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FBIS4-4360_0 | * Energy Minister on Achievements, 1994 Plans | CSO [Article by Kieu Xuan Sang] [Text] Editor's note: At the end of 1993, Minister of Energy Thai Phung Ne answered a number of reporters' questions about the implementation of the 1993 plan and the 1994 tasks of the energy sector. The following are some of the ideas of the minister. I. The Implementation of the 1993 Plan 1. On electricity production and supply: In 1993, both production and commodity electricity supplied to satisfy economic and social needs exceeded the plan and increased as compared with 1992. Production electricity reached 10.641 billion kwh, 5.29 percent above the planned norm and an increase of 10.25 percent as compared with 1992. Commodity electricity reached 7.794 billion kwh, 4.14 percent above the planned norm and an increase of 12.45 percent as compared with 1992. The program to overcome electricity shortages in southern and central Vietnam was carried on actively. In the south, as a result of adding another 100-mw gas turbine and filling the reservoirs of the Tri An and Da Nhim hydroelectric plants at the end of last year and because of the measures used to mobilize the various sources of electricity, both production and supply electricity exceeded the plan and increased greatly as compared with 1992. Specifically, production electricity exceeded the plan by 9.18 percent and increased 16.48 percent as compared with 1992, and commodity electricity exceeded the plan by 8.71 percent and increased 16.69 percent as compared with 1992. This ensured a normal supply of electricity during the dry season and prevented electricity blackouts as in previous years. In central Vietnam, too, the distribution of electricity improved because of the use of measures to strengthen obtaining electricity from the northern system and bring electricity to Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh in conjunction with regulating the diesel sources of electricity among the regions. Because of this, as compared with 1992, the electricity received and produced increased 18.48 percent and commodity electricity increased 17.6 percent. Bringing electricity to rural and mountainous areas has continued to expand. At present, more than 81 percent of the districts and more than 55 percent of the villages in the country are receiving electricity from the national electricity network. The sector has coordinated things with the localities in order to expand the program to reduce electric energy losses. Very encouraging initial results have been achieved in key areas: In Haiphong City, January energy losses in Haiphong City |
FBIS4-4360_4 | * Energy Minister on Achievements, 1994 Plans | number of shafts in accord with the technical requirements in the mining process, and this has affected the preparation of natural resources. 3. On capital construction: In 1993, with the concentration of state investments, the energy sector implemented a large number of capital construction projects: Sources of electricity: Turbines 6 and 7 of the Hoa Binh hydroelectric plant were put on line, and preparations were made for putting the final turbine into operation by the beginning of 1994. The Thac Mo hydroelectric project blocked the Be River in December 1993. Together with the Vinh Son hydroelectric plant, construction on this plant is progressing based on a schedule of putting turbine 1 into operation in June 1994 and completing construction on the project by the end of 1994. Construction on the Yaly hydroelectric project got underway at the beginning of November 1993. Electricity projects to support the 1994 dry season in the south, which include the Ba Ria 100-mw gas turbine group and the Ba Ria-Long Binh 220-kv landline, are being constructed at a rapid pace. Three large projects to help satisfy electricity needs during the period 1996-2000 and in the future are the Phu My thermoelectric project (600 mw), the Pha Lai II thermoelectric project (600 mw), and the Ham Thuan-Da Mi hydroelectric group (472 mw). Efforts have been concentrated on carrying out procedures in order to take ODA [Official Development Assistance] loans from the Japanese Government. The electricity network: Construction on the 500-kv north-south electricity carrier system has been stepped up. The technical plans have been completed, and an overall estimate has been submitted to the premier. Contracts for importing materials and equipment have been signed, and except for the electric cable, which arrived late, almost all of the project materials and equipment arrived on time. As for construction, in December 1993, the foundation was completed, and the pillars were erected (including the reinforcements). Stretching the carrier lines and lighting arrester lines was basically completed. Some of the construction work on the four transformer stations, one compensation station, and national electricity moderating center has been completed, and some of the equipment has been installed. Along with the rate of construction on the 500-kv system, construction is urgently being carried on on the connecting projects, landlines, and synchronized 110- and 220-kv stations with the above sources in order to use the 500-kv carrier system to supply electricity to southern and |
FBIS4-4371_2 | Article Views Participation in UN Peacekeeping | peacekeeping and would-be peacekeeping operations which has put not only an unprecedented strain on the UN's budget but has also taxed the tempers of its members. The US-led coalition's actions against Iraq during the Gulf War of 1991 generated angst among Muslim populations, including Malaysians, and this has now gravitated to Bosnia-Herzegovina. It takes little explaining as to why a country like Malaysia has cried foul over the excruciatingly tardy pace at which the West has deemed it fit to act with force in Bosnia, and that too on a scale and level well below that of the action in the Gulf. Malaysia's strident stance on the Bosnian issue stresses this "double standard" of the West, which, it hopes, rests on economics (the oil factor of Kuwait) and not Western ethnocentrism or xenophobia (the birth of an Islamic Balkan state). Thus, it may be argued that Malaysia' involvement in the Unprofor (the UN Protection Force) operation in Bosnia is as much motivated by politics geared or targeted either at the international Islamic audience or the predominantly Muslim population at home. This is not to say that humanitarianism is not a factor in such policies but perhaps altruism dovetails well here with political motivation. The politics, one hastens to add, is borne of a genuine concern with Western callousness and double standards on human rights and its lack of appreciation of Islamic perspectives. In contrast, the Cambodian action which now counts among one of the UN's successful peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations presented no political dilemmas to Malaysia or conflict with the West. Indeed, Asean's high profile in the Cambodian conflict as well as in its resolution phase meant that participation in the peacekeeping effort was almost a foregone conclusion for Malaysia. Add to that Cambodia's geographical proximity and potential economic links with Malaysia which have now been firmly established through air links, banking, trade and other flows. Two Malaysian soldiers perishing in the line of duty (succumbing to Malaria, not the bullets of the Khmer Rouge) were from the country's viewpoint, a small sacrifice for the winding down of the last serious international political conflict in Southeast Asia. All said, Malaysia's foray into UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations has been approached with calculated expediency even as Malaysia has in a real sense taken to heart Secretary-General Butrus Butrus-Ghali's call for effective preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peacekeeping in his "Agenda for Peace" |
FBIS4-4375_1 | President Comments on Results of SRV Visit | the emphasis on our relations with our neighbors in Southeast Asia -- both the members and the non-members of the Association of Southeast Nations or ASEAN. My journey to Vietnam continues this effort in a new way, since this is my first visit to a Southeast Asian state that is not a member of ASEAN. For reasons of geography, history, and shared interest and concerns, Vietnam today is particularly crucial to the building of a viable structure for regional security, stability, and peace in our part of the world, a goal which intimately involves the progress and prosperity of all of the 10 nations of Southeast Asia. In the discussions and exchanges that took place during our visit, Vietnam's leaders and the Philippine delegation addressed bilateral, regional, and global issues and concerns, and these have resulted in significant agreements, new initiatives, and fresh understanding between our governments. Like our own leadership, Vietnam's top leaders -- President Le Duc Anh, Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, and Party General Secretary Do Muoi -- attached great importance to regional stability. They seen it the breathing spell after two generations of bloody conflict with which to set their own economy on the road to self-sustaining growth. [sentence as heard] In this regard, the Vietnamese leaders expressed their government's readiness and intent to participate fully in the meeting of the forthcoming ASEAN Regional Forum in Bangkok -- a unique regional mechanism for dealing with security issues. We discussed ways to reduce tensions in East Asia, including the need to rid the entire region of nuclear arms and the threat of nuclear warfare. The conflicting claims to areas of the South China Sea are of acute concern to both our countries. We explored and exchanged ideas about new avenues for cooperation among the claimant states and the other countries of Southeast Asia, cooperative endeavors that can help to reduce tensions and build confidence in the area. On our part, I proposed that the countries involved jointly undertake a study of the possible demilitarization of the area, and of freezing all destabilizing activities in that area. I also proposed that the resources in the South China Sea Islands be considered as the common heritage of all the nations and people on its periphery. At the very least, the Vietnamese leaders and I agreed that the status quo with respect to the question of sovereignty and the status |
FBIS4-4382_0 | Suphachai on Australia, New Zealand in AFTA | BFN [Text] Deputy Prime Minister Suphachai Phanitchaphak wants the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to include Australia and New Zealand in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), without giving them membership of the association. Dr Suphachai revealed yesterday it was possible Australia and New Zealand would be asked to join AFTA, despite not being members of ASEAN. Thailand will chair the ASEAN Economic Ministers' meeting this year and one of the issues to be discussed may be inviting new countries to join AFTA, he said. Dr Suphachai said he personally believed the AFTA should include more countries, particularly Australia and New Zealand, to expand its multilateral trading opportunities. If Thailand could compete effectively in terms of trade with Singapore, it was not out of the question that it could compete equally well with the developed Australia and New Zealand. Both countries are potentially large markets for Thai exports which are produced at low cost such as chicken and textiles. The issue may meet with resistance at the meeting as Malaysia and Indonesia had made it clear long ago that they did not want non-Asian countries to join the group. Speeding up the implementation of AFTA, very likely from 15 years to 10 years, ought to be approved in principle by all members. The terms and conditions, such as those involving exclusion lists and local content, may call for further discussion, he said. It was widely believed that China may dominate all Indochinese and ASEAN countries in the future because of its strong potential and relationships with the people of these countries. Market expansion as a result of this may prove beneficial for Thailand since China is one of the largest markets in the world. |
FBIS4-4385_0 | Tokyo To Voluntarily Limit Technology Transfer | BFN [Text] Tokyo, March 31 KYODO -- Japan will continue to restrict exports of technology to countries that are considered likely to be involved in regional conflicts, after the disbandment of Cocom [Coordinating Commitee for Multilateral Export Controls], the western monitoring body of sensitive technology exports, government officials said Thursday [31 March]. The officials of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) said it is necessary to retain some curbs on technology which can be used for military purposes after Cocom dissolves. They said the ministry will especially closely examine technology exports to countries which are likely to face future conflicts. The Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls will conclude its 45-year-old history Thursday midnight, having been made redundant by the ending of the Cold War. A more broadly-based, flexible organization will succeed the agency by October. In the meantime, each nation will voluntarily retain curbs similar to those that were previously in place. The MITI officials said technology exports to North Korea, Libya, Iraq and Iran will be strictly controled, while curbs on shipments to former communist nations will be relaxed. They also said Japan, the United States, and the European Union (EU) will resume discussions in late April on the details of the new system, for example studying which items are to be controlled. |
FBIS4-4386_0 | MITI To Amend Export Control Order | BFN [Text] Tokyo, March 31 KYODO -- Japan is preparing to revise its export control order in April as the 17 members of Cocom [Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls], the Western agency to monitor sensitive technology and equipment exports, have agreed to terminate the organization on Thursday [31 March] midnight, the government said. The revised cabinet order, however, will call for strict curbs on sensitive technology and equipment exports to North Korea, Libya, Iran and Iraq as in the case of the United States and main European states, Ministry of International Trade and Industry [MITI] officials said. Curbs on shipments to former communist nations will be eased. The amendment will retain the global export licensing system for the 113 items, covered by the list of the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (Cocom), in preparation for possible regional conflicts, the officials said. They include high-technology computers and machine tools. Under the system, however, applications to export such goods will be basically approved instead of prohibited, in principle. Confirmation of the final destination for shipments of sensitive technology and equipment has so far been mandatory for exporters. Such a requirement will be abolished. However, the export of 20 highly sensitive items like decoders and high-technology machine tools, will continue to be subject to strict global controls, the officials said. Big trading house officials said, however, that the relaxations would not bring about a rapid increase in shipments of ex-Cocom embargo items to former communist states. They said there will be no big demand for such items in such countries. |
FBIS4-4388_0 | Backs Bid for UNSC Veto Power | BFN [Text] Tokyo, March 31 KYODO -- French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe voiced support on Thursday [31 March] for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council [UNSC] with veto rights, Foreign Ministry officials said. Juppe, who arrived in Japan earlier in the day for a four-day stay, expressed his support in a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Tsutomu Hata, the officials said. Juppe said in a meeting with Hata it is necessary to enlarge the Security Council and the number of its permanent members to reflect the current world situation, they said. "In this context, it is natural for Japan and Germany" to acquire permanent seats, he was quoted as saying. Juppe added that France does not want to create new categories for permanent members such as creating permanent members without veto power. "France wants to maintain the current system," he reportedly told Hata, adding it is necessary to enlarge the council but also to maintain its efficiency. He also noted the need to take into account regional allocations when considering enlargement of the permanent members, the officials said. "In any case, France's position is flexible," Juppe was quoted as saying. Juppe's remarks were the clearest support yet by a French Government official for Japan's bid for a permanent seat, according to the officials. Hata said Japan would carry out its responsibilities within its capacity. Turning to problems involving North Korea's alleged development of nuclear weapons, Juppe and Hata agreed on the need for the international community to take a firm stance to tackle the issue, the officials said. Juppe told Hata that France, which currently chairs the U.N. Security Council, considers the problem very important and is very concerned, they said. Touching on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Juppe said France wants to have some kind of dialogue with APEC because it has close relations with the region, according to the officials. Hata replied that Japan thinks APEC should be open and wants to promote transparency of APEC's activities, the officials said. Also during the meeting covering a wide range of topics, Hata urged France to continue to refrain from conducting nuclear tests, they said. |
FBIS4-4421_2 | Editorial Eyes Lessons of U.S. Economic Recovery | economic structures during a recession in a relatively short period. Major U.S. industries, including the automobile industry, have studied the management strategy of Japanese enterprises from various angles. They have thoroughly restructured themselves to improve productivity and to bolster competitiveness with the aim of outstripping Japanese enterprises. General Electric Chairman Jack Welch once said, "I intend to `imbue the spirit of a small corporation' in order to revitalize our bloated organization." In this way, U.S. corporations have streamlined their management. Major U.S. banks, like their Japanese counterparts, were saddled with bad loans because of the financial and real-estate recession, but their performance is now improving after writing off these bad loans. Bank loans have become more available than ever, thus smoothing the flow of money. The market has given high marks to U.S. corporations' cuts in dividends and their paying off of debts as part of their efforts to streamline management, and this has made it possible for them to speedily write off their bad loans. Citicorp Chairman John Reed and other many other U.S. bank executives have been highly praised for fulfilling their management responsibilities rather than being blamed for writing off their bad loans to streamline their banks' management. U.S. corporations and banks have been able to thoroughly restructure themselves because deregulation has kept open the opportunities for new businesses. In the information and telecommunications sector, which is said to have the potential of generating explosive demand, deregulation has removed the fence between telephone firms and cable television firms. Vice President Gore has announced plans to build an information superhighway. New plans, which can be assessed as being a little overoptimistic, have been announced. Unlike the Republican administration, which despised industrial policy as a "filthy term," the Clinton administration, which has handled the economy as a priority policy task, has begun implementing its industrial policy centering on basic industrial technology. The administration recently announced a new program of private-public sector cooperation to develop the next-generation semiconductor. A shift in the structure of the U.S. economy has begun taking effect in concert with restructuring efforts by corporations and banks and with the Clinton administration's strategy. The change in the economic structure has resulted in high unemployment. The jobless rate has soared to 6.5 percent, and the United States has yet to escape its jobless growth. Labor Secretary Reich once attacked corporations for sharply cutting their work forces, saying, "U.S. |
FBIS4-4428_2 | MONTSAME Publishes Press Reviews Press Review for 31 Mar | that the party General Council has adopted a resolution, concerning activity of the State Great Hural. In the resolution it is noted that the supreme legislative organ of the country does not reflect a real balance of political forces, because of which the parliamentary crisis is continuing, the state democratic system is being violated. The Mongolian National Democratic Party General Council suggested its representatives in the parliament to demand on behalf of the party to submit to the spring session additions and amendments in the law on State Great Hural, define in detail methods and forms of organization of the parliament majority and the minority, their rights and duties, establish the principles of propaganda of the parliament activity specifying the rights of the minority, revise the law on elections. In case the demands of the MNDP General Council are not accepted the party representatives are recommended to abstain from participation in the parliament activity. The newspaper publishes the demands of the Mongolian Democratic Union (MDU) to the government. These demands concern a support for national producers and engagement of citizens in production activity an increase of rates and timely delivery of pensions and allowances to the vulnerable section of the population, stopping of misfirings in electric energy supply, reinforcement of the state control over quality of goods, effective use of credits and assistance of foreign countries and international organizations. The Mongolian Democratic Union has demanded also to ensure priority development of education, create new work-places and stop the growth of unemployment, create socio-economic conditions for prevention of the growth of criminality. The newspaper publishes an article devoted to problems of oil extraction in the country. In the article it is noted that Russia's interest in exploration of oil deposits in many respects has a political character and is connected with her wish not to lose her influence in Mongolia. The author of the article B. Bayarmagnai considers that for exploitation of oil deposits of Mongolia the modern technology is necessary, the technology, being used in Russia, does not meet the present requirements. The newspaper informs about participation of the leader of the Mongolian National Democratic Party D. Gandold and the member of the MNDP General Council in the regional conference of the International Democratic Union, being held in Sydney. The newspaper informs that the conference has admitted the Mongolian National Democratic Party to the membership of the International Democratic Union. |
FBIS4-4462_3 | Maintaining Political Stability Deemed Crucial | socioeconomic situation and encouraging activities that violate the law and good ethics (including tax evasion, production of fake goods, embezzlement, smuggling, and so forth). This only benefits opportunists and speculators who work hand-in-glove with degenerate officials in various state agencies. It should be noted that this is the main cause of corruption and smuggling. -- A segment of our people -- including cadres, party members, and especially our youth -- have not firmly grasped the real concept of the socialist ideal and orientation. -- Renovation in the organization and activities of the party, state, and mass organizations has not been effective. Likewise, renovation of the political system has not paralleled that of the economic domain, especially the strengthening of organizations and mechanisms. It can be said that bureaucratism and cumbersomeness are still prevalent in our state apparatuses. Our legal system is still poor and inconsistent, while law enforcement is carried out loosely, thus encouraging violations of laws and regulations. -- Our party activities to promote the market economy are inconsistent, while many issues related to the building of a law-governed state have not been resolved. The working mechanism designed to delegate authority and define duties and responsibilities between the law-building, law enforcement, and administrative agencies in the market economic system has not been fully established. -- A number of adverse factors have emerged that may cause political instability and promote the schemes of "peaceful evolution," sabotage, rebellion, and overthrow being carried out by reactionary forces at home and abroad. We should not belittle these factors. Instead, we should carefully study their complexity, dangers, and consequences in order to formulate active measures to prevent, overcome, and stop them. Through our efforts to maintain political stability and renovate our political system in past years, we have drawn on some experiences and deem it necessary to carry out the following tasks: 1. Resolutely maintain party leadership while renovating party activities; reject political pluralism and the multiparty system, because this will allow the enemies of the class struggle to have a chance to compete with our party, thereby causing political instability and rebellion against our system. 2. Strive to combine correctly the economic renovation task with that of renovating the political system, taking the former as the main task. 3. Continue to take economic renovation as a basis for developing the economy and resolving various pressing problems in people's daily lives. Through these tasks, |
FBIS4-4464_0 | Editorial on Western Perception of Human Rights | BFN [Editorial: "The Human Rights Dilemma"] [Text] When President Suharto once again criticized certain developed countries for linking aid programs with environmental and political conditions in an address the other day, he was joining the increasingly louder chorus of Third World leaders who steadfastly stand against pressures to bow to the Western countries' so called "conditionalities." What we should underline from Suharto's remark is his warning that the disagreement over the issues of the environment and human rights could become new source of conflict in North-South relations. True enough. The indications of this are there all right. In the last several weeks the escalating war of words between the United States and China over human rights issues linked with China's most favored nation trading status has soured their relations to such an extent that, as Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen expressed the other day China has threatened "to live without any trade relations with the U.S." Other Asian countries, like Vietnam and noticeably Malaysia, also have raised the hardliner's flag. Even Singapore, a country which is known for its close association with Western countries, snapped back a few weeks ago when President Clinton protested the Singapore court decision to sentence an American teenager to six strokes of the cane and four months in jail for spray-painting cars. While we acknowledge that human rights conditions in many Asian countries, including Indonesia, need much improvement, and that foreign pressure has helped the situation to improve, there are reasons to be concerned that without a proper switching mechanism, the still developing row could lead into a tragic collision course, something which we believe nobody wants. Judging from the heated nature of the words being shot back and forth, many Third World countries are becoming ever more fed up with the conditions imposed by the developed countries. But, different from the situation a few years back, they now have economic clout to back their hardliner stance: Asia's economic growth has boomed to an extent the failing Western countries' economies cannot simply ignore. Some Asian countries, like China, for example, have even come to the conclusion that Western countries need them much more than they need the Western countries. The statistics and the projections seem to support these views. For example, by the year 2000, Asia will have one billion consumers with sufficient spending power which will certainly create some of the biggest financial opportunities |
