I '' arianas ~riet~~ Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 ~ VS
ResRep foots Mansur trip; nothing wrong says aide Complex opening
By Zaldy Dandan Variety News Staff RESIDENT Rep. Juan N. faces uncertainty Babauta 's office is footing the bill for having a top adviser to a By Ferdie de la Torre U.S. congressman visit the Variety News Staff CNMI, but a Babauta aide yes THE OPENING of the multimil terday said the expenses are a lion Judicial Complex in Susupe legitimate use of public funds is facing uncertainty because of for public purposes. problems with its construction and Bob Schwalbach, Babauta's a costly budget for operations. congressional liaison officer, Couils Director Edward C. De said there is no secrecy involved Leon Guerrero in an interview in Manase Ma.nsur's ongoing Manase Mansur yesterday said he could not say fact-finding visit, adding that when the complex will finally be the resident representative's of committee next month in light fully operational. fice will be "happy to give a fu 11 of the persistent reports of labor De Leon Guerrero acknowl account of the expenses" in and immigration abuses in the euged earlier projections that the volved. CNMI. new building was to open in De Mansur is insular affairs ad . But the ranking Democrat in cember 1997 but clarified they the committee, U.S. Congress were based on Department of viser to U.S. Congressman Don The multimillion Judicial Complex: No opening date yet. Young (R-Alaska),.chairof the man George Miller of Califor Public Works estimates. U.S. House Resources Com nia, is already scheduled lo ar He, however, stressed that the !ems in central air-conditioning, systems and some doors for the mittee which has oversight ju rive Sunday, Jan. 11. and in relocation to the new building elevators, fire alarm and security security system," said the dirt::c risdiction over the CNMI and tends to "see much of the Com ranks high among the judiciary's systems. tor. monwealth and meet many of priorities in 1998. "It's too noisy and hot in other De Leon Guerrero emphasized I other insular areas. I Young, for his part, has sched its residents." The courts director said the areas. Six elevators are still not that al though the court is the owner uled a fact-finding visit by the Continued on page 20 building itself is not ready for commissioned for service. of the complex, it is not involved occupancy yet because of prob- They're still doing the fire alarm Continued on page 20 'O·pen· market' allows It,, overpricing of goods By Aldwin R. Fajardo the shelf prices of such imported Variety News Staff commodities. TI-IEPREV AILING"open mar Given freight costs and other ket" policy of the Northern overhead expenses, sources say Marianas is resulting to im shelf pricing of Philippine ex ported goods and commodities ports like food stuffs are still being priced at extremely high "way too high." levels. For instance, a pack of Goods imported from other noodles which could be bought countries could have been · at five Philippine pesos (PhP), passed over to end-consum~rs is sold at $1 for every three generally overpriced, or at the packs, which is translated to ·very least, double the procure PhP 13.00 each. ment price from exporting na This figure is more than 50 tions. percentthe good's price back in A random survey made by the Philippines. the Variety on some Philippine A bottle of seasoning, which ...... ,. items sold in several groceries is only about PhP30 ($0.75) in and shopping centers on the is the Philippines, is being passed MHS Teacher Academy student Anerica Bermudes (right) helps a first grader at San Vicente Elem. School land showed a huge difference over at $2.49 in grocery stores with his schoolwork. MHS students have started helping younger. students as teacher aides this week. between the '.'unshipped" and Continued on page 2"0 Photo by Lalla C. Younis r:c;=,1:,\;:!'.,,., .. ,.. ,:,r::;.~r_:::§E'.[·'~:,p;;,;7:~..:~,:..'Jt~tl?·''f'St.,,~~:.:£fr.;.':,t2:r..:;,~·;spr,,$t,•:itMl1i:llU&WM.i:?i@!iS!;.$tm&.eta-~A;C@li would no longer require em- part, said the governor did sign the workers' medical costs...... ' ployers to pay for their alien the bilJ, but his aides ''strongly Otherwise, he said, the . Partly ·cloudy with workers' medical expenses,· advised" him to cross out his sig- Froilan C. Tenorio Continued on page 20 Isolated showers PAC NEWSPAPER STACKS 2-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-THURSDAY- JANUARY 8 1998 THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1998 -MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VJEWS-3 Il· t cord Korea trade [ scrutinizes factory By Rick Alberto "We were opposed to MGM's Variety News Staff CUC, HPO reps not signing permit for MGM /Diorva By KYONG-HWA SEOK stock prices raised hope that the That followed a current account t presence because of its environ SEOUL,South Korea (AP)-South country's economic crisis may be surplus of$540 million in November \l ENVIRONMENT AL concerns nership with MGM to revive the Dionicio and his son, Joe, were cems of the ToITeses. They are ment imp act and the presence ofa Korea posted its second straight eased earlier than expected. 1997, the first surplus since Decem arising from a gannents factory garments firm in 1995. present at yesterday's meeting to the representatives of the Com large number of foreign workers monthly tr&de and current account 'Toe news of the surplus will posi ber 1993. J, which was reopened in 1995 and The factory last year was up verbally air their concerns on the monwealth Utilities Corp. and the in a small fanning or residential surpluses in December, the Bank of tively affect foreign investors, be The current account measures a has undergone major expansion graded into a two-story structure factory's "adverse impact on the Historic Preservation Office. community." Korea said Wednesday. cause they will think Korea's ability nation's trade in goods and services were aired in yesterday's Coastal that houses the main offices and environment and community in Technically there is a deadlock Consequently the Torres fam Bank officials attributed the sur to pay back foreign loans will be plus certain other capital flows. It is a Resources Management board the sewing, cutting, trimming and the Dandan area." on the issue, according to CRM ily filed a lawsuit to enjoin MGM pluses to a sharp .depreciation of the stronger," said Kang Sung-mo, an key yardstick for gauging a nation's meeting.' shopping departments. Previously Joe T. Torres had Deputy Director Peter Barias. from constructing the factory, but i The factory, owned by MGM/Diorva is proposing to made known their opposition to Under this situation, the CRM MGM prevailed in the court deci Korean cmrency, which boosted ex analyst at Hanjin Investment and Se economic health. r!' port, and discouraged imports. The cmities Co. Kang said, however, Trade in December also produced ' Micronesian Gannent Manufac build new constructions includ the presence of the factory to the can ask the governor to sign the sion. Kori:!an won lost moil:! than half of its that it was premature to predict a record surplus of $ 2.69 billion, turing/Diorva, late last year was ing a storage building. CRM in writing at least thrice. permit, which the Torreses are In not signing the pennit forthe value la.st year. whether the trend would continue. contributing to the month's current discovered by the CRM to have Leading the opposition to the But the fact is, the CRM is trying to prevent. factory, the CUC representative 1l1e central bank said the trade and In December, South Korea regis account surplus, the bank said. The expanded from a small factory in granting of a coastal permit to dealing with an after-the-fact situ Joe Torres is raising several says the problem of inadequate cuni:!nt account su1pluses in Decem tered a $3.64 billion current account previous record monthly trade sur 1988 such that it required a permit MGM/Diorva is the family of ation. The expanded facility has technicalities, including the fact sewer system in the area should ber we1China expects a stable currency Borja seeks Taylor recusal as comply with the building code notified adjacent lot owners since "MGM/Diorva is sincere in and Division of Environmental it is an after-the-fact situation, the being a good neighbor in the com BEUING (AP)-China will not de thoritative source" as saying. Signs of Asia's currency jitters al Quality requirements. building having been in existence munity," he said. value iL, cmrency to boost its export The finance official said China ready can be seen on Chinese streets, in 'Teno eligibility' appeal ' Already, four out of six board since 1989. The Torres family, meanwhile, competitiveness against other Asian would enhance its export competi where growing numbers of black i By Ferdie de la Torre era! election to sit on the case 'i members have signed the permit Joe Torres said that as early as is drumming up support of the counuies that have already seen the tiveness through increased efficiency marketeers are hedging their bets by Variety News Staff would tum that judge into a "su to signify their approval. then, the Torres family had ob residents of Dandan and As Lito value of their cmrencies plunge in and improved technology, the report offering attractive rates to exchange MANASSES Borja yesterday per-voter" equipt with the ability Two, however, have not, shar jected to the presence of MGM to for another public hearing on the recent market rurmoil, an official re said. yuan for dollars. l 1,, sought th~ disqualification of to vote for a candidate and later ing the same environmental con- then CRM Director Maile Bruce. permit application. port said Wednesday. The financial crisis throughout Asia Top central government officials, I . Chief Justice Marty W. K. Taylor reaffirm that support through the The yuan is supported by China's has prompted speculation that China including