Voice of America, 10 April 1996

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <[email protected]>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: LIBERIA'S CIVIL WAR AND THE NORTH KOREAN MANEUVERS IN AND AROUND THE D-M-Z PROVIDE MUCH OF THE EDITORIAL CONJECTURE TODAY IN THE U-S PRESS. OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE SOME ANTI-SEMETIC REMARKS BY ACTOR MARLON BRANDO; THE SLOWING ECONOMY; GUN SAFETY AND A GUILTY PLEA FROM A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STRONGMAN. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _________________, AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE SUDDEN RENEWED VIOLENCE IN LIBERIA'S LONG CIVIL WAR IS FRONT AND CENTER IN SEVERAL EDITORIAL COLUMNS, INCLUDING "THE WASHINGTON POST", WHICH LEADS WITH THESE COMMENTS:

VOICE: "DESTRUCTION AND SENSELESS KILLING WON'T LEAVE LIBERIA'S INNOCENT CIVILIANS ALONE. ONCE AGAIN, FIGHTING AND LOOTING RAGE IN THE STREETS OF MONROVIA, REFUGEES ARE ON THE MOVE, HOSTAGES ARE IN THE HANDS OF HOODLUMS, AND LASTING PEACE REMAINS A DISTANT DREAM. LIBERIA'S SIX-YEAR-NIGHTMARE GOES ON... THE WARLORDS, THOUGH THEY PRETEND TO WANT PEACE AND WILL SIGN AGREEMENTS PLACED BEFORE THEM, SEEM TO THIRST ONLY FOR POWER."

TEXT: "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION", A MAJOR DAILY IN THE SOUTH, FROM WHERE FREED SLAVES MIGRATED TO AFRICA TO FOUND LIBERIA, SUPPORTS U-S EFFORTS TO EVACUATE BOTH AMERICANS AND OTHER FOREIGN NATIONS STRANDED IN THE BELEAGUERED NATION.

VOICE: "IN 1990, PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH DISPATCHED THE MARINES TO EVACUATE 24-HUNDRED AMERICANS FROM LIBERIA. SO HOW IS IT THAT ONLY SIX YEARS LATER AMERICANS ARE IN A SIMILAR FIX [PREDICAMENT]? FIRST OF ALL, THE CURRENT DANGER AROSE ABRUPTLY AFTER A LULL IN LIBERIA'S SIX-YEAR CIVIL WAR. THE SEVEN-MONTH PAUSE RAISED HOPES FOR PEACE, BUT LIBERIA'S VARIOUS WARLORDS REFUSED TO ALLOW THEIR HOODLUM LEGIONS TO BE DISARMED. A BREACH OF THEIR TRUCE PROBABLY WAS INEVITABLE... THE AMERICANS IN LIBERIA ARE BY NO MEANS ADVENTURERS ON A LARK, [A FANCIFUL ADVENTURE TRIP] AND IT IS RIGHT AND PROPER THAT WASHINGTON DISPATCH TROOPS TO RESCUE THEM... AS THE ONLY NATION WITH RESCUE CAPABILITY IN LIBERIA, THE UNITED STATES ALSO SHOULD HELP STRANDED FOREIGN NATIONALS AND LIBERIANS WITH DUAL U-S CITIZENSHIP."

TEXT: IN MARYLAND, THE BALTIMORE'S "SUN" SAYS THE AFRICAN COUNTRY WITH THE MOST U-S INFLUENCE "IS ALSO ONE OF THE SADDEST", BUT ADDS ONLY THE LIBERIANS CAN HELP THEMSELVES.

VOICE: "LIBERIANS WHO HAD HOPED SINCE 1989 THAT THE AMERICANS WOULD RESTORE SERENITY ARE AGAIN DISABUSED. THE YANKS ARE NOT COMING TO 'THEIR' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] RESCUE. LIBERIANS MUST PUT THEIR HOUSE IN ORDER BECAUSE, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, NO ONE ELSE WILL."

