a n a n a s V a r i e t y ™ ™ Micronesia’s Leading Newspaper Since 1972 voi: 21 No. Í10 Saipan, MP 96950 ©1992 Marianas Variety Thursday ■ August 20,1002 Serving CNMI for 20 Years Miller demands explanation One-on-one controversy A GOVERNMENT press state­ ment released about two weeks ago and retracted on Monday about a one-on-one meeting be­ tween Governor Lorenzo I. Guerrero and Rep. George Miller may make it more difficult for the CNMI to gain the sympathy of the latterin theongoing congressional investigation of local labor and immigration problems. At the same time, Miller, who chairs the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, said in a letter to Guerrero dated Aug. 12, that the US Congress was considering alternative actions to stop the exploitation of alien workers and discourage evasion of US laws by the local garment industry. Referring to the press release issued by the governor’s public information office after the July 30 oversight hearing in Washing­ ton, Miller said: “Since no meet­ GOVERNOR Lorenzo I. Guerrero receives a baseball from officials of the Department of Natural Resources during yesterday's signing of the ing was requested or occurred, I proclamation designating SepL 14-19 as CNMI Arbor Week. am sure you understand my con­ sternation to read, in your state­ ment, that ‘Today’s meeting im­ plies Congressman Miller remains Court awards $2.4M an ally of Governor Guerrero and the Commonwealth and points to gang a good working relationship with Congress.” to scuba diver’s family linked to 3 Miller demanded an explana­ By Gaynor L. Dumat-ol Japanese company and was earn­ Hirai while they were maneu­ tion on how “these blatantly inac­ ing more than $60,00 a year. vering m the tunnel that the theft cases curate statements were issued” by THE FAMILY of Akinobu Ilo, The $2.4 million due to the former was running out of air. Guerrero’s office. the Japanese who died after family of the dead Japanese, ac­ Hirai gave the diver his octopus POLICE authorities have uncov­ “These events are very disturb­ running out of oxygen while cording to the judgment, was the regulator. ered a teenage gang believed re­ ing to me personally and cannot scuba diving at the tunnel in estimated total earnings of Ito if When Hirai surfaced, he no­ sponsible for at least three recent help but raise questions about the Grotto in 1988, should be paid he were alive and working until ticed that Ito has not followed burglary and theft cases in Saipan accuracy and reliability of infor­ $2.4 million in damages for the 70 years old. him so he went down again and stofes. mation provided to me by your “wrongful death,” the Superior Yamagishi and Hirai had to pay found Ito who appeared uncon­ Police Chief Antonio C. Reyes office." Court has ruled. damages for “negligence,” the scious. said the existence of the gang was He urged Guerrero to resolve Presiding Judge Pedro M. court said. Both failed to warn Ito But instead of bringing Ito to discovered after one of its four the CNMI’s labor problems. “In Atalig, in a judgment issued that the 100-foot deep water was the surface right after he was members, a male described only as under 16 years old, was arrested the meantime, the Congress has last June 22 yet, ordered de­ beyond the capability of a novice found, the complaint said Hirai early yesterday morning after a little, choice but to consider alter­ fendants Shigemi Yamagishi, diver, the suit filed on SepL 14 and Yamagishi attempted for “ 15 brief chase with police officers. native actions to ensure that the diving instructor, director and 1989 said. to 20 minutes” to resuscitate Ito The juvenile was arrested at the CNMI garment industry does not shareholder of Macro Energy On SepL 24,1988, while diving in the water. Inc. which taught scuba diving in Grotto waters, Ito's compan­ . A physician identified only as back of Saipan Grand Hotel at evade US laws and exploit for­ about 4 a.m. by a police team eign laborers...” to Ito; Nobuo Hirai, dive guide ion, Yosuhiro Fujitomi encoun­ a Dr. Takagi who happened to and supervisor of Ito during the tered a problem with his diving responding to a call that there were Guerrero’s response was dated be with the group of divers incident; and Marianas Ocean gear so both surfaced. burglars at Universal Novelties in the following day. “I most sin­ helped revive Ito who was Inc. to pay the amount to Ito’s While they were back on the brought onland about 10:36 aun. Susupe. cerely apologize for this unfomate family. surface, the complaint alleged, Ito’s pulse was still beating and When the police officers arrived event,” he said. “You and I did