the head of the central bank, and otlier members of the CNMI judicial process. hefty foreign exchange reserves and will also be obliged to devalue the Dai Xianglong, and Vice Premier judiciary from presiding his ap On the other hand, Borja said 9n strong capital inflows, the newspaper yuan, despite conu·ols that prevent Zhu Rongji, have repeatedly denied peal on the trial court's ruling on Rexford Kosack, who served as ·DEQ chief raps DPW dump ChinaDaily quoted an unnamed "au- speculative attacks on the currency. that a yuan devaluation is coming. Pedro P. Tenorio 's eligibility to RobertO'Connor'sco-counselfor Workers of the Samsung Group collect gold items from its employees By Rick Alberto the Department of Public Works. that the trash put in the Dump be to procure US dollars at the Samsung Headquarters in Seoul, Wednes serve again as CNMI governor. LL Governor-elect Jesus R. Variety News Staff It's kind of hard for DEQ to really covered daily, the slopes around day. A nationwide campaign launched to collect. gold to help South Borja in his motion to recuse. Sablan, has acted as Taylor's pJi THE Department of Public Works enforce actions against your su Dump be stabilized, there should Parents of Japanese students Korea repay 57 billion dollars owed to the IMF in emergency rescue said he believes that Taylor and vate lawyer in another controver has been slow in complying with perior." be a site assessment by a certain funds. AP retired Associate Judge Pedro M. sial civil case. the administrative orders of the "What we're doing right now,'' date. Atalig both have a personal bias "The inextricable and very pub US Environmental Protection Castro continued, "is we are co "Public Works is doing its best, slain in Peru call for justice or prejudice in favor of or against lic involvement of his (Taylor) Agency in relation to the Puerto ordinating and collaborating with but it is not complying as to the S.E. Asia currencies one or more of the parties in ongoing personal counsel in struc Rico Dump, including the fenc the EPA, and the EPA is the one dates," Castro said. ·'For ex ample, By DAVID KOOP "I cannot pardon this criminal be three graves in a stretch of dense volved. turing and arguing the case, his ing of the area, the head of the giving administrative orders to in the compliance schedule, it says LIMA, Peru (AP) -The parents of havior. When my son died he must jungle on the banksof theAmaz.on Borja, thro(!gh counsels C. significant role in crafting the very Division of Environmental Qual the Public Works." that they must put a fire suppres 'Japanese to River l,600feet(500meteJs)from plunge to n~w lows two students hacked have been in pain, suffering. I cannot Sebastian Afoot and Timothy H. arguments that will likely be ad ity said yesterday. He said the orders were given sant on site, but they never did." the base death by soldiers in the Amazon find words to express myself. Itis too army where the soldiers By GEOFF SPENCER' The Malaysian ringgit plunged to Skinner, said since every resident vanced on appeal, and his con Director John I. Castro Jr., in an way back in 1994. Last year at least two fires were junglecalledonPeru 's goverrmient cruel," said Toshi .Miyashita, father were stationed. · Police found JAKARTA,lndo~ia(AP)-With 4.5750 to the dollar from the 4.3355 members of the Commonwealth tinuing personal and professional interview with repotters, said he W,L~ "We tried as much as possible ignited in the Dump, forcing the to punish their children's killers. ofTakahiro Miyashita, 23. theStlldents' camera,sleeping bags; no end in sight for Asia's troubled quoted late Tuesday. judiciary actually voted in the interest in the ultimate success of frnstrated with DEQ's mother de to work with Public Works to nearby Garapan Elementary In their first statement since the Policesaythesnidentswererobbed life jackets arid a small quantity of economies, currencies in Indonesia, Bankers said the cunrency was ;-i Nov. I polls, each cannot serve as appellees on appeal combine to p,utment "being not in compliance." assist them to comply, but some School to send their students home at iri crime, the parents, times in tears, and beaten to death with rifle butts yen the boose of a family living Malaysia and the Philippines crashed expected to dip further in ooming the judge in the election contest. waITant disqualification," Borja Castro said the contract for the thing went wrong. They (DPW) and guests of hotels to remain told a news conference Tuesday andrnachelesbymernbersofanarrny near the army ba/Je. to historic lows agaimt the U.S. dollar days, partly amid fears that the "Simply put it, when a judge said. fencing of the Dump area has so are not complying up to par," he indoors to escape the toxic smoke. soldiers· reportedly stole that they were proud of their chil patrol in the remote jungle district of The . Wednesday. economy is in a worse state than cast his or her vote in favor of one Meanwhile, Borja in opposing far not hccn awarded yet. said. The site assessment contract has dren for daring to try to navigate district of Pebas, 700 miles (I, 125 about c11rs 2,500 the students were Indonesia led the plunge ':¥hen the previously thought of the candidates, that judge lost Tenorio's motion to dismiss con In expressing his frustration, I-le said. though, that the DPW been awarded to a company, but carrying. Peru.'s Arnawn River in a flimsy kms) northeast of Li.ma rupiah fell to 8,400 against the dollar The Philippine peso fell to a record his or her impartiality and status tended that Initiative I 0-3 amend Castro, who is leaving office when had requested the EPA to change Castro said he didn"t know if the wood raft modeled on those TheparentsthankedPeru'sgov balsa Policehaveanested 16solcliersfor in early ttading as markets reacted low of 46.50 to the dollar as the as a disinterested person," said ing Article IV, Section 3 of the the new administration assumes the compliance schedule and that contractor is doing the site assess emmentand police for quickly ar used by local Indians. the crime. negatively to the government's 1998 government said it was seeking a dlrs the plaintiff in his motion. NMI Con;;titution allows him to Tuesday next week, said, "The the EPA granted the request with ment, which involves finding out They were stunned, however, by The dismembered bodies of the restingthesolcli~rsand transferring budget, announced by President 200 millipn loan from the Asian De Skinner and A loot, said in short, appeal the dismissal of election problem is that the DEQ is under reservation. "what is in the Puerto Rico Dump the savagery of their sons' deaths. ,rudentswerefoundDec.27btlriedin them to the civilian justice system. Suharto on Tuesday nighL The ru velopment Banlc and $300 million to any judge who voted in the gen- contest as a matter of right. the administrative supervision of The EPA orders also require from top to bottom." piah was trading at around 7,100 $400million from the World Bank to late Tuesday. replace foreign reserves used up de The government had hoped the fendingthecurrencyinre.::entrnonths. PSS children's developmental assistance center gets donation budget would instill confidence, The Thai baht continued to drop in but dealers were unconvinced .. domestic and offshore spot ttading in By Laila C. Younis said. "In general, I think the market the wake of the record lows for the Variety News Staff "Free develop mental was disappointed with the bud cmrenciesofneighboringeconomies. THE CHILDREN'S Develop screening is available now, so get, seeing it as unrealistic," said In afternoon trading, the baht mental Assistance Center received concerned parents can bring a dealer with one U.S. bank in was quoted at 53.2 to the dollar in a donation of $2,000 from Bong in their children for testing at Jakarta. the domestic spot mark;:t, falling Kong Bank in a ceremony held the Center," she added. The rupiah recovered slightly from 52.15 at the close of trade Tuesday. Hong Kong Bank represen later in the day. Tuesday. "We are so gratefu 1 for the tative Joan Kosack said that Nevertheless, some market par Singapore's dollar fell to its bank's contribution. It will help the Center's program is "not ticipants said they had wanted to lowest point against U.S. dollar in the Center a great deal," said well known", and that is what see more stringent economic re more than six years and the Public Health Site Manager stirred the cooperation to con forms announced in line with de country's de facto central bank Susana Macaranas. tribute. mands by the International Mon said it would block any attempts "We will purchase a new re "Also, the program's ser etary Fund, which has put together by speculators to destabilize the frigerator and medical instru vices helps all members of the a$ 40 billion rescue package for cuITency. ments for the children,'' she said. community, and it is impor Indonesia. The U.S. cuITency was quoted "The Center is run by the Pub Iant to the families that need By law the budget has to be briefly at Singapore dollars· lic School System and the De these services,'' she said. partment of Public 1-kalrh and balanced, although officials said 1.7890, its highest point since June "We hope to continue to we assist children with devel double our donations every the government is on track for a 19, 1991. opmental disabilities," said PSS year to thc Center, as part of fiscal surplus of I percent of gross The South Korean won rose Early Childhood Specialist Su our community service," she domestic product- a requirement slightly to 1,730 against the dol san Lizama. added. laid down by the IMF. la,r, up from \ ,742, at Tuesday's "Last tear, the bank also do The Center's office hours arc Others were concerned that bud close, but the cuITency later slid nated $1,000 to the Center and ·from 7:30a.m. to4:30p.m.,and get calculations had been based on an to I, 780 amid persistent concern BOE member-elect Anthony Pellegrino, Public Health Site Manager Susana Macaranas, Hongkong Bank we were able to bring all of the interested parents may call 234- Kazuhiro Ito, left, and Toshi Miyashita, fathers of the two Japanese students slain by soldiers in the exchange rate of 4,0CO rupiah to one about the country's ability to pay rep. Joan Kosack, PSS Acting Commissioner Margaret Dela Cruz, HB rep. Violy Sablan, PSS Early Amazon jungle, tearfully call on Peru's government to punish their children's killers during a press Childhood Specialist Susan Lizama and PSS Assoc. Commissioner for Secondary Schools Patrick Te/lei pa1ents from Rota and Tinian 6457 (Saipan),532-9461 (Rota) dollar- twice that now being offered its short-term foreign debts, deal conference in Lima, Peru Tuesday. AP · gather to accept a $2,000 donation from Hongkong Bank to the Children's Developmental Assistance for a training workshop," she and 433-9263 (Tinian). in the market ers said. Center. Photo by u,lla c. Younis -4-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND V!EWS-THURSDA Y- JANUARY 8. 