arianas %riet~~ lA • ••• • ... II ". • • I• •• • , . Vol. 23 No. 140 .. ..~ d . S '. 2' 99·'··· .. Saipan, MP 96950 ., , ©1994 Marianas Variety.. .'ues ay·. ept~mber 7, 1· .4 , ' Serving CNMlfiJr 22 Years . ..' .. -' Filipinos abhor abuse ment officials or denounce the By Rafael I. Santos It was the first public showing rape. .<.'~'..;' of anger by the Filipino commu­ reported abuses in the past years. CNMI investigators are still LEADERS of various Filipino nity against labor abuses which But the long years ofsilence seems looking into the allegations that a organizations have denounced have already been acknowledged to be disappearing in the light of pretty 24-year-old domestic what they called the widespread by the current administration. what others see as worsening la­ worker was sexually assaulted abuses being committed against GovernorFroilan C.Tenorio con­ bor problems. several times by her employer in ,JJ their compatriots especially in the firmed beforethe U.S, Senate last At a time the commonwealth Rota. The woman, who was island of Rota. ' week that labor abuses indeed government was pledging tougher evacuated from the "friendly is­ At thesame time, they also criti­ exist in the commonwealth. measures to curb labor abuses, land" by human rights advocates, cized the current and previous Philippine nationals on the is­ another serious crime was alleg­ is now living on the island await­ governments for doing little to land have been very reluctant to edly committed by an employer ing the outcome ofthe investiga­ stop the abuses. publicly criticize local govern- against his defenseless worker - tion. The alleged rape has angered the Philippine government and prompted Filipinos here to come together and identify possible ways that will help minimize if . not halt the labor abuses. Wendy Dotomei Action from RP awaited new to the islands. In fact, the Rolando Bigalbal, president of businessman said, such problems the Filipino organization CNMI­ do not only exist on Rota, but also Phil-USA, told more than a hun­ on Saipan and Tinian, dred Philippine workers Sunday Bigalbal, speaking in Filipino, night that labor abuses are nut Continued on page 11 CNMI fared well in hearing, says group HOTEL industry representatives migration were, in our opinion, from Saipan who were present in well taken and responded to by last Thursday's oversight hearing the CNMI delegation and we were in Washington D.C. on immigra­ greeted with a great deal of sensi­ tion has given the administration tivity for the islands' problems," high marks in presenting its case the HANMI said. Phil Kaplan (left), 8 human rights advocate, listens intently during a meeting of Filipino contract workers Sunday night. With him are some of the workers who denounced labor abuses, before the US Senate. The hearing held September At the same time, the Hotel 22nd (Washington, D.C. time) Association of the Northern called by a Senate Energy and Mariana Islands, in a statement Natural Resources Subcommit­ udit sees bleak future yesterday,expressed gladness that tee, focused on CNMI immigra­ the success of the hearing has tion matters and sought clarifica­ bought the CNMI more time to tion on the current labor situation for the casino industry deal with its own labor and immi­ in the Marianas. gration problems. The holding alone of the hear­ THECASINO industry onTinian, the previous state of affairs con- -uncertainty about whether ca- "Overall, we are pleased to re­ ing has caused a great deal of once the major economic hope of tinues, but also the Commission's sinos will become operational; port that the Senate Committee apprehension amongCNMI lead­ the island, may be facing an un- ability to continue operations. -present econorrfic downturn hearing went very well," thetwo­ ers about the possibilityoffederal certain future if remedial mea- "To date, the casino industry threatening the viability of hotel- page statement read. takeover of local immigration sures are not taken immediately has yet to fulfill the expected role casino investments; and "The concerns of the Commit- control. ~~TIcianC~oo~rni~ ~boosti~theisland's~oo~y ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Control Commission. or as a source ofrevenue for gov- r. According to an audit report ernment and local populace," submitted by Public Auditor Leo laMotte said in a cover letter to L.LaMotte, not only is the future the audit. report covering the of casinos on Tinian injeopardy if Commission's operations for fis­ Man found hanging cal years 1992 and 1993. "No casino has actually started Police probe apparent suicide in Koblerville operations and the unfavorable investment climate has made ac­ By Ferdie de la Torre Officers noticed several people foul play noted. tual casino operations more un­ in the apartment where the victim Meanwhile, a 29-year-old certain," LaMotte said. A 22-YEAR-old man died af­ was found lying on the floor: security guard Wasstabbed and He also expressed apprehen­ ter he was found hanging in Emergency Medical