not The drowning victim’s wife Ito’s diving supervisor did not the diver vomittcd water. the four scampered away and the meet after the July 30th hearing.” Ryoko who was left with two check the lalter’s remaining air Minutes later, Ito’s pulse rate police officers gave chase. He said he also did not know children, was represented in supply. became weaker and at about 11 The arrested juvenile disclosed how the “misinformation hap­ court by the Fitzgerald Law When the group went under­ a.m., or 14 minutes after he was that he and his three other com­ pened. Guerrero said the newspa­ Office. water again, the suit claimed, Hirai brought to land, Ito’s pulse panions were all teenagers and per articles about the meeting ap­ The suit also named the in­ directed Ito to follow him and, on stopped beating. that all of them originated from peared a week before his return to surance carrier American Home their way back to the surface, the In June 1988, about three the Philippines, the police chief the Saipan on Aug. 11. Insurance Co. as defendant. diving instructor chose the long­ months before the incident, Ito said. (See the text of both letters on Ito, 46, died on SepL 24,1988. est and deepest way. and another Japanese, Yosuhiro “It is a sad thing to say that a page 5 ) He was employed by a major Minutes later, Ito signalled to continued on page 7 group of young Filipinos would continued on page 7 2-marianas variety NEWS AND VIEWS-THURSDAY-AUGUST 20,1992 THURSDAY, AUGUST 20,1992 -MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 W Q rld Affairs PI ____________________ Guerrero still waiting Senate clears doubts for result of probe on Cing-Camacho case on Demapan’s election By Rafael H. Arroyo US plans massive food airlift GOVERNOR Lorenzo I.. Guerrero said he had in­ Guerrero said yesterday he roam Somalia in the thousands, malia,” said Tony Knight of Save Libutti said US personnel would structed the attorney general to THE< SENATE yesterday legiti­ By REID G. MILLER The general, who leads a 34- would wait for the results of an the general replied: “If necessity the Children. ’’But if the US Is just not be involved in distribution wrap up its investigation of the mized the election of Juan S. member advance military team, investigation of the scuffle be­ demands that armed forces are going to dump the food in an and acknowledged that he and his incident. Demapan as its presiding officer MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) - The toldreporters the operation would tween Public Safety Director involvethreeC-141 Starlifterand needed to protect the planes and uncontrolled fashion, it could team weren’t fully prepared for Cing has filed an assault and by unanimously adopting a reso­ United States prepared Tuesday Gregorio Camacho and Senator: their crews, I would not hesitate cause more problems than it will the logistical problems they face. battery complaint against lution to confirm the actions of; to launch an airlift to starving eight smaller C-130 Hercules David M. Cing before deciding Somalis within48 hours, the start cargo planes. to recommend it.” solve.” “We know where we’re going Camacho for allegedly kicking the Senate majority in ousting Libutti also said he would con­ Food attracts the many armed and what we want to achieve, but on whether or not to discipline himandhiscaron Aug. 11 when former Senate President Joseph of a massive operation to deliver The US government expects to Camacho. sider air drops of food to starving bandits and militias roaming the we ’ ve got some homework to do,” Camacho and other DPS offi­ S. Inos. 145,000 tons of food in 60 days. ship 13,000 tons of food to So­ Guerrero was commenting on regions Of southern Somalia if largely desert nation. Some of the general said. cials and personnel were pick­ Senate Resolution 8-27, which As an advance US military team malia this month and 8,500 tons Senate President Juan them are hungry and loot food; Aid experts estimate 1.5 mil­ eting the Legislature because of was introduced by Senator Paul began laying the groundwork for in the first week of September, lack of security on the ground Demapan’s request that the prevents the planes from landing. some steal it to trade for more lion Somalis could starve within the delay in the passage of the A. Manglona, seeks to erase all the airlift, some aid agencies ex­ the US government’s coordina­ governor take disciplinary ac­ The amount of food the United weapons and ammunition. weeks if food is not delivered fiscal year 1992 budget. doubts regarding the removal of pressed concern the ambitious tor for Somali aid, Andrew tion against Camacho.