Terrorists Promise to Free U.S. Hostage If Prisoners Are Released Panama's
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
VOL. XXIII NO. 127 THURSDAY , APRIL 19, 1990 THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME AND SAINT MARY’S Terrorists promise to free U.S. hostage if prisoners are released BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — A U.S. ambassador to Lebanon pro-Iranian group holding from 1983 to 1988, when the three U.S. educators hostage eight Americans were seized. promised on Wednesday to free Kelly was in Bonn, West Ger one of the Americans w ithin 48 many, on Wednesday. hours as a humanitarian ges In Washington, Secretary of ture and said he would carry a State James Baker appeared to message for President Bush. welcome the reports. Reliable diplomatic sources in “ Of course we’re always Damascus, Syria, confirmed an hopeful,” Baker said while reit American would be freed Friday e ra ting a longstanding U.S. in the Syrian capital. demand that all eight Ameri The group, Islamic Jihad for cans held in Lebanon be re the Liberation of Palestine, did leased unconditionally. not say which of the three Baker, however, hedged on would be freed. Its statement the demand for Kelly to fly to was accompanied by an instant Damascus. “ At the present photograph of Jesse Turner of time, the Middle East is not on Boise, Idaho — the first photo his agenda,” he said. of him alone since three months Presidential press secretary after his 1987 abduction. Marlin Fitzwater told re However, the White House porters: “ We would not antici rejected one demand of the pate him becoming involved in hostage-takers: that a senior hostage release in any way.” U.S. diplom at fly to Damascus Fitzwater said of the reports, to coordinate the release. “ We don’t know if they’re true. The Islamic Jihad for the Lib We've seen this many times be eration of Palestine holds fore. We hope they're true. Turner, Alann Steen and Robert We’ll w ait and see.” Polhill. All were abducted from Diplomatic sources in Dam the campus of Beirut University ascus said Foreign Minister College on Jan. 24, 1987. They Farouk Sharaa last month car are among 18 Westerners, in ried a letter on the issue from AP Photo cluding eight Americans, held Syrian President Hafez Assad Contras Begin Demobilization by pro-Iranian groups in Le to President Hashemi Rafsan- banon. jani in Iran. Standing at attention and saluting during the Nicaraguan national anthem, Indian contras wait to turn The longest-held is Terry An The letter stressed the neces over their weapons to UN demobilization troops Monday at a contra camp in Honduras. They are com derson, chief Middle East cor sity to close the hostages’ file, plying with a March 23 accord agreeing to begin demobilization by Wednesday. respondent for The Associated according to one of the Press, kidnapped March 16, sources, speaking on condition 1985. of anonymity. The kidnappers demanded He said the Syrians were fol Panama’s vice president praises John Kelly, U.S. assistant sec lowing a pledge made by retary of state for Near East Sharaa in February to hostage ern affairs, fly to Damascus. families to seek the release of his people for ‘resolve to be free’ “ The arrangements for the all the captives in Lebanon. release should be accomplished The kidnappers’ 26-line mes by the arrival of John Kelly in sage was delivered to the inde By JOE MOODY fered the following observa Damascus to coordinate some pendent Beirut newspaper An- ■ Press conference/ page 4 News Writer tions: final steps to guarantee success Nahar and a Western news •Panama now enjoys full free within 48 hours,” the handwrit agency in Beirut. It was deliv With security guards standing Notre Dame Department of dom of the press and due pro ten statement said. ered at sundown Wednesday, at every door, the first vice Public Relations and Informa cess of law. It did not specify what the which could mean the deadline president of Panama in a gen tion. •Panama is, for the first time kidnappers expected Kelly to do eration condemned his tyranni “The basic thrust for libera in 21 years, living in a democ in Damascus. Kelly served as see HOSTAGES / page 8 cal predecessor and exalted the tion was ours — Panamanian racy free of oppression. vision and willfulness of the to the core, as a result of our •The government has estab Panamanian people. struggles,” said Calderon at lished the first balanced budget “What has taken place in tributing the democratic revo in three years. Panama in just four months is lution in his country the result •The economy is s till anx indeed a great change in the of the people’s