLUB, ITS EMPLOYEES AND PATRONS IN FEBRUARY. (MANDARIN 5/14)

CHINA / NUCLEAR TEST BAN -- THE GENEVA FORUM RESUMES NEGOTIATIONS ON TUESDAY WITH THE AIM OF REACHING A COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY. CHINA INDICATED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON MONDAY IT WAS PREPARED TO SHOW "FLEXIBILITY" ON ITS DEMAND THAT A NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY ALLOW PEACEFUL NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS. STAFFER SUN CHENG INTERVIEWED JAMES MOLTZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR NONPROLIFERATION STUDIES, WHO SAID THAT THE COMPROMISE SHOWS THAT CHINA FEELS ISOLATED IN ITS POSITION ON THE PEACEFUL NUCLEAR EXPLOSION ISSUE. (MANDARIN 5/14)

TAIWAN / POLITICS -- AS TAIWANESE PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI IS PREPARING HIS INAUGURATION SPEECH FOR MAY 20, TAIWAN'S OPPOSITION WARNS THAT LEE SHOULD TAKE CARE NOT TO HARM TAIWAN'S INTERESTS BY TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE, AND THUS PACIFY, THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT OF MAINLAND CHINA. TAIPEI STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG REPORTS WITH COMMENTS FROM DPP LEGISLATORS YAN JINGFU AND LI YINGYUAN, NEW PARTY LEGISLATOR YAO LIMIN, AND HUANG HUIZHEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TAIWAN NATIONAL POLICY RESEARCH CENTER. (MANDARIN 5/14)

TAIWAN / AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL -- TAIWAN AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS BEEN TRYING HARD TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL PRISONERS SINCE ITS CONCEPTION TWO YEARS AGO, STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG REPORTS FROM TAIPEI. ALTHOUGH THE ORGANIZATION HAS HAD A BUMPY PERIOD AND ITS MEMBERSHIP HAS GROWN RATHER SLOWLY, OFFICIALS SAID THEY WILL NOT LOSE FOCUS AND WILL CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS. (MANDARIN 5/14)

CHINA / US / NUCLEAR -- US OFFICIALS REJECT MEDIA REPORTS SAYING THAT CHINA HAS NOT MADE A CLEAR PLEDGE NOT TO SELL ANY NUCLEAR MATERIALS TO PAKISTAN. A STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE DECIDED NOT TO SANCTION CHINA ONLY AFTER CHINESE OFFICIALS HAD EXPLICITLY EXPRESSED THEIR COMMITMENT. STAFFER WANG ZE INTERVIEWED GARY MILHOLLIN, DIRECTOR OF THE WISCONSIN PROJECT ON NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL, AND HUA DI, ASSOCIATE RESEARCHER AT THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND ARMS CONTROL, STANFORD UNIVERSITY. (MANDARIN 5/14)

US IMPOSES TRADE SANCTIONS -- US ACTING TRADE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLENE BARSHEVSKY TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DECIDED TO ENFORCE TRADE SANCTIONS AGAINST CHINA BECAUSE CHINA HAS FAILED TO IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT SIGNED LAST YEAR PROTECTING US INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. THE DECISION, TO TAKE EFFECT AFTER 30 DAYS, IS ACCLAIMED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE US MUSIC, MOTION PICTURE, AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE INDUSTRIES. STAFFER QIDE HE REPORTED LIVE FROM THE NEWS CONFERENCE. (CANTONESE 5/15)

VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS FOR UNDER-PERFORMERS -- THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PLANS TO OPEN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING HIGH SCHOOLS IN MANY DISTRICTS IN HONG KONG TO ENROLL STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS OR THOSE NOT DOING WELL IN THE REGULAR SYSTEM. PEOPLE IN A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS ARE OPPOSED TO THE PLAN. STRINGER LAWRENCE NG INTERVIEWS CHAN YI WAN, EDUCATION INSPECTOR; TIK CHI YUEN, CHAIRMAN, FAMILY-SCHOOL COOPERATION ASSOCIATION; LEUNG KWONG CHEUNG, LEGISLATOR FROM KWAI CHENG DISTRICT. (CANTONESE 5/15)

SOUTH KOREA / CAMBODIA -- SOUTH KOREA AND CAMBODIA SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN PHNOM PENH THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES ESTABLISH A PERMANENT MISSION IN EACH OTHER'S CAPITAL CITY, THE KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ANNOUNCED IN SEOUL WEDNESDAY. SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS SAID THE AGREED OFFICES WILL BE EQUIVALENT TO DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN THEIR FUNCTIONS AND WILL PROMPT KOREAN BUSINESSMEN TO ENGAGE THEIR BUSINESSES IN CAMBODIA. CORRESPONDENT NOH SI CHANG REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 5/15)