TEXT: HOWEVER, IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" OFFERS A MORE SYMPATHETIC VIEW:

VOICE: "NEITHER THE U-S CITIZENS THERE [IN MONROVIA] NOR THE SUFFERING LIBERIAN PEOPLE THEMSELVES CAN BE ABANDONED TO THE HORROR THAT OTHERWISE AWAITS."

TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL TROUBLE SPOT, THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE BETWEEN THE TWO KOREAS, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS OF THE COMMUNIST NORTH'S "PUZZLING MANEUVERS:"

VOICE: "NORTH KOREA'S ACTION UNDERSCORES THE HAZARDOUS REALITIES OF EAST ASIA EVEN AS THE COLD WAR RECEDES IN MEMORY. COMING ON THE EVE OF A VISIT TO THE REGION BY PRESIDENT CLINTON, IT ALSO PROVIDES A REMINDER THAT THE AMERICAN MILITARY PRESENCE PROMOTES STABILITY IN THE AREA. [OPT] WHILE NOT WANTING TO SAY SO PUBLICLY, FOR EXAMPLE, MANY ASIAN NATIONS PRIVATELY WELCOMED THE SHOW OF STRENGTH BY THE UNITED STATES NAVY WHEN CHINA FIRED MISSILES INTO THE TAIWAN STRAIT IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE TAIWANESE ELECTION." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, TODAY'S "DENVER POST" RUNS A GEORGIA ANNE GEYER COLUMN HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE WORLD'S, AND, SPECIFICALLY, THE UNITED STATES', RESPONSE TO PAST NORTH KOREAN INTRANSIGENCE. MS. GEYER SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "DESPITE THE INNOCENT HOPES OF THE [CLINTON] ADMINISTRATION THAT THE 1994 NUCLEAR DEAL WOULD MAKE FOR A KINDER, GENTLER PYONGYANG, THAT IS NOT HAPPENING. INDEED, AS THE NORTH'S ECONOMIC SITUATION GETS EVER WORSE, AND AS STARVATION OVERTAKES MORE OF THAT UNFORTUNATE LAND, THE GOVERNMENT THERE HAS BECOME ONLY MORE CRUEL AND DESPERATE INSTEAD OF MORE AMENABLE AND OPEN."

TEXT: ON THE DOMESTIC FRONT, RECENT COMMENTS BY ACTOR MARLON BRANDO, THAT SOME PEOPLE INTERPRETED AS VIOLENTLY ANTI-SEMITIC, HAVE DRAWN CRITICISM FROM SEVERAL PAPERS, INCLUDING "THE NEW YORK POST":

VOICE: "IF ANY FURTHER EVIDENCE WERE NEEDED THAT MARLON BRANDO'S OFF-SCREEN PERSONALITY ISN'T ATTRACTIVE, THE FADING STAR PROVIDED IT DURING AN APPEARANCE LAST WEEK ON [THE CABLE TELEVISION INTERVIEW SHOW] 'LARRY KING LIVE.' [MR.] BRANDO OFFERED UP A POINTLESS, RAMBLING AND BITTER DIATRIBE ON HOW JEWS CONTROL HOLLYWOOD... IT'S PLAIN THAT MARLON BRANDO'S DISTASTE FOR JEWISH-OWNED FILM STUDIOS WAS NEVER SO POWERFUL AS TO MAKE HIM RELUCTANT TO WORK FOR THEM... WHILE ILL-INFORMED VIEWS OF AN AGING MISANTHROPE AREN'T PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT, THERE'S SOMETHING SAD, AND DISTURBING, ABOUT WATCHING AN EX-STAR REDUCE HIMSELF IN THIS FASHION."

TEXT: IN THE FIRST OF A LONG, TWO-PART EDITORIAL, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" TALKS ABOUT THE SLOWING U-S ECONOMY AND WHAT IT SAYS ARE FOUR MAIN BUT FALSE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM.

