<2. A2 Castlegar News December 3, 1989 Rabbitt elected new chairman NORTH SAANICH (CP) — The Social Credit caucus has elected Yale- Lilloet member Jim Rabbitt as its new chairman Rabbitt has served as caucus vice- chairman and as acting chairman since Carol Gran resigned the job on becoming a cabinet minister in the last shuffle. “I'm quite honored,’’ Rabbitt said Friday during a break from a caucus meeting. **Whenever you get picked by your Peers to take on a job of this respon- sibility, you're very pleased.” Rabbitt takes on a high-pressure job that often saw Gran fighting discon- tent among Socred members, while steadfastly trying to support Premier Bill Vander Zalm. “The caucus chairman is not necessarily the caucus spokesman unless directed to doso,"* he said. “My job is to be a spokesman when designated . . . One of my main duties will be to offer some leadership to caucus, part of that is ma silence when you're supposed to."* Even so, Gran went public with her moderate stand on abortion, com- pared with the strong anti-abortion views of the premier. She supported abortions for women who are victims or incest and rape. Gran admitted that she learned a lot in nearly three years as caucus chair- man. “Sometimes you walk a very fine line, and being spokesman for a group of people with very differing opinions sometimes isn’t always that easy. “And often you'll say something in a public way that is a little bit offensive to some of the members, so it is dif- fieult."" Rabbitt said he’s going to take a dif- ferent approach to the job by spending less time than Gran in the limelight | Local Briefs lessening of establishments membership fees. ship fees of 9.25 cents per person. Council waits on pub policy By CasNews Staff Castlegar city council will wait until it gets more information from the Union of B.C. Municipalities before it decides how to approach the provincial government’s new policy that gives municipalities more responsibility in the approval of neighborhood pubs “Local governments are in the best position to determine the most appropriate method of obtaining the views of their citizens on liquor licensing matters,"” Consumer Services Minister Norm Jacobsen said in explaining the government's new policy However, he said the new policy should not be interpreted as a provincial government control over locating licensed RDCK to transfer lands The Regional District of Central Kootenay has agreed to subdivide and transfer to the Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society and the West Kootenay National Exhibition Centre the Crown land on which the NEC and several buildings in the Doukhobor Village are located. Whether to accept the offer of the land transfer is now up to the boards of the historical society and the NEC, said Castlegar Mayor Audrey Moore, the city’s representative on the RDCK board Smaller municipalities to save Muncipalities in the Regional District of Central Kootenay have agreed to join the Federation of Canadian Municipalities through the regional district rather than on an individual basis. The move will allow smaller municipalities such as Nakusp, New Denver and Salmo with populations of fewer than 2,000 to save money on Instead of paying a flat membership fee of $275 those communities will now be able to join the FCM through the RDCK by paying member- Based on current population figures, Nakusp, for example, would pay $130.42 and New Denver would pay $55.13. bee Fill'er up pool will officials say. Trevor Watson, who works for an ‘based pool inishes Ps fi some pipe work as the Castlegar Aquatic Centre pool fills slowly behind him. The main filled now and everything is on time for the January opening, pool CasNews photo Fire protection sought © Kootenay has asked the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary to con- sider providing fire protection under contract to the Blueberry Creek area. Blueberry, like other small com- munities within the RDCK, currently lacks an agreement with anyone to provide fire protection to the area, RDCK istant administrator Barry Baldigara said The, Regional District of Central Kootenay recently reached an agreement with the RDKB to have Genelle provide fire protection to the Fairview area, he said, adding that the RDCK hopes for a_ similar arrangement for Blueberry, although which fire hall would provide the ser- vice would be up tothe RDKB. The RDCK had asked the city of Castlegar to consider providing fire protection to Blueberry Creek but could not reach an agreement when the regional district failed to satisfy a number of concerns expressed by city officials about such an arr Road safety continued from front page their efforts have paid off with some of the measures being implemented recently, Posnikoff said The parents are pleased with the in creased