SOUTH KOREA / LAOS -- THE VISITING LAO FOREIGN MINISTER AND HIS KOREAN COUNTERPART SIGNED AGREEMENTS WEDNESDAY IN SEOUL ON PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF INVESTMENT, AND ECONOMIC, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION. CORRESPONDENT NOH SI CHANG REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 5/15)

US / KOREA TALKS -- US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE WINSTON LORD TOLD REPORTERS IN SEOUL WEDNESDAY THAT THE US WOULD NOT OPPOSE SOUTH KOREA GIVING BRIEFINGS TO NORTH KOREA ABOUT DETAILS OF FOUR-WAY PEACE TALKS INITIATED BY PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND KIM YOUNG SAM LAST MONTH. BEFORE LEAVING SEOUL, M. LORD MET WITH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER FOR UNIFICATION KWON O KY AND FOREIGN MINISTER KONG RO MYUNG AND ASSURED THEM OF US INTENTION TO COORDINATE ITS NORTH KOREAN POLICY WITH SOUTH KOREA. CORRESPONDENT NOH SI CHANG REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 5/15)

HANOI / PARIS -- STRINGER VAN TRANG IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL PROFILES THE NEW VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR TO PARIS. (VIETNAMESE 5/15)

HANOI / PARTY STRUGGLE -- EDITOR SON NGUYEN SURVEYED REPORTING IN THE FOREIGN PRESS REGARDING THE FALL OF SENIOR PARTY LEADER NGUYEN HA PHAN AND SUSPENSION OF FELLOW POLITBURO MEMBER DAO DUY TUNG AS SIGNS OF INTERNAL CONTENTION IN THE CPVN AS IT PREPARES FOR THE 8TH PARTY CONGRESS THIS SUMMER. (VIETNAMESE 5/14)

INSIDE EUROPE:

FEDERATION / MEDIA -- BOSNIAN MEDIA SAY FEDERATION OFFICIALS MEETING IN WASHINGTON WITH US GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES WILL PROPOSE TWO DIFFERENT CONCEPTS FOR FEDERATION MILITARY FORCES. MEANWHILE, BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC SAID IN A TV INTERVIEW THAT THE CRISIS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT IS IN ITS INTERPRETATION, NOT ITS IMPLEMENTATION. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 5/14)

BOSNIAN SOLDIERS / SURRENDER -- SEVEN SOLDIERS OF BOSNIAN ARMY SURRENDER TO NATO FORCES ON BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY. THEY WERE HANDED TO SERBIAN AUTHORITIES AND ARE HELD IN DETENTION IN BIJELJINA AND ZVORNIK. STRINGER KONSTANTIN JOVANOVIC REPORTS FROM TUZLA. (SERBIAN 5/14)

SMITH / MILOSEVIC -- THE COMMANDER OF NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA, US ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH VISITED TO BELGRADE FOR TALKS WITH YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS. HE MET WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 5/14)

CROATIA / COUNCIL OF EUROPE -- THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAS EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE DECISION TO POSTPONE CROATIA'S MEMBERSHIP IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE. THE OPPOSITION CLAIMS UNDEMOCRATIC ACTIONS BY CROATIAN AUTHORITIES IS THE REASON FOR THE POSTPONEMENT. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 5/14)

MONTENEGRO / FEDERAL PARLIAMENT -- MONTENEGRIN DEPUTIES IN THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT OF YUGOSLAVIA WILL PROBABLY NOT SUPPORT A DEMOTION OF DRAGOSLAV AVRAMOVIC, THE GOVERNOR OF THE YUGOSLAV CENTRAL BANK. THEY WILL INSIST ON CHANGES OF SEVERAL LEGAL MEASURES PROPOSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS FROM PODGORICA. (SERBIAN 5/14)

POLAND / BELARUS -- 'SOLIDARITY' TRADE UNION PRESIDENT MARIAN KRZAKLEWSKI WAS DETAINED FOR FEW HOURS BY PLAINCLOTH POLICEMEN IN THE BELORUSSIAN CAPITAL MINSK, AFTER HE MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF BELORUSSIAN TRADE UNIONS. THE POLISH FOREIGN MINISTRY SUMMONED THE BELORUSSIAN AMBASSADOR AND DELIVERED A STRONG PROTEST. CORRESPONDENT TADEUSZ WALENDOWSKI REPORT FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 5/14)