1998 THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1998-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-5 OPArules PSS official Teno team sends thanks chief Castro exits not ent~tled to OT pay to the outgoing governor By Laila C.. Vounls one per,on' sjob", functioning both By Rick Alberto director but also the U,S Environ tions and programs. laboratory is staffed by capable a $250,000 surplus in the DEQ Variety News Staff asthesecretaryfortheDeputyCom Variety News Staff mental Protection Agency. '"For example, I created a people. coffers. thir S.• ···.A. . ·· ... ·L.·E.. ' . vice will, we believe con wide with a combined earn for throughout the CNMI. It is jury made a finding of fraud The Bank reserves the right to refuse any and all Bids tinue to satisfy the needs of ings in excess of $3.9 qillion. our goal to provide the best pos without any evidence to sup . . . ·,. '..;, . . . . the Mariana Islands well into This year the name Micro! sible service at the best possible port.essential elements of such the 21st century," the com Insurance will be replaced by price for the customer," said act. Begins Friday January 9th at 8:00 A.M. NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS RETIREMENT FUND pany said. AON Insurance Micronesia, a the company. Boddy, through counsel Robert W. Jones, asked_ the '._ ... "'.·· L>,·-····:'k·.··,_·.·G·.. · ,,,.....:,:·:· ;:-·· VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT ' (JnlJ.U ·. · OV. Ninth Circuit to reconsider the NMC extends Spring Supreme Court's ruling. CLAIMS SPECIALIST Walter to.· i Jones said the failure of two (LOCATION: SAIPAN) members of the appellate This is a responsible position involving a broad scope of _duties and Semester registration meet with panel to disclose certain con responsibilities within the Worker's Compensation_ Comm1ss1on. The NORTHERN Marianas College\ I:\. flicts of interest violated applicant selected is expected to man~ge a hl1ng_ system_ assist .' constituents .· Spring Semester registration for The Office of Admission and Boddy 's constitutional due ... customers with inquiries, periorm mathematical calculations, review and new students will now begin Tues process claims, provide technical assistance to other personnel, ~raft Records, J3usiness Office, and THIS IS to inform all process right to review by a reports and correspondence and interpret statutes, rules and regulations. day, January 13 and continue un Counseling will be open from 9 Chuukese citizens residing on disinterested impartial panel. til Thursday, January 15, the col a.m. to noon and with new af"ter Saipan, that there will be a Jones raised the following A minimum of a Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Finance, lege announced in a news release. noon hours from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. meeting on January 11, Sun issues: or related field with at feast two years progressively responsible With the granting of adminis The extension to 6 p.m. is to day at the "Minachom I Atdao" • By not disclosing certain experience in a workers' compensation program or a combination of a trative leave to Executive Branch serve working people interested Pavilion, Kilili Beach, fron1 conflicts of interests of two high school diploma with at least five (5) years of exper_ience in a workers' workers by Gov. Froilan C. in taking evening classes. 11 :00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. members of the appellate DISCOUNT ON ALL INVENTORY IN STOCK* compensation program. The beginning salary range rs at Pay Level 31/ Tenorio, and to Northern "We 're making these changes Governor Ancito Walter and panel, did the CNMI Supreme 1 to 31/5, depending on qualifications and experience. Marianas College crnployccs by to ensure students have every other FSM dignitaries will be court violate plaintiff's due Acting President Jack M. Sablan opportunity to register for present at this meeting to hear process right to review by a Interested persons may visit the NM/ Retirement Fund office in the Na_uru authorized by Board of Regents Spring Semester and allow your suggestions, concerns, and Building, Susupe, Saipan for application and the pos1t1on descnpllon. disinterested and impartial Chair Vicente N. Santos Mon them and our employees to comments. Applications must be submitted no later than the end of th~ day on day, for inauguration ceremonies, attend the upcoming inaugu panel? Tuesday, January 13, 1997, to Mr. Edward_H. Manglona, Admm1strator, Ple;asedon 'tforget to bring your the beginning of open registra • Did the CNMI Supreme * No Rain Checks Cash & Carry 235-6604/05/06/6691 NM/ Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 1247, Sa,pan, MP 96950. ration ceremonies," Acting favorite dish to share with tion has been moved to January President Sablan said. us.BYOB. 8-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-THURSDAY-JANUARY 8, 1998 THURSDAY.JANUARY 8, 1998 -MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-9 To meet demands o.f US fishing. shipping industry Majuro marine school expands Meanwhile, the central bank also MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The were more willing to _sell dollars be- 45.4 l 9pesos perdollarafterfallingas because of the launch of the new By Giff Johnson able jobs. ing vessels, but cm·go ships and p,L, money the mo1etkm 30 FNTC gm By PRISCILLA CHEUNG and former legislator, said pro forex rules on exports HONG KONG (AP) - Chicken tests will escalate if the govern vendors and ·politicians camped ment does not offer more money. BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) keep falling as it has for the baht's slide followed outside government offices Tues Democratic Party Chairman -The government reacted to past six months. Monday's news that Thailand day for a second straight day, de Martin Lee held a news confer the baht's latest record low Akapo! said the Cabinet had will seek to renegotiate terms manding greater compensation for ence to accuse Chief Executive Tuesday by tightening rules learned that Thai exporters re of a $17.2 billion bailout pack poultry killed in an attack on bird Tung Chee-hwa of failing to show to prevent Thai exporters from ceive payments for goods im age organized by the Interna flu. leadership in handling the flu cri hoarding foreign currencies. mediately _upon receipt in 70 tional Monetary Fund. About 50 protesters waved sis. He also called for an indepen The Cabinet approved a new percent of al I cases, represent Prime Minister Chuan placards and shouted from be d1ent commission to investigate regulation, effective Wednes ing about$ 3 billion a month Leekpai 's remark Monday that hind police barricades as govern the government response. day, that requires exporters to in cash flow. he co_uld not predict how far ment officials entered the main "It seems like the chief execu transfer foreign currency earn Exporters will be allowed to the currency would fall before government building for work. tive has chosen to quarantine him ings directly to Thailand upon deposit the paym·ents in for stabilizing also helped drive "The government first slaugh self," Lee said. receipt, rather than within 120 eign currency accounts at lo it lower. tered chickens, now us!" chanted He said actions to ·curb the days as previously. cal banks only on a case-by Thailand's flotation of the the protesters, who had been there spread of flu were delayed be ''When they receive the pay case basis, Akapo! said. baht in July after sustained all night. "Give us back our beau cause the Hong Kong government ment, they must send the The government is amend attacks by speculators unex tiful chickens." sought approval from Beijing, and money back into Thailand im ing rules to enable the central pectedly triggered an eco The government slaugh argued it should have acted on its mediately," bank to initiate prosecution of nomic crisis across Asia. tered all of Hong Kong's 1.3 own. He also accused the govern Akapo! Sorasuchart, a gov offenders, who will be subject Since Thailand signed on to million ·chickens last week ment of withholding vital infor ernment spokesman, said at a to a maximum fine of 20,000 the rescue plan last August, because it suspected they were mation, fueling public panic. post-meeting news confer baht ($400) or a maximum the spread of the financial cri the source of the A H5N I in Lee, Tsang and 17 other Demo ence. three years in prison. sis across the region has un fluenza virus that infected hu crats lost their seats in Hong The exporters also must de The Cabinet believes that the dercut the growth assumptions mans for the first time last Kong's legislature when Hong posit the funds in their bank new rules will cause several on which the IMF_ based the year. Sixteen people have been Kong reverted to Chinese rule on accounts within seven days