endurance and iously awaiting aid, but despite country,” proclaimed Vice vision for justice, as well as the that limitation, it is experienc President Ricardo Calderon in culminating role played by the ing an improvement. his lecture last night. United States military. •The Panamanian people have Just four months ago, “The peoples of the world are regained a trust in themselves. Panama was still suffering un showing a great resolve to be Their eyes are turned from fear der a harsh, crime ridden dicta free,” Calderon commented, to hope and prosperity. torship. The nearly 3-to-l vic adding, “Freedom is indivisible •The government is attempt tory of the Christian Demo in this small world. You cannot ing to turn Noriega’s so-called cratic party was declared void have a world one-half free and “defense” forces into security by the dictator General Manuel one-half slave. Your own forces of the police nature. Noriega. He had assumed abso (American) history taught you “Our task is transferring from lute power and pronounced a that. The resolve to be free a dictatorship to a democracy. state of war. Freedom of ex goes hand in hand w ith the re . It has really been a profound, pression and due process of solve for justice.” great change in four months,” law were grossly violated. Cor Calderon painted an opti summarized Calderon. ruption went unchecked, said mistic portrait of the future Of his more dramatic experi Calderon. declaring, “ Peace and freedom ences, following the U.S. m ili Calderon was elected vice are no longer a utopian dream, tary invasion and the transfer president of his country in May, but have become a horizon in of power when his life was en 1989, but the refusal of General our reach, and we must reach dangered, Calderon reflected Noriega to recognize the elec for it now.” saying, “In that dark hour, you toral results forced him and "The yearning for peace learn the affairs of man are not other opposition leaders into springs from the most radical just in his hands. The affairs of The Observer/Dave snort exile. He took his oath of office human experience, a sense of man are in the hands of God.” Snuggling on the steps at the Howard U.S. A ir Force dignity. And peace will now last The lecture was titled “Three Base immediately following the unless we satisfy the conditions Months of Democracy in Margaret Branick, a senior from Farley Hall, and Don Elbert, a se December 20 invasion which of justice,” Calderon continued. Panama.” It was given Wednes nior living in St. Ed’s Hall, get close on the steps outside of toppled the Noriega regime, ac Of the changes already taking day in Notre Dame’s Cushing O’Shaughnessy Hall Wednesday. The concrete steps can't be too cording to Michael Garvey of place in Panama, Calderon of Hall of Engineering. comfortable, but at least they have each other. page 2 The Observer Thursday, April 19, 1990 I n s id e C o l u m n W e a t h e r Forecast for noon, Thursday, April 19. The secrets of Lines show hiah temoeratLires. women as told through purses Yesterday’s High: 55 Yesterday’s Low: 24 Nation’s High: 92 My friend L arry is Nation’s Low:16 very smart, but will admit without Forecast: hesitation to being Increasing cloudiness, fully-blown gonzo breezy and warmer today confused by women. with a 50 percent chance In a futile attempt to of afternoon showers. gain some insight, he Highs around 60. Mostly recently conducted an Paige Smoron cloudy and mild tonight independently funded and Friday with an 80 study of: the contents Asst. Accent Editor percent chance of show ladies’ handbags. I’m ers. Lows tonight in the not sure why. These were his findings: upper 40s. Highs Friday Type A purse (petite) FRONTS in the lower 60s. •random unused cosmetics ▼ T •typewriter (small) COLD WARM STATIONARY •periodic table ©1990 Accu-Weather, Inc. •can of mace Pressure •discreetly wrapped condom (just in case) © (D pvq Fa I a d a •tire iron (small) HIG H LO W SHOWERS RAIN T-STORMS FLU RR IES SNOW ICE SUNNY PT. C LO U DY CLOUDY Type B purse (moderate) all of the above, plus: Via Associated Press GraphicsNet •more cosmetics •extra can of mace (for that two-fisted attack) •iron mace (for really pushy people) O f I n t e r e s t •family-sized Nuprin A Chilean Lunch is being served at the Center for ACOUStiC guitar duo John DiOrego and Dave Rupal, •Bartlett’s Famous Quotations Social Concerns from 11:30a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All are wel accompanied by various vocalists, will play at 9 p.m. •hot rollers come. Grace Hall Coffeehouse. They w ill be followed by an open •spare change of clothing microphone for audience participation.