Techni­ 'serisuslywoundedby a man at sion about the Commission's fi­ his room ata Koblerville apart­ cians applied CPR before taking­ ~~'parking lot of Lens Restau­ nancial condition, notably a sub- ment Sunday night, the De­ the man to the Commonwealth. rant in Susupe: yesterday be­ stantial deficit, cash flow prob­ partment of Public Safetysaid Health,Center. The victim was fore dawn. lems and highoperating expenses yesterday. pronounced dead at 6:56 p.m, The victim, sustained a stab which according to the report has DPS Information Officer Police gathered that the victim wound in the upper chest. He raised substantial doubt about the Cathy Sheu said at 6:20 p.m. was found hanging in his room by was placed under observation Commission's ability to continue DPS received a call about a his friends. atCHC. operations. hanging case in Koblerville, Sheu said the case is' under in­ nie suspect, identified as The audit reveals that the future . prompting police officers to vestigation. It was not indicated FelixE. Mtochad, 33, was sub- of the industry is affected by the Leo L. LaMotte following: 2 2-MARIANAS VARIETY NeWS AND VIEWS-TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER :'7. 1994 I TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER27, 1994 -MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 Clinton defends Haiti policy Ii 2 in '92 kidnap-slay charged i By TOM RAUM bly, which is celebrating its 50th goslavia. But the president was expected Mandela visits Washington. By Rafael I. Santos Lito residence where they were Laude were locked in the trunk was run over by a wan being and battery charges with an affi­ anniversary this year. Clinton was expected to tell the to sound a more assertive note in "Their visits will be occasions punched, kicked and stomped by afterthe groupdecided to"throw" driven by Bowie. davit based on witness state­ NEW YORK (AP) - President The president was mixing his UnitedNationsthattheU.S.policy Monday's address, backing inter­ to reflecton theremarkabledemo­ CRIMINAL charges have been a agroupofmenincludingBowie them "off the cliff' in Laolao Laude's body was found early ments, medical reports, and tes­ Clinton is seeking international U.N. appearance with a series of in Haiti is working, despite un­ national partnerships where the cratic transformations of Russia filed against two Saipan men who and Reyes. bay. in the morning of November 6, a timony in Bowie trial which support for limiting military in­ meetings with world leaders. He certainties and violence such as United States leads but ones with and South Africa - which the allegedly participated in the 1992 VillagomezandManglona,who While on their way to the place, few blocks away from his burn­ ended last January. tervention in regional conflicts meets separately today with the what flared over the weekend. limited missions that depend on United States has done a great beating of two Filipino workers were present at that time, took the two were able to open the ing car, which was set ablaze by The defendants had admitted and allowing the world's trouble leaders of Azerbaijan, Romania "There is no question that the nations ultimately resolving their deal to promote," Clinton said in that led to the death of one of part in the beating, the govern­ trunk and Rivera managed to es­ the abductors. to participating in the beating of spots to resolve their own prob­ and Mexico. On Sunday, he held cooperation between the United own strife. his weekly radio address. them. ment said. cape. Laude tried to escape too Assistant Attorney General the two victims, Rotbart said in lems. talks with U.N. Secretary-Gen­ States, the U.N. and NATOisone Clinton was also expected to In that address, Clinton also Bruce Manglona and John After the beating, Rivera and and jumped off the car, but he' Charles Rotbart filed four assault his affidavit. In an address ·Monday to the eral Boutros Boutros-Ghali and that also is pointing to a direction focusonsome recent international said he planned to tell the General Villagomez were each charged United Nations, his second as with the president of Bosnia, Alija of how many regional problems successes - includi-ng the peace Assembly: "Our success in Haiti with two counts of assault and president, Clinton was expected Izetbegovic. can be solved and worked on to­ process in the Middle East, the to date shows that the international battery in an information filed New Labor rules take effect next week community, with American leader­ last week in Superior Court. to defend the U.S. occupation of After that session, a senior ad­ gether," U.S. Ambassador move toward stability in the re­ THE CNMI Labor Department Philippines would take effect Sat­ pino workers would now be re­ -physical examination con­ The government accused the Haiti while offering $30 million ministration official announced Madeleine Albright said,briefing publicans of the former Soviet ship,canachieve inhelping countries has reminded all employers in the urday, October l st.