CIGARETTES CAN KILL -- STRINGER VAN TRANG REPORTS THAT SEVEN VIET RESIDENTS INVOLVED IN CIGARETTE SMUGGLING WERE FOUND DEAD IN EAST BERLIN. THIS MAKES THIRTY EIGHT MURDERS SINCE 1991 ATTRIBUTED TO THE VIET GANG ENGAGED IN THIS LUCRATIVE TRADE THROUGHOUT EASTERN EUROPE BUT BELIEVED TO BE CONTROLLED BY BOSSES IN VIETNAM. (VIETNAMESE 5/15)

INSIDE EURASIA:

RUSSIA / ELECTION -- STAFFERS XIAO JING AND WILLIAM CHIEN REPORT ON THE RUSSIAN ELECTION AND INTERVIEW ZHANG JIAN, RESEARCHER AT THE FRENCH NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, ON THE CAMPAIGNING. CANDIDATES HIT THE AIR WAVES ON TUESDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN BROADCASTING. DESPITE THE LARGE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES, MOST RUSSIANS SEE THE ELECTION AS TWO-MAN CONTEST BETWEEN YELTSIN AND ZYUGANOV. (MANDARIN 5/14)

RUSSIAN POLITICAL CAMPAIGN HEATS UP -- MOSCOW STRINGER HA GIANG REPORTS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS AS BORIS YELTSIN STRUGGLES TO RETAIN POWER. (VIETNAMESE 5/15)

RUSSIA / SOCIOLOGY -- SOCIOLOGIST VSEVOLOD VILCHEK AN EXPERT IN MASS COMMUNICATION TALKED TO MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT ALEC BATCHAN ABOUT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN RUSSIA. (RUSSIAN 5/14)

RUSSIA / US / PRESS -- FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND THE ROLE OF THE RUSSIAN MEDIA IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN DISCUSSED BY RUSSIAN JOURNALIST IN US, VLADIMIR NADEIN OF IZVESTIYA, US JOURNALIST WORKING IN RUSSIA- VOA'S RUSSIAN CORRESPONDENT ALEXANDER BATCHAN, CONSTITUTIONAL LAW EXPERT DINA KAMINSKAYA AND STAFFER NATALIE CLARKSON. ALTAF GALEEV, DIRECTOR OF VOA AFFILIATE RADIO TITAN IN UFA JOINED IN THE DISCUSSION BY DISCUSSING HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH CENSORSHIP. (RUSSIAN 5/14)

RUSSIA / INDUSTRIALIST CONGRESS -- ANDREY NISCHADIN, DIRECTOR OF THE MINERS' UNION IN RUSSIA SPOKE TO MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT ALEC BATCHAN ABOUT THE SEVENTH ANNUAL RUSSIAN INDUSTRIALIST CONGRESS IN MOSCOW. (RUSSIAN 5/14)

UKRAINE / NATO -- KYEV CORRESPONDENT ISRAEL KLINER INTERVIEWED UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN SERHIJ SOBOLEV, ONE OF THE TOP REFORM ORIENTED MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL. MR. SOBOLEV EXPRESSED HIS BELIEF THAT UKRAINE'S ROLE SHOULD BE ONE OF HELPING TO TRANSFORM NATO FROM A MILITARY PACT INTO AN ORGANIZATION OVERSEEING THE SECURITY OF EUROPE. (UKRAINIAN 5/13)

RUSSIA / ELECTIONS -- RYSZARD KAPUSCINSKI, AUTHOR AND POLITICAL REPORTER TALKS ABOUT HIS TRAVEL TO RUSSIA. AND THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN. ACCORDING TO KAPUSCINSKI, MUCH OF THE RUSSIAN MEDIA SUPPORT PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S CANDIDACY, AND THE ONLY SERIOUS CONTENDER IS COMMUNIST LEADER ZIUGANOW. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER MIREK KONDRACKI. (POLISH 5/14)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

DOM.INICAN ELECTIONS -- REPORTER TOM CROSBY TALKS TO LARRY BIRNS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL ON HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS, ABOUT THURSDAY'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. MR BIRNS WORRIES THAT OUTGOING PRESIDENT JOAQUIN BALAGUER AND HIS PARTY ARE THROWING THEIR SUPPORT AND MONEY BEHIND THE CANDIDATE WHO IS RUNNING SECOND IN THE POLLS. THE BALAGUER CANDIDATE IS RUNNING A DISTANT THIRD AND SEEN AS HAVING NO CHANCE OF WINNING. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 5/14)