VOICE: "ECONOMIC INSECURITY AND APPREHENSION CLOUD THE FUTURES OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. WAGES ARE STAGNATING FOR LOWER-INCOME PEOPLE, WHILE THE SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS OF TOP EXECUTIVES SOAR INTO THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. POLITICAL FIGURES, QUICK TO PICK UP THE POPULAR MOOD, HAVE RUSHED FORWARD WITH SOLUTIONS... SINCE 1973, ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE UNITED STATES HAS SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY... ECONOMISTS HAVE LONG BEEN AWARE OF THE SLOWDOWN, BUT IT TOOK A WHILE FOR IT TO SEEP INTO THE POPULAR CONSCIOUSNESS... MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE QUICK TO PROFFER SOLUTIONS NEGLECT TO MENTION THAT ECONOMISTS ARE NOT REALLY SURE WHY THIS SLOWDOWN OCCURRED."

TEXT: GUN SAFETY IS ONCE AGAIN IN THE EDITORIALS, AS "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" LAMENTS YET ANOTHER YOUTHFUL SHOOTING, AND A NEW SURVEY.

VOICE: "ON MONDAY, THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND DID A GOOD JOB OF REMINDING US OF THIS HORROR. A REPORT BY THE NATIONAL CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER REVEALS THAT GUNS ARE SECOND ONLY TO MOTOR VEHICLE WRECKS AS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG CHILDREN UNDER AGE 20. ..... JUST AS THIS COUNTRY HAS TACKLED DISEASES THAT KILL, SO MUST IT ERADICATE CHILD GUN INJURIES AND FATALITIES. IT'S TIME THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, WHO SUPPORT GUN RESTRICTIONS THAT WILL SAVE CHILDREN'S LIVES, SAY, 'ENOUGH.'"

TEXT: AND LASTLY IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" SAYS OF THE GUILTY PLEA ENTERED TUESDAY HERE IN WASHINGTON BY FORMER POWERFUL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN DAN ROSTENKOWSKI.

VOICE: "NO PROPER PUNISHMENT, HOWEVER, CAN BE INFLICTED FOR THE LASTING DAMAGE HE DID TO PUBLIC TRUST IN THE CONGRESS."

TEXT: AND ON THAT LARCENOUS NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE DAY'S EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.

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10-Apr-96 11:34 AM EDT (1534 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / AID (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION ISSUED A LAST-MINUTE INVITATION TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE THIS WEEK IN BRUSSELS WHICH ORGANIZERS HOPE WILL RAISE MORE THAN ONE-BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THE INVITATION FOLLOWED PROGRESS BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS IN RELEASING THEIR REMAINING PRISONERS OF WAR.

TEXT: ON TUESDAY, THE EUROPEAN UNION WAS STILL INTENDING TO EXCLUDE THE BOSNIAN SERBS FROM THE CONFERENCE. BUT THERE WAS A CHANGE OF HEART WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING ADVICE FROM THE UNITED NATIONS' HIGH REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA, CARL BILDT.

MR. BILDT HAD EARLIER SAID THE BOSNIAN SERBS WERE NOT IN LINE WITH REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS OF WAR, HAVING FAILED TO MEET THE DEADLINE OF LAST FRIDAY FOR DOING SO. HOWEVER, THREE PRISONERS WERE RELEASED BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS TUESDAY, WHILE A FURTHER 16 ARE BEING HELD ON SUSPICION OF HAVING COMMITTED WAR CRIMES.

E-U OFFICIALS SAY DETAILS ABOUT THE 16 HAVE BEEN SENT ON TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS IN THE HAGUE, AND THE 16 ARE NO LONGER BEING HELD IN JAILS.

THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT APPEARS TO HAVE CHANGED MR. BILDT'S THINKING, AND HE HAS INFORMED THE EUROPEAN UNION THE BOSNIAN SERBS SHOULD NOW BE INVITED TO THE INTERNATIONAL DONORS' CONFERENCE. IN ALL, A TOTAL OF 29 PRISONERS OF WAR ARE STILL BEING DETAINED BY THE VARIOUS FACTIONS IN BOSNIA, WITH ABOUT 200 HAVING BEEN FREED IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

THE AID CONFERENCE HAS THE AIM OF RAISING ONE-POINT-TWO-BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA THIS YEAR. THIS IS ON TOP OF 680-MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH WAS PLEDGED AT A SIMILAR CONFERENCE IN DECEMBER.