of hundred millions of dollars to package .. confirmed as having the vi July I. China dissolved the body In particular, declining gov Chicken vendors gather outside Hong Kong government office Monday demanding more compensation from arrival in the country, Akapo! begin flowing into the coun rus, including four who died. because it objected to the terms of the government following its decision to slaugher all chickens in the territory because of a bird flu disease. said. Previously, they were try immediately from export ernment revenue from slow A ban on chicki:n imports from the last election. The posters read: "Government kills chic~ens and makes us jobless." AP allowed 15 days. ers' accounts overseas. ing economic growth means China, possibly the origin of the The measures were taken a The baht continued sinking the government, despite four virus, is in its third week. day after the Thai baht weak Tuesday, opening at 52.50 to rounds of budget cuts, is un The government proposed A worker prepares stacks of Indonesian rupiah at a bank in Jakarta the U.S. dollar in domestic likely to meet a -key condition compensation Monday for poul Tuesday. The Indonesian currency broke through the 7,500 level ened in value past the psycho against the U.S. dollar, a new all-time-low. AP - logical barrier of 50 to the spot trading. of posting a budget surplus try fanners, vendors and trans U.S. dollar, or a 50 percent But the Stock Exchange of equal lo I percent of gross· port workers hurt by the slaughter NORTHERN MARIANAS depreciation since being Thailand index, after initially domestic product. and trading ban. The package in Suharto half-brother seeks floated last July. dipping below Monday's close Finance Minister Tarrin cludes payments of30 to 36 Hong EQUAL HOUSING Currency dealers have said of 366.18, rose to close at Nimmanahaeminda will visit Kong dollars (U.S. dlrs 3.85 to OPPORTUNITY ouster of Finance officials the baht's weakness is partly 370.27 as foreign investors Washington later this month 4.62) foreach slain adult chicken, HOUSING CORPORATION due to exporters' reluctance picked up banking, communi to try to negotiate a relax plus grants and loans so that the JAKARTA. btdonesia (AP) - A had implemented. to sell the dollars they earn, cations and energy stocks that ation in the condition with industry can -pay its workers and half-brother of President Suharto Probosutedjohasbeenkx:kedin based on fear the baht will had recently declined. The the IMF. fixed expenses. About 50 called Tuesday for the resignation a legal battle with the two officials chicken retailers, .criticizing the ofIndonesia's finance minister and since they ordered the shutdown of Malaysia ·cuts entertainment allo~ances offer as too small, began a sit-in in central bank governor, saying their his Bank Jakarta along with 15 the parking lot of the government REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS departure might help solve the other troubled commercial banks. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia and police officials _will be also were told recently to expect .offices Monday evening and nation's economic crisis. ~ liquidation order was made (AP) - With Malaysia sinking trimmed by more than IO percent, pay cuts. pledged to stay until Wednesday The Directors of the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation (NMHC), through its Chairman, Mr. Businessman and banker onNov. l underanIMF-backedset deeper into economic crisis, the the government said in a state Among the countries hit hard morning. Juan S. Tenorio, is soliciting sealed proposals from licensed companies in the Commonwealth, engaged Probosutedjo made the c:orrunents ofrefonns lhatso far have failed to government on Tuesday slashed ment est by Asia's continuing economic . They were joined by leaders of only hours before Suharto was aireSt a dramatic slide in the value entertainment funds for civil ser This latest bid to cut spending crisis, Malaysia anl).ounced a se the opposition Democratic Party, in providing ground maintenance services. Areas to be maintained include common grounds described scheduled to present his of the rupiah. vants, the local news agency came just days after authorities ries of austerity measures late last and later by other Hong Kong in Proposals Specifications which are available at the NMHC Office, anytime between the hours of government's budget for the fisc.al Probosutedjosaidhewouldfight Bem~ma reported. forbade Malaysia's senior civil year intended to prevent further parties, including the pro-China year 1998-99. to have his bank reopened. Beginning this year, entertain servants to travel abroad on vaca decline in the nation's currency · Democratic Alliance for the Bet 7:30 a_m through 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The budget is expected ro con Last week, a lower Jakarta comt ment allowances for government tions. Senior govemmentofficials and stock markets. terment of.Hong Kong. tainarangeof austerity measures to ruled that Bank Jakarta could re About 50 chicken farmers Sealed proposals, in duplicate, will be received until 10:00 a.m., January 16, 1998 at NMHC's Office meet the demands of a $40 billion main open pending the outcome joined them during the day Tues- International Monetary Fund eco of a lawsuit filed by day. · in Garapan, Saipan, at which time and place all proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud. The nomic rescue package. But it might Probosutedjo against Mar'ie Tam Shun-wo, owner of a proposal documents shall be signed by the owner or authorized representative of the firm, and shall be also be tempered by sensitive do and Soedradjad. downtown chicken retail stall, said mestic political and social consider Probosutedjo charges in the suit the proposed grants would not enclosed in an envelope which shall be sealed and clearly labeled "GROUND MAINTENANCE ations. that Bank Jakarta wasn't insolvent cover even one month of his fixed SAIPAN". Companies shall be responsible for the proper placement of its finn's name, address, "If they resign, the country's and was closed unlawfully. costs. He said he laid off two of telephone and fax number on the outside of the proposal envelope. monetary crisis may even be solved," Late Friday, however, the his six employees and a third quit. Probosutedjo said of Finance Min State Administrative High "We fulfilled our duty to kill ister Mar' ie Muhammad and Bank Court issued a letter that de our chickens for the sake of pub A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on Wednesday, December 18, 1997 at 10:00 a.m. at the Central Indonesia Governor Soedradjad manded the lower court's rul lic health," Tam said. "Now it's Djiwandono. ing be disregarded. Bank Jakarta the government's tum to fulfill its Office in Garapan. He said theministerand governor said the instruction was illegal obligation to protect our liveli should reconsider the policies they and vowed to defy it hood." The protesters said losses will NMHC hereby notifies all proposers that it will affirmatively ensure that, in any contracts entered into Japan, Australia in joint research mount as the ban on live chicken pursuant to this advertisement, small business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit trading is expected to stretch proposals and will not be discriminated against on grounds of race, color, religion, sex, handicapped/ CANBERRA, Aw;tralia (AP) - as.<;oeiated wit11 aging societies, pres through January. Farmers said it Australia and Japan will cany out sures on national budget~. escalating will take at least four months to disabling conditions, or national origin. jointresearchproject~oncommunity health cost~ and changes in discao;es restart flocks. CaJC and health following a visit by faced, the ministers said in a joint The Executive Council, an ap Questions or additional information may be directed to Edith C. Fejeran, Office Manager, at 234- Japanese Healt11 Minister Junichiro statement pointed body that must approve Koizumi. Joint research activities between expenditures, voted on a compen 0447/7689/7670. Koizumi met Health Minister the Health Department and the sation package in a closed meet Michael Wooldridge and Family Japanese Ministry of Health and ing. No details were released and Services Minister Warwick Smith Welfare will be encouraged, with it was not clear if it improved on NMHC reserves the right to waive any informalities and to reject any and all proposals in the best Tuesday and Wednesday to workout projects this year to include acom Monday's package. interest of NMHC. ways in which thetwocountriescould parative analysis of approaches Indonesian military dres~ed in riot gear secure debris strewn on the street following a riot by street vendors The package must be approved collabornte mrne closely. to community care and the use of and thousands (!f others m Bandun_g, east of Jakarta, Monday. The violence, which erupted following a police by the legislature's Finance Com cra~kdown on 1//egal_ street vending, led to p_asserbys throwing rocks and smashing· windows of ethnic The countries agreed to work to technology to enhance health and . Chme~e owned businesses.. News of the d1stu_rbance. sent the Indonesian rupiah to new record tows mittee. ls/MARYLOU S. ADA gether in the light of health needs well-being. · breaking the 7,500 level agamst the U.S. dollar ,n morning trading. AP ' Tsang Kin-shing, a Democrat Corporate Director THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1998 -MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND YIEWS-15 Top rebels yield in Southern India UN appeals for N. Korea food HYDERABAD, India (AP) - Dora told a news conference By EDITH M. LEDERER will help nutritionally, but they said. LONDON (AP) - The World Three top leaders of an under in Hyderabad, the state capi fill their bellies," Bertini ex Last year, the WFP's appeal Food Program launched the big