FBIS4-4464_1 | Editorial on Western Perception of Human Rights | an American teenager to six strokes of the cane and four months in jail for spray-painting cars. While we acknowledge that human rights conditions in many Asian countries, including Indonesia, need much improvement, and that foreign pressure has helped the situation to improve, there are reasons to be concerned that without a proper switching mechanism, the still developing row could lead into a tragic collision course, something which we believe nobody wants. Judging from the heated nature of the words being shot back and forth, many Third World countries are becoming ever more fed up with the conditions imposed by the developed countries. But, different from the situation a few years back, they now have economic clout to back their hardliner stance: Asia's economic growth has boomed to an extent the failing Western countries' economies cannot simply ignore. Some Asian countries, like China, for example, have even come to the conclusion that Western countries need them much more than they need the Western countries. The statistics and the projections seem to support these views. For example, by the year 2000, Asia will have one billion consumers with sufficient spending power which will certainly create some of the biggest financial opportunities in history. Over the next decade, non-Japanese Asia is said to be planning to spend US$1 trillion on infrastructure projects, something which Western companies are surely eager to be a part of. But, if these developed countries are overzealous about Asia's human rights conditions, they may lose this huge market. On the other hand, Western countries like the U.S., are bound to their commitment to environmental and human rights causes. In the case of President Clinton, he cannot back off on these issues because Congress and other pressure groups would crucify him. Hence, a nation's credibility is at stake. In the midst of this dilemma some sort of compromise and face- saving solution must be sought. To a certain extent, foreign pressure on Asian human rights conditions have yielded positive results. This can be seen not only in the improvement of the human rights conditions themselves, but more importantly in the spreading awareness of the significance of human rights and the encouraging of local peoples to fight for their rights. Thus, to a certain extent, the pressure and the momentum thus achieved must be maintained. But different approaches must be taken. For example, Western countries should drop their "high and |
FBIS4-4510_0 | Finance Minister Attends Bangkok Conference | BFN [Text] A Myanmar [Burmese] delegation led by Brigadier General Win Tin, finance and revenue minister, has departed Yangon [Rangoon] on a Thai Airways International flight for Bangkok. They will attend a conference on capital management in the Indochinese countries to be held in Bangkok, Thailand on 1 April. |
FBIS4-4548_0 | Editorial Urges Burma To Return Positive Response | BFN [Editorial: `The Ball Is in Myanmar's Court'] [Text] Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's recent three-day visit to Myanmar [Burma] must rank as one of the more significant development for that country in its efforts to rejoin the world community. For 26 years to 1988, Myanmar had shut out the world and attempted to pursue a self-sufficient "Burmese Way to Socialism. But it realised eventually that ideological purity does not translate readily into the material progress a country and its people need, and Myanmar has in the last few years been crawling out of its hermit shell. But the world, particularly the West, has not rolled out a welcome-back mat. Instead, regular efforts are made at the United Nations to get the world body to condemn Myanmar and decree sanctions against it for its repressive political regime and human rights abuses. Singapore and its ASEAN neighbours believe, however, that "constructive engagement" rather than the cold shoulder will yield better results. The way to get Myanmar onto the path of democracy is to encourage it as it takes tentative steps into the free world. And the carrot is foreign investment, for this is what Myanmar's leaders know they need -- and need very badly -- to rebuild the country's crumbling infrastructure and economy. Myanmar is trying very hard to lure investors and visitors. Where previously foreigners would be lucky to get a 24-hour visa, Myanmar has now thrown open its doors. Visitors are coming in increasing numbers, but the passenger traffic at Yangon's [Rangoon] airport is nothing like that at airports in Vietnam and China, the other socialist states now embracing the capitalist way of life. One reason is the intense competition for foreign funds from not only these emerging economies of China and Vietnam, but also countries like Indonesia and India. These places offer more attractive investment incentives than Myanmar. And many a businessman exploring Myanmar's potential has been put off by the red-tape, the lack of infrastructure, and its most unrealistic foreign exchange rate. Many investors, especially from the West, are staying away because of the human rights issue. Some who did venture in are leaving. American oil giant Amoco recently closed its operations after sinking more than US$100 million [Singapore dollar] (S$151 million) looking for oil. Officially, the reason is failure to find oil. Unofficially, Amoco shareholders want out because of Myanmar's human rights record. Which brings us |
FBIS4-4554_0 | Reaction to U.S. Report on Trade Barriers Industries Refute Content | BFN [Text] Japanese industries have unanimously expressed dissatisfaction with the U.S. Government's having listed 43 items deemed to be Japanese trade barriers in its "1994 Report on Foreign Trade Barriers." The telecommunications, medical equipment, and electric power industries, which are newly cited in the report, especially do not agree with its contents, saying: "The U.S. Government is mistaken in its understanding of the facts" (as stated by the Federation of Electric Power Companies). This is because the amount of procurement of foreign goods by nine electric companies sharply increased to $440 million in 1992 from $210 million in 1990, and U.S.-made products accounted for 80-90 percent of the total. It can be said that of the 43 items listed in the U.S. report, "such items as telecommunications and medical equipment -- which are newly listed in the report -- as well as automobiles, computers, and supercomputers -- which were main topics at the economic framework talks -- are the most probable targets of the Super 301 provision of the Trade and Competitiveness Acts" (according to the Japan Machinery Exporters' Association). Meanwhile, Takayoshi Masuzawa, managing director of the Communications Machine Makers' Association, stresses: "Although trade imbalances in the field of communications equipment as a whole still exist, the excess of net exports of such products as facsimile machines is now decreasing, due to an increase in local production abroad." Regarding the cellular phone issue, the managing director also points out: "The introduction of the `urikiri system' [lifting the ban on direct sales of cellular phones to consumers] in April will promote price and service competition, hence it will facilitate the access of foreign makers to the Japanese market." The Japan Electronic Industry Development Association points out: "The Japanese computer market is an extremely free market in which imports have been totally liberalized and tariffs have been abolished. Procedures for government procurement of supercomputers are transparent." The association does not try to conceal its dissatisfaction, saying: "It is hard to understand the U.S. report, which completely ignores Japan's efforts and its results." In response to the U.S. pointing out the supposedly closed nature of the Japanese auto industry in its business dealings, Yutaka Kume, chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers' Association [JAMA], says: "It is not true that we discriminate against foreign automakers and makers of automobile parts. We have no intention to do so in the future as well." He adds: |
FBIS4-4575_5 | Cambodia-Vietnam Summit Held in Phnom Penh Joint Communique Signed | good neighborliness, the two sides agreed to (?urgently and correctly solve) all remaining issues concerning bilateral relations through negotiations and on the basis of mutual respect for each country's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and legitimate interests. This is for the two countries' interests in line with international laws and customs and each country's regulations. 9. The two sides agreed to establish a working group of experts to discuss and solve the border problem between the two countries. The group will also discuss necessary measures to maintain security and stability along the border and create a border of lasting peace and friendship between the two countries. 10. The two sides agreed to set up a working group of experts to discuss and solve the issue of ethnic Vietnamese in Cambodia based on respect for Cambodia's law and international law and customs. The Vietnamese side highly valued the RGC's statement that it would continue to implement His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk's policy toward ethnic Vietnamese in Cambodia. In this spirit, the ethnic Vietnamese will be treated as other foreign nationals. 11. The two sides agreed to further negotiate with other countries concerned, within the framework of the interim Mekong committee, to work out an appropriate formula for solving the problems concerning the right to use the Mekong River's resources and protecting the regional environment in the interest of the states and people on the river's banks, especially the states and people in the lower part of the river. 12. The two sides satisfactorily noted the recent positive development in Southeast Asia and the trend toward peace, stability, and cooperation in the interests of regional development. They warmly welcomed the initiative and efforts to promote talks to increase mutual understanding and settle diverse disputes and conflicts among the regional countries through peaceful means. The two sides reaffirmed their desire to further reinforce and expand the relations of good neighborliness and cooperation with equality and mutual interests with all the regional countries, contributing to building Southeast Asia as a zone of peace, stability, friendship, and prosperity. 13. The two sides were of the opinion that the reinforcement and expansion of the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation of good neighborliness between the SRV and the Kingdom of Cambodia constitute a positive contribution to peace, stability, friendship, and cooperation in Southeast Asia. 14. H.E. Vo Van Kiet, prime minister of the SRV, expressed sincere gratitude |
FBIS4-4599_0 | Global Support Against U.S. Pressure Reported | BFN [Text] Pyongyang, April 2 (KCNA) -- Political and public circles of the world denounced the United States' unjustifiable pressure on Korea and expressed solidarity for the Korean people's cause of justice. Juan Ramos, general secretary of the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain, expressed firm solidarity for the just struggle of the Korean people, saying they should never yield to the unreasonable demand of the United States, when he received the permanent representative of the DPRK to the World Tourism Organization on March 28. Man Mohan Adhikari, chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxism-Leninism) in a statement March 27 said it was ridiculous of the United States to raise a clamor for "sanctions" and war racket against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He demanded that all outside forces immediately give up pressure and threats against Korea. The Communist Party of Chile in a statement March 28 expressed full support to the measure taken by the DPRK Government to defend the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of the nation. Ali Hassan, general secretary of the Supreme Council of the Nationalist Socialist Party of Syria in Lebanon, at a meeting held on March 24, and David Baz, former chairman of the party, in a statement March 22, called upon all the political parties and organizations and the peaceloving people of the world to launch a solidarity movement in support of the just struggle of the Workers' Party and people of Korea. The political department of the Palestine Liberation Organization in a statement March 23 demanded that the U.S. Administration immediately give up its nuclear threats against the DPRK and seek a peaceful, fair solution to the nuclear issue through direct dialogue with the DPRK. Juan Mariategui, director of the Peruvian Institute for Non- Alignment and African Studies, in a press statement published that day, stressed that the United States must try to find a solution through negotiation, not by means of pressure, and Om Prakash Mantri, secretary general of the Asian regional committee to support Korea's reunification, in a statement on the same day, urged the United States to renounce the anachronistic idea that it could solve problems by means of military strongarm and strength. |
FBIS4-4621_1 | Daily Expresses Optimism in Socialist Ideal | misfortune into a blessing." This proposition arms all of us with great optimism, the political essay says, and goes on: Let us display such intelligence and courage as to turn misfortune into a blessing and more vigorously advance towards the bright future of humanity. This is the unshakable faith and iron will of the dear leader Comrade Kim Chong-il that no matter what storm may rage and what adverse current may sweep the globe, the direction of the development of history can never be changed and justice and truth will win, so will socialism without fail. We are watching with pride and optimism socialism, which the imperialists said met its "end", advancing with irresistable force through ordeals and adversity. The signs of decline and downfall of imperialism which was bluffing and the throes and confusion of the doctrine of return to bourgeois past under the cloak of "reform" and peoples under the banner of socialism, the banner of independence, and socialist Korea making a long drive. What do all these stark facts show query [incomplete sentence as received] They show the immovable historical law that justice and truth win while injustice and falsehood go to ruin, that socialism is sure to win while imperialism is fated to destruction. The collapse of socialism in some countries and the end of Cold War are by no means "victory" of capitalism and imperialism. True socialism does not suffer a setback or collapse. The dear leader Comrade Kim Chong-il is the incarnation of faith and will and of intelligence and courage and a great defender of justice and truth, who is defending the cause of socialism with such rare intelligence and courage as to turn misfortune into a blessing, possessed of iron will and faith that justice and truth are sure to win in whatever adversity. The dear leader has further strengthend and developed the Workers' Party of Korea, the guiding force of the Korean people, into an ever-victorious revolutionary party and the Korean People's Army, which is the destiny of the people, into a-match-for-a-hundred revolutionary army and achieved the unbreakable singlehearted unity of the leader, the party and the masses, the eternal viability of socialism, thereby building Korean-style socialism centred on the popular masses into an impregnable fortress of socialism, the invincible bulwark. Socialism is the ideal of mankind and great justice. Unthinkable is a world without socialism and a world without justice. |
FBIS4-4664_2 | U.S. Human Rights Policy for PRC Criticized | have a punishing effect on the remarkable economic expansion led by southern China. But there would also be collateral damage to Hong Kong (the conduit for Sino-US trade) and Taiwan (which has invested heavily on the mainland). The stakes are also high for the US. While trade sanctions might pressure China into a positive response, this would be inconsistent with past responses by Beijing's leadership. It is more likely the present tension will further cool relations between China and the US and harm the latter's own interests in the region. The US Secretary of State, Mr Warren Christopher, drew a predictable response with his forceful remarks in Canberra on Tuesday [8 March]. Angered by China's arrest and detention of several dissidents over recent days, he said: "These actions will have a negative effect on my trip as well as on the subject under review" -- that is, MFN. Beijing's response was to make more arrests while saying it would not tolerate external pressure over human rights, even if it meant losing preferential trade arrangements. It is difficult to see how Mr Christopher's visit to Beijing over the next few days can lead to productive results in such a hostile climate. The US posture on human rights reflects the best aspects of the American ethos. However, there are problems in linking it to foreign policy. Former president Mr Ronald Reagan's secretary of State, Mr George Schultz, was a critic of linkage, and for good reason. He showed the US could, without fuss or fanfare, achieve real results where noisy criticism had failed -- especially in cajoling the former Soviet Union to ease restrictions on Jewish emigration. But President Clinton's more aggressive and overt approach arouses concern about the direction of US foreign policy, especially in this region. The Clinton policy has been driven by the US Congress. It was congressional outrage over the violent suppression of political dissent in Tiananmen Square and Dili that led to MFN reviews for China and Indonesia. (Jakarta reacted more favourably to US trade pressure than has Beijing because it was in line with Indonesia's trend towards gradual political liberalisation.) Congressional demands for faster growth in US employment were also behind the President's ill-considered decision to pick a fight with Japan over trade access. The US should be in no doubt that these issues are all capable of causing unintended but real harm to Australia's interests. |
FBIS4-4682_3 | Miyazawa Assesses Hosokawa's Performance | to spread its values, because it wants to make its values common to all, and because it wants to foster its values in the four corners of the world," Henry Kissinger has said seriously in the past. Despite the end of the cold war, or I should rather say because of the end of the cold war, Japan and the United States should have a common goal in mind, which is the spreading of their values throughout the world. Moreover, to be more realistic, Japan will have to further improve its relations with Southeast Asian nations, as well as with China. Each of these countries has its own potential enemy: Some are afraid of Japan, while some others are nervous about China. However, no country feels this way toward the United States. The United States constitutes a stabilizing force in this part of the world. Japan needs the United States not only for its own sake, because the U.S. presence in Asia is also indispensable for Japan's maintaining intimate relations with China and Southeast Asian nations in the 21st century. When I made a tour of Southeast Asia in 1993, I delivered a speech in Bangkok to set out the so-called "Miyazawa Doctrine." A storm of applause arose particularly when I said: "Japan will never become a military power. Even if there is a conflict in Asia, Japan is not able to play the role of a policeman. Moreover, it will never try to perform such a duty." All Southeast Asian nations still expect the United States to continue to act as a stabilizing force in this part of the world. Political Situation: The Mission of the "Political Reform Government" Is Now Over [Tadaki] Prime Minister Hosokawa caused a stir by announcing a tax hike plan. He failed to reach an agreement on trade with President Clinton. He was forced to withdraw his cabinet-reshuffle plan. Under such circumstances, it seems that he can hardly maintain his high popularity. [Miyazawa] The Hosokawa administration was created to accomplish political reform. In my opinion, there is no more justification for its existence because it has already completed its mission. However, Prime Minister Hosokawa does not think so. He thinks that his administration should also achieve economic reform, as well as administrative reform. If he really wants to do so, he has to give priority to adjusting the policies between coalition members. Otherwise, nothing |
FBIS4-4695_1 | Article Criticizes `Self-Centered' Delegates | the public, I believe that the National Convention must implement its work step by step. If retrospection, criticism, and blame for past events are accepted, then the implementation of the original objective will be marked by confusion and slowness instead of progress. It will be viewed as excessive magnanimity and concession. The very essence of democracy is to follow the wishes of the majority of organizations. If the tendency to challenge the majority is practiced -- like the maxim of one against the entire village -- it will not only amount to disrespect for democracy, but the destruction of democratic practices. In some matters, what the majority likes may be identical to what the individual likes, while in some cases what the majority likes may not be approved of by an individual or what an individual likes may not be acceptable to the majority. A genuine politician tends to concede to the wishes of the majority if his wishes clash with those of the majority. A self-centered and subjective person can end up fighting against the entire world. We heard the discussions by flexible delegates who gave priority to the national interest over the interests of their own national races and regions. We respect and admire these people who expressed in their reports a willingness to be abide by whatever decisions are made by the National Convention and declared categorically that they would not secede from the Union. At the National Convention there were those who were noble as well as those who were petty. There were expressions of belief and terms tinged with anger, pride, sarcasm, and insinuation as well as sincere and polite presentation of views. We were amazed at how those self-centered people, who are prisoners of their own subjective views, made small concessions but then sought exorbitant and greedy demands in an intimidating manner from the other side, which was barely left with anything. It is like killing an elephant for distribution to the community. They made the demands to exploit the existence of national races who are the same as them living in other regions, although the demands could mean the extinction of others living in these regions. The emergence of self-administered zones is not a matter based on one's wishes alone. Wishes can lead to anxiety, over zealousness, and one-sidedness. It is easy to remedy this matter if the basic principles are followed as |
FBIS4-4707_1 | Daily Advocates Role of `Traders' for Envoys | Department and which can transform it into an executive branch. The time has come for the Indonesia's Foreign Department and its diplomatic representatives abroad to change their image to suit new global needs and changes that give priority to economic interests [preceding two words in English] and all issues related to it. As a consequence of this meeting, our diplomats abroad will now realize that they have to be knowledgeable in national politics and be a "spokesmen" on issues relating to the economy, development, trade, privatization, capital investment, and other matters to tactfully "sell" Indonesia to countries they are accredited to. Indonesian diplomats should be able to act as traders who can "sell" Indonesian products abroad and act as guides who can show their way around Indonesia to boost tourism and promote investment, or they can act as "shields" to smash negative reports on Indonesia. In line with the current level of national development, the government's effort to eradicate poverty, and improvement to the people's welfare, our diplomats abroad are no longer required to merely attend formal functions and receptions for diplomats. It has been mandated in the 1993 Broad Outline of State Policies that the ability to anticipate and comply with the unpredictable changes of a new world order should be stepped up through an appropriate diplomatic approach for the sake of national interest. We hope that the meeting between senior officials of the Foreign Department and the heads of Indonesian missions abroad will not be a routine session or just an activity held once every five years. It should be a meeting that will really bring about plans in anticipation of current and future global changes. We also hope that the meeting would adopt relevant and practical decisions to cater to national development in the wake of the take-off period for the implementation of the PJP II. In his keynote address at a similar meeting several years ago, President Suharto called on all Indonesian envoys to carry out the nation's "diplomatic struggle" when executing their duties abroad. In this context, the term " diplomatic struggle" has a wide-ranging interpretation. It is aimed at protecting national interest, as well finding ways to create a new world order based on sovereignty, peace, and justice. In view of this, Indonesia's efforts to achieve the goal would make its position as the current chairman of the Nonaligned Movement, NAM, more significant. The |
FBIS4-4755_0 | Prime Minister Leaves on Southeast Asia Tour | BFN [Text] The prime minister, Paul Keating, has left Australia for Laos to start his Southeast Asian tour. The eight-day visit to Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam is aimed at improving Australia's trade relationship and developing the vision that Mr. Keating sees of Australia forging closer ties with Asia. Mr. Keating says human rights issues will be raised during his visit to Vietnam, but they will be within a set framework. He says, as a democracy, Australia will put its views clearly and forthrightly, but in the interests of maintaining relationship with Asian countries; therefore, the situation had to be seen from an overall point of view. One of the high points of Mr. Keating's visit will be to hand over the Australian-constructed and funded Friendship Bridge linking Laos and Thailand over the Mekong River. |
FBIS4-4764_1 | Newpapers Continue To Report on Bombing Issue `Special Report' on Motives | bound to undermine the confidence of the people in the government's ability to maintain law and order. If apathy is allowed to set in, when considering the attitudes of the citizens of the country and the government to the bombings, there would seem to be little hope of locating those responsible and stamping out the attacks for good. One confounding factor in the bombing issue is that the identity of the group responsible for the attacks is unknown and no demands have been made. At this time the attacks would seem to be pointless. It is possible that Gen Chawalit believes he has received up-to- date information from his advisers on the issue but there is one point he may have failed to consider. The group responsible for the bombings may be politically motivated with an ultimate intention of causing political chaos and disruption in the nation. Recent reports that foreign terrorist groups planned to attack the Israeli embassy in Bangkok were probably unconnected to the bombing incidents that have already been carried out in the capital, as attacks on local politician's homes are unlikely to gain anything for Middle Eastern terrorist groups, who would seem to be the most likely perpetrators of any such attack on the embassy. Let's consider the probable intentions of the group responsible for the bombings: A desire for political chaos and to create disruption in the country, and to make the government appear to be unfit to carry out the task to which it was elected because it is unable to maintain stability. To increase pressure on the government at a time when parliament is in disarray with an intention of making it look incompetent in the eyes of the general public. It is possible this could lead to the dissolution of parliament. Prior political forces in the country might be able to return to power in this way. If the government is left alone to carry out its duties unhindered, the chances of any forces of the past returning to power would diminish. Some observers say the planting of the bombs can clearly be seen as the dying throes of a spent political force but these are few and far between. They can be narrowed down into two categories -- democratic and dictatorial. Democratic political parties, or those who profess to be, come in several forms. Power swings to and fro depending on |