EUROPEAN COMMISISON SPOKESMAN NICO WEGTER SAYS ALL SIDES IN BOSNIA NOW QUALIFY FOR THIS INITIAL AID PROGRAM, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PARTIES IN THE NEW FEDERAL BOSNIAN STATE. HOWEVER, MORE REFORMS WILL BE NEEDED IF THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE TO RECEIVE AID BEYOND THE END OF THIS YEAR.

IN PARTICULAR, THERE MUST BE AN END TO RESTRICTIONS ON THE FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA, AND THERE MUST BE EXPANDED EFFORTS TO ALLOW ALL CITIZENS OF BOSNIA TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES.

IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS INDICATED IT IS PREPARED TO GRANT DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO. THIS FOLLOWS A MOVE BY THE YUGOSLAVIA TO NORMALIZE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH MACEDONIA. (SIGNED)

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10-Apr-96 9:27 AM EDT (1327 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CROATIA / POL BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (ZAGREB)

INTRO: MANY ANALYSTS BELIEVE CROATIA'S PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN EMERGED AS THE REAL VICTOR FROM THE LONG BLOODY CONFLICTS IN THE BALKANS. CROATIAN FORCES RECAPTURED TERRITORY LONG HELD BY REBEL SERBS, AND ZAGREB GOVERNMENT TROOPS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN A SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE BY BOSNIAN MUSLIM AND CROAT FORCES THAT SET THE STAGE FOR THE DAYTON PEACE CONFERENCE. BUT, SINCE THE END OF THE WAR, PRESIDENT TUDJMAN HAS BEEN FORCED TO WAGE A DIFFERENT KIND OF BATTLE -- AN INCREASINGLY BITTER CONFRONTATION WITH HIS DOMESTIC POLITICAL OPPONENTS. DOUGLAS ROBERTS FILED THIS BACKGROUND REPORT AFTER A RECENT VISIT TO ZAGREB.

TEXT: FOR MOST OF THIS YEAR, POLITICS IN CROATIA HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS DISPUTE OVER WHO IS TO BE MAYOR OF ZAGREB.

AN ALLIANCE OF SEVEN OPPOSITION PARTIES GAINED CONTROL OF THE CITY ASSEMBLY IN LAST OCTOBER'S NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS. EARLY IN JANUARY, THE ALLIANCE SUBMITTED ITS CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR.

PRESIDENT TUDJMAN REJECTED THE NOMINEE. THE OPPOSITION NOMINATED A SECOND CANDIDATE. HE TOO WAS REJECTED BY THE PRESIDENT, AND THE SAGA CONTINUES.

A TOTAL OF FOUR OPPOSITION FIGURES HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE MAYORAL POST. MR. TUDJMAN HAS APPROVED NONE OF THEM. THE CROATIAN LEADER HAS PUT FORWARD HIS OWN CANDIDATE. BUT SHE HAS TWICE BEEN REJECTED BY THE CITY ASSEMBLY.

THE DISPUTE HAS PROVOKED SOME BITTER RHETORICAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN OPPOSITION LEADERS AND THE PRESIDENT'S SUPPORTERS IN THE CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION, WHICH REMAINS THE DOMINANT POLITICAL FORCE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

OPPOSITION LEADERS HAVE ACCUSED THE PRESIDENT OF DICTATORIAL, EVEN MONARCHAL AMBITIONS. MR. TUDJMAN'S SUPPORTERS HAVE COUNTERED WITH CHARGES OF AN OPPOSITION CONSPIRACY AIMED AT DESTABILIZING THE COUNTRY.

