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Voice of America, 96-07-05

Voice of America Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>


CONTENTS

  • [01] BOSNIA / SREBRENICA (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)
  • [02] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L UPDATE) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)
  • [03] THE YELTSIN VICTORY BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)
  • [04] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ADAM PHILLIPS (WASHINGTON)

  • [01] BOSNIA / SREBRENICA (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

    DATE=7/5/96
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-199779
    VOICED AT:

    ///RE-RUNNING TO DELETE FIRST SENTENCE OF LAST PARAGRAPH///

    INTRO: INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS WILL BEGIN OPENING MASS GRAVES IN SREBRENICA IN EASTERN BOSNIA ON SUNDAY. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS WORKERS ARE EXPECTED TO EXHUME BODIES OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS KILLED AFTER BOSNIAN SERBS CAPTURED SREBRENICA A YEAR AGO.

    TEXT: IT WAS REPORTEDLY THE MOST BRUTAL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION IN EUROPE SINCE WORLD WAR TWO. SEVERAL THOUSAND MUSLIMS ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN ROUNDED UP AND SLAUGHTERED WHEN BOSNIAN SERBS CAPTURED THE SREBRENICA ENCLAVE, A UNITED NATIONS DECLARED SAFE AREA, IN JULY OF LAST YEAR.

    FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE OPERATION, BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC AND BOSNIAN SERB ARMY COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, THE I-C-T-Y.

    THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRIBUNAL IN SARAJEVO, ALEX IVANKO, SAYS SEVERAL SITES SUSPECTED AS MASS GRAVES IN SREBRENICA AND ELSEWHERE WILL AT LAST BE OPENED.

    // ACT IVANKO //

    THE I-C-T-Y WILL BEGIN A MAJOR OPERATION INVOLVING EXCAVATIONS AT A NUMBER OF SITES IN BOSNIA AND CROATIA COMMENCING 7TH OF JULY. THE OPERATION WILL BE CONDUCTED BY 20 INVESTIGATORS AND OTHER EXPERTS FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO THREE MONTHS.

    // END ACT //

    MR. IVANKO SAYS HE CANNOT PREDICT HOW MANY BODIES WILL BE RECOVERED. BUT OFFICIALS ESTIMATE BETWEEN THREE-THOUSAND AND EIGHT-THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE MURDERED AFTER THEY SURRENDERED TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

    MR. IVANKO SAYS THE EXHUMED BODIES WILL BE TAKEN TO A MAKE-SHIFT MORGUE IN TUZLA WHERE THEY WILL BE EXAMINED BY INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS.

    // ACT IVANKO //

    THE PURPOSE OF THIS OPERATION IS TO DETERMINE CAUSE AND TIME OF DEATH, AND TO IDENTIFY TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE THE REMAINS, AND TO COLLECT ANY OTHER PHYSICAL EVIDENCE ASSOCIATED WITH MASS GRAVES.

    // END ACT //

    BUT THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE OPERATION. A TEAM OF FINNISH HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATORS HAS BEEN IN THE SREBRENICA AREA FOR THE PAST WEEK, TRYING TO RECOVER BODIES STILL LYING ON THE SURFACE IN HILLS AROUND THE TOWN. MR. IVANKO SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERB POLICE FROM NEARBY ZVORNIK HAVE REFUSED TO GUARANTEE THE INVESTIGATOR'S SECURITY, DESPITE ASSURANCES FROM THE BOSNIAN SERB'S ACTING PRESIDENT, BILJANA PLAVSIC.

    // ACT IVANKO //

    WE WERE ADVISED BY THE ZVORNIK POLICE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT. WE THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, PATHETIC, AND SHOWS A COMPLETE LACK OF SENSITIVITY ON THE PART OF THE R-S AUTHORITIES.

    // END ACT //

    THE INVESTIGATORS FROM THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL WILL HAVE THE SPECIFIC SUPPORT OF NATO SOLDIERS IN THE AREA FOR SECURITY, AND OFFICIALS SAY THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE LESS LIKELY TO INTERFERE. (SIGNED) NEB/DF/JWH/CF/KL
    05-Jul-96 3:52 PM EDT (1952 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America

    [02] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L UPDATE) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

    DATE=7/5/96
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-199786
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: A SOLDIER IN THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY WHO ADMITTED TAKING PART IN MASS KILLING AFTER BOSNIAN SERBS CAPTURED THE SAFE AREA OF SREBRENICA HAS GIVEN AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT TO THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THE SOLDIER, DRAZEN ERDEMOVIC, WHO HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, SPOKE DURING HEARINGS INTO GENOCIDE CHARGES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC. GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE.