visibility in the area now that trees-around the school have been cleared and they are happy the school- zone signs have been put up, he said They are also pleased their demand ora double solid line down the middle of the road to deter passing has been met, Posnikoff said. However, he noted that getting the ministry to paint Lottery numbers Winning numbers in Wednesday's Lotto 6/49 draw were 2, 14, 37, 42, 44 and 48. The bonus number was 46. There was no winner of the jackpot prize of $2,075,492.20. The four Extra winning numbers for B.C. on Wednesday were 1, 4, $2 and 9. The winning numbers drawn Wed. nesday in the B.C. Keno lottery were 6, 10, 24, 26, 31, 36, 38 and 50. Winning numbers drawn Thursday in the B.C. Keno lottery were 3, 17, 22, 28,34 36, 40and 55 These numbers, provided by The Canadian Press, must be considered unofficial Fields McFaden Seeds Mitchell's Overwaitea Sateway Shoppers Super Valu T-Bird Zellers Not all flyers it you did not + flyers and would like to do phone our Circulation Department at 365-7266 the line took a great deal of work on the part of the parent group. Only after dealing directly with the ministry in Victoria did the parents get the line painted earlier this month, Poznikoff said ‘Williams said the parents ‘“‘have some justification’? for feeling frustrated over the fight to have the line painted since they were promised the line a number of years ago by local Highways Ministry officials only to have the provincial government veto the idea. Ministry officials felt a single solid line down the centre of the highway on either side of the crosswalk was an adequate safety measure prohibited passing while traffic was going through the crosswalk, Williams said. . A single solid line is standard ministry policy around crosswalks, he added. The double solid line through the whole school zone was painted recently because it has been an outstanding issue for so long, Williams said. The parents also had to com municate directly with Victoria before they were granted the crosswalk light, Posnikoff said, adding that the parents received no help from former Minister of State for Kootenay Howard Dirks despite repeated attempts to solicit his help. . And the Highways Ministry asked the parents to agree in writing before the installation that if the light was in- stalled the highway issue would be con- sidered resolved, Posnikoff said. But the parents only agreed to try out the new system, he added Williams said he was not aware of any communication over such a ministry stipulation since it Court news In Castlegar provincial court last week, Tammy Lucinda Ingertilla pleaded guilty to possession of a nar. cotic and was fined $50 or, in default, sentenéed to one day in jail Bill William Verigin pleaded guilty to following another vehicle too closely and was fined $75 He said the lighted crosswalk is a new idea in B.C. and Tarrys has been given the first such crosswalk system in the province. The flashing light and a new set of signs — featuring the silhouette of a pedestrian rather than the current black X — is part of a Canada-wide standardization of crosswalk regulations that will come into effect in B.C. as soon as Victoria amends the Motor Vehicle Act, Williams said. The crosswalk light is for areas “‘deemed to require special treatment” and a crossing guard is required in cer- tain circumstances such as when the crosswalk is put in for a school, he said. Rilcof said he isn’t sure the light is meant to work in an area where vehicles are travelling at 80 kilometres an hour The light isn’t in use yet since the school needs to hire crossing guards to work before and after school and have a session with the students to explain the new system, he said That session will likely be on Tuesday morning and then the light can be activated Tuesday afternoon, Rilcof said Over the next few weeks the students will also receive instruction in highway safety from their teachers through an Insurance Corporation of B.C Program and with the help of the RC- MP, he said. That program will now be run every year to explain highway safety around the school to new students, he added. Posnikoff said the parents will con- tinue to lobby for the .speed reduc- tions. But Williams said the ministry doesn’t see the justification for a per manent speed-reduction to 60 kilometres an hour since there is no school during the summer or at night and the RCMP have demonstrated they can and will enforce the school zone speed limits during school hours Reduced speeds would only incon- venience drivers, he said. Williams, who has been district highways manager since last May, said a lot has been accomplished at Tarrys since he took up his current duties. “I don't know if there is anything (the ministry can do) that will satisfy everyone,”’ he said 3,000 have virus