FBIS4-4784_0 | Paper Recounts 4 Apr U.S. Meeting on Trade | BFN [Report by Washington-based correspondent Chin Chang-uk] [Text] The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on 4 April said that it will be prudent in applying the recently revived Super 301. Peter Collins, assistant deputy representative of the USTR, said this at the ROK-U.S. trade talks held in Washington that day. He said that regarding international unfair trade practices, the United States will first make an effort to solve the dispute through the World Trade Organization (WTO) and will be as prudent as possible in the application of the Super 301. In the first-day sitting, the two sides discussed the pending issues, such as the easing of regulatory measures for the ROK automobile market, the term of distribution for heat-treated refrigerated sausage, the annual antidumping investigation of ROK-made television cathode-ray tubes by the United States. The U.S. side positively appraised the action taken by the ROK Office of National Tax Administration deleting the space in the taxation data form requiring the foreign car owners to fill in the type of their cars, and demanded again that the tariff be lowered for foreign cars. The U.S. side also claimed that because of the ROK Health and Social Affairs Ministry's alteration of interpretation of regulations on the heat-treated refrigerated sausage, $1 million worth of U.S. sausage awaiting customs clearance at Pusan port is about to be dumped as inedible. In this connection, the U.S. side protested the abrupt alteration of regulations. The United States has been exporting the heat-treated sausage to the ROK with a 90-day distribution period in refrigeration, but the ROK Government claims that the heat-treated sausage should not be allowed to be distributed in refrigeration after 30 days. The ROK side made an issue of the U.S. delay in its annual investigation of ROK-made television cathode-ray tubes, thereby delaying the opportunity for the revocation of the antidumping charges. Hence, the ROK side demanded an early annual investigation. |
FBIS4-4816_56 | Kim Ki-nam Gives Report at Party Cell Meeting | to produce various quality consumer goods at a large scale, upholding the party's light industry-first policy. Party cells in various sectors of the national economy should actively support light industry and drastically increase the production of daily necessities and 3 August people's consumer goods in all units. Party cells in all sectors and units of the national economy should actively inspire party members to struggle to produce many quality export items and to develop processing trade by firmly preparing export item production bases and by actively exploring and mobilizing technological resources [kisul wonchon], upholding the party's trade-first policy. Party cells and party members in the sector of trade with foreign countries should actively explore [kaechok] overseas markets and gain our credit in trade [muyok korae-eso sinyongul cholchohi chikidorok hayoya], in conformity with changing environments. In order to realize the party's strategic goals of economic construction, it is important to give priority to the coal and electric power industries and railway transportation, which are primary sectors of the national economy, as well as to develop the metal industry. Party cells of the coal industry sector should vigorously struggle to firmly uphold our party and our socialism by increasing coal production. Party cells and party members of the electric power industry sector should use our existing power generation capability to the utmost and hasten the ongoing construction of many power plants, so that they can smoothly supply people's ever- increasing demand for electricity. Party cells of the railway transportation sector should strengthen the sector's material and technological basis and completely implement the party policy on revolutionizing transportation so they can deliver materials required by each sector of the national economy in a timely manner. Party cells of the metal industry sector should vigorously carry out the struggle to increase steel products, with the Chollima revolutionary spirit, which was demonstrated in the great postwar Chollima upswing period. We should greatly display the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance and fortitude in order to completely implement the party's revolutionary economic strategies, to smash the imperialists' maneuver to apply economic sanctions [kyongje pongswoe chaektong], and to constantly effect upsurges in socialist construction. All party members and working people [as heard] should organize and mobilize party members and working people for the struggle to completely implement the party's revolutionary slogan "Let us accelerate the general onward march of socialism with the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance and fortitude." They |
FBIS4-4824_0 | Differing North, South Social Systems Viewed | BFN [Text] Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- The diametrically different social systems in the North and South of Korea represent a sharp contrast in the morality of the people. In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea which is based on collectivism all the members of society devote their all for the country and people, the society and collective in a large harmonious family. Some time ago, Yim Kwang-chol, a soldier of the Korean People's Army, covered a handgrenade with his body on the point of its explosion, saving several dozen comrades at the cost of his youthful life. A coal miner Kim Kwang-ho threw himself under a coal car rolling down at breakneck speed to save more than sixty fellow workers and a schoolmistress Hwang Kil-yon died after saving children from drowning. They were honest persons of the times who dedicated their lives to the society, collective and comrades. It is not uncommon that men and women become parents of orphans and sons and daughters of old folks with no one to support them and looked after them like Yu Chong-sil living in Haeju and Choe Hye- yong living in Pyongyang. Countless are stories about beautiful deeds of working people. To cite a few examples, Kim Yong-hui, a nurse at the Kim Man-yu Hospital, donated her cornea to a blind man to give him sight, and many medical workers donated their blood, flesh and bones without hesitation to save critical cases, and train conductresses Kwon Chong-hui and Pak Sun-yo found a brief-case containing more than 200,000 U.S. dollars and bank notes and returned it to its owner, Hatsushi Akirashi, sales director of the Nippon Union Air Service Company, Ltd. But in South Korea, egoistic mode of life is prevalent in the society where the people think of only money, owing to the infiltration of the American way of life and the anti- popular policy pursued by the authorities. A girl O Chong-hwa in Chinju, South Kyongsang Province, stabbed her mother to death for money and valuables, a young man in Iri, North Cholla Province, knocked down his father before rushing to a bank and Ho Nam-kil murdered his son with a dagger in Puchon, Kyonggi Province. Such crimes are reported every day. Yi Chong-in in Yongdungpo-tong, Seoul, strangled his old parents, saying they were burdensome, profiteers of the Kuro Hospital attached to the Korea University threw away a moribund patient |
FBIS4-4832_2 | Article Views Mekong's Economic Potential | by the United Nations. In the face of this dithering, the well-fleshed out economic zones will have to bide their time. The first one, called the Upper Mekong Navigation zone lying up-stream in the north, consists of Myanmar, Laos, and small parts of Thailand, Vietnam, and China's Yunnan province. The concept to build effective navigation and transport systems on the river and its tributaries will benefit a wide swathe from Jinghong in China's Yunnan province, down to Luang Prabang in Laos, covering distance of about 700 km. The Mekong Committee says that riverine and cross-border trade between Laos, Thailand, China and Myanmar will increase from the present annual level of 20,000 tonnes to over 250,000 tonnes in the year 2000 -- of which 210,000 tonnes are expected to be transported on the Mekong River, and the remaining on its tributaries such as Nam Ou in Laos. To prevent bottlenecks from choking off the Mekong, the committee plans an ambitious study. Economic development in the zone was boosted with the recent completion of a landmark 700 metre-long bridge over the Mekong connecting the Lao capital of Vientiane with Thailand. This makes it possible to drive from Singapore to China across Malaysia, Thailand and Laos. The US$30 million (S$ [Singapore dollars] 47 million) bridge was funded by Australia. However, Laos was cool to a Thai proposal to build a second bridge over the Mekong. The Lao government told the Thais to wait until the country's internal roads and telecommunications had improved. Landlocked Laos has also been eyeing prospects of trade with the Chinese province of Yunnan. Both countries have opened a river route to accommodate 150-tonne barges. Cars from Thailand travel through Laos to markets in Yunnan, and business is booming as middlemen en route take their cuts. The Upper Mekong Navigation area is also the focus of a major road development programme. Last year, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China agreed to set up transport links through the remote Golden Triangle -- a move that will give the booming southern Chinese provinces their first overland access to Southeast Asia. A second economic zone is the Southern Lao Transport Corridor straddling southern Laos, northern Cambodia and central Vietnam. The development rationale for this area is to provide landlocked Laos with access roads to a seaport in Vietnam. Lao Deputy Prime Minister Khamphoui Keoboualapha told BT that his country plans to build a deep |
FBIS4-4832_7 | Article Views Mekong's Economic Potential | with a new 1,500-km power line connecting the Hoa Binh hydroelectric plant, 74 km north of Hanoi to Phu Lam in Ho Chi Minh City. The 500 kv [kilovolts] transmission line will supply 2.5 billion kwh [kilowatt hours] for Vietnam's southern cities. While large projects are the order of the day, the Mekong countries are also keen on micro-hydropower to accelerate rural electrification. Micro plants -- already operational in some Indochinese countries -- are considered environmentally safe compared with diesel generators which have mushroomed all over Cambodia and Vietnam in order to beat the power shortage. Micro plants, moreover, do no dislocate huge numbers of people from their homes and their ecological impact is much less. For instance, the 20 mw Nam Mae Kham power project in the Thai part of the lower Mekong basin will enable the state to reduce electricity generation by a diesel plant to help meet demand in Chiang Rai which is just 40 km from the plant site, in addition to supplying 5,000 farming families in the area. It's a different story in Laos where mini-hydropower plants supplying only the domestic market often turn out to be costly as the power market to be served is small and the energy price low in comparison to the investment. Still, a 115 kv transmission line from Nam Ngum to Luang Prabang is being planned as a first step to electrify remote northern Laos. But the line's full power-carrying capacity cannot be utilised during the initial years of operation due to the small domestic power market. However, by connecting various small power plants to the line, the line can operate at full capacity right from the start. After Laos, Cambodia has the second-largest hydropower potential of over 8,000 mw. At present, the country has a few plants, each with a capacity of less than 10 mw and a combined capacity of 85 mw. Construction of some of Cambodia's projects, such as Prek Thnaot dam, commenced in 1969 but stalled due to the war. The process began again in 1989 but got bogged down in issues relating to resettlement of some 11,000 people. The Mekong projects also involve enormous river works such as rehabilitating Phnom Penh port which threatens to become a major bottleneck in the water transport system if further expansion is not carried out early. All this must wait until the Mekong Committee gets its act together. |
FBIS4-4868_0 | Official Wants Investment in `Strategic Minerals' | BFN [Text] Jakarta, April 5 (ANTARA) -- The investment in the non-oil/gas mining accounted only for 3.8 percent of the total investment of 415.4 trillion rupiah in the period of 1967 to March 1994. The investment in the minerals processing sector reached 7.4 percent, or 31 trillion rupiah, head of the Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM) Sanyoto told a seminar on the Role and Prospects of Private Capital Investment in the development of the mining sector in the second long term development (PJP II), in Jakarta Tuesday. He explained that investment in mining other than in the oil/gas sector consisted of mining of strategic minerals, vital minerals and C-category minerals. Strategic minerals including tin, iron ore and copper are for domestic capital investment of 1.4 trillion rupiah (11 projects), 7.8 trillion rupiah for foreign capital investment, and domestic investment of 187.7 billion rupiah (19 projects) in the vital minerals sector including coal, and 5.2 trillion rupiah for foreign investment. In the meantime, the C-category minerals such as phosphate and zeolit covered 99 projects with a total domestic investment of 871.4 billion rupiah, and one project with foreign investment of 64.6 billion rupiah. The investment in the mineral mining industrial sector outside oil and gas, such as non-metal minerals (cement, ceramics, glass and marble) amounted to 24.8 trillion rupiah for domestic investment projects and 6.2 trillion rupiah for foreign investment projects. Sanyoto said further that in the Sixth Five-Year Development (Pelita VI), foreign and domestic investment may reach 19.9 trillion rupiah. The projection is to help collect investment funds amounting to 660 trillion rupiah needed to boost the economic growth rate of 6.2 percent per year during Pelita VI, he said. In this context the government has taken steps to improve the investment climate in Indonesia by simplifying the process of licencing of investment projects, the lowering of import duties and the simplification of import procedures. He said with a clear-cut and transparent capital investment policy, it is hoped the investors will become increasingly enthusiastic in doing business in this country. "This is of vital importance, because in attracting foreign investment Indonesia has to compete with other countries which are also offering their business facilities," he added. |
FBIS4-4948_0 | Trade Meeting With U.S on 4,5 Apr Reported | BFN [Text] Washington, April 6 (YONHAP) -- South Korean and U.S. officials held a trade subcommittee meeting here to discuss pending issues on Monday and Tuesday. According to the South Korean Embassy, the United States expressed disappointment that no progress had been made on Korea's opening its market to American automobiles at the 16th working-level meeting. South Korea, however, said that Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Kim Chol-su and U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor can discuss the matter while in Morocco this month for the signing of the Uruguay Round agreement. Washington also complained about the way Seoul handles protection of U.S. trademarks and intellectual property rights and demanded the lifting of a regulation on importation of frozen codfish heads and sausages. South Korea expressed concern over the revival of the Super 301 trade provision while protesting the U.S. delay in a new dumping trial for Korean-made color televisions and inclusion of Korean standard pipes in a list coming under anti-dumping regulations. Seoul urged Washington to acknowledge its efforts to protect U.S. intellectual property rights and drop it from the Priority Watch List (PWL). Moreover, South Korea voiced concern over a U.S. court ruling on "business secret violence" between Korea's Iljin Corp. and America's General Electric. The two nations also discussed ways to narrow their differences in the investment and service sectors. Chong Ui-yong, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's International Trade Bureau, led the Korean delegation while Peter Collins, deputy assistant trade representative, headed the U.S. side. |
FBIS4-4980_2 | Article Views Fate of Economic Talks | hardline view calling on Japan to come up with numerical targets that Japan will achieve to promote a share of foreign products in Japan's market, saying: "Japan will not seriously come to grips with the issue of expanding imports unless clear targets are set." While saying that the United States "will not call for setting up clear numerical targets," such U.S. leaders as U.S. Trade Representative Kantor have been urging Japan to set up an indicator that has the character of numerical targets. Underlying this is that the United States deeply distrusts Japan. However, there is another view. [Bowman] Cutter, presidential assistant (and deputy for economic policy), stresses that "Japan should understand more that the United States is not calling for setting up numerical targets that are subject to sanctions." Just before the February Japan-U.S. summit, Presidential Assistant Cutter reportedly hammered out a compromise proposal in which he said that among priority areas of economic framework talks, numerical targets will not be introduced to the insurance sector, and that in the area of government procurement, the two nations will only analyze the "trend" of Japan's market opening. Although his proposal failed to become an official U.S. proposal, there is still a possibility that it will give a "hint" to resuming economic framework talks. Possibility of Compromise in Government Purchases and Insurance Judging from the U.S. stance not to call for setting up numerical targets, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry [MITI] sees that a request calling for setting up a target "designed to help foreign products gain a certain market share in the future" is "out of the question, and the United States will not make such a request." Meanwhile, as for the U.S. call for "keeping a growth rate in Japan's imports," MITI views that it is possible that the United States will instead stress that "such a call is not a numerical target, and Japan should accept this as objective criteria." For that reason, MITI says that "both requests are numerical targets, and we cannot accept them," thus indicating a strong posture in rejecting numerical targets. In the February negotiations, Japan and the United States were about to reach an agreement in the area of government procurement and insurance, two of the three priority areas, which are: 1) government procurement of telecommunications and medical equipment, 2) insurance, and 3) automobiles and auto parts. In view of this, |
FBIS4-4992_0 | Article Views Political Issues, U.S. Ties | BFN [Discussion between Hisahiko Okazaki, former ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Thailand and currently adviser to the Hakuhodo Advertising Agency, and Motoo Shiina, independent member of the House of Councilors; place and date not given: "A Time of Ordeal for the U.S.-Japan Alliance"] [Text] We Could Not Use "Rice" as a Trump Card in Negotiations [Okazaki] We have so much to talk about because so many things have happened since we last talked together (for the December 1993 issue). First, there is the topic of rice. I think that there was no other choice but to liberalize the market because the rice issue had reached the stage it had. If Japan had refused to liberalize the rice market at that point, the Uruguay Round would have failed. As a result, the stock market would have crashed on the very same day. The world would have blamed Japan for all the resulting ills, and economic friction would have become really severe. Under such circumstances, there would not be any prospects for the Japanese economy's recovery. It was a crisis of that magnitude. One can also ask whether we could have done anything at some [earlier] point, before we were driven to such a situation. [Shiina] We had a chance in late December three years ago. [Okazaki) That was the time of the complete liberalization of beef and oranges in 1991. But that, too, was the outcome of the pressure of continuous trade negotiations which had begun about 10 years earlier. I am not against the liberalization of rice, but if I were to give advice to the ones who want to protect the rice market, I think that the situation would have been very different if we had asked [at that earlier opportunity] for "an exception only for rice" and we had actually instead liberalized all the other items two years earlier, rather than reluctantly opening the market as a result of pressure. [Shiina] As for skillfulness in the negotiations, we must have had many cards to play because the volume of the trade involved was so large. Including secondary industry products, we should have used each card as one of an entire deck of cards. But we could not do that because we went into the [Uruguay Round] negotiations under a vertical-division system which states that "agricultural products are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries." |
FBIS4-4992_9 | Article Views Political Issues, U.S. Ties | is facing collapse. It is an issue which takes precedence over the election system. [Okazaki] I have the impression that they are acting that way because they believe that if the party is going to collapse anyway, then it is better not to compromise their principles. [Shiina] But even were the party to collapse, the individuals could survive. I think that when the ship was sinking, there would be more of them who would escape by lifeboat and would say "let me get on your boat" than those who would say "I will go down with the ship." In such circumstances, one wonders what in the world the 1955 structure was all about, in that it was so troubled by such a party. [Okazaki] The 1955 structure, in concrete terms, was a medium-sized electoral district system in which each district had a quorum of four to five representatives. The first and second seats were taken by the LDP and the third by the SDPJ. Am I correct? [Shiina] In other words, with the exception of some districts, the SDPJ only had to run one candidate in each electoral district. In effect, it was handled as a single-constituency electoral district. Because most of the time each of the [SDPJ] candidates was elected, it must have been just fine for those people. [Okazaki] But that system is going to change. [Shiina] Still, they must have known that their number would dwindle, even under the previous system, because they lost 70 seats in the last election. [Okazaki] No one knows what will happen after the electoral system reform this time. But it is still quite significant that it was changed. When a system remains unchanged for a long time, various kinds of system fatigue and friction occur. The commotion at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry [MITI] is one example. They made a special personnel arrangement in order to accommodate a person who wanted to run for an election. When questioned about this, the [MITI's] answer was that "it is done routinely." I wish the bureaucrat who answered had said, even if it were untrue, that "he was exceptionally talented and there was no other suitable person for that post. For the sake of the country, we had no choice but to appoint him." [Shiina] That's right. But there have been just too many similar cases; that answer would have sounded too |
FBIS4-4992_15 | Article Views Political Issues, U.S. Ties | having started to talk about "raising the consumption tax rate." [Shiina] A lucky accident. [Okazaki] Now it has been mentioned, everyone will expect it to happen in the future. [Shiina] And they will begin discussions about how to do it. [Okazaki] When a party is in the position the LDP used to be, with three hundred seats, every bill passed if the bureaucrats skillfully pre-arranged them. The style of politics is no longer one of perfection, though. If there is a hitch to anything then people in Japan denounce you as no good and disgraceful. In the United States, however, it is common practice to submit a bill, delete a portion after debate, and then resubmit it. I think the situation in Japan is beginning to approach that style. [Shiina] One can say that we have moved closer to conservatism and away from socialism under which ministerial offices manage a planned economy. [Okazaki] It may not be a bad idea to bring up logically sound proposals for which the possibility of success is about 60 percent. [Shiina] The incident this time [Hosokawa first announcing the tax plan and then almost immediately retracting it] is a good precedent to show that things can be upset. In the conventional wisdom of the past, if the LDP president had done the same thing, he would have had to take responsibility. Mr. Hosokawa, on the other hand, is still here. (laughter) [Okazaki] It seemed the Finance Ministry would take in too much under the original proposal. They opted for a six trillion yen tax cut and a 7 percent consumption tax rise three years later. It would have been better instead to opt for a 7 trillion yen tax cut. That might have brought about a more natural increase in tax revenue. [Shiina] To try to calculate during a recession is like going shopping when you are hungry. You tend to buy more than otherwise might. Also, it treats people as fools to think they will consent [to pay] if the term "welfare" is used. It is best not to collect taxes earmarked for a specific purpose. You can see the problem if we use the analogy of the household budget: Though you are hungry, as you have spent the entire food budget, you can not buy food with the money remaining because it is set aside for housing expenses. (laughter) Ultimately, clever people |
FBIS4-4997_0 | Key Points for GATT Marrakech Talks Viewed | BFN [Unattributed article] [Text] Ministerial talks will be held in Marrakech, Morocco, for four days beginning 12 April to sign the final agreement document that was hammered out last December at the Uruguay Round (the multilateral trade negotiations of GATT]. The ministerial talks are expected to adopt a declaration calling for the implementation of an accord on the World Trade Organization (WTO) in January 1995, earlier than July 1995 called for in the document. The United States and other nations, however, have proposed that the issue of protecting workers in developing countries be taken up for discussion at the ministerial talks, but the coordination of views among the participating nations on the proposal is facing rough sailing because of backlash to the proposal from developing countries. Hence, how to grapple with the North-South issue is surfacing as a focal point of the ministerial talks. In a bid to end child and forced labor which is pervasive in developing countries, the United States and France have proposed that WTO map out a set of unified rules to protect workers in those countries. The two nations have also demanded that a document to be adopted by the ministerial talks incorporate a work schedule to study the compatibility of the protection of workers and trade. They have made the proposal out of their deep concern about an export offensive from developing countries in Asia and other regions that are supported economically by low-wage workers. Some industrialized nations have asserted that the export of low-priced goods from developing countries where labor conditions are poor should be restricted as dumping. Developing countries have reacted against their assertions, saying, "They are pursuing protectionism under the pretext of protecting our workers." In his recent meeting with Hiroshi Kumagai, minister of international trade and industry, French Foreign Minister Juppe asked for Japan's cooperation, but Mr. Kumagai took a cautious attitude, saying, "Consideration should be given to the concerns of Asian nations." Environmental protection has been referred to as a major item on the agenda of the next round of multilateral trade negotiations and a few industrialized nations plan to demand that exports from developing countries where the costs of protecting environment are low be restricted as "environmental dumping." Developing countries are reacting against such a move by some industrialized nations. Both industrialized nations and developing countries will inevitably confront at the ministerial talks. The declaration to be adopted |
FBIS4-5021_0 | Finance Minister, Delegation Return | BFN [Text] A Myanmar [Burmese] delegation led by Finance and Revenue Minister Brigadier General Win Tin returned to Yangon [Rangoon] by a Thai Airways International flight after attending the Conference on Capital Management of Indochina countries held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 1 April. |