ground group that wants to tal. It is 1,500 kilometers (900 plained. raised $141 million and pro gest emergency operation in its create a communist state sur miles) south of New Delhi. Children have fared the worst, vided more than 360,000 tons 35-year history Tuesday, appeal rendered to police in southern In November, two top guer with some showing signs of of food to 4.7 million North lndia on Tuesday. rillas were among the 79 rebels ing for more than $378 million to stunted physical and mental Koreans. Other donations H.J. Dora, police chief of who surrendered to the state feed nearly a third of North growth, she said. brought the total food aid to Korea's people and avert a "hu- Andhra Pradesh state, said the chief minister. j U.N. experts who visited North more than 990,000 tons. Peoples' War Group rebels Last year, 144· rebels and ,J . manitarian catastrophe." · Korea last fall said the country "We came through last year .1 'The international community who surrendered include S. 56 police officers were killed a needs more than I million tons of by the skin of our teeth," she ",J has been very them to be even food aid this year to avert a fam said. Uppalaiah, one of the main in clashes. Another 193 civil. :1 leaders of the organization, ians were also killed. :'i more generous to prevent the ine, she said. The new appeal tops the which has been fighting po The rebels usually target 'I present food shortage from de Of that total food aid, the WFP I 992 record of $297 million ·i~ lice to carve out a separate land owners, accusing them veloping into a famine situation," must provide nearly 724,000 tons to help 7.6 million people state for tribespeople. of exploiting poor farm hands. 1 said Catherine Bertini, executive to almost 7.5 million North Kore combat drought in l O coun The leaders apparently left They also often gun down director of the U.N. agency. ans ~ about a third of the tries in southern Africa, the organization foll-owing policemen and government North Korea has suffered country's 23 million people. The Bertini said. It also exceeds caste-based discrimination, officials, whom they accuse three years of devastating main recipients will be children the annual spending on crises Dora said. He did not elabo of colluding with rich peas weather conditions. Extensive 12 and under, the handicapped, in R·wanda, former Yugosla rate. ants. flooding in 1995 and 1996 hospital patients, pregnant women via, Ethiopia and Somalia. More than 5,500 people have crippled agricultural produc- and employees in food-for-work The argest donors have been Italian Prme Minister, Romano Prodi right talks to Sonia Gandhi the widow of former Prime Minister Rajiv The backbone of the move ment in the northern district died in the violence in the last . tion, and the country was hit programs. · the United States, the Euro Gandhi as Indian President KR.Narayanan second from right and Flavia Prodi/ook on in New Delhi Tuesday. by severe drought last sum Other governments are respon Prodi is on a three-day official visit to India to improve bilateral ties. AP of Warangal has been broken, 17 years. pean Union, South Korea, mer. Little rainfall reduced the sible for getting another almost China and Japan. projected maize harvest last 400,000 tons of food to the ailing Bertini said North Korea has Report: Bus drivers protest in China year by more than half, and communist country, Bertini said. agreed to let WFP operate North Korean defector Lee Ae Ran, right, holds her baby Ko Chu Huk Yeltsin pos~pones tidal waves from Typhoon "We recognize that this is part throughout the country, which while hugging her family member Helie Lee at the Duksu Palace in Seoul. South Korean National Security Planing Agency opened to the BEIJING (AP) - More than their employers, many of ing that government or com Winnie in August damaged the of a sho1t-term solution, but it is means it can now visit north rice crop.which fell far short absolutely vital. in order to avert ern Ryangjang, where the fam public nine North Korean defectors, three men and four women with two I SO bus drivers iii a city in which are state-owned facto pany officials meet to discuss kids who defected to South in August. AP his visit to India China's southwestern Sichuan ries on the verge of bank a solution to the problem, the of domestic needs. · humanitarian catastrophe," she ine rep_ortedly is most severe. province have besieged their ruptcy. New York-based human rights No figures on famine deaths year. are available. Yeltsin bad planned to visit company's offices to protest There have been many re group said. an increase in their annual ports of such demonstrations As of late Monday, the buses Adults have tried many new India on Jan. 19-20. ITAR-Tass .ways to get food - harvesting gave no reason for the postpone fees, a human rights group said from Sichuan, an inland re were still parked there, it said. seaweed, growing vegetables on ment and there was no indica Tuesday. gion where many now defunct Several vans of police had ar rooftops and refitting factories to P U B -L I. C· . N. D T . I · C. E tion that Yeltsin had suffered The drivers in Suining, some factories were constructed rived at the scene, but there make small bricks of bark or any new health problems. I, 170 kilometers (73 I miles) during the Cold War as part of was no violence. (Amendment I 12/30/97) southwest of Beijing, began a national drive to move stra The bus drivers were threat leaves. TheForeignMinistrysaiditcould "These are not anything that not confirm or deny the report, and the demonstration late Sun tegic industries away from ening to send 300 or400 buses to Yeltsin' s press seivice declined day night to protest a com vulnerable coastal areas. local government offices if their comment when contacted bY. The pany decision to raise fees to The Suining bus drivers are demands were not met, the group Russia generals Associated Press. 17,000 yuan ($2,050) from refusing to pay their company added. suspected of Boris Yeltsin Yeltsin, who recently re I 0,000 yuan ($1,200), Human the fees they are charged for Human Rights in China urged turned to work following a bad Rights in China said. the right to drive thy buses the government to seek a peacefu 1 .corruption. may MOSCOW (AP) -Russian cold, began a two-week vaca A local government official and collect fares. Many Chi solution to the dispute, noting that yet get amn~sty . President Boris Yeltsin has de tion Sunday at a northern gov confirmed that the protest had nese taxi and bus drivers pay a such protests are widespread. cided to postpone his visit to ernment retreat on Lake Uzhin, occurred, but declined to pro flat fee to their employers and Although such protests are ille MOSCOW (AP) - About half of India later this month. a news where he hoped to do some ice vide further information. then keep whatever remains gal, the authorities in many cases the 30 Russian generals and admi service said Tuesday. fishing. Chinese workers i ncreas as their income. have avoided using force to dis rals facing criminal charges arc The IT AR-Tass agency The 66-year-old Russian ing ly are taking to the streets The bus drivers staged a perse the demonstrations, hoping likely to receive amnesty, a top quoted an unidentified Russian leader spent two weeks at a rest to protest layoffs, unpaid "park-in" in front of the bus to prevent an escalation of vio military prosecutor said Tuesday. diplomat as saying the visit was home last month. Doctors say wages and other troubles with company's offices, demand- lence. The .amnesty approved by TH Is IS TO INFORM ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT THE postponed by '"mutual agree he recovered and he was back at parliament's lower house in De GOVERNOR'S JTPA OFFICE IS SOLICITING ONE HUNDRED (100) ment" and would take place at his Kremlin office at the end of cember would cover up to 15 of the an unspecified date later this December. commanders, said deputy military APPLICANTS FOR THE YOUTH VACATION EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM. ProsecutorGeneral Yuri Yakovlev. Most of the commanders are sus PRIORITY CONSIDERATION WILL BE ACCORDED TO THOSE STUDENTS BELOW Data leaked from computer pected of conuption, which is con THE POVERTY INCOME GUIDELINE (ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGE). HOWEVER, JAKARTA,Indonesia(AP)-Indo sidered a widespread problem in files of major Japanese bank nesian and Singaporean officials the demoralized Russian military. DEPENDING ON THE AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL FUNDING, THE PROGRAM MAY TOKYO (AP)-A comp,my hired by confirmed that the data included in agreed Tuesday to hold a mass fu Yakovlcv said the amnesty ap ACCOMMODATE THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERED HIGH INCOME TO a major J apancsc lxmk unit to \\Tile :1 formation on 37 customers including neral Jan. 19 for those killed in last plies to those who have taken pa11 soft wan: progr:m1 is untkr irwcstiga thcirnamcs. addresses mid telephone month's crash of a SilkAir Boeing in cornhat operations. That would FULFILL THE 100 SLOTS. tion for allegedly stealing scnsitiYc nurnl~r-s. Honda said. 737-300. include gcncrals involved in thc information on the b,mk ·s customers. News t'CJX)tls, tliough, said the disk The service is to be held exactly I :·,J '!.'.') THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1998-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-17 16-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-THURSDAY-JANUARY 8, 1998 Clinton proposes Sonny Bono is m.ourned I Medicare expansion I ' By BRENDAN RILEY treesthatyou wouldn'tseehim," about 4:30 p.m. His body was old son of the fate Robert F. By TERENCE HUN.T more passengers on the Titanic," SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Ca Modispacher said. found about two hours after that, Kennedy, slammed into a tree and WASHINGTON (AP) - In a said Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas. lif. (AP) - He played the fool as Unaware he had not made it but his death was not made public died while playing football on new bid to expand health insur The plan-another ingredient part of Sonny & Cher during the down the hill, his wife, Mary until after midnight. skis in Aspen, Colo. ance, President Clinton unveiled in Clinton's step-by-step ap . 