VICTORIA (CP) — The B.C. government released a depressing list of statistics to mark World AIDS Day on Friday, and an AIDS expert gave little short-term hope that the scene would improve. Some 3,353 B.C. residents tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS, Health Minister John Jansen said They included 2,511 homosexuals or bisexuals, 62 in- travenous drug users, 53 hemophiliacs, 128 heterosexual contacts, 12 prostitutes, 48 multiple blood transfusion recipients and 539 peoplé not classified in a risk category. The statistics showed there were 88 positive tests for the virus among persons younger than 20 years of age, two of them infants who have since died Jansen said the number of positive test results should not be confused with actual cases of AIDS. But Dr. Michael Rekart, director of the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, noted that it takes an average of eight years after being infected with the virus for the disease itself to surface. Rekart said 677 people had been diagnosed with AIDS and 359 of them had died. He projected that 200 new cases of AIDS would be diagnosed this year “Those 600 cases don’t tell this year’s story,”” he said “*They tell the story of people infected in 1980-83. “It’s like the iceberg phenomena. You only see a small amount of the real problem.”” An AIDS activist said the disease has created an epidemic of fear, blame and denial. Greig Layne of the Vancouver Pesons With AIDS Society said AIDS victims are becoming scapegoats, allowing others to escape their responsibilities. He urged agencies and community groups to lobby government for more funding for education, treatment and support for victims. Youth was the focus of this’s international awareness day organized by the World Health Organizati “Our youth need information so they know their op- tions when they are faced with decisions about activities that could put them at risk,”’ said Jansen. Jansen said the ministry's education projects directed at AIDS awareness and protection included brochures, province-wide mailings of basic information on the disease and television ads, as well as posters directed at B.C. natives. Consultation pledged By CasNews Staff A Transport Canada official has for the first time given a clear indication about the tower. “*That’s the with the city *‘prior’’ to any decision word she found “‘ambiguous.”” Moore quoted Douglas as saying that’s been in his latest letter, ‘‘'You may rest SN, oan December 3.1999 Castlegar News 3 Briefly the federal government department won't decide to close the control tower at the Castlegar airport before con sulting with local governments in the West Kootenay and other airport users. In a letter to Castlegar Mayor Audrey Moore which she received Friday, the regional director of air navigation systems for Transport Canada in Vancouver, D.J. Douglas, says Transport Canada will consult Gas study released VICTORIA (CP) — Accidental chlorine gas leaks at a Squamish pulp mill have been greatly reduced since 1983, the mill manager said Friday Chuck Calhoun, personnel and safety manager of the Western Pulp Mill Ltd. Partnership, was responding to a Workers’ Compensation Board health study done at Woodfibre pulp- mill 55 kilometres north of Vancouver The study revealed that pulpmill workers who are exposed to frequent accidental chlorine ‘‘gassings”’ suffer permanent lung damage Vancouver epidemiologist Susan Kenney, the study’s head researcher, had said about half of the 320 pulp- workers studied had reported being “*gassed"’ at least once and some on many occasions. Plans continued trom front poge the approach that the ceremony com memorated a day of peact Paul Phipps, principal of Twin Rivers elementary and Castlegar Primary school, said the ability of schools to take part in activities such as Christmas concerts is one of the aspec- ts of the new act that must be clarified “For now, little has changed," he said. Turner said the board's policy committee will be looking at the entire act next year and formulating board policies to clarify a number of broadly stated sections including the firovision on teaching religious principles Along with Christmas, Remem brance Day, Easter and perhaps Halloween activities will have to be considered when looking at religious teachings in the schools, he added missing,”’. said Moore who had telephoned Douglas asking for clarification of statements by him in a previous letter which the mayor said Priest in NELSON (CP) — A former West Kootenay priest facing sex charges is in police custody in Florida, RCMP said Father Lucien Meunier is being held in West Palm Beach, pending ex- tradition proceedings by Nelson Crown counsel on eight counts of in- decent assault and gross indecency, said Cpl. Russ Arnold assured that you will be included in the