HAITI / INTERNATIONAL CREDITORS -- HAITIAN FINANCE MINISTER FRED JOSEPH ACKNOWLEDGED PUBLICLY THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNING AID WILL NOT BE COMPLETED BY THE EXPECTED DAY OF MAY 15. STRINGER CLARENCE RENOIS REPORTS. (CREOLE 5/14)

HAITI / UNMIH / SECURITY -- THE REGIONAL COMMANDER OF THE UN FORCES IN NORTHERN HAITI, PAKISTANI COLONEL RASHEED AMIN DENOUNCED WHAT HE TERMS ELEMENTS WHO DO NOT WANT THE RULE OF LAW IN HAITI, AND CALLED ON THE POPULATION TO SHOW UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION TOWARD THE FLEDGLING NEW POLICE FORCE. STRINGER YVES MONPREMIER REPORTS FROM CAP-HAITIAN. (CREOLE 5/14)

OAS / DOMINICAN ELECTIONS -- THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES ANNOUNCED THAT SECRETARY GENERAL CESAR GAVIRIA WILL LEAD A 25-MEMBER DELEGATION TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO MONITOR NEXT WEEK'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. (CREOLE 5/14)

HAITI / DOWNSIZING GOVERNMENT -- HAITIAN PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL ANNOUNCED THE ELIMINATION OF TWO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN PORT-AU-PRINCE AS PART OF ITS PROGRAM TO STREAMLINE THE PUBLIC SECTOR. JEAN-MAX REPORTS. (CREOLE 5/13)

DOMINICAN ELECTIONS SCENESETTER -- ON THE EVE OF NEXT WEEK'S GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, HAITIAN LABOR LEADER PAUL EMIL ANTONIO SHARED HIS VIEWS ON THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER RONALD CESAR. (CREOLE 5/13)

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC / CAMPAIGN CLOSE -- AFTER OFFICIALLY CLOSING THE CAMPAIGN, THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL BOARD ANNOUNCED EVERYTHING IS READY FOR THURSDAY'S GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, IN WHICH FOUR CANDIDATES WILL RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY. STRINGER MANUEL JIMENEZ REPORTS FROM SANTO DOMINGO. (SPANISH 5/15)

DRUGS / CENTRAL AMERICAN COOPERATION -- CENTRAL AMERICA AUTHORITIES WILL COOPERATE IN A COMMON ACTION AGAINST INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFIC IN THE AREA. STRINGER CONRADO GODOY REPORTS FROM MANAGUA. (SPANISH 5/14)

DC-9 / SAFETY -- JOAN CHAMBERLAIN, STEPMOTHER OF CANDI KUBECK, THE PILOT OF THE VALU-JET AIRLINER THAT CRASHED IN THE EVERGLADES WITH 109 PEOPLE ABOARD, SAID HER STEPDAUGHTER FREQUENTLY EXPRESSED PREOCCUPATION ABOUT SAFETY OF THE OLD DC-9 AIRCRAFT SHE USUALLY PILOTED. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 5/14)

OIL TALKS STALLED -- INTERNATIONAL TALKS BETWEEN UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS AND IRAQ REPRESENTATIVES TO AUTHORIZE SALE OF IRAQ OIL IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS ARE APPARENTLY STALLED UNTIL THE RETURN OF SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI FROM MOSCOW, ACCORDING TO UN SOURCES. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 5/14)
15-May-96 5:57 PM EDT (2157 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE POLITICAL AFTERMATH OF INDIA'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND THE QUESTION OF AIR SAFETY FOR BUDGET AIRLINES IN THE U-S CONTINUE TO AROUSE CONSIDERABLE EDITORIAL ATTENTION IN THE NATION'S DAILY PAPERS. OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE THE LIBERIAN REFUGEE ODYSSEY AT SEA; THE DEBATE OVER ELIMINATING THE FEDERAL GASOLINE TAX, AND THE SLOW BUT STEADY SPREAD OF TRUE, ALTERNATING DEMOCRACY AROUND THE WORLD. NOW, HERE WITH SOME SELECTED EXCERPTS IS ______________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE RECENT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION THAT TOPPLED INDIA'S CONGRESS PARTY FROM POWER, AND PLUNGED THE HUGE NATION INTO A PERIOD OF POLITICAL DEALMAKING, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: "THE SPIRITED JOCKEYING FOR POWER SINCE INDIA'S ELECTION IS PROVING DIFFICULT EVEN FOR INSIDERS TO FOLLOW... FOR ALL THE CONFUSION, THE HORSE-TRADING IS REASSURING. POLITICS IS THE FORCE THAT BINDS INDIA TOGETHER... PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT OF THIS ELECTION IS THE FULL FLOWERING OF POLITICS BASED ON CASTE, PARTICULARLY THE STRIVING OF THE LOWER CASTES WHO HAVE SUBMERGED THEIR POLITICAL IDENTITY IN THE PAST... SOME OF THESE CASTES ARE OFFICIALLY LABELED 'BACKWARD' BY LAW BUT HAVE SUBSTANTIAL WEALTH, LARGE NUMBERS AND COMPETING FACTIONS OF THEIR OWN. THEIR DEMAND FOR REPRESENTATION IN A NEW GOVERNMENT IS HEALTHY."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES IS ONE OF MANY PAPERS WORRIED ABOUT THE RISING INFLUENCE OF THE HINDU NATIONALIST PARTY, THE BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY OR B-J-P.