FBIS4-5067_7 | Radio Reports on Speech | people who are heading for socialism. [applause] We should successfully carry out the tasks for the period of adjustment of socialist economic construction with a great pride and self-respect in struggling with the revolutionary economic strategy under the leadership of the great leader and great party. The agriculture-first policy is the task of primary importance we should persistently keep up in the period of adjustment. [applause] We should thoroughly implement the agriculture-first policy and bring forth a great upturn in all areas of agricultural production, including the production of grain, meat, eggs, fruits, and vegetables, so that we can smoothly solve the problem of food for the people. In the historic letter to the national agricultural meeting "On the Ultimate Solution of the Rural Problem Under the Banner of the Socialist Rural Theses," the great leader Comrade Kim Il-song clearly elucidated the tasks and methods to realize the industrialization and modernization of agriculture and to drastically increase the overall agricultural production, including grain. We should uphold the great leader's plan and intent and achieve a great upswing in all areas of agricultural production. Above all, we should solidify the successes attained in the irrigation and electrification that have been completed, and let their might be amply displayed. The irrigation facilities and equipment that have been built should be in good maintenance and repair. At the same time, we should actively introduce efficient irrigation methods, such as circular irrigation, vigorously push ahead with the technological modernization project aimed at converting the water-pumping and irrigation system into a multi-waterway watering system, and manage water scientifically and technologically so that our country's great circular irrigation system may be given full play. In conformity with the rapidly increasing machinery and power facilities for farming and the ever-improving standard of farmers' cultural life, we should build more power supply facilities and improve the power supply system so as to satisfactorily fill the rural area's demand for electricity. To further enhance the general mechanization and scientification standard of rural economy is an important task to solidify and modernize agriculture. We should boost the general mechanization and scientification standard of rural economy to free the farmers completely from hard and difficult labor, to continuously increase agricultural production, and to remove the gaps between industry and agriculture and between urban and rural areas. To continuously enhance the general mechanization standard of the rural economy, we should maximize the |
FBIS4-5095_0 | KCNA Marks 14th Year of Public Health Law | BFN [Text] Pyongyang, April 5 (KCNA) -- Today marks the 14th anniversary of the enforcement of the law on public health in Korea. This law adopted at the fourth session of the Sixth Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK in April 1980, codifies the brilliant achievements made in the health care in the country and gives a theoretical systematization of the principles and requirements for developing it to a new, higher stage. This day is significantly commemorated as day of public health every year in the country. The DPRK enforced a free medical care system 40 odd years ago in the thick of the fatherland liberation war. This complete and universal free medical care system grants to all people equal medical benefits. All the costs in health care such as diagnosis, treatment, surgical operation, hospitalization and recuperation are free. In the DPRK where the advanced section doctor system is in force and preventive medicine is the key point, people are given enormous benefits through regular check-up, vaccination and other medical assistance. Modern people's hospitals have been built in cities and rural villages and at industrial establishments and maternity hospitals, dental preventive hospitals and other specialized medical care bases are available everywhere. Several dozen central pharmaceutical factories and thousands of local pharmaceutical factories in Sunchon, Nanam, Sinuiju and other parts of the country satisfactorily meet the demand for medicines. The state ensures that mineral water resources abundant in the country are used effectively for the promotion of the working people's health. Now hundreds of mineral springs are available in 150 odd areas. Public health workers have written many valuable scientific papers while engaging themselves in preventive and curative services, resulting in marked improvement of medical care. Thanks to the popular policy of the party and the state and devoted efforts of the health workers, the average life expectancy at birth of the population has reached 74.5 years. The number of the old folks above 90 is on the increase. Last year it was five times the 1980 figure. |
FBIS4-5102_0 | Thai Daily Views Lao Political Direction | BFN [Text] CHATURAT: Laos is a country rich in natural resources, especially timber and minerals. However, it has no money to tap these treasures. Will your government accept foreign investment and on what conditions? Kaysone: Our government is ready to cooperate in economic development with all countries on the principle of equity and posing no threat to our independence. CHATURAT: What is the top priority on the list of your government's economic development plan? Kaysone: We will turn our country into an industrial nation based on agriculture and forestry. Norman Pegam, special reporter of CHATURAT magazine, asked these two questions to Kaysone Phomvihan, former president of the Lao People's Democratic Republic [LPDR] and former head of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party [LPRP], 18 years ago. The answers were nothing but a plan which would take decades for its materialization. The promulgation of the "New Economic Mechanism" or "Restructuring" policy was the first sign of the plan being materialized. Kaysone Phomvihan proposed the policy during the fourth party congress in 1986 to lay the foundation for decentralized economic development. During the fifth congress in 1991, the LPRP announced the national socioeconomic development plan for the period from 1993 to 2000. The plan encourages the application of capitalism rules but refuses to let the country plunge into the orbit of capitalism. However, the official opening of the bridge [linking Vientiane capital with Thailand's Nong Khai Province] this month will attach Laos to capitalism. Although Laos' centralized economic system has been shifted to Lao-style capitalism, its political system remains "Lao-style" democracy or centralized democracy. It is apparent that the centralized power is in the hands of the group of "party leaders from southern Laos." The Road of Power Stretches to the South [Subhead] After the death of Kaysone Phomvihan in 1992, Nouhak Phoumsavan was named the new president of the LPDR while General Khamtai Siphandon became chairman of the LPRP. The appointments of Kaysone Phomvihan's close comrades in arms to the highest posts to administer the country and party brought an abrupt end to the anticipation of a massive reshuffle of the power holders. The allocation of important posts in the National Assembly, Council of Ministers, and party indicates an attempt to keep the power well balanced at a certain level. President Nouhak Phoumsavan has the power to appoint or dismiss the prime minister while Prime Minister Khamtai Siphandon, in his capacity as |
FBIS4-5167_5 | Reportage on Proceedings of SPA Session Economic Development Measures | production, and improve the quality of export items of large foreign demand, including steel material, nonferrous metal, machinery equipment, batteries, magnesia clinkers, cement, processed stone, silk products, and traditional Koryo medicine. Overseas markets will be actively developed, credit will be earned, and external trading transactions will be expanded and developed in various forms and methods, including processing trade, reselling trade [toegori muyok], commission trade, joint venture and management, economic and technological collaboration, and overseas construction. Investment conditions for foreign companies will be satisfactorily guaranteed and investment inducement activities will be promoted by strengthening management in the Najin and Sonbong free economic trade zones. 2. Coal and electricity industries, and railway transportation, which are the leading sectors of the people's economy, will be assured that they are given priority, and the development of metal industry will be continued. Continuously developing the metal industry and assuring that priority is given to the leading sectors of the people's economy are important demands for expanding and developing agriculture, light industry, and foreign trade, and for strengthening the self-reliance and independence of economy. Coal production will be increased by 30 percent during the period of adjustment with the strengthening of the coal industry by giving precedence in tunneling and removal of soil and rocks, modernizing mining and transportation equipment, accelerating construction of new mines and new pits, carrying out construction work ahead of schedule, and giving priority to providing materials and equipment. Investment in the crude oil industry will be increased so that more oil fields can be discovered by using reinforced exploring facilities and equipment, and by focusing efforts on exploring potential areas. In the electricity industry, electricity production will be increased by 30 percent during the period of adjustment by repairing and reinforcing power plants, improving technological management, and accelerating power plant construction. Thermoelectric power plants will be in full operation through sufficiently supplied coal, hydroelectric power plants will increase the efficiency of water pressure, and factory thermoelectric power plants and small-to-medium hydroelectric power plants will normalize electricity production. The construction of large-scale power plants will be actively accelerated so that they can begin operation ahead of schedule. An increased number of power plants using waste heat, small-to-medium hydroelectric power plants, and wind-power generating stations will be built, and nuclear power plants will be built on a large scale. Daily railway cargo transportation will be increased by over 30 percent by strengthening the |
FBIS4-5167_6 | Reportage on Proceedings of SPA Session Economic Development Measures | precedence in tunneling and removal of soil and rocks, modernizing mining and transportation equipment, accelerating construction of new mines and new pits, carrying out construction work ahead of schedule, and giving priority to providing materials and equipment. Investment in the crude oil industry will be increased so that more oil fields can be discovered by using reinforced exploring facilities and equipment, and by focusing efforts on exploring potential areas. In the electricity industry, electricity production will be increased by 30 percent during the period of adjustment by repairing and reinforcing power plants, improving technological management, and accelerating power plant construction. Thermoelectric power plants will be in full operation through sufficiently supplied coal, hydroelectric power plants will increase the efficiency of water pressure, and factory thermoelectric power plants and small-to-medium hydroelectric power plants will normalize electricity production. The construction of large-scale power plants will be actively accelerated so that they can begin operation ahead of schedule. An increased number of power plants using waste heat, small-to-medium hydroelectric power plants, and wind-power generating stations will be built, and nuclear power plants will be built on a large scale. Daily railway cargo transportation will be increased by over 30 percent by strengthening the material and technological basis of railway transportation and organizing transportation organizations and command. Main lines will focus on railways, more trains and engines will be manufactured, and transportation organizations and command will be modernized and will be more scientific. In the metal industry, priority will be guaranteed for iron ore production by reinforcing the tunneling and mining capacity of metal mines, including the Musan mining complex. The production of steel materials will be further increased by repairing and reinforcing the production procedure of iron and steel stations with modern technology. 3. Economic organizational works will continue to be properly carried out and economic management will be carried out well. Properly carrying out economic organizational works and economic management is a prerequisite for successfully implementing the tasks of socialist economic construction in the period of adjustment by highly displaying the revolutionary enthusiasm and active creativity of the masses. In conformity with the demands of the party's revolutionary economic strategy, the State Administration Council will improve economic operations and organizational works, and further grip, guide, and control all sectors and units of economic society. On the basis of the firm guarantee of the state's unified guidance on economic works, the creativity of |
FBIS4-5202_0 | More Reportage on Australia's Keating's Visit Multilateral Trade Practices Viewed | BFN [Text] During their formal meeting at Government House today, Prime Minister Chuan Likphai and Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating discussed expanding bilateral trade and investment cooperation and promoting free trade practices. Aphisit Wetchachiwa, spokesman of the Prime Minister's Office, disclosed that in addition to trade and investment policies, the Australian side expressed its desire to use Thailand as an aviation center for Qantas Airlines. The Thai side asked the Australian delegation to protect Thai products which have difficulties when imported to Australia and those products which were once accused of market dumping by asking Australia to use various cautious measures. Aphisit said: [Begin recording] Besides bilateral issues, the two sides exchanged views extensively on how to use the multilateral cooperation framework to serve the two countries' trade, investment, and economic interests. In particular, the two sides have recognized the important role of the economic cooperation forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, and discussed possible ways to further expand cooperation in different areas. They discussed the possibility of linking economic cooperation between the ASEAN Free Trade Area and the economic cooperation zone, the so-called CER, of which Australia and New Zealand are members. This issue has never been brought up for official discussion previously. However, both the Thai and Australian sides agreed that further actions must be taken in this regard. Thailand itself can bring up this matter during ASEAN meetings, while Australia seeks consultations with New Zealand as well as members of ASEAN, AFTA [ASEAN Free Trade Area], and other groupings. Multilateral economic cooperation itself is very significant. The two sides agreed that it is a framework that can effectively prevent and discourage any country from resorting to unilateral trade measures which threaten and cause damage to the economies of others. Moreover, the stability is also a byproduct of multilateral cooperation. Despite the end of the Cold War, the two sides deemed it necessary to continue consultations on the security issue. [end recording] Speaking to reporters during an interview after the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Suphachai Phanitchaphak disclosed that the two sides agreed to turn APEC into a multilateral economic cooperation grouping. Suphachai said: [Begin Suphachai recording] We discussed multilateral cooperation with APEC. The Australian side reiterated its concern over this issue. It noted that the United States is moving toward multilateral cooperation and that this is the right move. A multilateral basis means many countries |
FBIS4-5259_0 | Article Outlines Lao Economic Prospects | BFN [Article: "Laos... The Gold Mine on the Mekong River's Bank"] [Summary] "Somphong Mongkhonvilai, vice chairman of the Laos Commission for Cooperation and Planning, confirmed that the LPDR [Lao People's Democratic Republic] is quite rich in natural resources compared to other countries in this region. At present, forests cover 47 percent of the total area of the country. Geographically speaking, Laos can build as many as 18 hydroelectric dams with a combined production of electricity of 14,000 megawatts. Forty percent of the water in the Mekong River comes from Lao territory." French geologists have confirmed that huge deposits of over 10 precious minerals were found in different parts of the country. Dr. Wiraphong Ramangkun, former economic advisor to the Lao Government and secretary of the Thai-Lao Friendship Association, disclosed that the lignite deposit discovered in the area of Hong Sa Special Zone "is three times larger than that of Thailand's Mae Mo mine and sufficient for electricity production for up to 60 years" Moreover, zinc, tungsten, and gypsum can also be found in large quantities in Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, and Xieng Khwang Provinces while blue sapphire is also plentiful in Bokeo Province. Phadaeng Industry Company of Thailand reported the discovery of additional huge deposits of zinc and other minerals in southern Laos, while a French oil exploration company is considering the commercial viability of tapping the country's petroleum resources. "Speaking about the advantage of Laos' geographic location, Somnouk Khaiy-gnavong, deputy secretary general of the Lao National Trade and Industries Council and former director general of Laos' National Economic and Social Development Planning Department, said Laos shares common borders with five countries namely Thailand, China, Burma, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Therefore, it can serve well as a trade center for this region." Laos' first four-year economic development, covering the period from 1981 to 1985 was designed to heal the wounds of war. The second economic development plan, 1986 to 1990, concentrated on promoting the free trade system and establishing a strong currency. The year 1989 saw bright economic prospects as a result of the influx of foreign investment. The current third development plan, according to Somphong Mongkhonvilai, emphasizes the endeavors to tap and fully exploit the country's natural resources and bring about self-sufficiency to Laos. Under this development plan, 1991-1995, Laos will find ways to attract more foreign investors and promote production of goods for domestic consumption to alleviate the country's |
FBIS4-5290_3 | SDPJ Releases Draft Policy on Tax Reform | discussion on whether to make a consumption tax rise the centerpiece of taxation reform once its shortcomings have been corrected. In the recent uproar over the announcement of a national welfare tax, the SDPJ opposed its introduction, saying "it has not been discussed sufficiently." In particular, the party firmly asserted that the revenue generated by the consumption tax rise should be used "to finance the pensions program." The party, however, failed to touch on this issue in the draft outline, merely saying it plans to "make a constructive, responsible judgment on such matters as the propriety of designating taxes for certain purposes." The party has clearly tried to avoid clashing with the other ruling coalition parties, which oppose the SDPJ's idea. Instead, it makes only a passing reference to a "medicare-oriented" approach on the issue of improving welfare. It stresses the need to study plans to introduce a local consumption tax which have emerged among other ruling coalition parties. It says that, from the point of view of the local governments which actually handle the services, it is essential to "improve consumption taxation (indirect taxes) which places the emphasis on local governments." As far as income tax cuts are concerned, the SDPJ spells out in its draft outline that it plans to maintain the fixed tax rate reduction in the drastic tax system reform plan at the same level set for this fiscal year. The party also proposes to reconsider tax rate classifications, as well as raising the minimum taxable income, mainly through raising earned income deductions and basic deductions. At the same time the draft outline proposes that the possibility of reducing corporate taxes should be studied. On the issue of securing a source of revenue to offset shortfalls resulting from such tax cuts, the SDPJ intends to allocate "revenue garnered by reviewing the corporate tax system to offset expected shortfalls." For example, the party proposes reexamining various kinds of special tax exemptions, in which corporations already have vested rights and interests, and a reduction in corporate reserves. The SDPJ's draft policy outline was drawn up by the party's Research Commission on the Tax System (chaired by Ichiro Hino). The party, which holds the key to successful tax system reform, plans to discuss this draft outline by assembling concerned officials from its local chapters and holding a national convention of policy board chairmen and policymaking officials on 8-9 April. |
FBIS4-5300_6 | Telecommunications Sector Enters Multimedia Age Industry Structure Slows Progress | other computers, information can be processed as it is being exchanged; therefore, it is an excellent communications (media) tool. In U.S. workplaces, local area networks (LAN) linking workers, each with a personal computer on his or her desk, are used in communicating through such means as electronic mail, facsimile, and voice mail (multifunction answering machine) and are starting to get popular in Japan, too. As far as distributed processing networks are concerned, multimedia has become a real possibility. A characteristic of communications based on this kind of computer network is that nearly every network function will be carried out by equipment in the office rather than by the telephone company's switchboard. We are in the process of moving from a centralized network system to a distributed processing network system. The telephone company's role will merely be that of maintaining and servicing its cable lines. All other advanced functions will be carried out at [computer] terminals. An important point for such telephone companies is that these terminals in most cases will be provided, not by themselves, but by equipment manufacturers. Telephone companies, their services reduced to "wiring," a term which is used by the telephone companies, are afraid that their value-added services will flee into other hands. Carriers in every country, fearful of losing revenue, have come out of their offices to adopt a strategy which transcends existing jurisdictions and national boundaries to cover advanced communication needs from start to finish. Cases in point are the purchases by American regional telephone companies of cable television companies in other regions and BT's global enterprise communications service. The pressure is building to break down regional fences. Rate Structure To Encourage Use Another characteristic of distributed processing networks has to do with their fee structures. Generally, almost all communication networks have fixed costs that are passed on to users according to some kind of formula or method of allocating these costs. In Japan, during the age of centralized processing, the basis for allocating costs was time and distance -- the time on a "switch" [device used to transmit and route data] and the distance between them. Today, with distributed processing, however, this switching ability exists in the user's office, making it meaningless to base charges on time and distance. With the technology employed for distributed processing -- the use of fiber optics and packet switching -- distance is not such an important factor in |
FBIS4-5319_1 | Commentary Applauds Visit by Cambodia's Sirivut | training and cooperation in agriculture, tourism, and forestry apart from the exploitation of oil and minerals. Cambodia has also requested Malaysia's assistance in the formulation of trade and investment policies for the country. Ever since the two-decade-old civil war was brought to an end, Malaysia has been in the forefront in that country's reconstruction and development. Prince Sirivut expressed his country's gratitude to the Government and people of Malaysia who had greatly contributed toward the peace process in his country. Cambodia plans to set up an embassy in Kuala Lumpur before proceeding to do so in other countries of ASEAN. The embassies are necessary to enable Cambodia keep abreast with developments in the region as they have been isolated during the last 20 years. Right now, Cambodia's priority is to revive its economy. The new Cambodian Government, which was formed after last May's general elections, is keen on attracting Malaysia's private sector to invest in the country. It is also seeking Malaysia's expertise in various fields, especially in agriculture. It is relevant to find out that 85 percent of the Cambodian people live in the rural areas. Thus, Cambodia naturally wants to learn from Malaysia how the latter has achieved immense development and improved the quality of life in the rural areas. The visit of Prince Sirivut, who is also minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, was also to finalize details of the Malaysian premier Dr. Mahathir Mohamed's three-day visit to Cambodia next week. Dr. Mahathir is scheduled to hold discussions on bilateral, regional, and international issues with the co-prime ministers of Cambodia, Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Mr. Hun Sen. According to Sirivut, the official visit of the Malaysian premier is interpreted and considered by the Government of Cambodia as a very important political event. The people of Cambodia are reported to be looking forward to the visit, especially because of Malaysia's role in the country's peace process. Malaysia, just like its other ASEAN partners, considers Cambodia as an important and integral part of Southeast Asia. Malaysia may be remembered as among the first countries to send troops to serve in the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia, UNTAC. And now that peace has come about as a result of the UN-brokered 1991 Paris peace accord, Malaysia would like to see that country grow and prosper in all fields, and come on par with other countries in the region. |
FBIS4-5323_0 | Singaporians Largest Foreign Investor in Burma | BFN [Text] Singapore, with investment commitments of US$260.8 million [(Singapore dollar] S$406.7 million) to date, is now Myanmar's [Burma] largest foreign investor overtaking Thailand and the United States, Myanmar's [Burma] Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brigadier-General [BG] David Abel said yesterday. Speaking at a seminar here on business opportunities in Myanmar, he said Singapore's rate of investment was the fastest growing. The Republic's investments had already grown from US$45 million in August last year to US$107.6 million as at March 16 this year, according to Myanmar's Foreign Investment Commission. Singapore also has the most international telephone connections with Myanmar. Singaporean investments were mainly in oil and gas, tourism and hotel and mining. About 150 representatives of local and international companies attended the seminar organised by Conference & Exhibition Management Services, Applied Investments, the Singapore Manufacturers Association and the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce. BG Abel will call on Trade and Industry Minister Yeo Cheow Tong and Trade Development Board chairman Alan Yeo today before returning home. Last year, trade between Singapore and Myanmar increased by 19.4 per cent to [Singapore dollars] $720 million. |