consultation process prior to any decision being made regarding facilities at Castlegar airport.” custody The charges involve boys aged seven to 15 years between 1967 and 1971 in Trail, New Denver and Prince Rupert Meunier had been priest at St. An- thony’s Church in New Denver near this southeastern British Columbia community. He was parish priest in Marsden, Sask., from 1957 to. 1965 In memory age William Stoushnow William B. Stoushnow of Ootischenia passed away Nov. 27, 1989 at Mr. Stoushnow was born Oct. 22, 1958, at Castlegar. He grew up and attended schools here including two years at Selkirk College. He worked for Hadikin Lumber, and the B.C. Forest Service. While attending secondary school he worked with his father at the Shell Garage. His hob- bies included photography, woodcarving, hiking and cross-country skiing He is survived by his parents, Bill and Mary Stoochnoff of Ootischenia; brother Paul of Ootischenia; sister Vivian Taranoff of Glade; grandmother Lucy f of O Peter and Lucy Harasmow of Perry Siding; and many nieces and nephews Funeral service was held Friday and Saturday at the Castlegar Funeral Chapel and the Ootischenia Hall with burial in the Ootischenia Cemetery Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Castlegaf Funeral Chapel Fred Barisoff Fred Barisoff of Krestova passed away in Vancouver Nov. 26, 1989 at age 33. Mr. Barisoff was born March 18, 1956, at Nelson but grew up and lived most of his life at Krestova. He attended schools in the valley and Mount Sentinel at South Slocan. During his life he worked as a pipefit- terand welder on many construction jobs throughout Canada. He was a member of the pipefitters union. He is survived by his parents, Pete and Mary Markin of Krestova; five sisters, Lauresa Plotnikoff of South Slocan, Marcie and husband Darryl Plotnikoff of Creston, Christina Markin of Krestova, Sally DeRosa of Calgary and Martha and husband Terry Jack of Castlegar; one ive nephews; and grandfather William Voykin of Mount St. Fran- cis. He was predeceased by his father in 1967 Funeral service will be held at the Krestova Hall beginning today and 7 p.m, and will continue Monday at 10 a.m. with burial at 1 p.m. at the Krestova Cemetery Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Castlegar Funeral Chapel Armenia wants regions united MOSCOW (REUTER) — The Armenian parliament voted Friday to unite Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh and denounced a Moscow ruling to hand back control of the disputed territory to the neighboring republic of Averbaijan A journalist at Armenia's Armenpress news agency said by telephone from Yerevan that the republic's Supreme Soviet has voted to unite the southern republic with the territory, whose population is mainly Ar- menign, More than 120 people have died in the last two years in fighting over the region, which was run'by Azerbaijan from 1923 until it was placed un- der Mdscow's direet control last January. H ‘Fhe declaration says that we are now one republic,” a journalist from A}menian television said. Canada running airlift TORONTO (CP) — Canada is running an emergency airlift to rescue hundreds bf wounded and frightened Salvadorans from a raging civil war and reunité them with distraught relatives in this country, an immigration official says, Michad) Molloy said-when the crisis began Nov. II, a visiting Canadian viga officer in El Salvador worked feverishly to get special im- migration mikister’s permits for people with relatives in Canada. “When the trouble started, she just hunkered down and kept working,”’ said Molloy, director-general of refugee affairs. Canada’s Glosest embassy to El Salvador is Costa Rica and visa of- ficers normally gb to Salvador only once a month, he said. New Indian PM sworn in NEW DELHI\AP) — Vishwanath Pratap Singh, a modest unifier who forged an oppasition coalition to oust the Gandhi government of which he was once 4 member, was sworn in Saturday India's prime minister. \ Singh, the royal\porn leader of the five-party National Front coalition, will preside over the first minority government India has had since it became independ&nt from Britain 42 years ago. The 58-year-old pot and painter must now name his cabinet ministers and win a vote of eonfidence from the majority of the 525 mem- bers of the parliament's policy-making lower house. He has 30 days to prove his support in the partiheaees, Suzuki retaliates for reviews OTTAWA (CP) — Televisign host David Suzuki is withdrawing his sponsorship of two Carleton UniXersity scholarships after a professor at the school wrote critical reviews of his books. ‘A faculty member in the School of Journalism at Carleton has reviewed two of my books in a most\unpleasant and uncalled for way,”’ Suzuki wrote ina letter to the school’s. alumni services office. “Of course, that