    TEXT: TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD DRAZEN ERDEMOVIC BROKE DOWN IN TEARS AS HE TOLD THE COURT THAT HE WAS ONE OF A GROUP OF BOSNIAN SERB SOLDIERS WHO EXECUTED 12-HUNDRED MUSLIM MEN AT A FARM NEAR ZVORNIK.

    HE SAID THE KILLINGS WENT ON ALL DAY AS CIVILIAN MEN ARRIVED IN BUSES AND WERE TAKEN TO A NEARBY FIELD TO BE SHOT IN THE BACK.

    HE TOLD THE JUDGES THAT HE HAD PROTESTED ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT HAD BEEN TOLD IF HE FELT SORRY FOR THE MUSLIMS, HE WOULD BE KILLED WITH THEM.

    HORRIFIED BUS DRIVERS, HE SAID, HAD BEEN ORDERED TO KILL AT LEAST ONE MUSLIM EACH, SO THEY COULD NOT BE WITNESSES AGAINST THE SOLDIERS.

    HE SAID ORDERS FOR THE EXECUTION HAD COME DIRECTLY FROM THE BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY HEADQUARTERS.

    HOW MANY PEOPLE, HE WAS ASKED, HAD HE PERSONALLY KILLED? HIS REPLY IS GIVEN BY A TRANSLATOR:

    /// TRANSLATOR ACT ///

    I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY. I CAN'T ESTIMATE. BUT TO BE QUITE FRANK, I'D RATHER NOT KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE I KILLED.

    /// END ACT ///

    EARLIER, IN THE DAY, THE COURT HEARD THE TESTIMONY OF A SURVIVOR OF ANOTHER MASS KILLING. HE TOLD JUDGES THAT HE WAS TAKEN TO A FIELD IN WHICH HE AND ABOUT TWO-THOUSAND OTHER MEN WERE MADE TO STAND IN A LARGE HOLE. THEY WAITED AS BOSNIAN SERBS OPENED FIRE. HE ESCAPED, HE SAID, ONLY BECAUSE TWO OTHER PEOPLE FELL ON TOP OF HIM.

    GENERAL MLADIC, HE SAID, HAD BEEN THERE WHEN AT LEAST SOME OF THE KILLINGS WERE TAKING PLACE.

    IT HAD BEEN IMPORTANT, HE SAID, FOR HIS OWN PEACE OF MIND TO TESTIFY. HIS COMMENTS ALSO ARE SPOKEN BY A TRANSLATOR.

    /// TRANSLATOR ACT ///

    I AM GRATEFUL TO THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR INVITING ME, AND TELLING ME THAT THE TRIBUNAL WANTS TO DISCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT WHO DID WHAT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

    /// END ACT ///

    CLOSING STATEMENTS WILL BE HEARD ON MONDAY. AND THEN A JUDGE AT THE TRIBUNAL WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO ISSUE INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANTS FOR MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC. (SIGNED)
    NEB/GS/JWH/MMK
    05-Jul-96 2:07 PM EDT (1807 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America

    [03] THE YELTSIN VICTORY BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

    DATE=7/5/96
    TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
    NUMBER=6-09664
    TELEPHONE=619-3940
    EDITOR=NEAL LAVON

    INTRO: BORIS YELTSIN'S VICTORY IN THIS WEEK'S FINAL ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN RUSSIA DOMINATED THE NATION'S EDITORIAL PAGES ON FRIDAY (7/5/96) MORNING.

    WITHG MORE, HERE'S__________ WITH THE U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

    ANNCR: PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON JOINED OTHER WORLD LEADERS IN OFFERING CONGRATULATIONS TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN FOR HIS RE-ELECTION VICTORY. MR. YELTSIN RECEIVED MORE THAN 53-PERCENT OF THE BALLOTS IN WEDNESDAY'S VOTE, AND THE NEWLY RE-ELECTED LEADER LOST NO TIME CELEBRATING BUT WAS BACK ON THE JOB HOLDING MEETINGS WITH CABINET OFFICIALS.

    HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, EVEN THOUGH MOST AMERICANS HAVE THOUGHTS MORE CENTERED ON THE FOURTH OF JULY INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS AND THE PROSPECTS OF A LONG SUMMER WEEKEND, THE NATION'S EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE PLEASED BY MR. YELTSIN'S VICTORY.