1960s and '70s, and his very name Whitaker, 6-year-old daughter Investigators said there was no Bono evolved from playing the a proposal Tuesday offering proach to expanding heal th care became something of a punch line Chianna and 9-year-old son immediate evidence that drugs or fall guy to his sharp-tongued Medic:m: coverage to .. some of after Congress' rejection of uni when he was first elected to Con Chesare, waited for him at the alcohol were involved .. wife on "The Sonny and Cher our most vulnerable older Ameri versal ·coverage - would open gress. bottom. His wife reported him His death came less than a week Comedy Hour," to a politician in cans"' - an estimated 300.000 Medi care coverage to Americans But Sonny Bono had gone a missing when the resort closed after Michael Kennedy, 39-year- Continued on page 18 early retirees and displaced work at age 62, instead of 65. They Jong way toward shedding his ers. could buy into the program by image as a bell-bottomed buffoon Republicans were skeptical but paying premiums of about$3()() a when he died in a skiing accident conceded the election-year plan month. Further, once they be would be popular. came fully eligible for Medicare, Mond.ay. He was 62. "Sonny was becoming a much 1l1e administration said the they would have to pay slightly more important leader than people plan would not solve the nation's higher out-of-pocket fees than Sonny Bono realize;" House Speaker l'l"ewt health problems but could help a those who didn't. Gingrich said. modest number of aging Ameli The Medicare option could He struck a tree squarely, ripping Bono, an avid skier, slammed cans who are more likely to have particularly help women - es off the bark. into a tree while on the slopes at serious health needs, be denied pecially those with pre-existing He died on impact of serious the Heavenly Valley Ski Resort coverage or face exorbitant in medical problems - who were head and neck injuries, officials surance prices. covered by their husbands' poli on the Nevada-California state said. "It is the right thing to do," cies at work but were then left line, 55 miles south of Reno. Bono - who had skied at the Clinton declared. without insurance when their Pre!?ident Clinton discusses budget initiatives with members of his economic team during a meeting at the Bono was skiing with his fam resort for more than 20 years - Wh_1te House_ Monday. Mem~ers of the economic team from left are: Presidential Adviser Paul Bega/a; Frank The targeted proposal would spouses retired and joined Medi ily when his daughter fell and his was alone at the time of the crash. Rames, cha,rman of the Office of Management and Budget; and Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles. AP wife and son stopped· to help her, His family mostly likely didn't help about 300,CXXl of the 3 mil care, Shalala said. VINYL SIGNS: For indoor/outdoor with col lion uninsured Americans be Clinton's proposal also would officials said. Bono skied on ahead see him when they went down the tween the ages of 55 to 64, the offer_ Medicare coverage to into the woods off the main trail same run, said Sgt. Lance ots, style and quality, on wood, glass, metal, administration estimated. Hefty Americans as young as 55 who Balanced budget effects to to try out the fresh powder in an Mo~ispacher of the Douglas plastic cloth and walls, designed in computer premiums of up to $400 a month lost their jobs, such as through area that is not officially out of County Sheriff's Department. graphics, artistically drafted, composedwith bounds but is more hazardous. "He was in such an area of would price it out of the range of layoffs. They could buy insur a lot of talent and knowledge, is now avail many possible recipients, offi ance for about $400 a month. be 'long-term' into future cials acknowledged. Additionally, the proposal would able at Younis Art Studio, Inc_ "This is not a panacea in terms offer. insurance to retirees whose By Alan Fram The more money government Glassman of Chase Securities Inc. in of being able to cover all work employers had promised health WASHINGTON (AP) - A de borrows, the Jess there is for business, New York. "Sotheaverage guy won't Arco pays $42,000 VINYL BANNERS: On cloth and plastic ers," Labor Secretary Alexis benefits but then reneged. In that cade-long parade of yearly federal driving up borrowing costs, imped see any great new development, he's materials, from 1-5 feet wide and length from SUll)luses, which many analysts say ing investment and threatening jobs. already seeing it." Hem1ansaid. "Itwon'tbeevery case, retirees would be offered the 3 feet to 50 or 75 feet and more, with any one because of the cost,'' said right to buy into their former em seems quite possible, could help hold Even liberals seem undisturbed by Of course, people would be af for Gingrich's trip down Americans' borrowing costs the prospect ofa surplus because this color, letters size and.style and rich graph Health and Human Services Sec ployers' health plans until age 65 fected by politicians' decisions about there for the speaker and his wife and further energize the already ster retary Donna Shalala. under so-called Cobra coverage. one is being produced mostly by how to spend federal surpluses. Law cost$12,225; for each of the aides, ics. ling economy. Republicans expressed doubts Clinton said his proposal was surging federal revenues, not by cuts makers could use them to buy down itaveragedabout$2,500. Meals for But that's in the long run. Fornow, in cherished social progranis. aboutputtingnew demands on a fiscally responsible because any the $5.4 nillion national debt, reduce the group totaled $947. the balanced 1999 budget that Presi Thanks mostly to the steadily ro Also hand painted signs and banners, artis financially troubled system. additional costs would be paid by taxes or start new spending initia MartinsaidtheHouseethicscom dent Clinton says he will propose bust economy, the record $290 bil tically designed and colored on any mate "lf your mother is on the Ti subscribers' premiums and a se tives. mitteeapprovedthetripinadvance, tanic and the Titanic is sinking, next month should have little notice lion shortfall of] 992hasmeltedaway The fight over that is already under rial surface of all sizes_ f. ries of new Medicare anti-fraud and defended it by saying it cost able impact on most people. That's each year since, shrinking· to $23 way. Both sides say they want to keep the last thing on Earth you want and waste proposals. Republicans · "less than a ninety-minute flight because deficits have already been billion for fiscal 1997, which ended surpluses going, but Clinton is al to be preoccupied with is getting were skeptical. aboard Air Force One," the presi DIGITAL PRINT: Signs for inside markets/ sharply reduced and the financial Sept. 30. ready preparing spending proposals dential jet markel~, which help determine inter Clinton said he expects the fiscal for health, education and other areas. stores/shops in full colors with print of the An Arco spokesman, Al est rates, have already taken that into 1998 gap to be less than $22 billion, Republicans prefer more tax cuK goods/merchandise on plastic sheets/ Greenstein, said the company has account. and some private analysts are betting House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R Newt Gingrich sponsored the. dinner every year boards or on transparencies on special pa This means Clinton's announce this year will see a surplus of $30 Ga, wrote Clinton on Tuesday, ask By Jim Drinkard since 1976, seeking speakers per or cloth for ceiling hang for display or ment that he will propose the first billion or so, without any action by ing him to identify wasteful govern (AP) - Inter "whose views are of interest to an above shelves, counters and merchandise balanced budget the United States lawmakers. ment pmgranis so lawmakers could WASHINGTON national oil giant Atlantic Richfield audience of government and busi has had since J969islikelyto.havefar But as far as the $8.4 trillion balance the budget in 1999 "and, stands, can easily be produced by the tal Co. spent $42,CXXJ to send House ness leaders of the United King more political than personal signifi economy is concerned, at this point it more important,providetremendous ented and capable sign makers at YAS Sign Speaker Newt Gingrich, his wife dom" and top Arco executives. cance, at least for now. hardly matters. savings that can be returned to the and two aides on a speaking nip to Prior dinner speakers include System_ Politicians now begin an era in Deficits or SUll)luses in this range Ame1ican taxpayer." London last month - one of the former presidents Reagan, Bush which they will claim credit for are already an insignificant fraction But even a, this battle begins, most expensive trips disclosed so and Cmter, retired Gen. Colin budget surpluses and fight over of economic activity and have little policy-makers know two storm Full color digital print for back light in shops far under new rules that let special Powell and former Senate Majotity how to spend them, but average detectable effect on it clouds are hoveling over tl1e budget window or special display in the outdoor, interests pay for travel for lawmak Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan. Only people are likely to detect little Indeed, interest rates on 30-ycar surplus scemuio. such as food items, drinks cosmetics, per ers. Dole and Gingrich were in office immediate effect on their Jives. bonds s:mk to historic lows around One is tl1at the pmsperouseconomy Gingrich ,md his entourage spent when at the time of their speeches. fumes, jewelry and many more. "It's an accounting phenom 5.7 percent tl1is week. - now in iL, seventh consecutive five days in annual dinner. He also Rules that took effect two years enon.