is his prerogative\but I don’t see why I should con- tinue to support students in a faculty with such a puerile members,”’ wrote Suzuki, host of CBC-TV’s Nature of Things. Suzuki was unavailable for comment Priday. \ Mulroney liar, Chretien says KINGSTON, Ont. (CP) — Prime Ministek Brian Mulroney is a two- faced liar in his defence of the Meech Lake cohstitutional accord, Jean Chretien said in a speech Piiday. \ Mulroney has told Quebecers the accord ‘tis \he best thing for you that you ever had. “And after that, he turned to English Canada nd said: ‘Don’t be worried. That (accord) means nothing,’ ’’ the Liberal leadership hopeful totd about 200 area Liberals. **So, to whom is he lying’ During his speech, Chretien did not mention the pro-Meech stand of Liberal leader John Turner or of MP Paul Martin, considered Chretien’s chief rival for the Liberal leadership. : Another famine predicted KHARTOUM (AP) — People are dying from hunger in Ethiopia's Tigre province, anda famine as deadly as that of the mid-1980s is possible, a Tigrean rebel relief official said Friday. Information reaching Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, indicates \an average of two people die every day of hunger or malnutrition, adding toa toll in recent weeks that at last report was 115. The figures are minuscule compared with those of the 1984-85 drought in which the United Nations says up to one million people died in the rebellion-torn province of northwestern Ethiopia. But Chekol Kidané, who heads the relief agency of the Tigre People’s Liberation Front, said that without food and medical supplies, conditions for about 2.2 million people ‘‘will get worse in the coming weeks.”” Supporters told openness key WINNIPEG (CP) =f Manitoba won’t even consider di the Pope, Gorbachev meet VATICAN CITY (CP) — Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and Pope John Paul have ended 70 years of mistrust and hostility betwéen~the Roman Catholic Church and the world’s oldest atheist state. But their historic meeting at the Vatican Friday, during which the Pope endorsed the Kremlin chief's reforms, ts also likely to pave the way for ex- traordinary changes for Catholics in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Unlike many meetings between the Pope and world leaders, the Kremlin chief and the spiritual leader of nearly 900 million Roman Catholics discussed an agenda full of concrete developments and proposals. Gorbachev announced he had in- vited the Polish-born Pope to the Soviet Union, a trip that could have untold significance for Catholics there and elsewhere in the east bloc where religious freedom has been restricted for decades. Gorbachev, who called the Pope “the world’s highest moral authority” and received the pontiff’s blessing for his reform , promised that a HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS . . . You know Christmas is nearly here when the reindeer and sleigh go up at Castlegar's city hall. City maintenance workers Len Booth (left) and Chuck Moser jerry one of Santa's finest to the ledge near the top of the building. co.rews. pnor new law on freedom of conscience would give Soviet citizens full religious liberty. He also announced that the Vatican and Moscow had decided to establish official relations. Vatican spokesmen said initial con- tacts, such as permanent represen- tatives in Rome and Moscow, were likely to lead to full diplomatic relations. The implications of the 75-minute meeting, which Gorbachev called ‘‘a truly extraordinary event,”’ are enor- mous. END TOBAN? The Soviet law on freedom of con- science, which Gorbachev said would give believers of all faiths ‘‘a right to satisfy their spiritual needs,’’ could lead to the legalization of the banned Ukrainian Catholic Church. Party's hold on power abolished EAST BERLIN (AP) — The East German parliament abolished the Communist party's 40-year-old guaranteed monopoly on power Friday, but retained East Germany’s designation as a socialist state. Without debate, a show of hands was called on a motion to drop a con- stitiutional passage describing East Germany as ‘‘under leadership of the working class and its Marxist-Leninist party.”’ The Communist-dominated cham- ber broke into applause after all but five of the 420 deputies present voted in favor. The five abstained. The vote, reflecting national fervor for swift and thorough reform, was a concession to pro-democracy op- position groups. The amended article calls East Ger- many a ‘‘socialist state of workers and farmers.” Tht People’s Chamber also set up a Meech Lake constitutional accord until the agreement's supporters show they are willing to make concessions, Premier Gary Filmon said Friday. “Until we see a willingness to consider change on the part of those provinces who are consistently telling us no change is possible, then we can’t even open discussions on the matter,”’ Filmon told reporters. Freedom pledged for Mandela YAMOUSSOUKRO, Ivory Coast (AP) — South African President F.W. de Klerk said imprionsed black nationalist leader Nelson Mandela will be freed but he declined to say when. De Klerk also said reforms undertaken in South Africa by his white- minority government are being recognized by African and other foreign governments. “There is a spirit of hope, and people are reaching out for each other in South Africa,”’ he said. Satellite plunges to earth WASHINGTON (AP) — The Solar Maximum satellite ended its decade-long voyage of discovery about the sun Saturday with a fiery plunge through the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. The satellite smashed into the thickening atmosphere at 5:26 a.m. EST, plus or minus 12 minutes, said Maj. Dick Adam of the U.S. Space Command. Originally, the Space Command predicted the satellite would re- enter the atmosphere at 6:12 EST and burn up in the atmosphere just west of the Galapagos Islands over the Pacific Ocean. Adam said officials did not immediately know the exact location of re-entry, but it was off from earlier projections that it would be about 1,300 kilometres west of the Glapagos Islands, which lie about 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador Comaneci lands in U.S. NEW YORK (AP) — Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, the darling of the 1976 Olympics in Montreal with her seven perfect 10s, lan- ded Friday in the United States after her defection three days earlier. “I wanted to have a free life,"’ Comaneci, who was guaranteed political asylum, said in halting English at a news conference at John F Kennedy International Airport Asked how long she had thought about defecting, she,replied: ‘‘A long time, I had it in my mind for a few years.” to gate previous misuse \of office. Its chairman disclosed details of extreme cases of Personal enrichment in the ousted ad- ministration of Erich Honecker. TRUTH, CONSEQUENC The official\ East German news agency ADN said\the Communist par- ty Central Committee would meet Sunday to weigh necessary ‘‘con- sequences’’ of Friday’s decision. This session might decide to expel Honecker and others from the party. Parliamentary deputies gasped and shook their heads in disgust as Heinrich Toeplitz, head of the com- mission investigating abuse of power, told of millions bf marks spent on luxuries for now-ousted leaders. Special committees were named to draft a law on free elections and con- sider further constitutional change. The Communist leadership under Egon Krenz, ina bid to win respect for the party which has ruled without challenge for four decades, has em: barked on a campaign to expose and Punish those who abused power Deputies heard warnings from Premier Hans Modrow, the planning minister and others that a long road lies ahead to prosperity. REFORM WAVE East Germany is the second East European country to abolish the Communists’ guiding role this week Czechoslovakia’s parliament scrapped the same provision Wednesday Earlier this year, Poland named its first non-Communist government, and Hungary's Communist party tran- sformed itself into a Social Democratic party. Bulgaria also has embraced reform Army disarms paramilitary force PRAGUE (AP) — Czechoslovakia’s army began disarming the Communist party’s paramilitary force Saturday, putting thousands of rifles into warehouses at the demand of opposition leaders. And Czechoslovakia’s leading dissident warned the new coalition government being formed this weekend to implement democratic reforms without delay or face renewed opposition from millions of people who have taken to the streets. An announcement on the new gover- nment was expected. The People’s Militia, the force created 40 years ago to protect the workplace from counter-revolution and which later guarded the Communists’ monopoly on power, began surrendering weapons to the army, the state-run news agency CTK reported. All weapons were expected to be in army hands today “This is to honor a pledge by the new Communist leader- ship that in the solution of the current political situation (the paramilitary) means of the party will not be used,”’ an unnamed Politburo member was quoted by CTK as saying The action came one day after Vasil Mohorita of the ruling Politburo agreed to turn over control of the Com- munists’ militia to the state as a concession to opposition demands that it be disbanded. The militia is a paid, part-time force that is believed to have tens of thousands of members recruited from among workers. It was last used in January to help riot police smash a weeklong series of demonstrations in Prague. The beleaguered Communist-controlled government agreed last Tuesday to appoint a new government