FBIS4-5383_0 | Australian Adviser on Investmennt Prospects | BFN [Summary] In his article entitled: Vietnam's Economy and Its Investment Prospects, Mr. Graham Alliband, an Australian adviser and director general of Asia-Indochina Limited, analyzes Australia's opportunities for trade cooperation with and investment in Vietnam. According to Mr. Alliband, Australia made its first inroads into the Vietnam market through the OTCI telecommunications investment program in 1987. Under this program, Australia pledged investment capital of 80 million U.S. dollars. By the end of 1992, Australia became the sixth biggest investor in Vietnam with 22 projects involving a total investment capital of 280 million U.S. dollars. Recently, BHP Oil Company won a product-sharing contract to exploit oil at the Dai Hung oil field Vietnam's continental shelf. This development may make Australia top the list of foreign investors in Vietnam. BHP's achievement has testified to Australia's high position in Vietnam and also to the attractiveness of BHP bidding procedures. Australian companies have also taken the lead in helping their Vietnamese counterparts with the exploration of coal, gold, silicate sand, lead, tin, copper, manganese, and precious stones. Australia has also collaborated with the UNDP in helping Vietnam draft a new law on mining exploration. Thanks to its rich agricultural and marine resources, Vietnam has created conditions for Australian investors to sell their agricultural and food processing technologies. Australia has also expressed its interest in relocating some of its textile, garment, and footwear manufacturing companies to Vietnam. Furthermore, Australia's service industries have made their presence felt in Vietnam. Australia's ANZ Bank was among the first foreign banks to open branches in Vietnam. Some Australian law firms have also provided legal advice to foreign investors in Vietnam. A number of Australian financial companies have also helped Vietnam with access to international financial standards. Recently, some of those companies allowed their branches based in the neighboring countries to operate directly in Vietnam. Most of Australia's construction companies expressed their interest in Vietnam through the formation of joint ventures, setting up of representative offices, or signing of cooperation agreements. They also applied for the participation in major infrastructure building projects. |
FBIS4-5441_0 | Secretary Perry Castigated on Recent Remarks | BFN [Commentary by Kim Ho-sam: "The U.S. Scheme for Provoking a Korean War Is More Conspicuous Than Ever"] [Text] According to a foreign press report, U.S. Defense Secretary Perry said in an NBC television interview on 3 April that if the situation in the Korean peninsula does not change in six more months, the United States would consider its so-called diplomatic approach has failed and hinted that they would move in the direction of imposing heavy pressure, including economic sanctions. Then he added that he would not preclude the possibility of a preemptive military attack if their diplomatic and nonmilitary pressure proves unsuccessful. This bellicose outburst by the incumbent U.S. defense secretary is very out of the ordinary, and we must regard it as grave. Perry's provocative outburst coupled with his recent remark that they would not hesitate to wage another Korean war, shows that the U.S. imperialists are attempting to provoke a new war in Korea any time they choose. This bellicose violent remark was not made accidentally. Although the United States has raved that it is interested in the third round of DPRK-U.S. talks, this is false, judging by the violent war remarks made recently by the U.S. military leader. Perry's remarks also show that the United States has only been scheming for a policy of crushing [apsal] the DPRK by force. Let me take a few instances. According to a recent WASHINGTON POST issue, war fanatic Perry, babbling about our so-called nuclear development, said that the United States would stop our so-called nuclear weapons development even if it had to pay the price of starting a war on the Korean peninsula again. Saying that the U.S. strategy is taking step-by-step measures while isolating North Korea, he stated that the United States would take more serious measures. Perry also disclosed that the parts and maintenance personnel of the U.S. forces' fighter planes are being dispatched to the military bases in South Korea and Japan, that the South Korean puppets are being prepared with some kind of weapon, and that preparations are underway to deploy to South Korea the second lot of launching pads for Patriot missiles. Moreover, he unhesitatingly and undisguisedly made violent remarks of war that the United States will deal an overwhelming air strike against someone else's provocation within 24 hours. What should be noted seriously is that he openly disclosed that he will have in-depth |
FBIS4-5448_0 | Editorial Urges Demand for U.S. Gun Control | BFN [Editorial: "Asia should pressure US to impose gun control"] [Text] As the Marrakech talks on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (Gatt) approach, developing countries are becoming increasingly anxious. Many of their governments, including Thailand's, fear the negotiations and the planned creation of a World Trade Organization (WTO) will be used to pressure them into adopting labour, human rights and environmental standards they consider inappropriate. Their main fear is that any such move will damage their economic competitiveness. Businesses in developing countries often depend on cheap labour and lax environmental and labour standards to keep their costs down, and their products cheap. They see the move by the West to impose higher standards as a sneaky way to protect its own industries. They have a point. Protectionism is on the rise in the developed world. But this is not the entire story. National sovereignty Many consumers in the West are genuinely concerned that they are purchasing products made at the expense of the environment or the health of indigenous people (although they like cheap products, too). In their own countries, they may have some say over how such matters are protected, but the origin of imported goods is usually a mystery. Hence another reason to push for stricter enforcement of regulations abroad. Governments in developing countries have responded by complaining that their national sovereignty is being impinged. But such talk will no longer do. "Free" trade is not really free, it comes with a price. Businesses appear eager to have their cake and eat it, too. They want easy access to lucrative markets abroad but don't want to face up to the realities which closer trade links entail. Breaking down economic barriers inevitably means breaking down political and social ones, too. The European Union has recognized this. Its leaders realize that economic union cannot be carried out without some kind of political union. Nor would the North American Free Trade Agreement have passed in the US without the side agreements on labour and the environment. With this in mind, we must all pay very close attention to how the World Trade Organization develops. As Gatt expands and deepens, the WTO could well form the beginnings of a kind of world government, one which could conceivably gain greater powers than the United Nations. As it stands, the WTO is not terribly accountable. Its representatives are appointed by governments and |
FBIS4-5448_2 | Editorial Urges Demand for U.S. Gun Control | bureaucrats. It should be democratized, perhaps by creating a sister organization whose members are elected directly by the people, as with the European Parliament. Our government should certainly continue defending our right to make our own decisions. But sooner or later, all the countries which sign the Gatt -- or any free trade agreement, including Afta [ASEAN Free Trade Area] -- will have to realize that acceding to the treaty will mean sacrificing national sovereignty on some issues. If we don't like it, then we shouldn't sign. Of course, compromise must cut both ways. The US may well be justified in demanding, say, that Japan and Norway halt their whaling activities or that China stop using prison labour. But we in Asia also have a right to examine America's internal affairs. One point which stands out is the widespread availability of guns in the US. Many Americans seem to believe they have a God-given, or at least a constitutionally ordained, right to own a deadly weapon. Some might say this is their own business. But it affects us in Asia, too. Japanese students The latest instance was the case of two Japanese students gunned down in a Los Angeles [LA] parking lot. The incident created a public uproar in Japan, so much so the US ambassador felt the need to officially apologize on behalf of the United States government. The Japanese should consider themselves lucky; the US government rarely apologizes to governments of other foreigners gunned down in the States -- although it did express regret when Thai monks were murdered in Arizona several years ago -- much less to its own people for allowing weapons to be so easily available. This is not the only way in which America's gun policy, or lack thereof, has affected foreigners. The gun used to assassinate Mexican presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio was traced back to LA. Who knows how many guns are bought in the States and then exported for murder abroad? Defenders of the United States' liberal gun laws say that gun control won't work, that it will only affect law-abiding citizens. But that's because it has barely been tried. The US government is too easily swayed by powerful anti-gun-control lobbies. Asian countries would be doing Americans and the world a favour by pushing for stronger weapons laws in the States. This is just one example to show that many issues |
FBIS4-5455_0 | Possible Exclusion of Petrochemicals From AFTA | BFN [By Wichit Sirithawiphon] [Text] Thailand may elect to exclude some petrochemical products from AFTA [ASEAN Free Trade Area] liberalisation if Indonesia and Malaysia insist on doing the same said an informed Finance Ministry source. Thailand keeps petrochemical industries under the ASEAN Free Trade Area normal track while Indonesia and Malaysia keep these industries on an exclusion list, added the source. However, Thailand will not include all petrochemical products in the exclusion list -- only locally-made products will be protected, he noted. The source commented that Singapore stands to gain advantages over its neighbouring countries in these industries as it has more fully integrated its industries. The source noted that Singaporean products would flood the three countries if import taxes were diminished. Malaysia has systematically developed its petrochemical industries while Indonesia has only six downstream petrochemical industries, explained the source. However, Brunei and the Philippines have not established petrochemical industries, noted the source. Thailand will keep petrochemical industries under an exclusion list but plans to reduce the protection period from eight to five years. According to the source, the list of the protected items are ethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polystrylene, polypropylene, and propylene. The source confirmed that today's AFTA meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Tharin Nimmanhemin, will consider this matter among other issues. The studies conducted by the Ministry of Finance indicate that it is necessary to support the Thai petrochemical industry as it is a major basic industry and is only in its early development stages, noted the source. The source said if Malaysia and Indonesia accept a Ministry of Finance proposal to keep their petrochemical industries under the normal track, the Ministry would develop alternatives to help the emerging industries faced with a high interest rate burden. The agenda for the AFTA meeting today will consider ways to expedite the realisation of the free trade area from 15 to 10-12 years, to include consideration on non-processed agricultural products, said the source. The source conceded that disagreement among ASEAN members continues on the definition of the terms "processed" and "non-processed" goods. Deputy Prime Minister Suphachai Phanitchaphak has proposed that Thailand withdraw some petrochemical products from the normal track to the exclusion list if other ASEAN countries decide to add their products to the exclusion list. According to Dr Suphachai, if Thailand could successfully negotiate with the two countries to bring the petrochemical industries under the normal track, Thailand could |
FBIS4-5476_1 | Grain Shortage, Hunger Cited in Nghe An Province | An Province's Dien Chau district has a population of 260,000, most of whom engage in agricultural production, planting various crops on a total area of 23,000-24,000 hectares of land. Among them 14,000 hectares are planted with rice and 3,000 hectares with peanuts. In the most productive year, the district can produce 63,000 tonnes of grain. Its per capita in grain is 260 kg. People in the district also engage in fishing, salt production, and livestock breeding. "However, after six years of implementing Resolution No. 10 on the contractual system, only 65 percent of households in the district earn enough grain for self-consumption. The remaining 35 percent face a grain shortage and numerous difficulties due to poverty, among them more than 11 percent experience hunger [dqois] from five to six months." What is the main causes of hunger and poverty experienced by the abovementioned 35 percent of the district's households? Through our studies, we found that these households had insufficient capital, used poor cultivation methods, while the cost of production was too high and the price of rice was relatively low in the market. "Indeed, more than half of the 35 percent poor households are short of capital; they have too many children, most of them are in poor health. Worse still, they could not pay their debts to the local agricultural cooperative year after year." To overcome these difficulties, the district must strive to encourage the peasants to plant new high-yield rice and peanut varieties to attain an average rice yield of 45 quintals per hectar and peanut, 20 quintal per hectare. The district must also strive to plant more soybean and sweet potatoes on its fallow land to attain a production target of 70,000-80,000 tonnes of grain by the year 1997. The goal of the district is to overcome hunger by 1998, reduce the number of poor households by half, and help 40 percent of the total households in the district lead a better life by the year 2000. "The struggle against hunger and poverty is a difficult task. It requires coordination from various sectors and branches while efforts must be made from the top to the lowest level. It is necessary to carry out this struggle in close association with the implementation of the family planning program to reduce the population growth rate of the district from 2.4 percent at present to 1.7 percent in the year 2000." |
FBIS4-5478_3 | Further on Hanoi Midterm Congress Resolution Resolution, Part V | care, nurture, and develop the human factor, which is both a motive and an aim of the revolution. The important issues in these domains at present are employment, social equity, level of public knowledge, a healthy and clean society, the development of national culture, and health care and protection. -- What are the most important ways to create employment? All people will cooperate with the state to invest more savings to accelerate industrialization and modernization, thus creating more jobs. All citizens and economic elements, domestic and overseas investors alike, are to be encouraged to develop their business activities and expand their external relations, as development will help solve the employment issue. -- On what basis do we set up our social equality policies? Economic growth must relate closely to social progress and equality at each stage of its development. Social equality is seen in the reasonable distribution of production resources and products of the economy, as well as in opportunities for development of each individual. We will apply the principle that allows higher income for those who are produce and contribute more, and vice versa. Distribution is based mainly on labor and on capital contributed to business and production activities. Talents and skills are to be encouraged and valued. The lawful accumulation of wealth should be encouraged, while programs to eradicate hunger and reduce poverty should be developed. We should see a growing number of people getting rich before others as a positive indication of development. We will carry out suitable policies in credit, tax, and career training to create conditions for the poor to improve their chances of making ends meet and becoming better off. We should also motivate the richer sections of society to help the state assist those who are poorer with capital, production resources, experience, and advice for their own businesses. The richer, developed regions should help the state assist poorer, and slower-developing ones. The state will have suitable policies to reserve investment subsidies for poorer regions, and will assign the richer regions the responsibility of supporting poorer ones. The state should also have suitable policies and special aid for regions with unique difficulties and disadvantages in comparison to others. These include mountainous and remote regions, ethnic minority regions, and former revolutionary bases. On the other hand, these localities also have to help themselves by developing their potential and using subsidized capital efficiently. (To be continued) |
FBIS4-5596_18 | President Consolidates Authority Over Military | handle such difficult problems well. Therefore, he, more than anyone, has to be in harmony with the minister. Choe Tong-chin (25th term, brigadier general) a newly appointed aide is said to have conducted these duties well while in the office of the chief of staff of the Army Capital Garrison Command. It appears that coming from the same hometown (Kyongju) as the minister has allowed him to enjoy his confidence. Interference in the military personnel changes by the Blue House is no less than it has been in the past, according to persons well informed with the military. It is said that the Blue House gathers information about high-ranking generals through another channel, a search the Defense Security Command did in the past. Through the channel, which field-grade officers as well as generals use, various opinions on military affairs are transmitted to the Blue House, a source said. It is said that Mr. P., an influential person of the Blue House, plays an important role in military affairs. Because his duties are to run errands for President Kim, his role could be said to be a natural one. But when Kim To-yun, ex-commander of the Defense Security, who was appointed by President Kim, was suddenly replaced by Yim Chae-mun, chief of staff of the Defense Security Command, last 21 October, Mr. P. is said to have played a major role. Because at the time the government only said that "(Kim, ex-commander of the Defense Security) resigned for personal reasons" regarding his replacement as the commander of the Defense Security, the real reasons were not known until now. But, informed persons say, it is certain that Mr. P. interfered in these affairs. While the Blue House prohibits any exclusive talks between the president and the commander of the Defense Security since the new government began, it has obtained information on the military's thoughts (especially those of Hanahoe) through the national defense minister and separately through the managing staffs of the Defense Security Command, they say. It is because information obtained through official channels was in many cases different from that obtained through unofficial lines, especially, of the Hanahoe's thoughts which the Blue House has given deep thought to, information obtained through official channels tend to have less value. Accordingly, Mr. P. and Mr. H., another influential person in the Blue House, found the situation to be unusual and made a recommendation |
FBIS4-5607_2 | `Social Clause' in GATT Agreement Disputed | include social clauses or workers rights in trade talks." "Our labour is cheap, but that does not mean it is exploited," Buencamino said, noting that workers in the export industry often earned much more than the mandated minimum wage. Despite the uproar in Asia, chief US trade negotiator John Schmidt, declared before leaving for Morocco that Washington would not accept the Marrakech declaration or documents related to the WTO preparatory committee "without some language" on labour rights. In a bid to quell the row before it erupts into a damaging North-South split, Gatt chief Peter Sutherland called a meeting of trade envoys yesterday to seek a compromise. Observers said much would depend on how hard the United States presses the issue. The United States wants a ministerial declaration in Marrakech to accept that the WTO would deal with the link between trade and labour. Developing countries have refused to consider any reference to the issue in the declaration. Washington, is expected to get its strongest backing from France which has been pressing the European Union to enact regulations against "social dumping" -- selling goods produced with cheap labour under poor working conditions. US and French officials argue that the WTO, which will be a more powerful watchdog than Gatt, should enforce a connection between trade and labour conditions. France wants the body to apply standards that will prevent countries from exploiting children, prisoners and bonded workers as a way of gaining trade advantages. Gatt officials are further worried that the introduction of the controversial social dimension would divert attention from work that needs to be done to ensure that measures to liberalize world trade contained in the Uruguay accords are sealed and actually applied. Washington, however, argues that it accepts the existence of a "natural comparative advantage", including wage rate differentials, linked to a country's degree of development. The United States submitted at the beginning of the Uruguay Round in 1987 a paper listing a set of five internationally recognized standards it saw as trade-related. The five points were freedom of association for workers, freedom to organize and bargain collectively, freedom from forced or compulsory labour, a minimum age for employment of children, and "minimum standard" for working conditions, including occupational health and safety hazards. Many members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), including Switzerland and the Nordic countries, concede that these problems will, sooner or later, |
FBIS4-5612_1 | Article on Procurement Frictions With U.S. | personal relationship with them. Medical equipment has only recently surfaced as a trade friction between Japan and the United States. The United States raised medical equipment as a bilateral trade issue for the first time at the Tokyo summit last July, and the issue was later taken up for discussion at the Japan-U.S. economic framework talks. Unlike automobiles, Japan registers no huge surplus in the medical instruments trade with the United States. According to a survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan exported 100 billion yen worth of medical appliances to the United States in 1992 while it imported 234.1 billion yen worth of medical equipment from that country. In this way, in the field of medical equipment, Japan bought 134.1 billion yen more than it sold to the United States in that year. Unlike plate glass products, the share of foreign medical equipment in the Japanese market is high. A U.S. Government estimate shows that U.S. medical equipment manufacturers hold a 20-percent share of the Japanese market, but the U.S. Government has maintained that this market share is still low compared to their 40-percent share on European markets. In response, the Second North American Division of the Foreign Ministry comments, "The figure presented by the U.S. Government does not include the share held by U.S.-invested medical equipment companies operating in Japan and the fact that there is instead only a small difference between the U.S. shares in the Japanese and European markets." Hiroichi Kimura, president of the Association of Medical Equipment Manufacturers, has said, "I wonder if the United States fully understands the actual state of the Japan-U.S. medical equipment trade." It is quite natural that both Japan and the United States have been unable to find areas of agreement at the end of their discussions. What the United States has made an issue of concerning medical equipment is not a trade imbalance but rather Japan's business practices. The United States has focused its attack on the procurement of medical instruments by national hospitals as a symbol of the closed medical equipment market in Japan. Japan has asserted that the tender system adopted by national hospitals is open, but an official with a medical instrument manufacturer has pointed out, "Wholesalers, who are well aware of the collusive practices, have sometimes asked doctors in advance to set conditions for tenders that can be met only by the medical |
FBIS4-5614_0 | Editorial Urges Review of U.S. Security Treaty | BFN [Editorial: "Do Not Be Afraid of Dialogue on Japan-U.S. Security"] [Text] A supposedly nightmarish scenario is being talked about by Diet members and government officials. The scenario is that trade frictions between Japan and the United States go from bad to worse and that the two countries square off not only on trade but also in other fields as well. The opinion gains ground in the United States that Japan has been getting a free ride on defense from the United States and that there is no need to protect such a country. Animosity becomes mutual. Nationalistic sentiment gains the upper hand in Japan as well. The Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is discussed simply on an emotional plane, resulting in dire consequences, the scenario goes. The Japanese Government thinks that strains between the two countries should by all means be confined to trade alone. It is so worried as to be very jittery about their spreading to security issues. Inasmuch as the cold war has ended and the U.S. security strategy toward Japan based on the perceived threat from the Soviet Union has changed, however, a fresh study should be conducted as to whether the security arrangements between Japan and the United States ought to remain as they are, regardless of the direction that trade problems take. In a recent book, George Kennan, a former U.S. diplomat who has closely watched the world for the 50 years since World War II, writes about Japan-U.S. relations that, with the end of the cold war, the initial raison d'etre for the present defense agreements has been lost. (It should not be forgotten, though, that some remain as long as the problem of North Korea's effort to develop nuclear weapons is not solved.) Kennan says that, being a layman, he does not know whether the Japanese Government wants to retain these military agreements unchanged. If it does not, there is no clear reason for keeping them in the present form, he says. The United States should willingly accept their abrogation or revision, Kennan says. The Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and its ancillary agreements are products of a bipolar world centered on the United States and the former Soviet Union. Consequently, although problems may remain on the Korean peninsula, the end of the cold war made the original reasons for their existence irrelevant, as Kennan says. In discussing the security arrangements, both the proponents and |
FBIS4-5614_2 | Editorial Urges Review of U.S. Security Treaty | Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and its ancillary agreements are products of a bipolar world centered on the United States and the former Soviet Union. Consequently, although problems may remain on the Korean peninsula, the end of the cold war made the original reasons for their existence irrelevant, as Kennan says. In discussing the security arrangements, both the proponents and the opponents of the maintenance of those arrangements should start by facing up to that fact. When the reason for the existence of something disappears or changes, normally a fresh look is taken at its continuation. That ought to be true of our security treaty as well. Because the biggest country targeted militarily by that treaty has collapsed, the first question that must be asked is what is the target of the treaty. The question is whether the target is still the former Soviet Union or new threats from some other countries, and how far Japan and the United States should go in taking joint action against that threat. As far as is known from the United States' new international strategy, U.S. military interest has shifted from the former Soviet Union to various regional conflicts. In particular, the new focal points are the Middle East (especially Iraq) and Asia (notably North Korea). The role played by the U.S. troops in Japan has also changed. Greater importance is being attached to their role of military logistical support for dealing with regional conflicts, rather than as the forward base closest to the Soviet Union and the defense of Japan in case of possible contingencies in this country. In fact, the U.S. Forces in Japan played a major part in the Persian Gulf war. The center of gravity of our security treaty has shifted. It seems that security in the countries of Asia and the Middle East has assumed greater importance, taking up the slack in the security needs of Japan. Also, the regions that have newly assumed importance include some areas to which the security treaty did not give any consideration at all when it was signed. The Japanese and U.S. Governments should grope for a new framework for security in Asia after making clear how the picture has changed. Otherwise, the theory of "Japan getting a free ride" that is now held by some Americans will gain momentum and could lead to a depth of irreparable misunderstanding before we are aware of it. |