·· said Scott I lodge, a budget Analyst, said it ww; due in pmt to ye,U'of cxpm1ding-could go sour at ago banned most special-interest analyst at tl1e conservative Herir.;7gc tl1e budget's strnng recent pc1for ,my time, taking hopes of sU1pluscs metwitl1Prime Minister Tony Blair Vinyl signs are durable, colorful and guar gift giving to members of Con Foundation. "It docsn 't mean mo~ mance, which n·aders have already with it.111e tum10il bedeviling Asia's and other political leaders, spoke anteed to last for five to seven years in all gress, but left one large exception: money in tl1c pocket., of average taken into account. economies is only tl1e latest example publicly at London University and all-expense-paid travel. The rules weather conditions and stands heat tern- \ Ame1ic,ms." '111e mm'keL, are always looking of how quickly tl1ings c.m tum. tcured the Museum of Natural His require only that the trips be con- . perature 40-180 degrees Fahrenheit. ! Almost everyone agrees that a bal ahead, :md interest rates me in tl1e 5 The other is the looming retire tory, the zoo and Westminster Ab I nected with a lawmaker's official ,mccd budget is better than one tl1at percent rJ11ge because we've seen ment of tl1e Baby Boom ge;crntion, bey. I duties and be disclosed within 30 I cmries big defici L,. this happening," said economist Jim which begins in about a decade. While in London, Gingrich, R Ga, also met privately with Aroo days. First-class travel and luxury I Chainnan Michael Bowlin, mostly accommodations are allowed as For all signs need, please visit or call Buddy, Socks in White House spat as preparationforhisdinnerspeech, "reasonable" expenses-an inter said Christina Martin, Gingrich's pretation critics say is a loophole I By Mike Householder Socks, the cat, was waiting on meeting, Clinton replied: "Mak spokeswoman. forundue influence by wealthy in WASHINGTON (AP)-Presi the lawn as Clinton and Buddy, ing progress." <~ .. , By far the biggest item on the terests. ! I dent Clinton tried to broker peace who rode along in the presidential speaker's travel tab was transporta Prior to the new rules, special i There is bad blood between the \... lyatan i Tuesday at the White House be limousine, slopped on the way to White House pets. Socks was left tion. Air fare and ground transpor interests often sponsored lawmak: tween bitter rivals - Buddy and the Oval Office. behind when Buddy and the fam tation for Gingrich and his wife ers' nips, but costs and details were Socks. /\. very agitated Buddy ap ily vacationed in the U.S. Virgin Marianne cost $20,268. Separate not disclosed. at YA Younis Art Studio, Inc., in Garapan. After returning from a surprise proached the cat and began bark Islands last week. transportation for the two aides to An Associated Press analysis visit to the Education Department ing as the president restr;incd him While Buddy, the pr~sident's taled $3,300. of 1996 records showed various Telephone Nos. 234-6341 ¥ 234-7578 ¥ i. to offer 65th-birthday wishes to with a green leash. Socks, hair new Labrador pup, took his The group stayed at Claridge's, interests picked up the tab for I Secretary Richard Riley, Clinton raised high, stood his ground un maiden flight aboard Air Force one or the city's most exclusive $4.6 mill ion in trips that year for 234-9797 ¥ 234-9272 or Fax No. 234-9271. ! President Clinton tries to introduce his new dog Buddy to first cat Socks brought his two pets together on ti I Clinton and Buddy made their One for the trip, Socks was left at hotels, which Martin said was members of Congress and their during a meeting outside the Oval Office at the White House Tuesday. the South Lawn of the White exit to the Oval Office. home in the care of the White Arco'schoiceoflodging. Five days staffs. Socks didn't seem to appreciate the n·ew arrival. AP House for an attempt at detentc. Asked what became of the House usher. 18-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-THURSDAY - JANUARY 8 1998 THURSDAY.JANUARY 8, 1998-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-19 Irm1 eyes US relations Israel pullout promise sought accord," Bar-Illan told The As vote brought by the dovish Merctz sociated Press. He added that the party. advocating direct talks with Wa~h By Anwar Faruqi nearly two decades ago. Cabinet would decide on the scope Levy, a top political rival of DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The moderate cleric's landslide ington. of the pullback in the next two Netanyahu, said Sunday he was (AP)-The "Death to America" election victory in May gave popu As a former culture minister weeks. resigning because the prime min signs have been removed from lar support for his bid to change himself, Khatami knows the im The Netanyahu government's ister had abandoned the peace hotels in Tehran, and hard-line Iran's foreign policy, since many portance of the Culture Ministry, instability has generated wide process and was ignoring the prob Iranians are tired of being cast as which controls the media, in denouncements of the "Great Sa s·pread speculation in Israel that lems of Israel's poor. tan" are being drowned out by a a pariah state by the West. changing attitudes. Mohajerani elections would be held as early On Monday, Netanyahu man presidential call for a dialogue More than half oflran's 60 mil agrees. as this spring. They could be aged to pass the 1998 state budget with the "great American people." lion people arc too young to re "l believe that cultural policies forced next week, when in parliament despite Levy's de In gestures, statements and even member the U.S.-backed Shah can affect Iran's foreign policy," Netanyahu faces a no-confidence fection. in his Cabinet appointments, Ira who was overthrown in the 1979 he told The Associated Press. ni an President Mohammad Islamic revolution. For them, Mohajerani's appointment to Khatami is moving toward rap '"Death to America," the slogan Khatami' s Cabinet set off furious prochement with the United of the revolution, has little reso debate in the Majlis, or parlia States. nance. ment, but he was approved along And despite strong resistance The "Death to America" signs with all other ministers. from hard-line religious leaders, that greeted guests at Tehran ho But the hard-liners are not giv he may be the person who can tels were removed a few months ing up, By invoking the anti accomplish it. ago, ahead of December's major American slogans of the late revo- Khatami wi II culminate months Islamic summit in Tehran. The 1u t ionary leader, Ayatollah of careful maneuvering with a weekly magazine Aban reported Ruhollah Khomeini, they have televised interview with CNN, that the military has ordered sol been trying to limit how far airing Wednesday in the United diers to stop burning or trampling Khatami can go in seeking better States, in what Iran has billed as the U.S. flag. relations with Washington. an address to Americans. Although Iran's supreme "We are sure that in his inter His intention to talk to the leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, view the president will unvei I the Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in this December file photo. In · people rather than the U.S. gov has continued to criticize the historical crimes of the various gestures, in statements and even in his Cabinet appointments, Israeli Prime.Minister Benjamin Netanyif!hU, left, with US envoy Dennis Ross, second left, Israeli Ambassador Khatami has been opening the way for rapprochement. AP (o the US Eltyahu Ben Eltssar.and cabinet secretary Danny Naveh Tuesday at the beginning of a meeting ernment seems a ·clever move: It United States in strong terms, criminal U.S. administrations and m Jerusalem. In top level meetings Tuesday, US envoy Ross sought a promise from Israel to withdraw troops allows him to detour around anti Khatami's comments about dia tell the American people that the (Iranian) people and Iranian lead when Grand Ayatollah Hossein frqm a large area of the West Bank. AP American Islamic hard-liners and logue have not drawn the expected United States has earned the title ers" by trying to tum Iran to the Ali Montazeri, a dissident but se seek a detente with Washington. onslaught from the right-wing. of 'Great Satan,"' Parliament West. nior cleric, publicly asked how By Dafna Linzer Ross told reporters they had "good Several dozen right-wing Israe Khatami 's cal\ last month for a Lasl year, Khatami signaled deputy Ali ZadsarJirofti said Sun But he stopped short of con an un-elected official could out JERUSALEM (AP) - A U.S. discussions." lis demonstrated outside Ross' dialogue with the '"great Ameri his intentions when culture and day. demning Khatami, probably for rank the elected president. envoy sought an Israeli promise "I am here to work ori the pro hotel Tuesday, carrying signs say can people" is the strongest signal Islamic guidance. Mohajerani had . Last Friday, Khamenei also ac fear of a popular backlash. Some intellectuals have begun Tuesday to withdraw troops from cess, work with both sides, to try ing: "Israel is not for sale." for possible renewal of friendship come under fierce criticism three cused the United States of want Khamenei 's role as unquestioned to speak with unprecedented candor a large chunk of the West Bank and find ways to·move forward," Three trooppullbacks are called since the former allies broke ties years earlier by hard-liners for ing "to build a gap between the leader lost some luster recently about renewing ties with the United and a pledge from the Palestin Ross said. for in the Israel-PLO accords. States. ians to fight Islamic militants. Arafat told Ross he hoped the Netanyahu reluctantly embraced "Wesaytl1atwedon'thaveaquar Channel 2 TV said Israeli Prime talks would lead to further Israeli the idea lastJ anuary when he with rel with the representative of the Minister Benjamin Netanyahu re troop pullbacks, chief Palestinian drew from most of Hebron and UN approves Iraqi food distribution Americans, so when we quarrel with fused to tell envoy Dennis Ross negotiator Saeb Erekat said. commilted lo carry out the West it, we quan-el with the American how much of the West Bank he "We hope that Mr. Netanyahu Bank withdrawals by mid-1998. By Robert H. Reid in recent weeks. ing their individual quotas. "as soon a~ pos.