BOTH SIDES AGREE CONTROL OF ZAGREB IS A PRIZE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. THE CAPITAL IS HOME TO ONE-QUARTER OF CROATIA'S FOUR-POINT-TWO-MILLION PEOPLE. IT IS ALSO THE INDUSTRIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTER OF THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

SOME ANALYSTS BELIEVE PRESIDENT TUDJMAN CANNOT ALLOW THE OPPOSITION TO RULE THE CITY BECAUSE IT COULD UNDERMINE THE AUTHORITY OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. OTHERS OFFER A LESS CHARITABLE EXPLANATION.

ZAGREB UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR ZARKO PUHOVSKI IS AMONG THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT IS SIMPLY UNWILLING TO SURRENDER ANY AUTHORITY TO THE OPPOSITION.

HE HAS SHOWN THAT I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANYONE OF YOU (OPPOSITION) IN MY COURT. THIS IS MUCH MORE A BEHAVIOR LIKE SOME KIND OF NAPOLEON THE THIRD, SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO RE-INVENT THE MONARCHY, THAN OF ANY KIND OF MODERN POLITICIAN, INCLUDING RIGHT-WING OR AUTHORITARIAN POLITICIANS.

SOME ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE STALEMATE CAN BE RESOLVED ONLY THROUGH A NEW ROUND OF ELECTIONS IN THE CITY. BUT OTHERS ARE LESS CERTAIN.

AN OPPOSITION FIGURE WHO WAS AMONG THOSE NOMINATED FOR MAYOR, JOZO RADOS, IS CONFIDENT A NEW ROUND OF VOTING WOULD NOT ALTER THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE ZAGREB ASSEMBLY.

THE OPPOSITION WOULD DO EVEN BETTER, HE SAYS. ZAGREB USED TO BE A FORTRESS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC UNION, BUT THE VOTERS HAVE CHANGED THEIR MINDS.

MR. RADOS SAYS THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY REMAINS STRONG IN THE CROATIAN COUNTRYSIDE, BUT HE SAYS IN THE CITIES THERE ARE GROWING DEMANDS FOR CHANGE.

IN A WAY, IT IS TRUE WHAT PRESIDENT TUDJMAN HAS SAID IN MANY OPPORTUNITIES: THIS SEVEN-PARTY COALITION IS SOMETHING WHICH CANNOT LAST FOREVER.

THE DISPUTE IN ZAGREB IS JUST ONE SIGN OF THE DISCONTENT THAT HAS EMERGED IN CROATIA SINCE THE END OF THE BALKAN CONFLICT.

DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS, RAILWAY AND POSTAL WORKERS HAVE GONE ON STRIKE IN SUPPORT OF WAGE DEMANDS. THERE ARE RUMORS SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE CONSIDERING A WALK-OUT, AND THERE IS TALK OF A GENERAL STRIKE.

THERE ALSO HAVE BEEN PROTESTS BY FARMERS AND FISHERMEN, DEMONSTRATIONS BY STUDENT GROUPS, AND SHARP CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION AND SOME CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADERS.

JOZO RADOS SAYS THE CRITICISM IS LIKELY TO GAIN IN INTENSITY IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. PRESIDENT TUDJMAN AND HIS PARTY, SAYS THE OPPOSITION LEADER, ARE SIMPLY NOT PREPARED FOR THE POST-WAR SITUATION.

ZARKO PUHOVSKI AGREES WITH THAT ASSESSMENT. HE CREDITS PRESIDENT TUDJMAN WITH GUIDING CROATIA TO INDEPENDENCE AND VICTORY OVER REBEL SERB FORCES. BUT HE SAYS THOSE ARE NO LONGER THE DOMINANT THEMES IN CROATIAN SOCIETY.