FBIS4-5616_0 | Debate Continues on U.S. Bases in Okinawa Editorial Urges Mondale's Help | BFN [Editorial: "What We Want the VIP Ambassador To See"] [Text] U.S. Ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale is here in Okinawa. Governor Masahide Ota has asked him to help resolve issues related to U.S. military bases. Mondale has come at a time when people all over Okinawa are fiercely protesting the crash of an F-15 Eagle fighter on Kadena Air Base (on 4 April), and a CH-46 helicopter crash on Futenma Air Station (on 6 April). The prefectural assembly convened an emergency session on 8 April, and adopted a protest resolution on the two accidents and a statement asking for a thorough investigation into the accidents; publication of the findings; and suspension of military training until the causes of the accidents are determined, after the concerned local governments had done the same. This process has been repeated over and over again. Regarding the base issues, both former Governor Junji Nishime and Governor Ota decided not to just sit and wait for the Japanese Government to negotiate. They have visited the United States several times to petition directly. Ambassador Mondale claims he "can understand the Okinawans' feelings." We hope he takes this opportunity to visit the relevant sites and see for himself. We hope he will see how expansive military bases occupy a good portion of the small islands of Okinawa, how the residential areas are threatened by the possibility of damage from accidents, how artillery fire has punched holes into some of our few remaining green mountains, how noise interferes with daily life, and how Okinawans are exasperated by all of this. The specific demands of the prefectural government at this point consist of: The return of Naha Military Port, discontinuation of parachuting exercises at the Yomitan Auxiliary Airfield and the return of the airfield, an end to the live shelling exercises across Prefectural Highway 104, plus the prevention of accidents relating to military training. As Governor Ota stated, next year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. We want to see tangible solutions to the base issues. Prevention of accidents is a particularly urgent matter. There is one more thing we want Ambassador Mondale--a VIP politician who was vice president during the Carter administration and once a presidential candidate--to know. We want him to know the significance of the fact that Governor Ota--who upholds peace as the key policy of his administration--defeated the previous Governor Nishime, |
FBIS4-5711_0 | DPRK Reportedly Pursues Southeast Asia Markets | BFN [YONHAP from Tokyo] [Text] According to Japan's KYODO on 12 April, North Korea has turned its attention to Southeast Asia and the Middle East and is making efforts to explore new markets in these areas. Citing the Workers' Party of Korea's organ NODONG SINMUN dated 7 April, KYODO reported: In his report delivered at the seventh session of the Ninth Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea held on 6 April, Yi Song-tae, chairman of the External Economic Committee, said, "We should concentrate efforts on exploring markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, which are close to our country, and whose trade conditions are favorable to us, to firmly turn these regions into major markets for our country's trade." KYODO explained: Chairman Yi stressed the need to strengthen relations with these two regions before mentioning trade relations with China, Russia, and former East European countries. This shows that North Korea has made a decision to expand its trade with Southeast Asia and the Middle East as an important strategy after adopting the new "trade-first" economic policy. |
FBIS4-5757_0 | U.S. MIA Specialists Examine Several Remains | BFN [Text] Hanoi VNA April 12 -- The Vietnamese and US MIA [missing in action] specialists on April 9-11 examined a number of remains and personal effects believed to belong to American servicemen missing in action in the Vietnam war. The belongings were collected by the searching groups or handed over by the local people during recent 28th joint excavation. Initial results show that 10 packs of remains and personal effects could be related to American MIA's. On April 12, the representative of the Vietnam MIA office handed over the above-said 10 packs to the representative of the US side. This is the 47th handover since March 1973, bringing to 603 the total of the remains of MIA's to the US side. Speaking on the occasion the representative of the US side highly appreciated the effective cooperation of the Vietnamese Government and people. |
FBIS4-5759_5 | Risk Sharing `Inevitable' in U.S. Alliance | responsibility for maintaining the world order because no other country is willing to take the responsibility. However, since the United Nations is functioning at the moment, it is possible to maintain world order under the umbrella of the United Nations with the United States as leader. The question is to what extent can Japan contribute to such an endeavor. PKO's Come With Sacrifices Japan's participation in the PKO in Cambodia was successful. The operations were a great success because they were accomplished completely within a limited time period and with a minimum of victims, which was an exceptional case in the history of UN PKO's. What was most significant for Japan was the breakdown of the myth that the Southeast Asian nations are wary of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' [SDF] participation -- this myth was originally a domestic dispute in Japan and was exported overseas during the eighties. Concerning SDF participation in PKO's, there were no criticisms in the utterances of prominent people or in the press comments in Southeast Asia. Rather, the only criticism was that the SDF units placed a dangerous task on other countries, always finding shelter in a safe place. However, future participation in PKO's will not always be as successful as the one in Cambodia. First of all, there is no guarantee that PKO's will always be successful. There are cases where PKO's will have to be conducted from humanitarian and international viewpoints at the risk of failure. PKO's will not always be accomplished in a short time. Cyprus is a case in point. However, now we can highly evaluate the PKO in Palestine, although they were thought to have to go on indefinitely. And, at any rate, no PKO can guarantee that there will be no victims. Even Prime Minister Goh of Singapore, a country which is more wary of Japan's military role than any other in Southeast Asia, told Japan, "PKO's are no picnic." PKO's are not wars. Therefore, there is no political risk that holds sway over the destiny of a country that participates in PKO. Concerning the safety of PKO personnel, they are no more placed in a dangerous situation than policemen and firemen are. If Japan refuses to take such a risk, it can never become a partner in preserving the international order. Japan should immediately unfreeze the PKO forces that have been put in deep freeze and get rid |
FBIS4-5759_8 | Risk Sharing `Inevitable' in U.S. Alliance | Forces face the danger of being driven into the sea as in former times, if Japan, which has 200 F-15 fighter planes, remains an idle spectator despite a joint U.S.-South Korean request for Japan's assistance, the Japan-U.S. alliance will never hold out. Can Japan afford to destroy the Japan-U.S. alliance and lose the peace, stability, and prosperity of Japan by adopting a theory which is quite unintelligible outside Japan and which 99 percent of the Japanese people have never heard of: Japan has the right of self-defense but is not allowed to have the right of collective-defense? I think that the Japanese are a realistic people and that they will cope with the situation realistically at such a time. Seek the Middle Path After the end of the Cold War, everyone tried to guess what the future world would be like. A U.S. academic society proposed two options: Japan will either become a military superpower in the future or it will play a nonmilitary role globally. Comparison of the two options is unproductive work because they do not exist. In the foreseeable future, Japan's choices are extremely limited. One option: a country that dispatches PKO personnel but makes them hide behind the French Army in case of danger and remains a country that thrusts danger on the armies of other countries; or an ordinary country that shares sacrifices with other countries. Another option: a country that says it has the right of self-defense but not the right of collective-defense, and remains a country that leaves to fate whatever happens to its allies, the "American boys." If the choice is limited to these two narrow options, all U.S. intellectuals will no doubt opt for Japan's becoming an ordinary country. A militaristic country is not an ordinary country; it is a strange country. It is a strange country if it participates in PKO's but refuses to shed its blood for the operations and thrusts sacrifices on other countries. Japan should become an ordinary country and should be prepared for the time when the proof of the alliance is necessary. This is the only alternative to saving the Japan-U.S. alliance. When I gave a lecture in Thailand, I was asked: "For the Southeast Asian countries, Japan is exactly the right country to balance with China. Why did Japan advance in the past believing in militarism and why does it shut itself up now |
FBIS4-5762_0 | MOPT Moves To Establish Internet Group | CSO [Text] The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications [MOPT] has begun to move on establishment of a commercial Internet group. The move is viewed as an attempt to gain a leadership role by establishing an industry group because of the expected rapid growth in new information-communications businesses. Services connecting with the domestic commercial Internet system were initiated in November of last year. Two companies known as AT&T Japan ENS (AT&T JENS) and Internet Initiative (IIJ) have already begun offering services and Fujitsu will initiate services in June. Kokusai Denshin Denwa (KDD) is also considering the idea of joining in the competition because its operating base will be compromised if international telephone calls are routed through the Internet system. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) is also studying the situation. Internet is a worldwide computer network created in the United States and its subscribers are estimated to total 20 million. It can be used for electronic mail exchanges and to access remote data bases through the use of computers. It is projected to develop into a multimedia system for the transmission of voice and animated images. In December of last year, MOPT began seminars attended by companies involved with Internet. The seminars have been attended by a total of 14 companies, including two commercial services firms, NTT, KDD, personal computer Communications firm Nifty, and communications equipment maker Japan Cisco Systems, and three academics, including professor Junsuke Murai of Keio University. As stated in the prospectus for the seminar, its goal is "to aid in the growth of our nation's Internet system," but the collective opinion of several attendees say MOPT has an ulterior motive. The aim of MOPT is to operate an agency called Commercial Internet Exchange (CIX) under its initiative to provide for the efficient interconnection of commercial networks and to use the seminars as a means to set up such an organization. The seminars were originally scheduled to end in March, but a decision has been made to extend them beyond April. The seminars will soon progress into a discussion on the establishment of CIX. The Japanese international communications market is valued at 300 billion yen. Currently, fewer than 500 firms subscribe to Internet. However, when the services are expanded on a full-scale basis, the market situation could change drastically. Some sources take the view that, "MOPT has embarked on a program to regulate the market as a means to |
FBIS4-5763_6 | NTT Strategies for New Information Age Viewed | technological innovation." We must attain developmental speeds reached by U.S. venture firms. The same applies to the Multimedia Promotion Section, under the direct control of President Kojima, which is reviewing the developmental concepts centered on ATM systems. In the past, the communications world was not so concerned about competing in terms of speed. Standards applicable to the industry are normally developed in meetings held by worldwide communications operators at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva which result in the submission of a package recommending international standards in four-year cycles. However, the procedure changed with the arrival of ATM systems. The portion of the actual standards involving intimate work by the computer industry were developed by an industry group composed of leading firms such as Sun Microsystems, International Business Machines, and Hewlett-Packard and later endorsed by the ITU. Communications formed intimate relations with the computer world. Advances in technology accelerated and standards decisions were made on the basis of market competition. The strong survived and de facto standards became the "world standards." NTT could no longer resist this trend. NTT took its first step by investing in General Magic Inc. In January of this year, NTT announced "NTT's Basic Plan Directed at the Multimedia Age," and made clear its strategy to aggressively tie up with terminal and information producers. Concurrently, it established in February a Multimedia Promotion Section under the direct control of the president for the purpose of selecting firms with which to affiliate and to formulate specific strategy. The IT revolution will change the very status of the communications industry. President Kojima states, "We are in an age where anyone can operate an electrical communications business as long as he has a router." In the markets for routers which are switching systems to interconnect networks, U.S. venture firms such as Cisco Systems command a controlling share with information network systems which function with great agility. The small-scale switching system purchased by the Academic Information Center under its fiscal year 1993 supplemental budget was made by Four Systems Inc. of the United States. Just as downsizing has taken place in the computer arena, downsizing is about to begin in the communications world. President Kojima admits, "We have already discarded concepts centering on ATM systems." He has thus parted ways with preference for huge networks centered around ATM switching systems which can handle images, sound and data in one unit. |
FBIS4-5763_11 | NTT Strategies for New Information Age Viewed | firms and poorly situated firms will benefit greatly, but large firms that fail to change will not be able to keep pace with the new competitive world created by the information highway. Failure to change will cause many problems. Firms which fail to build competitive capabilities suitable for the information highway age will probably be forced to effect considerable personnel cuts and modify business operations. When advances are made in the installation of the information highway, businesses will be able to cope adequately by retaining only those core technologies and operating resources essential to its operations and by using outside resources for its peripheral needs. Since the exchange of information will be simplified significantly, the number of previous in-house functions to be satisfied on a contract basis can be increased. In fact, if a future image of the company can be clearly defined and attributes superior to other firms can be acquired, it would be preferable to assume a slimmed-down structure. I would like to advise Japanese businessmen that when they face major changes of this magnitude, they must not fear for their losses. Japan possesses core technology in the information communications field, a world-class domestic appliance industry, a respectable entertainment industry--albeit not as powerful as that of the United States--and people with a high educational level. If one were to identify Japan's lagging areas, he would probably point to the low level of CATV installations and the need for further deregulation. Deregulation in the United States gave birth to increased competition and the adverse impact of rising unemployment, but produced major economic benefits overall. Japan should be able to play a useful role in the information age, if it will proceed with deregulation without fear for change. It is a complete error to assume the interpretation that the information highway concept in the United States is being advanced under the principal leadership of government. The information highway will not be built in the same manner as the Apollo program or the aircraft industry. Government merely played the role of the rooster that signaled the arrival of daybreak, and it would be more accurate to say that the realities of the new age had already manifested themselves. The government-prepared idea of the information highway is very crude, no more than a rough guideline, and has very little reference value. There are some who associate the information highway with nationalism, but |
FBIS4-5812_0 | Kato: Tax Increase Needed for Aging Society | BFN [Text] Tokyo, April 14 KYODO -- A consumption tax hike is needed to finance a possible increase in social security costs in the face of Japan's rapidly aging society, the chief of a key government advisory panel on tax affairs said. Kan Kato, chairman of the Tax Commission, said his panel will provide options such as a hike in the controversial consumption tax, an increase in social insurance premiums or no raise in social security costs to meet an aging society. "But it will be understood naturally the best way is a raise in the consumption tax," Kato said in an interview with KYODO NEWS SERVICE. The issue of how to respond to the nation's aging population with tax measures has been in the spotlight for some time. Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa failed two months ago to sell a proposal to introduce a national welfare tax to fund more than welfare alone. The Finance Ministry has been pushing for a hike in the consumption tax as a way to raise funds to meet the needs of an aging society. Kato is viewed as close to Finance Ministry bureaucrats. Kato, a professor emeritus at Keio University, also points to the need to implement administrative and fiscal reforms and to rectify the heavy dependence on direct taxes for state revenue. But Kato said no one can expect administrative and fiscal reforms to save government spending in the short run, and a sweeping reform of the so-called unfair taxation system could result in additional tax revenue of only 1 trillion yen. As for a local consumption tax proposed by the Home Affairs Ministry, Kato said he would like to discuss it in the form of a possible retail tax instead. He also said his panel will take up the issue of whether or when to introduce a taxpayers' numbering system. "It's no good to say just 'we'll consider it.' I hope to draw a conclusion on the issue, including whether to introduce it, by setting a deadline," he said. |
FBIS4-5860_30 | Relationship Changing Between Companies, Banks | Nippon Seiko | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Sumitomo Bank |Sanyo Electric, Sumitomo America, Maz-| | |da, Kao Corp., Hankyu Railway, Sumito-| | |mo Electric Finance | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Daiwa Bank |Osaka Gas | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Sanwa Bank |Nichimen, Hankyu Railway, Takashimaya,| | | Nissho Iwai, Nitto Electric Netherla-| | |nds, Takashimaya International, Kobe | | |Steel | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Tokai Bank |Uny | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Asahi Bank |SMC | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |(Note) Survey by a major securities company | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1 Mar 94 p 1] [Text] (6) Many Asian Corporations of Japanese Companies Are Getting Listed on the Local Stock Exchange "Starting with next year's account settlement, we are preparing to consolidate the Asia region's settlement of accounts. Kazuhiko Yamazaki, president of Fujikura Asia (FAL), a Singapore corporation of Fujikura Corp., a major manufacturer of electric cables in Japan, began to speak. FAL is the center for Fujikura's Southeast Asia operation, approved by the Singapore Government to be OHQ (operational headquarters), which is granted special tax treatment. By issuing corporate bonds and taking full advantage of their location at the financial center, they are to raise low-interest funds, and to play the role of supplier of funds to production bases in other Asian countries. Leading the consolidation of the settlements, they are the "Asian headquarters." FAL has leased over 0.2 billion yen to Fujikura Federal Cable [FFC], a Malaysian electric cable company. FAL has financed 90 percent of the capital to Shukai Fujikura Denso, a producer of wire harness in Shukai economic special district in China, in place of their Tokyo headquarters. FAL is funded by issuance of bonds in Eurodollars and loans from local banks. "Our funds are raised in the most effective market in Asia" (Mr. Yamazaki, president of FAL). FAL has established this system without any help from their Japanese main banks. With Fuji Xerox added last year, a total of eight companies have been approved as OHQ. Whether designated OHQ or not, increasing numbers of Japanese corporations in Singapore are issuing convertible bonds and commercial paper. This means the movement to use direct financing is accelerating among Japanese companies that have gone into Asia. FFC began full-scale production of optic fiber cable in a part of Pulai Industrial Park across from Penang Island, which is known as an international resort. They have already begun construction of additional facilities. Because Malaysia is making an effort to improve its communication infrastructure, the demand for the cable |
FBIS4-5862_0 | Mahathir's Official Visit Continues Ranariddh, Hun Sen Host Banquet | BFN [Excerpt] Prime Minister Datuk Sri Dr. Mahathir considers his visit to Cambodia a historical event because he is the first Malaysian leader to visit the country in 30 years. This is because the conflict that took place in Cambodia following the visit by the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first prime minister, made it impossible for other Malaysian leaders to visit Phnom Penh. Here is Shah Bahrom Datuk Shah Ya, a RTM [Radio Television Malaysia] correspondent reporting from Vientiane. [as heard] [Begin Shah Bahrom recording] Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir said the above when addressing the state banquet hosted in his honor by the co-prime ministers of Cambodia, Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen, at the Government House tonight. He said that even though visits to Phnom Penh were impossible then, the leaders and the people of Malaysia continued to pay attention to Cambodia. Malaysia sympathized with the situation in Cambodia when it was bogged down by civil war. Now Malaysia is happy to see the country being restored to an everlasting peace with the help of friendly countries. Malaysia is also happy to be involved in the peace process in Cambodia, including participation in UNTAC [United National Transitional Authority in Cambodia]. As for Malaysia, it is important that peace is restored to Cambodia because this is also important for the stability and prosperity in the Southeast Asia region. Malaysia's involvement in Cambodia's peace process is mainly due to the fact that Malaysia is a neighboring country and a close friend of Cambodia. It has become ASEAN's new practice to open up opportunities and boost cooperation among its member countries as well as with peaceful countries in Southeast Asia. This includes a peaceful Cambodia. Datuk Sri Dr. Mahathir reiterated that when there is unity in Southeast Asia, the countries in the region will definitely be much stronger to face future challenges. Malaysia hopes that finally all 10 countries in Southeast Asia will become members of ASEAN. Laos and Vietnam have taken various steps and make preparations to join ASEAN. [end recording] [passage omitted] |
FBIS4-5863_0 | Mahathir's Official Visit Continues Malaysian Business Investment Urged | BFN [Text] Datuk Sri Dr. Mahathir Mohamed has urged Malaysian businessmen to seriously consider investing in Cambodia. The prime minister said they should particularly go into the tourism sector, such as hotel and resort projects as well as road construction, power generation, telecommunications, and resource exploitation. He was speaking at a news conference in Phnom Penh during a two-day official visit to Cambodia, accompanied by a 69-member delegation. Yesterday, Datuk Sri Dr. Mahathir held talks with First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Second Prime Minister Hun Sen. He described the outcome of his visit as very significant. His visit is the first by a Malaysian prime minister in 30 years. The prime minister had agreed to meet Cambodia's request for assistance in the fields of training and technical expertise in oil palm and rubber cultivation. |
FBIS4-5890_0 | Strategic Importance, Future of DRAM Industry Discussed | CSO [Report by Mitsubishi Bank Research Section] [Text] Growing Strategic Importance of DRAM Industry 1. Problems Surrounding DRAM Industry 2. Increasing DRAM Standing as a Strategic Commodity 3. Demand for Improvements in Efficiency Introduction In the midst of an unprecedented slump, the industrial world is undergoing extensive restructuring through the elimination of unprofitable units, cutbacks in investments in plants and equipment, personnel reductions, plant closures, and other such measures. This downsizing has even touched what has been considered until now "sacred ground"--namely, research and development. In order for a country like Japan without any notable natural resources to continue its prosperity into the 21st century, however, there is no alternative but to give technology a central place in its industries. It is an undeniable fact that excessive restructuring will destroy its global competitiveness. A case in point is the dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) industry, which is one of Japan's representative high-technology fields. As investment costs soar, outsiders and not a few industry insiders have begun to voice their concerns about its future. There is also concern about the narrowing gap between Korea and Japan. In the following sections, the authors have sorted through some of the problem points that face the industry while giving their projections about its future direction. 1. Current Problems Surrounding the DRAM Industry "Semiconductor integrated circuit" (IC) is really a collective term that covers a broad area. Roughly divided, it covers logic devices, such as the chips that perform the "logical decisions" of a computer, and memory devices, which store information. Microprocessor units (MPU's), which are the processing and control units in computers, are typical of the former; DRAM, the subject of this article, is typical of the latter. Since entering the DRAM market in the latter half of the 1960's, Japanese manufacturers, as part of a national effort, have steadily built up their strength by making full use of Japan's superior manufacturing technology and, in 1982, finally moved ahead of the United States to place first in the world in their field. However, when the supply-and-demand balance for 4-megabit DRAM memory (hereafter, 4M), collapsed after a better-than-expected start, problems such as those discussed below suddenly came to the surface, bringing with them serious concerns about the industry's future. A.. Soaring Investment Costs The first problem is rising investment costs. Generally, heavy investments in equipment are needed to manufacture integrated circuits, but the burden is even |