~ible." people,"SadeghZibakalam,aTehran was willing week of moderate will not use his internal political At their summit, Clinton ex UNITEDNATIONS(AP)-lraq On Monday ,crude oil futures prices Moreover, Annan is expected this Iraq's oil minister, Amer University political science profes Foreign Minister David Levy has crisis for more settlement activi pects Netanyahu to present plans will resume selling oil as soon as slumped totheirlowestlevelsin more month to recommend a significant Mohammed Rasheed, said in sor, wrote in the weekly Aban. complicated matters. ties and confiscation of land," to add at least IO percent of the possible, Iraqi officials said Tues than two years on the New Y orl< increase in the amount of oil Iraq can Baghdad that exports would re Until now, the conventional wis The United States has said Erekat said. · WestBanklothe27percentwhcrc day, after the United Nations ap Mercantile Ex.change. Traders were sell under the oil-for-food progrdlll, sume "a couple of days" after the dom in Inm ha~ been that Khatami Levy's departure should not slow Without Levy in ·the Cabinet Palestinians now have autonomy proved Baghdad's plan for distrib concerned that increased Iraqi pump further adding to world petroleum plan wa~ approved. can go only so far in warming up to the peace process. President and his five-member Gesher fac - though Arafat's demands are uting humanitarian supplies pur ing would boost already ample sup supplies. U.N. officials said Iraq must Washington because foreign policy Clinton is to meet Netanyahu at tion in the parliamentary coali far higher. chased with oil revenues. plies. In early afternoon trading Tues Last month, the Security Council also submit a plan for setting the is Khamenci's domain. the White House on Jan. 20 and tion, Netanyahu is extremely vul Netanyahu adviser David Bar U.N. spokesman Juan-Carlos day, crude oil for February delivery renewed the program under which price ofoil to be sold this month. In But Khatami keeps defying con Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat nerable to a threatened rebellion Illan said the premier was pre Brandt said Secretary-General Kofi · wasup 16centsto$17.05a42-gallon Iraq can sell up to$2.14 billion worth Baghdad, the official Iraqi News ventional wisdom - in winning two days Iater. from hardliners who oppose cede: pared to go ahead with troop pull Annan approved the distribution barrel. of oil every six months to buy food Agency said the pricing formula election despite opposition by ultrn At the start of his meeting with ing any land. backs, but only if the Palestinians plan late Monday. Iraq stopped Energy futures have been retreat and medicine. was faxed to U.N. headquarters in conservativcs,gcttinghisentireCabi Ross, Netanyahu said the talks At the same time, the prime live up to promises to rein in Is exports last moo th pending approval ing for weeks following the Organi But Iraqi refused to resume exports New York on Tuesday. net approvedandl,L~t month oversee are "part of a chain of activities minister faces pressure from mod lamic militants, confiscate illegal of the plan. zationofPetroleumExportingCoun until the United Nations signed off on llie plan is up:Jated monthly ing a wanning of ties with Saudi 1 the U.S.,along with lsrael and the erates in the government to carry weapons and reduce their secu Thcannouncement was expected tries' decision to raise its daily output its distribution plan. Iraq's U.N. am based on world market prices. Ambia after decades of icy rela Palestinian Authority, seek in ad out the pullout. They are also rity force. to put more pressure on world oil ceiling by nearly IO percent Many bassador, Nizar Hamdoon, said U.N.officialssaiditordinarilytakes '\ tions. vancing the peace process." threatening to bring down his coa "There is no question that there prices, which have been tumbling members had already been exceed- Baghdad expected to resume sales about two days to review and en After that meeting, Ross trav lition, which now rests on a mini will be a very tight linkage with dor.;e the monthly pricing formula, l eled to the autonomous West Bank mal majority of 61 outof120par Palestinian compliance meaning Irnq could resume ex Sonny... 3 town of Bethlehem to see Arafat. liament seats. with theirobligations underthe 0 ports by the end of the week. <::ontinued from page 1_~ C ~ Iraq ha~ been banned from freely (I) exporting petroleum since 1990, demand for his GOP fund-raising o..· whcnthcSccurityCouncil imposed speeches peppered with I lolly~ 0 0. s:mctions to punish Baghdad for wood anecdotes. en I le w:1, elected to Congress :1, a 3 invading neighboring Kuwait At (!) the time, lmq wa~ pumping more Republican representing the Palm z th,m 3 million b,uTCls a day. Springs area in 1994. +-> After a U.S.-led coalition drove '"l11ela,tthing in thewrnid I thought (]) ·.::: thelraqisfromKuwaitin 1991,the 1 would be is a U.S. congrcssm,m, - council decided to maintain the given all die bobcat vest,:md Eskimo g boots I used to we,u-," Bono said in U) s:mctionsuntil U.N. inspectors had 0 certified that Irnq had destroyed all 1995. C long-range missiles and weapons Fellow Republican Rep. Jim -~ Saxton of New Jeroey remembered 0 of ma<;S destruction. 2 U.N. inspectors have accused Bono a~ someone who meant busi Irnq offailing to disclose all details ness. "He had to work hard justto get ofi ts illegal weapons programs and past the perception that he was just a of hindering inspections. funny guy," Saxton said. In December 1996, the sanc "He earned respect by being a tions were eased to al low Iraq to witty and wise participant in sell limited amounts of oil to buy policymaking processes that often food and medicine for its people. seem p6nderous to the American U.N. monitors oversee the distri people," President Clinton said. "He Iraqis on Monday, the sixth day of the holy month of Ramadan, buy Baklava sweets from the money they made us laugh even as he brought his bution to make sure the supplies are Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, left, and US envoy Dennis Ross shake hands at the beginning of their saved for this month. Only the well-off can relish their baklava, the walnut-stuffed sticky sweets which for ownastuteperspectivetothe workof ages have been a hallmark of Ramadan in Iraq. AP equitably distributed. meeting held at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem Tuesday where Ross sought a pledge from Congress." Palestinians lo fight Islamic militants. AP · THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1998 -MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-21 20-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS THURSDAY-JANUARY 8, 1998 DEADLINE:12:00 noon the day prior to publication ____ ~ -----i IN 11-IE SUPERIOR COURTOPTIIE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN Man on FBl's Most Wanted caught -~tftlarianas %rietr~ NOTE: . If some reason your advertisement is incorrect, call us I MARIANA ISLANDS list immediately to make the necessary corrections. The Marianas Variety accomplices during the robbery. Bank of Guam, By MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN 'Toe am:st ... is an exceptional 'FBI obtained a federal warrantcharg News and Views 1s responsible only for one incorrect insertion. We 1 Two of the accomplices were ar reserve the right to edit. refuse. reject or cancel any ad at any time. i Plain1iff. WASIDNGTON (AP) -A Viet example of the benefits of coopern ing him with flight to avoid prosecu Classified· Ads -s·ectio·n · ·V· rested almost immediately when one Singeru I. Techur and Dionicia K. Techur, fka namese man on the FBl's 10 Most tioninevery level oflawenforcement tion. Nguyen, a native of Soc Trang, of them sought medical attention. Dionicia Q. Kapileo, Wantedlistwascapturedby policein - local, s~te, national and interna Vietnam, was put on the 10 Most Defen ..:._ ..... ;;Jj~~~a~r~gtll~i~~~so~'lMVP · · By Pi'lscllla T. Castro p<>int .. sysiem- due to the MTC Variety News Staff ...... arid McDohalds tie, •. . Russian teenage tennis star Anna Kournikova limbers up for a practice INTER COMMERCIAL. • ···: ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) - Agassi, trying to fight his way back Andre Agassi put his preparntion for into the top 20, was down a set to this month's Australian Open into Sargsian on Tuesday before· min gear Wednesday when he came from stopped play. Sargsian won the first behind to beat Sargis Sargsian of set 6-4 and led the second 3-2 as Armenia in a rain-halted first round Agassi was plagued by unforced er match at the Australian men's rors despite strong support from the hardcourt tennis tournament at Me capacity Adelaide crowd. Sumo grand champion Takanohana, accompanied by sword bearer Takatoriki, opens arms to perform the new year's first "dohyoiri, "or a ring entering ceremony at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine Wednesday. Takanohana and morial Drive. Continued on page 2'3 ,--~------his fellow grand champion Akebono showed their skills at the annual event. AP ~·."°7· o,-.. ., c?Jarianas %riety;~. ~~ t'>' .• ': Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 ~ P.O. Box 231 Saipan. MP 96950 • Tel. (670) 234-6341 • 7578 • 9797 Fax: (670) 234-9271