VOICE: "IN THE 545-SEAT LOWER, MORE POWERFUL HOUSE OF THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT, THE RULING CONGRESS PARTY AND ITS CLOSE ALLIES LOST ABOUT HALF THEIR SEATS IN A DEVASTATING DEFEAT, PLUNGING FROM 271 MEMBERS TO 134. EVEN SO, CONGRESS MAY STILL EMERGE AS THE LINCHPIN PARTY IN A COALITION FORMED TO DENY POWER TO THE BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY ... A PRO-NUCLEAR PARTY OF HINDU NATIONALISTS, WHICH CAPTURED THE MOST SEATS... IN CULTURAL MATTERS, INDIA IS ALWAYS RIPE FOR ETHNIC SCAPEGOATING, AND THE RHETORIC OF THE B-J-P AGAINST THE 110-MILLION MUSLIM MINORITY IS HIGHLY PROVOCATIVE AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE."

TEXT: THE SUBURBAN NEW YORK DAILY ON LONG ISLAND, NEWSDAY, SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "THE VICTORY IN INDIA'S ELECTION BY HINDU NATIONALISTS WAS LESS A CALL FOR REVOLUTION THAN A SIGN OF DISGUST WITH BUSINESS AS USUAL AND A SLAP IN THE FACE OF THE LONG-RULING CONGRESS PARTY, THE PARTY OF THE GHANDIS AND NEHRU... PERHAPS THE ELECTORAL SHOCK DELIVERED BY AN UPSTART PARTY GIVING NATIONAL VOICE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO THE LOWER CASTES AND THE DISADVANTAGED WILL JAR THE INDIAN POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT INTO ADMINISTERING A MODERN DEMOCRACY PROPERLY."

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE ISSUE OF AIR SAFETY, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE NEWER, SMALLER AIRLINES THAT OFFER ECONOMY FARES AND GENERALLY FLY OLDER PLANES CAST-OFF BY THE MAJOR U-S CARRIERS. THE DEBATE FOLLOWS SATURDAY'S CRASH OF A VALUJET AIRLINER IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES, KILLING 110 PEOPLE. TODAY'S WASHINGTON TIMES TELLS ITS READERS, "COSTLIER DOESN'T EQUAL SAFER," ASKING THIS RHETORICAL QUESTION.

VOICE: "DOES THE FACT THAT VALUJET SAVES MONEY BY BUYING AND THEN UPGRADING OLDER PLANES MAKE IT RISKIER? THE AVERAGE AGE OF VALUJET'S FLEET IS 26 YEARS, HIGHEST IN THE INDUSTRY. BUT THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS THAT ESTABLISHED CARRIERS SUCH AS CONTINENTAL, NORTHWEST, TRANS WORLD AIRLINES AND USAIR OPERATE DOZENS OF PLANES THAT AVERAGE 24 TO 26 YEARS OLD... ARE LOW-COST AIRLINES MORE RELIANT ON LESS-EXPERIENCED PILOTS AND THEREFORE MORE DANGEROUS? EXPERIENCE IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. [OPT] ... LET'S LET INVESTIGATORS DO THEIR JOB BEFORE ASSUMING THE WORST ABOUT VALUJET AND OTHER LOW-COST AIRLINES." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES' LEADS ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH A COMMENTARY ON "THE SAFETY OF LOW-COST AIRLINES" AND SAYS, IN PART:

VOICE: "ABOVE ALL, EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER IT IS SAFE TO FLY ON CHEAP, NO-FRILLS AIRLINES LIKE VALUJET, LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD BUT EQUIPPED WITH PLANES CAST OFF BY ESTABLISHED CARRIERS. ... THE MERE AGE OF AIRCRAFT HAS NOT MATTERED MUCH TO OVERALL INDUSTRY SAFETY. LARGER, MATURE AIRLINES HAVE PLANES OF SIMILAR VINTAGE, BUT UNLIKE VALUJET, THEY DO NOT FARM OUT THEIR MAINTENANCE WORK. HAS THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE?" ... THE AIRLINE, OTHER CUT-RATE CARRIERS AND THE PUBLIC DESERVE BOTH OPEN-MINDED JUDGES AND FULL, FAIR INVESTIGATIONS."

TEXT: AND IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, VALUJET'S HEADQUARTERS CITY, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION ADDS:

VOICE: "THE ONLY REASON MANY PEOPLE ARE FLYING VALUJET THIS WEEK IS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THE F-A-A WOULD SHUT DOWN THE CARRIER IF IT WERE TRULY UNSAFE. IF THE F-A-A DOES CONFIRM THAT VALUJET IS SOUND, THOSE INSPECTION REPORTS WILL HELP THE COMPANY WIN BACK CUSTOMERS."

TEXT: THE WEEK-LONG ODYSSEY OF REFUGEES FROM THE LIBERIAN CIVIL WAR, CRAMMED ABOARD AN AGING FREIGHTER, HAS ENDED IN GHANA AFTER THE VESSEL WAS TURNED BACK BY SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES. THE BOSTON GLOBE FEARS THE FUTURE COULD SEE MANY SIMILAR CRISES: :

VOICE: "THE NIGHTMARE IS THAT THE VOYAGE OF THE BULK CHALLENGE WILL BECOME A METAPHOR FOR THE COMING CENTURY WHEN, IF STEPS ARE NOT TAKEN, THERE WILL BE EVER MORE LIBERIAS WITH WHOLE POPULATIONS DECAMPING UNDER THE STRAIN OF DEPLETED RESOURCES, ANARCHISTIC VIOLENCE AND NEW AND EVER MORE TERRIFYING DISEASES, TO MOVE IN UPON ILL-PREPARED AND HOSTILE NEIGHBORS -- A THOUSAND BULK CHALLENGES ADRIFT UPON A SEA OF DESPOND."

TEXT: MOVING BACK TO DOMESTIC CONCERNS -- THE CONGRESSIONAL EFFORT TO REPEAL A FOUR-POINT-THREE CENT-A-GALLON (1.13 CENTS PER LITER) TAX ON GASOLINE (PETROL) IS OPPOSED BY SEVERAL PAPERS. TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD SAYS CONGRESS SHOULD NOT REPEAL IT, SAYING "THE GAS-PRICE 'CRISIS' IS PHONY, THE BUDGET CRISIS [IS] REAL." IT URGES CONGRESS TO "CUT THE DEFICIT, NOT GAS TAXES."

IN BOSTON, MEANWHILE, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SALUTES THE SLOW, BUT ONGOING TREND AWAY FROM DICTATORSHIP TOWARD DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD, CITING TWO RECENT EXAMPLES.

VOICE: "INDIA AND SOUTH AFRICA TODAY. MEXICO, WHEN? CHINA, HOW LONG AFTER THAT? HOW FAST IS TRUE ALTERNATING-PARTY DEMOCRACY SPREADING AROUND THE WORLD? IN THE TURBULENT HALFCENTURY JUST PAST, THE WORLD MAP WAS VASTLY REVISED BY WORLD WAR TWO, DECOLONIZATION, AND REJECTION OF THE SAVAGERY AND INEFFICIENCY OF THE STALINIST STATE. ONE RESULT: A SLOW, STEADY INCREASE IN NATIONS WHERE INS AND OUTS TAKE TURNS AT THE HELM. GERMANY, PORTUGAL, SPAIN, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, AND TAIWAN ARE ALL STATES THAT HAD VOTING AND PARTIES LONG BEFORE THEY HAD TRUE ALTERNATING-PARTY DEMOCRACY... IT WORKS WELL, PRECISELY BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A MECHANISM FOR ... HUGE BENEFITS NOT AFFORDED BY AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES."

TEXT: ON THAT ENCOURAGING NOTE WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE DAY'S EDITORIALS IN WEDNESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
ANG/NEB/PCH
15-May-96 11:07 AM EDT (1507 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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