FBIS4-5913_0 | Further on Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Plant Ceremony | BFN [Text] Hanoi VNA April 15 -- The Hoa Binh Hydro-Electric Plant, the largest in Vietnam, has reached its full designed output of 1,920 mw [megawatts], with the launching of its eight and last turbine on Thursday morning. Construction of the plant was started on November 6, 1979, with assistance from the former Soviet Union, and is continued with the help of the Russian Federation. Since the first turbine became operational in December 1988, the plant straddling the Black River west of Hanoi, has supplied the country with 17.15 billion kwh [kilowatt hours]. Last year's output was 4.73 billion kwh, or 45 [as received] of the national output. The big ceremony held for the completion of the last turbine was attended, among other ranking officials, by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Duc Luong and visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Yarov. Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet also sent his congratulations to all the workers and specialists who have taken part in building this historic project. Finishing touches are being made to the plant, which is to be officially opened in September. |
FBIS4-5915_0 | Joint Development of Oil, Gas Discussed With India | BFN [Text] India has offered to put up a modern gas-based thermal power plant in Vietnam. The Indian power minister, Mr. N.K.P. Salve, heading the Indian delegation to the Joint Commission meeting in Hanoi also offered to take up more exploration work for oil and gas in Vietnam. The Vietnamese foreign minister, Mr. Nguyen Manh Cam, asked for greater training of Vietnamese personnel in oil and gas exploration by India. Calling for greater financial arrangements to meet the target of $100 million in their two-way trade, Mr. Cam invited Indian investments in railways, power, telecom, and other infrastructure projects. Our Southeast Asia correspondent says India offered its technology and expertise in a wide area covering mining, petro chemicals, food processing, textiles, cement, sugar, pharmaceuticals, computer software, hotel industry, and defense equipment. |
FBIS4-5946_23 | Political Styles of Hosokawa, Ozawa Assessed | people and democracy. And those in the LDP who advocate constitutional amendments are also believed to be observing what is said in the preamble. Such a simplified classification of either safeguarding the Constitution or advocating constitutional amendments is no longer so clear-cut, and today versatile views are held on the Constitution, and debates are maturing. I think that the trend is in transition in the direction of having two big political parties. With respect to the political realignment, we have the wrong question because we are in the past perfect tense. [Akamatsu] No, not in the past perfect tense. (laughter) [Takeshita] I did not mean to be discourteous. From now on, politics is in the hands of the new generation such as Mr. Akamatsu. I think that men like myself deserve to exist to fulfill the duty of storytellers at the most. The "Kojiki" [Record of Ancient Matters] was compiled in accordance with what Hieda-no-Are told from memory, so storytellers should exist. I will discipline myself to be a storyteller, not to lead in politics. It is said, "Wise men learn from history while fools learn from experience." I have a little experience (laughter), and also a little knowledge about history. Where Is the LDP Heading? [BUNGEI SHUNJU] Mr. Takeshita, where do you place the LDP in what you said about the inevitable future political realignment? [Takeshita] It will rid itself of the obstinacy and bigotry of reactionary conservatives. It may not be an appropriate expression, but I think the LDP will survive self-reformation, just as the SDPJ has "democrats" within the party. The LDP is expected to undergo various movements while the demarcation of single-seat election constituencies is carried out. Through such movements, the LDP will continue to play the role of carrying on the accumulated knowledge of having maintained government for a long time after the war in a series of trials and errors, despite mistakes. Conservatives are to maintain and safeguard the so-called universal values, and the LDP should continue to exist as a political party that can immediately respond to the needs of the times. [Akamatsu] Because Mr. Takeshita may feel awkward in saying things about the LDP, let me say what I think from my standpoint. Basically, the conservatives will continue to survive among the Japanese people in the future. I do not think that they will unite in one organization. As Mr. Ozawa and |
FBIS4-5952_2 | * General Criticizes U.S. Economic Embargo | our country. And in addition, this is harming American businessmen. I think that with an independent foreign line that desires to be friends with all countries that are striving for peace and stability and the development of our country and with the struggle of the wholesome forces in the world, including those in the United States, the effectiveness of the American embargo will gradually decline. [DOAN KET] Vietnamese in France in general and readers of DOAN KET in particular would like to know more about the Vietnam Veterans Association, of which you are the president. In particular, people would like to know more about the spirit and contents of the association's activities. [Quang] The Vietnam Veterans Association is a mass organization whose task is to foster solidarity among all discharged cadres and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army and guerrillas who fought in the wars to liberate and defend the fatherland. We want to help each other to maintain a spirit of patriotism and the tradition of "Uncle Ho troops," help each other became a part of ordinary life, and look after the material and spiritual lives of each other. Other tasks of the association are to contribute to maintaining political security and defending the fatherland, disseminate experiences to the young generation, participate in the socioeconomic programs, and contribute to foreign affairs activities, particularly with veterans in other countries. With a tradition of patriotism and love for socialism, the Vietnam Veterans Association is doing its utmost to hit the above targets, and initial results have been achieved. Thus, the party and state and the people have confidence in the association, and they have given us encouragement and help. [DOAN KET] What are your views on those Vietnamese who fought in the Saigon army and who are now living abroad? [Quang] As for Vietnamese who found in the Saigon army, we feel that except for a small number who are still reactionaries, the great majority of these people, both officers and enlisted men, are patriotic people. Today, our country is independent, democratic, free, and united. National construction and national valor are stimulating all people to abandon the old hatreds and look to the future. We believe that those people will gradually awaken. With the great solidarity policy of the state, many of those who once worked for the Saigon regime are now making an effort to become integrated into the life |
FBIS4-5953_1 | * Explosives Industry Description Reported * Industrial Explosives in Vietnam | the production of industrial explosives is coordinated closely with the production of military explosives, with those production installations directly subordinate to the military or to industrial ministries. The production of explosives (both military and non-military) involves special techniques, many years of experience, and, in particular, ranks of skilled technical cadres and workers and means of preventing explosions. During the past 5 years, on behalf of the state, the State Science and Technology Commission (now the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment) has guided research in manufacturing industrial explosives. This has included many state-level topics, an example of which is the KC-03 program. The results of the research are very encouraging, and they have soon been used in production. Almost all of the state-level topics have been allotted to installations in the military, and the topics have been inspected by more than 10 state-level scientific and technical councils with the participation of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, the Labor Safety Inspection Committee (Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs), the Fire Protection Department (Ministry of Interior), explosives experts from the Science and Technology Department and the Coalimex Corporation (Ministry of Energy), the Mining and Geology College, the Military Technical Institute, the Military Explosives Center [MEC], and the National Defense Industry and Economics General Department. The topics and products inspected include black explosives and slow-burning fuses (Z121), Ammonite AD1 (Z113, Z121), fire conducting line (Z121), lighted and electrical fuse boxes (Z121), TX1 and TZ1A explosives (Z131), TMN 15 explosives (Z115), VEOT explosives (MEC), Zerno 21/79 (Z121), TNT (Z131, Z113, Z115), Watergel TNP1 (MEC), and Watergel TFD 15 (Z115). It is predicted that Watergel TNP2 and gelatin explosives (MEC) will be examined this year. Since 1991, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment has given the task of building and improving industrial explosives laboratories to the Military Explosives Center and allotted funds to it for this. Today, explosives that are produced domestically or imported from abroad are all inspected at this center, with the exception of safety tests for methane gas and coal dust, which are conducted in the explosion chamber at the Mine Chemicals Enterprise (Coalimex). Military installations have been given permission to manufacture many types of fireworks, sky-rockets, mortars, small firecrackers, ocean rescue flares, sports ammunition, and bullets for hunting rifles to serve the needs of the people and major festivals. As for the national defense industry, the |
FBIS4-5953_5 | * Explosives Industry Description Reported * Industrial Explosives in Vietnam | and circulation of industrial explosives, both within and outside the military, are to be monitored by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, the State Labor Safety Inspection Committee, and the Fire Protection Department, and things must be done in accord with Explosive Materials Standard TCVN 4586-88 and Decision 237 QD promulgated by the State Science and Technology Commission (now the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment) on 10 June 1988. In 1994, construction activities need more and more industrial explosives to mine coal, quarry rock, manufacture cement, build railroads and expressways, build hydroelectric projects, and satisfy other needs of daily life. In the face of this situation, we feel that the state should soon conduct studies and establish mechanisms and procedures concerning controlling the production of industrial explosives and, in particular, concerning the supply and distribution of industrial explosives. Steps must be taken to avoid irrational obstacles and having to go through so many unnecessary intermediary steps as at present. Some people think that controlling supply and distribution should be unified in one ministry (the Ministry of National Defense or the Ministry of Energy). Others think that the Ministry of Energy should supply and distribute explosives within the sphere of the coal sector and that the Ministry of National Defense should supply and distribute explosives in the other sectors. These plans are too bureaucratic and rigid. When engaged in buying industrial explosives from foreign corporations including ICI, SNPE, The Bac Phuong TQ Corporation, and the NFC TQ Corporation. We observed that they directly distribute and export the products that they produce without having to go through any intermediary corporation. Based on the specific situation concerning studying, manufacturing, distributing, and controlling industrial explosives in many countries and in Vietnam today, we propose that if the state authorizes a sector to produce or import a product, it should also allow that sector to directly supply and distribute that product. This will reduce unnecessary intermediaries, and reduce the cost of producing coal, cement, ore, and rock and encourage research and the production of many types of essential industrial explosives while still maintaining safety and security. This is because each sector that produces, supplies, and distributes industrial explosives will be monitored by state organizations. We believe that in the coming period, with respect to industrial explosives, new advances will be made in research, production, and use to support the building of our country. |
FBIS4-5957_0 | Paper Assesses Relationship With Singapore | BFN [Perspectives: "To Strengthen Existing Ties"] [Text] Singapore is our friend. The leaders and the peoples of Myanmar [Burma] and Singapore enjoy close affinity in that they were under colonial rule, and had shaken off the shackles not just once. Today, Singapore is a shining example of success through sheer dint of their leaders having strived to achieve, and also deliver as they have vowed. Under capable leadership, the city-state shows others what they must do if they are to succeed likewise. Myanmar and Singapore have a record of longstanding bilateral relations. Way back in September 1952, when Singapore was still a Crown colony attached to Britain, Myanmar maintained a consulate in there. Its status was raised to Consulate-General in April 1961. Myanmar accorded recognition to the new Republic of Singapore on 14 August 1965, barely five days after it withdrew from Malaysia and became an independent and sovereign state. The following year, on 12 August, Myanmar and Singapore established diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level when U Pe Kin, the doyen of the Myanmar diplomatic corps and then resident in Kuala Lumpur was concurrently accredited to Singapore until his retirement in February 1971. The leaders of Myanmar and Singapore have enjoyed mutual regard. Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew is synonymous with discipline and safeguarding of Asian values and those junior to him are understood here in this country as being no less fastidious when it comes to defending and upgrading what is Asian and good. There have been exchanges of visits by top leaders, either formal or informal, and the mutual esteem they have shared is reflected by the sentiments of the peoples. Myanmar has the resources, Singapore has the expertise. A combination of the two has brought forth fruitful results. Recently, when there was economic change, Singaporean entrepreneurs were among the first to see how much they could invest for mutual benefit. Singaporeans know what can be achieved together, with a sense of mutual accommodation, and they find investments in Myanmar hold good prospects. Singapore has also much to offer in the field of development, and being one of the 'Four Tigers', we can count on her to help us with almost anything we might want to do, plainly put. Premier Goh Chok Tong is no stranger to us. He has been here before and his arrival today reassures us of further cementing the already strong ties. |
FBIS4-5960_1 | Commentary Hails Mahathir Visit to Cambodia | existing interaction. Cambodia has always remained close to the hearts of Malaysians. The civil war that had raged in that country with the government facing the lots of the three guerrilla factions had been a matter of deep concern for the Malaysian Government and people. Malaysia was in the forefront among countries that wanted Cambodia to return to a peaceful era. Malaysia played a leading role in the Cambodian peace process and in the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia or UNTAC. Malaysia has always felt that peace in Cambodia is vital for the stability and prosperity of the Southeast Asian region. In his talks with the Cambodian president [as heard], Prince Norodom Sihanouk, and co-prime ministers, Prince Ranarridh and Mr. Hun Sen, Dr. Mahathir invited Cambodia to consider becoming a member of the ASEAN family. With the participation of Cambodia and possibly Vietnam and Laos, ASEAN can turn into a vital organization for regional cooperation. A more united Southeast Asia will make countries of the region stronger and more capable of facing the challenges of the future in a world that is becoming increasingly competitive. The Malaysian premier expressed his hope that ASEAN with the participation of all the ten countries of the region, including Myanmar [Burma] can work with the other countries of East Asia to develop a more resilient and progressive pattern of prosperity in the region. Already, Southeast Asia is now acknowledged as one of the fastest growing economic regions in the world. With the entry of the other four countries, ASEAN can become an entity that will be looked upon with awe and admiration. A fruitful outcome of the Malaysian premier's visit to Cambodia is the agreement between the two countries to set up a joint commission to enhance bilateral cooperation. Cambodia is already benefiting from the Malaysian technical assistance program. It has also requested Malaysia's help in the areas of training, rural development, oil refinery and exploration, forest management, and the rehabilitation of its palm oil and rubber plantations. Cambodia has also sought Malaysia's advice on the setting up of free trade zones. Malaysia is ready to send its officers to conduct seminars and training courses for their Cambodian counterparts. Cambodia has opened its doors to foreign business investment. The large number of businessmen and entrepreneurs in Dr. Mahathir's delegation is reflective of Malaysia's keen interest in that country's economic reconstruction and development program. |
FBIS4-5961_1 | Commentary Views Mahathir's Visit to Laos | Laos. Malaysia is not contented with enhancing only bilateral links with the Indochinese nation. It wants Laos to be an important part of Southeast Asia, thereby positioning itself to contribute significantly to ASEAN. To this end, Malaysia will do its utmost best to facilitate its entry into the six-member grouping. By being a member, it will be able to participate in regional development projects. For example, the Growth Triangle concept could be extended to this part of Southeast Asia. In addition, ASEAN could emerge as a stronger grouping. This is why Laos, along with other Indochinese countries, must strive for economic development. Even more vital is that these countries must resolve whatever problems they have in a peaceful manner. They only know too well the destruction and untold misery of war. It is a new era for ASEAN and Laos must be part of this economic prosperity and the great need to preserve understanding, the sentiment of goodwill and nurture cooperation in view of the global changes and development. Therefore, ASEAN has the ability to go forth in development -- to be more effective with the full membership of ten countries including Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar [Burma]. With this, Dr. Mahathir's visit to Laos is all the more significant. Although Malaysians have gone into logging, road construction, and hotel renovation, there is much potential for expansion. Malaysia has lots to offer in terms of expertise in areas such as mining, timber extraction, plantation management, and downstream processing of agriculture and mineral resources. Other areas include finance, engineering consultancy, infrastructure, and tourism. Since Laos has given priority to developing its energy needs, Malaysian companies should look to exploiting this potential. It is important that businessmen of both countries have greater contacts. For Laos, it will help in transforming its national economy to one based on market forces. Malaysians can gain in terms of new markets as well as through reversed investments by taking advantage of cheaper costs in Laos. The shortcomings and bottlenecks faced in Laos indeed provide opportunities which can be exploited by Malaysians. Currently, Malaysia's investments in Laos is not substantial. But this could be a thing of the past if Laos' economic potential is truly exploited for mutual benefit. In this way, Malaysia would have done its part in assisting a fellow Southeast Asian country in taking its rightful place as an important part of the region. |
FBIS4-6036_0 | Kim Il-song's `Deteriorating' Health Described | BFN [Article by Yu Yong-ku: "Kim Il-song's Health Deteriorating With Geriatric Diseases"] [Text] Although North Korean President Kim Il-song, who has just turned 82, is still continuing political activities, he is suffering from various geriatric diseases. He often falls into a comatose state these days, thus signaling a red flag in his physical condition. Although President Kim Il-song has boasted to foreign visitors that he keeps healthy thanks to his "optimistic outlook on life," informed sources, such as those who have recently visited North Korea and met President Kim Il-song and Chinese medical circles, say that his physical health has been deteriorating with each passing day because of various geriatric diseases, such as senile dementia, enlargement of the lump on the back of his neck, neurotic disorder of the lumbar vertebra, heaviness in the chest from a heart pacemaker, and mental confusion. When he appeared on the rostrum of the Kumsusan Assembly Hall in Pyongyang to deliver a New Year's address on 31 December it was revealed that he has distinct difficulty in walking resulting from retrogressive arthritis. The arthritis causes pain in the area above the hip, so he has to be assisted by two or three secret servicemen when he climbs up stairs. The most distinct proof of the deterioration of his health is a speech disorder resulting from senile dementia. While reading this year's New Year's address, he made errors and his pronunciation was indistinct from a droop in his lower lip. These errors and indistinct pronunciation of words occurred some 70 times during this year's New Year's address, compared with 30 times during his 1993 New Year's address. Because of the senile dementia, his right hand trembles, he has difficulty in chewing food, and frequently uses a handkerchief to wipe off the area around his mouth. His sight has deteriorated to the extent that he has to read documents in large printed letters with reading glasses. The hearing in his right ear is so deteriorated that he frequently says, "What did you say?" For this reason, when he receives foreign visitors, he has Sony Japanese-made speakers installed in each seat. The lump on the back of his head, which is an obesity-caused tumor, is confirmed to have deteriorated so much that it presses against the larynx nerve. The lump is not life-threatening, but an operation to remove it is impossible because it is located close to |
FBIS4-6039_0 | International Trade Order `Mixed Blessing' | BFN [Article by Kim Chang-yong] [Text] The newest chapter in the international trade order will be a mixed blessing for the Korean economy and its advantage, or disadvantage, will be chiefly dependent on how the nation copes with it. It will ease all tariff and non-tariff barriers, making the world a border-less market for globally competitive companies. It will simultaneously mean a losing game for less competitive companies even in their home markets. "The world will be exposed to the law of the jungle in which the lion has the largest share," one economist said, noting "We can no longer provide visible or invisible shelters for our industry." The process of the Uruguay Round [UR] negotiations, which brought a victory to the United States and the European Union and a negative impact, if not a defeat, to most other economies, was a "fierce war itself" as the Federation of Korean Industries [FKI], the lobbying group of large companies, put it. Public officials and private analysts cite sharp tariff cuts for manufactured goods, abolition of non-tariff discriminations and clarified and justified procedures for the settlement of trade disputes as some of the potential bonuses to the exports of Korea's manufacturing sector. Reinforced regulations on anti-dumping ruling will particularly save Korean companies from threats and actions by advanced countries including the U.S., EU and Australia. Korean products have been slapped with anti-dumping charges from time to time. Improved conditions for overseas investment will also draw foreign capital into the nation, while encouraging local businessmen to invest abroad. All in all, manufacturing industries are expected to get more than they lose under the Uruguay Round agreement. Major advanced countries, which have not lowed tariffs since the start of the multilateral talks in 1986, are obliged to slash the rates gradually, thus enhancing the competitiveness of products exported by developing countries and thereby giving them higher chances of access. Imports are not likely to jump drastically, officials said, on the ground that its concessional tariffs are set at 8.1 percent for the 2001, the final year of implementation of the new round, which is higher than the currently actual rate of 7.9 percent. The Korean Institute for International Economic Policy recently estimated exports growth, to be caused by the freer world trade order, at 2,250 billion dollars on the annual average. Imports will grow a meager 720 million dollars, according to the brain trust |
FBIS4-6058_0 | Reportage on Labor Riots, Ethnic Unrest 40 Arrested in North Sumatra | BFN [Text] Jakarta, April 16 KYODO -- Arrests have increased to 40 after two days of labor-related riots in North Sumatra province, a labor activist said Saturday, though police denied the report. Independent unionist Hasby Ansyori told KYODO NEWS SERVICE that some 40 people had been arrested by Friday night, following riots on Thursday and Friday in Medan, the provincial capital about 1,400 kilometers northwest of Jakarta. Hasby is an executive of the Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union, an independent union which has challenged the government's policy of only allowing one trade union, the All Indonesian Workers Union. Contacted by telephone in Medan, Hasby said the number of arrests may continue to increase. The police have denied Hasby's claim, saying they have only arrested four demonstrators. About 20,000 workers Marched Thursday, and 51,000 on Friday, demanding an official investigation into the death last month of one of their colleagues. The workers were protesting the death of 22-year-old Rusli, a worker at a Medan-based company, after he took part in a labor strike which was crushed by government troops. Rusli's body was found floating in a river three days after the March 11 strike. Police reports said that by Saturday morning about 165 shops and homes, mostly owned by residents of Chinese descent, were destroyed and looted. Dozens of cars were set ablaze. A Chinese businessman of PT Sumatra Blue Company, identified as Yuli Kristanto, 53, was killeD in Friday's rioting when his car was pelted with stones by demonstrators. |
FBIS4-6060_0 | Reportage on Labor Riots, Ethnic Unrest Armored Vehicles Deployed | BFN [Text] Medan, Indonesia, April 16 (AFP) -- Armoured vehicles and thousands of police and military officials were deployed Saturday in Medan, North Sumatra, one day after labour protests turned into ethnic violence against the Chinese minority, a military official said. "Four batallions of police and military officials remain on alert here in anticipation of anti-ethnic-Chinese demonstrations," Medan Military District Commander Lieutenant Colonel Agus Ramadan told journalists. This adds up to about 2,600 security personnel. "The demonstrations might peak on Monday or Tuesday," Ramadan said. Tens of thousands of workers staged demonstrations in Medan Thursday and Friday, demanding an investigation into the suspicious death of one of their colleagues last month. The battered body of Rusli, a worker of Rubber industry PT Industri Karet Deli, was found in a local river one day after he had led a workers protest in March. But officials did not investigate his death. Workers also asked for better conditions and higher wages, as well as the right to organize in independent labour trade unions. The government only recognizes the official All Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI). Violence erupted on Friday when security forces tried to stop the demonstration, which was heading to downtown Medan. Some angry demonstrators then pelted shops, factories and vehicles, witnesses said. The violence appeared aimed at ethnic Chinese, who are often the target of jealously because of their general economic success. An estimated 40 to 50 shophouses and six cars were burnt, at least 150 shops and houses were destroyed, sources told AFP. Ramadan confirmed one ethnic-Chinese businessman identified as Juli Kristanto, or known under the Chinese name Wok Joe Lip, 53, was killed Friday, but declined to give details. Ramadan said that 120 people were a.nested for their alleged involvement in vandalism, murder and arson. On Saturday, an AFP correspondent saw nine armoured vehicles parking along the main residential areas inhabited by many ethnic Chinese. A journalist of Medan-based WASPADA daily said by telephone that dozens of other armoured vehicles were deployed on the suburban areas. Most of the shops, private banks, private ethnic-Chinese schools were closed in that city of 1.5 million, whose ethnic Chinese community makes up one third of the population. Lieutenant Colonel Ramadan said that the anti-ethnic-Chinese demonstration was prompted by workers' dissatisfaction over the annual bonus which was given before the Muslim celebration of Idul Fitri in March. There was also news of a 430-million-dollar |