INCREASINGLY, SAYS PROFESSOR PUHOVSKI, BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES ARE COMING TO THE FORE. HE ADDS ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ARE EMERGING AS THE DOMINANT THEMES. (SIGNED)

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10-Apr-96 12:26 PM EDT (1626 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMANY / KURDS (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: FOUR KURDS SUSPECTED OF BEING LEADING MEMBERS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, THE P-K-K, HAVE GONE ON TRIAL IN GERMANY. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS THE SUSPECTS ARE ACCUSED OF ORDERING A SERIES OF ATTACKS AGAINST TURKISH BUSINESSES AND INTERESTS IN GERMANY.

TEXT: AS A CROWD OF ANGRY SUPPORTERS LOOKED ON, PROSECUTORS TOLD THE STUTTGART COURT THE FOUR SUSPECTS ARE REGIONAL LEADERS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY.

AS PARTY LEADERS, PROSECUTORS SAY THE THREE MEN AND ONE WOMAN SHARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KILLING OF DISSIDENT GROUP MEMBERS, AND A SERIES OF FIREBOMB ATTACKS ORDERED AGAINST TURKISH PROPERTIES IN GERMANY.

AUTHORITIES SAY THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS MURDER AND KILLING, AND THEY ACCUSE THE SUSPECTS OF IMPLEMENTING ORDERS AND CARRYING OUT MILITANT ACTIONS.

DEFENSE LAWYERS SAY NONE OF THE SUSPECTS HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF DIRECT PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN ANY OF THE ATTACKS FOR WHICH THEY ARE BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE.

THE LAWYERS ALSO SAY IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEIR KURDISH CLIENTS TO GET A FAIR TRIAL IN GERMANY BECAUSE OF THE WIDESPREAD ANGER FOLLOWING A WAVE OF VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS LAST MONTH.

IN RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTS, THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MOVING TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS FOR EXPELLING KURDISH RADICALS CONVICTED OF ENGAGING IN VIOLENCE. (SIGNED)

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10-Apr-96 11:51 AM EDT (1551 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-N/SERBIA (S ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS ( GENEVA )

INTRO: THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES HAS LODGED A STRONG PROTEST WITH THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT OVER THE DETENTION OF 13 BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AT A SERBIAN REFUGEE CAMP. THE DETAINEES WERE AMONG A GROUP OF MORE THAN 200 MUSLIMS WHO WERE DUE TO RETURN TO BOSNIA WEDNESDAY. AS WE HEAR FROM VOA'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS, U-N-H-C-R OFFICIALS IN GENEVA ARE CALLING THE SERBIAN ACTION TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

TEXT: U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN RON REDMOND SAID THE MUSLIMS WERE ARRESTED AT A CAMP IN WESTERN SERBIA EARLY WEDNESDAY AS THEY WAITED TO BOARD U-N CHARTERED BUSES BOUND FOR THE BOSNIAN TOWNS OF TUZLA AND ZENICA. TWO HUNDRED AND ELEVEN REFUGEES WERE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE CAMP. SERBIAN AUTHORITIES SAID THE 13 OTHERS WERE DETAINED, PENDING AN INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES. MR. REDMOND CALLED THE SERBIAN ACTION RIDICULOUS. HE SAID THE DETAINEES HAD BEEN IN SERBIA SINCE LAST AUTUMN, AND ANY INFORMATION ON POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENTED LONG AGO TO THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. THE SPOKESMAN SAID U-N-H-C-R IS DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE DETAINEES AND THEIR RETURN TO BOSNIA. THE REFUGEES AT THE CAMP WERE AMONG NEARLY 800 MUSLIMS WHO FLED THE ENCLAVES OF SREBRENICA AND ZEPA, OVER-RUN BY BOSNIAN SERB FORCES LAST SUMMER. MANY HAD SPENT WEEKS IN HIDING BEFORE CROSSING THE DRINA RIVER TO SEEK ASYLUM IN SERBIA. MORE THAN HALF THE REFUGEES HAVE BEEN RE-SETTLED IN THIRD COUNTRIES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. ONLY ABOUT 50 REMAIN AT THE CAMP, AND THEY, TOO, ARE AWAITING RESETTLEMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/DR/MH/JM
10-Apr-96 1:59 PM EDT (1759 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America