    THE MIAMI (FLORIDA) HERALD, FOR EXAMPLE, WRITES ABOUT MR. "YELTSIN'S AMAZING COMEBACK...[FROM] DOUBTS ABOUT HIS HEALTH. DOUBTS ABOUT HIS RECKLESS CAMPAIGN PROMISES. DOUBTS ABOUT RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY ITSELF." THE NEWSPAPER ADDS:

    VOICE: "A QUESTION FAR MORE MOMENTOUS THAN KREMLIN RIVALRIES IS MR. YELTSIN'S HEALTH.... EQUALLY MOMENTOUS IS HOW MR. YELTSIN CAN DELIVER ON HIS EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGN PROMISES WITHOUT DRIVING RUSSIA'S ANEMIC ECONOMY FURTHER TOWARD RUIN. [BEGIN OPT] ONE SOURCE OF HELP WOULD BE MORE WESTERN INVESTMENT. THAT MIGHT BE FORTHCOMING NOW THAT RUSSIANS HAVE CHOSEN THE RELATIVE STABILITY OF MR. YELTSIN'S VERSION OF CAPITALISM OVER MR. ZYUGANOV'S PROMISED RETURN TO A CENTRALLY-PLANNED, SOVIET-STYLE ECONOMY. 'NO THANKS,' RUSSIANS SAID. 'BEEN THERE. DONE THAT.'" [END OPT]

    ANNCR: THE WASHINGTON POST IS CALLING THE VOTE THIS WEEK "THE END OF RUSSIAN COMMUNISM," AND SAYS:

    VOICE: "THIS IS A TIME TO SAVOR, IF ONLY FOR A DAY, THE REMARKABLE TRIUMPH OF THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. DESPITE ALL THEIR SUFFERING AND SHRUGGING OFF ALL PREDICTIONS TO THE CONTRARY, RUSSIAN VOTERS MADE HISTORY... BY ADVANCING DEMOCRACY IN THEIR COUNTRY AND BY REJECTING, ONCE AND FOR ALL, THE FALSE PROMISES OF THE COMMUNISTS. [BEGIN OPT] ... NO ONE SHOULD EXPECT THAT RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA WILL GROW EASY JUST BECAUSE MR. YELTSIN HAS WON RE-ELECTION. ... RUSSIA REMAINS A WOUNDED AND CONFUSED POWER. ALL THE MORE REMARKABLE, THEN, WHAT ITS PEOPLE ACHIEVED THIS WEEK." [END OPT]

    ANNCR: UNDER A HEADLINE THAT READS "RUSSIA BURIES THE PAST," THE WALL STREET JOURNAL WRITES "THAT RUSSIA IS A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY." THE EDITORIAL CONTINUES:

    VOICE: "THIS IS THE REASON THE REST OF THE WORLD CAN FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH RUSSIA, DESPITE ITS HISTORY OF IMPERIALISM AND ITS STILL HUGE ARSENAL OF CONVENTIONAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS. ITS POLITICIANS NOW FEEL COMPELLED TO RESPOND TO THE WISHES AND NEEDS OF THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. IT IS CLEAR FROM THE STRONG SUPPORT MR. YELTSIN WON BY PROMISING TO END CONSCRIPTIONS AND THE WAR IN CHECHNYA THAT THOSE POPULAR WISHES FO NOT INCLUDE MILITARY CONQUEST. [BEGIN OPT] ...RUSSIANS VOTED FOR A FUTURE OF CONTINUED REFORM. BY SOME INSTINCT THEY SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND THAT RUSSIA'S PROBLEM IS NOT TOO MUCH, BUT TOO LITTLE, REFORM. RESPONDING TO THAT WISH IS A CHALLENGE RUSSIA'S NEW AND FIRMLY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT MUST NOW RISE TO MEET." [END OPT]

    ANNCR: WRITING IN NEWSDAY, ON LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, COMMENTATOR MARSHALL GOLDMAN - A PROFESSOR OF RUSSIAN ECONOMICS AT WELLSLEY COLLEGE - WRITES THAT "MANY FOREIGN INVESTORS CONTINUE TO SEEK TO ENTER THE RUSSIAN MARKET." HE ADDS:

    VOICE: "RUSSIA IS AN ENORMOUSLY RICH COUNTRY, AND WHILE THE MORES OF DOING BUSINESS AMID THE CORRUPTION AND UBIQUITOUSE MAFIA GROUPS REQUIRE A SPECIAL CALLOUSNESS AND DETERMINATION, THERE MORE MORE AND MORE RUSSIAN ENTREPRENEURS WHO SEEM WILLING TO MAKE THE EFFORT. ... BUT HOWEVER FLAWED [MR.] YELTSIN AND HIS POLICIES MAY BE, RUSSIA IS PROBABLY BETTER OFF WITH HIS VICTORY THAN HIS LOSS. WITH NO NEW ELECTIONS ON THE HORIZON, HE HAS FOUR YEARS TO PROVE HIMSELF."