FBIS4-6082_0 | MITI Supports Technological Aid in ASEAN | BFN [Text] The Ministry of International Trade and Industry [MITI] will assist the six ASEAN nations in developing industrial technology. First, a plan for cooperation will be worked out to introduce the TQC [total quality control] system, which is a typical method of production management adopted by Japanese companies. Then, the system will be put into practice in April 1995 according to the plan. Moreover, joint studies on industrial technology will be promoted with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, respectively. By assisting the development of manufacturing industries in the ASEAN nations, the MITI will establish a complementary system for Japanese companies and companies of these nations. A standardization and quality control committee composed of representatives from MITI and quality control agencies in the ASEAN nations will sign an agreement on this cooperative plan as early as this month. According to the agreement, the Japanese Government and the committee will work out a program to introduce Japan's TQC system to the ASEAN nations; the program will be implemented for five years from April 1995; seminars will be held by inviting company executives and production managers from those nations to Japan; and Japanese technical experts will be sent to those nations to give instruction on quality control. As for bilateral cooperation in developing industrial technology, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand have been initially selected as partners. MITI and these nations will exchange information on policies of technological development. Furthermore, joint studies will be promoted on selected subjects by Japan's national research institutes and institutes in these nations. |
FBIS4-6118_2 | MONTSAME Publishes Press Reviews Press Review for 16 Apr | of the board D. Samdag a number of inquiries made by members of the parliament. Speaking at the session D. Samdag said that in the line of the organizations he heads there are not any documents corroborating the preparations for such a coup-d'etat. The session regards as being expedient to consider the answers by the prime minister and the head of the intelligence board on a closed sitting. At the session also spoke a member of the parliament T. Elbegdorj with a request that the chairman of the parliament N. Bagabandi and the Prime Minister P. Jasray would express their opinions meeting with the participants of the hunger strike announced by a group of representatives of the MDA who demands the resignation of the government. The chairman of the Great State Hural said in this connection that the issue must be settled by the Hural. According to the newspaper, at the last regular sitting of the government there has been discussed and adopted the draft of the law on securities. At the sitting were also discussed the outcome of the inspection of the activities of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and a decision has been taken on carrying out a revaluation of the basic funds. The government has charged the Ministry of Trade and Industry to draw up proper decision on the enforcement of the recommendations of the Board on National Security in terms of issues of improving the control over the quality of exports and imports. The newspaper "UNEN" issued by the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) informs that the steering council of the MPRP has discussed the progress of implementation of the pre-election programme of the MPRP in aymags and cities. The council has drawn attention of the aymags and city party committees and heads of the local administrations to the necessity for the development of cattle breeding with due regard to the local peculiarities, the enforcement of the law on preserving the genofund [as received] of the cattle, the undertaking measures necessary for backing small and medium businesses for increase in the production of food stuffs. Taken were also proper recommendations referring to the solution of social problems of the population. The newspaper publishes some letters by its readers concerning the improvement of the supply with food and consumer goods of the population. It noted particularly that excepting the enterprise being set up currently under |
FBIS4-6120_0 | Report Views Increasing Problems of Children | BFN [Text] Ulaanbaatar, April 13 (OANA-MONTSAME) -- Mongolia is the fifth Asian country joined the convention on the rights of children, said today the head of the National Children's Centre N. Bolormaa at the press conference. Speaking with Mongolian and foreign newsmen she said about the measures supposed to be done within the framework of the national programme for development of children in Mongolia up to 2000. The national programme was endorsed by the Government of Mongolia on May last year. According to Bolormaa, are being improved the conditions for getting education by children, developing their gifts. Although the children's problem remains to be actual one for today. [sentence as received] The right of children for education is being exercised insufficiently. From year to year the number of children quitting their lessons for financial or other reasons is growing. In accordance with the 1993's data, more than 100 thousand children of school age are out of school. A high mortality rate for newborns and small children yet remains to be recorded. On the scale of the country there are some 924.8 thousand children orphans. The number of homeless children is ever growing. There appeared quite a new notion of street children which up to recently was not available in the lexicology of Mongolians. All this, according to Bolormaa, dictates the necessity for unifying efforts of people for settling down the key children's problem under the conditions of the transition to a market economy. |
FBIS4-6125_0 | Tokyo Rebuffs Washington Objection to Iran Aid | BFN [Text] The United States has informally asked Japan to suspend the yen-based loans to Iran Japan resumed last year. The U.S. Government has taken the position that "it is undesirable to provide economic aid to Iran that has been supporting terrorism and has been uncooperative in the Middle East peace process." In response, the Japanese Government is refuting the U.S. request, asserting: "The yen-based loans are to be used for projects unrelated to Iran's military buildup and there is no problem with Japan's resumption of the yen-based loans to that country." But the Japanese Government has yet to make the U.S. Government fully understand. According to a concerned official, the U.S. request was made in late March by American officials with the U.S. Department of State and the National Security Council (NSC) to the Foreign Ministry. The Japanese Government decided last May to resume the yen-based loans to Iran for the first time in 17 years after concluding that "Iran has a great influence in the Middle East and that Japan's economic aid to the country will bring political and economic stability to the region." The loans are expected to amount to 150 billion yen and are to be used for the construction of a dam on the Karun River in southeastern Iran. The yen-based loans are to be provided in three installments because of the large amount. Japan was committed last year to approximately 38 billion yen in the first installment. A Foreign Ministry source says: "At the time, the Clinton administration did not have its Middle East policy team in place and the administration did not raise any objection to Japan's commitment." The Clinton administration has made clear its critical attitude toward Iran as it has shaped its policy toward the Middle East. The U.S. Government is said to have asked the Japanese Government to defer providing the second and third installments of the loans on which Japan is to decide this year. The Japanese Government stresses: "It is not desirable to halt the yen-based loans to Iran halfway." The U.S. Government is said to be unhappy with the Japanese Government, claiming: "Japan is the only nation among the G-7 industrialized nations that is trying to use the Official Development Assistance (ODA) to provide massive economic aid to Iran." Anthony Lake, assistant to the president for national security affairs, has just written an article entitled "The Containment |
FBIS4-6139_0 | Indian Economic Delegation Arrives in Hanoi Energy Minister Meets Vo Van Kiet | BFN [Text] India and Vietnam are to set up an experts group to find ways to step up bilateral economic ties on par with political relations. This was decided at a meeting the power minister, Mr. N.K.P. Salve, had with the Vietnamese prime minister, Mr. Vo Van Kiet, in Hanoi today. Our Southeast Asia correspondent reports that Mr. Kiet welcomed India's offer to participate in power and mining sectors. He invited a team from India to assess the hydel [hydroelectric] and thermal power potential in Vietnam. |
FBIS4-6144_1 | Vu Quang Interviewed on Relations With Vatican | all issues relating to Vietnamese Catholics, and only make a decision upon agreement reached with the Vietnamese Government. These issues include Vatican policy, the consecration of cardinals, bishops, and issues of mutual concern. When there are contradictory opinions, the two sides will meet for discussion. Up to now, the Vatican has sent four delegations to Vietnam, and Vietnam has also sent delegations to the Vatican. Eighteen bishops have been consecrated out of the approval of the Vietnamese Government upon office from the Vatican. During the last month visit to Vietnam, the Vatican reaffirmed the 1990 agreement. The Vatican delegation acknowledged that it was illogical to have a number of dioceses without bishops, as the Vatican delayed making a decision on personnel that the Vatican has proposed in the first place in which the Vietnamese Government has already approved. This time, both sides agreed to find a solution to the issue soon. The Vietnamese Government has agreed on the personnel proposed by the Vatican and to the bishops of Hanoi and Hue dioceses. As for the cases of Khanh Hoa and Thanh Hoa provinces, the Vietnamese Government will consider an answer to Vatican in the shortest period of time. In Ho Chi Minh City, both sides agreed to keep up Archbishop Nguyen Van Binh in his position with full responsibility and power. The Vietnamese Government will discuss with the Vatican the successor to the archbishop in the Ho Chi Minh City Diocese. Vietnam makes clear that the Vatican by asking Vietnamese Catholic priests not to join the Committee of United Vietnamese Catholics with the reason that the priests should not carry out political activities, the Vatican has [word indistinct] Vietnamese law, citizen rights, and human rights for the priests who have the rights to participate in social and patriotic activities. Vietnam makes clear that while the Vatican prevented Vietnamese Catholic priests from joining the Committee of United Vietnamese Catholics and other social organizations it lets some overseas Vietnamese Catholic priests carry out political activities, and the Vatican itself, slandering the situation of Vietnamese Catholics, and against the Vietnamese Government. It is a lack of goodwill attitude towards Vietnam, causing obstacles to normal relations between the Vatican and Vietnam. The head of the Vatican delegation will report to the responsible priesthood in the Vatican on discussion in Vietnam, to remove all obstacles to normalize relations between the Vatican and the Vietnamese Government. |
FBIS4-6156_0 | G-7 Urged To Coordinate Monetary Policy | CSO [Excerpts] Editorial Urges Policy Coordination To Prevent Repeated U.S. Interest Hikes Hikes in U.S. interest rates have adversely impacted upon world currency and capital markets. The modification of financial policy on the part of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board (FRB) was a logical measure to prevent an overheating of the economy and to correct the bubble phenomenon, but, as financial markets become globalized and increasingly affected by computerization, the aftereffects are of an unexpected magnitude. Since the world economy as a whole is just nearing signs of a recovery, the advanced nations face the need to seek policy coordination to prevent a chain of hikes in U.S. interest rates. In response to the combined 0.5-percent hike in the federal funds (FF)--which influence short-term market rates--in two stages by the FRB, 30-year government bonds, which serve as an index for long-term U.S. interest rates, temporarily rose to 7.4 percent. The hike in U.S. interest rates has caused New York Stock Exchange indices to drop 10 percent from their recent peaks. Turmoil in U.S. securities markets has adversely impacted not only markets of advanced nations such as Japan and Europe, but newly emerging markets found in Asia, Central and South America, the former East European nations and Africa to which large sums of U.S. capital were flowing. [passage omitted] The fact that changes in policy in the United States had a worldwide ripple effect attests to the fact that national barriers no longer exist in terms of the flow of capital. Moreover, the computer dependence of markets has had a tendency to amplify fluctuations. Such circumstances make it almost impossible for monetary authorities of the various nations to intervene and shield their markets from the effects of rising U.S. interest rates. The problem is that the effects of those policy changes have impacted on the Japanese and German economies which hold the key to future worldwide economic recovery. Now that there is the fear that foreign capital once flowing into Germany will flow out of that country, there is the possibility that the German Federal Bank will hesitate to continue with its policy of easing restrictions on the money markets. The situation in Germany could very well serve to shackle monetary easing policies of the other European continental nations. Rising long-term interest rates are a headache for Japan, too, where it appears that the economy is ready to bounce off from |
FBIS4-6156_1 | G-7 Urged To Coordinate Monetary Policy | the former East European nations and Africa to which large sums of U.S. capital were flowing. [passage omitted] The fact that changes in policy in the United States had a worldwide ripple effect attests to the fact that national barriers no longer exist in terms of the flow of capital. Moreover, the computer dependence of markets has had a tendency to amplify fluctuations. Such circumstances make it almost impossible for monetary authorities of the various nations to intervene and shield their markets from the effects of rising U.S. interest rates. The problem is that the effects of those policy changes have impacted on the Japanese and German economies which hold the key to future worldwide economic recovery. Now that there is the fear that foreign capital once flowing into Germany will flow out of that country, there is the possibility that the German Federal Bank will hesitate to continue with its policy of easing restrictions on the money markets. The situation in Germany could very well serve to shackle monetary easing policies of the other European continental nations. Rising long-term interest rates are a headache for Japan, too, where it appears that the economy is ready to bounce off from the bottom of the cycle. The seven advanced nations (G-7) have no choice but to reconstitute their efforts at policy coordination. Lurking under the surface relative to the current monetary turmoil is the huge recurring U.S. international balance of payments deficit. Reducing the international balance of payments deficit will require the Clinton administration to cut federal government deficit spending and encourage a reversal in the savings rates which has fallen to 4 percent of earnings. Japan must clearly enunciate tax reform primarily encompassing an income tax cut and a future hike in consumption tax. If government deficits should rise in an uncontrolled manner, the pressure on long-term interest rates will rise. We must also launch a market-opening plan of substance as a means to overcome Japan-U.S. economic friction which can become the cause for securities market turmoil. Unfavorable news impacting on securities markets such as President and Mrs. Clintons' Whitewater scandal, Prime Minister Hosokawa's resignation and tension in the Korean peninsula are intensifying. Political factors coming into play just as world economic tides are about to change make securities markets more susceptible to chain reactions. This is the very reason why there is a need for renewed coordination by monetary |
FBIS4-6168_8 | * Social Insurance Agency Head Discusses Mission | pension system itself is one of the projects. At the same time, we are implementing the so-called welfare facilities project through pensions or medical-care insurance. One example is the home-care support program which has been newly implemented since 1992 as part of medical-care insurance. This is a project that supplements the rental fees for machines and instruments used by persons recuperating or receiving care at home, who are beneficiaries of government-supervised health insurance, apart from the previous medical checkup programs or workplace healthcare. It has been implemented since October 1993. Our posture has been to team up with the networks of cities, towns, and villages that actually know best who should be the beneficiaries, in order to let them know that there are such ways to help them and to expand its use. We are gratified that it has been quite widely appreciated by the users. The Future of Public Pensions Without Anxiety [KANKAI] The best thing for the people is to have a stable public pension system that will enable them to spend their life of retirement without worry. According to what we have heard from you thus far, is it safe to assume that the pension system will never go bankrupt? [Suetsugu] That it correct. [KANKAI] What about medical-care insurance? [Suetsugu] Medical care has been switched to midterm fiscal operations which is a term of about five years. We are gratified that so far we have been able to operate it on a stable basis. However, due partly to the business stalemate last year, although medical-care payments have been generally as expected, revenues have been lower. However, this is considered as a midterm fiscal operation, and because there are reserve funds, we believe we can operate it without problems from the standpoint of the overall system. Also, I talked earlier about support for home care within the insurance welfare facilities system. In addition, the problem of mental health was taken up in the past, particularly by the large companies, and has been studied by the respective companies. A similar problem existed among the small and medium companies concerning the beneficiaries of government-supervised health insurance, and there were points that were indicated and desires expressed. Therefore, with the hope of grappling with the target goals of mental health, we have begun to conduct studies. We hope to find ways to cope and to implement them as soon as possible. |
FBIS4-6172_0 | ROC Strives for `Stronger Role' in Region | BFN [By Peter Chen] [Text] Brisbane, April 18 (CNA) -- The Republic of China [ROC] is striving to play a stronger role in the Asia Pacific as its economy becomes more closely enmeshed with the region's economy, the ROC's top economic planner said today. Speaking at the Asia-Pacific Insight 1994 meeting in Sydney on Monday [18 April], Hsiao Wan-chang, chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD), said Taiwan is well positioned to expand its already significant role as a contributor to regional economic cooperation and development, especially as a supporter of Asia's developing economies. "We can serve as an effective gateway for overseas investors who wish to enter Asia's fast-growing markets," he said. He said Taiwan has four key assets in shaping its future economic role in the Asia-Pacific region -- its geographic location, its rapid economic development and highly skilled labor pool, its manufacturing and engineering resources, and its historical and cultural links with its neighbors. Attending the meeting were business leaders and senior officials from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Papua New Guinea. Among them were Singapore's former Prime Minister Li Kuan Yew and Australia's Foreign Minister Gareth Evans. Hsiao said Taiwan's trade with the Asia-Pacific region totaled US$120 billion in 1993, accounting for 75 percent of its overall trade. About 35 percent of Taiwan's total trade is with South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Mainland China, he said. The ROC has become the largest investor in Vietnam, the second largest in both Malaysia and Mainland China, the third largest in Indonesia, [words indistinct] Thailand and the fifth largest in the Philippines, he said. |
FBIS4-6206_0 | Iraqi Foreign Minister Continues Official Visit Meets With Suharto | BFN [Text] In his capacity as chairman of the Nonaligned Movement and president of the Republic of Indonesia, President Suharto has promised to work for the lifting of UN economic sanctions against Iraq. Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said this to reporters after he accompanied his Iraqi counterpart Sa'id al-Sahhaf who paid a courtesy call on the president at Jakarta's Bina Graha presidential office this morning. The Iraqi minister, who held hour-long talks with the president, conveyed Iraqi President Saddam Husayn's oral message on efforts to lift economic sanctions as stipulated in Clause C of the UN Resolution No. 687, which Iraq believes it has fully conformed to. Iraq hopes the four-year-old sanctions will be lifted soon because it has caused severe hardship to its people. The Iraqi minister said his country's infant mortality rate has increased (?sevenfold) against that before the war, while the mortality rate for children over five years old is four times higher. As a result of severe economic sanctions, about 150,000 children have died due to malnutrition and even hunger. During talks between President Suharto and the Iraqi foreign minister, various steps have been agreed on in approaching the United Nations through the Nonaligned Movement's Coordinating Bureau at the UN headquarters and urging the UN Security Council to review the sanctions and conduct an objective study aimed at lifting the four-year-old sanctions. In this connection, Iraq also called for solidarity and support of all Nonaligned Movement members. |
FBIS4-6213_0 | Further Reports on Labor Strikes, Ethnic Unrest Commentary Urges Reconciliation | BFN [Station commentary] [Text] The demonstrations by workers in Medan, North Sumatra, that degenerated into ugly riots should serve as a lesson to all groups in the country. We all regret demonstrations that deteriorate into destruction. The uncontrolled demonstrations would have become more serious if the security authorities had not acted swiftly to control them. As reported in several newspapers, the workers in Medan and the surrounding areas had endured difficulties since March. The climax was reached last Friday when tens of thousands of workers from several factories in the city held illegal demonstrations because they thought they had been improperly treated by their employers. Dozens of shophouses in the North Sumatra provincial capital were destroyed by rampaging mobs throwing stones and looting property. One businessman was even reported to have met a tragic death. The stampede spread to other places and was only stopped when security authorities interfered. The question now is who should be held responsible for the events that degenerated into crime. The answer will certainly emerge after authorities complete their thorough investigation. Another question is whether there will be a repeat of these ugly events in the future. We must also think of those who will eventually suffer from the destruction in Medan and the stoppage of economic activities, which will certainly have a nationwide impact. The conclusion is that the Medan incident is highly regretted and we do not want to see a recurrence of the incident. As Asians who have undergone both pleasant and unpleasant times since the colonial era, we are good at learning a lesson from any unpleasant experience. In this connection, the government, businessmen, and workers should work together through existing channels and mechanisms. The rule of the game, as stipulated in existing labor laws, government regulations, ministerial decrees, and other labor regulations, is clear and adequate. It now depends on how all sides understand, implement, and put them into practice. All sides must admit that the ugly incidents in Medan and other towns originated from simple demands for an increase in workers' wages, a guarantee of welfare services, and proper treatment by employers according to existing regulations. What is most important is how the government and businessmen respond to such demands. As for workers, they should be vigilant against possible interference by a third party wanting to fish in troubled waters. A lack of response and delay in seeking a |
FBIS4-6214_0 | Further Reports on Labor Strikes, Ethnic Unrest Demonstrations Continue in Medan | BFN [By Bhimanto Suwastoyo] [Text] Medan, Indonesia, April 19 (AFP) -- Fresh anti-Chinese sentiments flared again here Tuesday with thousands of people sacking and looting a downtown ethnic Chinese-owned commercial mall, witnesses said. Between 1,000 and 2,000 people, armed with machetes, iron picks and stones, attacked the Thamrin Plaza in downtown Medan, owned by leading local ethnic-Chinese businessman Tanoto Sukanto, vandalizing the building and looting the shops, the witnesses said. Intervening security forces immediately blocked the downtown business area where the mall was located while shops and offices in the area were closed again, they added. Lawyer Hasbi Ansori of the Medan chapter of the Legal Aid Institute confirmed that the attack took place but said the building was not "severely damaged." He could not say how many attackers had been involved in the incident. Ansori said the city's downtown business district was now completely deserted except for security forces as all businesses had closed again. There were no reports of arrests, the witnesses said, and the regional police and military spokesmen could not be reached for comment. Demonstrations on Thursday and Friday here by tens of thousands of workers demanding better working conditions degenerated into anti-Chinese rioting in which one factory owner was killed and many ethnic Chinese properties were vandalized. Anti-Chinese pamphlets that first appeared during Thursday's protest, focusing on how ethnic Chinese were accumulating wealth to the detriment of other Indonesians, have continued to circulate in the city. Indonesia's ethnic Chinese minority -- making up about three percent of the population -- is widely resented for its hold on economic power. Meanwhile, thousands of workers around this northern Sumatran capital Tuesday refused to return to work for the second day in a row. "Today, many of the factories are still closed and the workers are still gathering near their factories," said Jansius Lumban Tobing, Director of the Medan Industrial Zone north of here, adding that some 12,000 workers were believed to have taken part in a similar strike the previous day. "They do not want to work but only sit around near their factories," Ansori said, adding that a strong security presence was now in place in and around the industrial zone and that shops had begun to reopen. In Belawan, some 18 kilometres (11 miles) north of here, an officer at the local police post, First Sergeant Purba, said although some of workers in the area |
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