    ANNCR: AND WITH THAT COMMENT FROM NEWSDAY, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF U-S EDITORIAL COMMENT. (SIGNED)
    GE/NL
    05-Jul-96 3:45 PM EDT (1945 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America

    [04] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ADAM PHILLIPS (WASHINGTON)

    DATE=7/5/96
    TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST
    NUMBER=6-09663
    TELEPHONE=619-1102
    EDITOR=GARY EDQUIST
    // EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS PERISHABLE MATERIAL AND BECOMES DATED AFTER 10 P-M ON THURSDAY, JULY 5TH //

    INTRO: THE HEADY MIX OF SPECULATION AND CONTROVERSY IN AMERICA'S EDITORIALS ON FRIDAY WERE LEAVENED BY THE HAPPY FACT THAT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY TURNED 220 YEARS YOUNG YESTERDAY. BUT ON FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 5TH NEWSPAPER EDITORS SAW FIT TO COMMENT ON THE STATE OF THE NATION DURING THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY AND ABOUT BORIS YELTSIN'S VICTORY IN RUSSIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. HERE IS THE VOA'S ____ WITH TODAY'S "EDITORIAL DIGEST."

    TEXT: THURSDAY NIGHT'S FIREWORKS THAT TOOK PLACE IN COUNTLESS TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS THE U-S ARE STILL A FRESH MEMORY IN THE MINDS OF MANY AMERICANS AS THEY TURN TO THE EDITORIAL PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPERS. "THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS," FOR EXAMPLE, HAS THESE WORDS TO SAY IN THE WAKE OF PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S JULY 4TH MESSAGE, WHICH CALLED AMERICA'S 220 YEAR OLD DEMOCRACY "A WORK IN PROGRESS."

    VOICE: "...BUT UNLIKE THE CREATIVE PROJECT OF AN ARTIST, THIS WORK IS NOT UNDER WRAPS. IT IS EXPOSED FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE -- EXPOSED WITH ITS ROUGH EDGES AND FLAWS AND MISTAKES AND OUTRIGHT UGLINESS. AND ALSO WITH ITS NOBILITY OF PURPOSE AND TRANSCENDENT INTRINSIC BEAUTY SHINING FORTH LIKE SELF-EVIDENT TRUTH... (BEGIN OPT) BECAUSE OF THE IDEALS UPON WHICH IT WAS FOUNDED, THIS COUNTRY CONTINUES TO PRODUCE HEROES, SOME WEAR MILITARY UNIFORMS -- BUT NOT THE MOTLEY OF MILITIAS, WHICH ARE AT BEST MISGUIDED AND AT WORST MANIACAL. SOME WEAR CIVILIAN CLOTHES, DUSTY WITH THE STILL-WARM ASHES OF THEIR CHURCH AS THEY TRY TO SALVAGE SOMETHING FROM THE FIRES OF HATRED. YES, THIS "WORK IN PROGRESS" IS STILL FULL OF FLAWS. [BUT] (END OPT) THE WORLD HAS WATCHED IN WONDER AS IT HAS WOUNDED ITSELF AND CURED ITSELF AND REINVENTED ITSELF COUNTLESS TIMES... TODAY, AS YESTERDAY, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN...."

    TEXT: ON WEDNESDAY, MANY AMERICAN NEWSPAPER EDITORS FOUND THE THEMES OF DEMOCRACY AND RENEWAL TO BE JUST AS RELEVANT TO FAR-OFF RUSSIA AS THEY ARE IN THE U-S-A. THAT'S WHEN REFORMIST PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SOUNDLY DEFEATED HIS CHALLENGER FROM THE COMMUNIST PARTY IN A RUNOFF TO THE NATIONS FIRST-EVER PRESDIENTIAL ELECTION. HERE'S WHAT THE "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" NEWSPAPER HAD TO SAY:

    VOICE: "BORIS YELTSIN'S BIG VICTORY... DOESN'T DEFINE THE COUNTRY'S FUTURE WITH ANY PRECISION, BUT IT DOES MAKE ONE THING CLEAR: THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO RETREAT FROM THEIR PRESENT DIFFICULTIES INTO A NEW EXPERIMENT WITH AUTHORITARIANISM. THE COMMUNIST PARTY IS NOT LIKELY TO EVER AGAIN PRESENT AS SERIOUS A CHALLENGE TO RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY AS IT IT DID IN THIS ELECTION. THE FORWARD-LOOKING RUSSIANS WHO REJECTED THE PARTY'S COMEBACK ATTEMPT ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE EVEN MORE DOMINANT IN FUTURE ELECTIONS. ... BY SOME INSTINCT [THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE] SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND THAT RUSSIA'S PROBLEM IS NOT TOO MUCH, BUT TOO LITTLE, REFORM. RESPONDING TO THAT WISH IS A CHALLENGE RUSSIA'S NEW AND FIRMLY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT MUST NOW RISE TO MEET."

    TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" BEGAN THEIR EDITORIAL ABOUT THE RUSSIAN ELECTION IN A LESS OPTIMISTIC MODE, BUT NEVERTHELESS WAS IMPRESSED BY THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION.

    VOICE: "IT TAKES NOT GREAT SKILL AS A SOOTHSAYSER TO SEE GRAVE PROBLEMS IN RUSSIA'S FUTURE. [BEGIN OPT] START WITH A POSSIBLY AILING PRESIDENT, PROCEED THROUGH THE UNFULFILLABLE PROMISES HE MADE TO WIN REELECTION AND END WITH ALL THE PAINS OF TRANSITION THAT NO AMOUNT OF DEMOCRACY CAN QUICKLY WIPE AWAY: DECLINING FARMS, DESPOILED ENVIRONMENT, DEPRESSED ECONOMY. [END OPT] BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DWELL ON SUCH TROUBLES. THIS IS A TIME TO SAVOR, EVEN IF ONLY FOR A DAY, THE REMARKABLE TRIUMPH OF THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. DESPITE ALL THEIR SUFFERING AND SHRUGGING OFF ALL PREDICTIONS TO THE CONTRARY, RUSSIAN VOTERS MADE HISTORY WEDNESDAY...."

    TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] THE OPINION SECTION OF THE SAME NEWSPAPER FEATURES AN ARTICLE BY CECILIA MUNOZ OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA AND JOHN SWENSEN OF THE OFFICE OF MIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES OF THE U-S CATHOLIC CONFERENCE. THEY LAMBASTE AN IMMIGRATION BILL CURRENTLY BEFORE CONGRESS WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE DENIAL OF EDUCATION FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN AND PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON "A VAST RANGE OF SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE HERE LEGALLY, SUCH AS VACCIN-ATIONS, PRE-NATAL CARE AND ....EVEN MEDICAL CARE." THEY WRITE:

    VOICE: "MUCH IS AT STAKE IN THIS LEGISLATIVE DEBATE BEYOND THE DIFFICULT QUESTION OF IMMIGRATION CONTROL. WHEN WE FAIL TO TO PROVE EDUCATION TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS, WE IMPOVERISH OURSELVES SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY. WHEN WE EMBARK ON POLICIES THAT THREATEN THE WELL-BEING OF HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS, WE THREATEN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL AMERICANS. WE URGE CONGRESS TO DELETE EXTREMIST MEASURES FROM THE IMMIGRATION BILL. IF IT DOES NOT, THE BILL OUGHT TO BE VETOED." [END OPT]

    TEXT: THE SUPREME COURT HAS ENDED A LONG AND DIFFICULT TERM WITH A DECISION THAT, ACCORDING TO "THE OMAHA (NEBRASKA) WORLD HERALD," REPRESENTS A VICTORY FOR THE RULE OF LAW OVER THE GREED OF CRIMINALS.

    VOICE: "CRIME DOESN'T PAY. THAT IS, NOT IF YOU ARE CAUGHT. THAT'S THE RESULT OF A RECENT U-S SUPREME COURT RULING THAT ALLOWS THE GOVERNMENT TO SEIZE THE PROPERTY AND ASSETS OF CONVICTED CRIMINALS... THE GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO REMOVE INCENTIVES FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE DRUG TRADE AS WELL AS PUT DEALERS BEHIND BARS. THOUSANDS OF FORFEITURE ORDERS INVOLVING HOUSES, CARS, BOATS, AND LARGE SUMS OF CASH WOULD HAVE BEEN NULLIFIED HAD THE SUPREME COURT RULED AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT ON CIVIL FORFEITURE. WHAT A WELCOME DECISION FOR AMERICANS WHO ARE BELEAGUERED BY A JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT TOO OFTEN SEEMS TO ACCOMMODATE THE CRIMINAL AT THE EXPENSE OF SOCIETY. ONCE CONVICTED, A CRIMINAL HAS NO RIGHT TO KEEP THE RICHES AND TOOLS OF HIS CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE."

    TEXT: AND WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL OPINION IN THE U-S PRESS. (SIGNED)
    05-Jul-96 11:41 AM EDT (1541 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


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