this weekend. It will include non-Communists for the first time since Soviet-led Warsaw Pact tanks crushed the so-called Prague Spring reforms in 1968 And Czechoslovakia’s Communist leaders, paving the way for anew government, have developed a blueprint for reform that charts a course for the future and dramatically alters the official view of the past. Mohorita made public an ‘‘action program’’ for the party that meets some of the demands of opposition groups who have spurred historic change in Czechoslovakia Perhaps most significantly, the Politburo program changes the official Communist party view that the War- saw Pact invasion was justified. “We are of the opinion that the intervention of five countries in 1968 was not justified and the decision to do it was wrong,’’ Mohorita said at a news conference Mohorita said no decision has been made on another opposition demand to end direct Communist control of the workplace. The draft also pledges the Communists *‘will not inter fere with the media,’’ Mohorita said The proposed government plan outlines the ‘‘new position’’ of the party following a vote by the parliament Wednesday scrapping constitutional provisions guaran teeing the party a monopoly on power, Mohorita said. 14, Mohorita said, and could vote to hold the congress sooner The party daily Rude Pravo reported Friday that the Politburo has ordered the creation of a special commission to re-evaluate the 1968 reforms and ‘‘the circumstances un- der which the armies of five Socialist countries entered Czechoslovakia.’’ SEA SUMMIT TALKS OPEN MARSAXLOKK BAY, Malta (AP) — U.S. President George Bush and Kremlin leader Mikhail Gorbachev began a storm-tossed summit Saturday with five hours of ‘‘very productive” talks on Eastern Europe, Central America and nuclear arms control. The White House said the two men worked in a “spirit of forward-looking co-operation.” Bush and the Soviet president ‘‘recognized that economic and political challenges were ahead for Eastern Europe, and vowed to consider the oppor- tunities presented with sensitivity and firm initiative,”” said the statement issued by White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater. High winds and rough seas forced the two men to scrap plans to talk abroad a Soviet naval vessel anchored off-shore, opting instead for a session on a docked Soviet cruise liner that served as Gorbachev's headquar- ters for the two-day summit. BACK ONBOARD Bush returned to his headquarters on the U.S. guided missile cruiser Belknap following the initial sessions lasting five hours. The White House said an af- ternoon round of talks were put on hold because of the bad weather. The White House said they talked ‘‘almost con- tinuously’’ for nearly five hours, including a sessjon with aides and a session with only note-takers, and then continued their talks over lunch “*President Bush spoke for more than an hour to open the meeting, laying out more than a dozen ideas for economic and political progress in U.S.-Soviet relations,”’ the statement said “The discussion ranged from the economic situation in Eastern Europe to arms control and Central America. Chrairman Gorbachev spoke at length of perestroika and the goals of his reform program."" The two men arranged to have more talks before getting together for dinner. The summit concludes today The White House said the opening talks included a “very productive, informal and substantive meeting.”’ The program has to be approved by the party’s Central Committee and be adopted by a party congress tentatively scheduled for Jan. 26. The Central Committee is scheduled to meet on Dec. “The meetings were sparked by a spirit of forward- looking co-operation during these changing times,” it said increasingly Fighting continues after rebels attempt coup MANILA (CP) — Government warplanes and helicopters pounded remaining rebel positions and President Corazon Aquino told the holdout mutineers that they should “surrender or die.”” A statement issued Saturday in the name of renegade Lt.-Col. Gregorio (Gringo) Honasan denounced Aquino for requesting U.S. air support during Friday's coup attempt. It called on the Public to suport mutineers for ‘*the at tainment of a genuine Filipino gover nment."* The government said the coup at tempt that nearly toppled Aquino's government was defeated and described the fighting as mopping-up operations. Rebels were reported still holding an air base in the central Philippines, and hundreds were gathered outside armed forces headquarters in Manila and the city’s financial district Up to 15 people were killed when pro-government helicopter gunships rocketed rebel positions at a housing complex near armed forces headquar. ters. The air attack was concentrated in the Greenmeadows housing project which adjoins the military command at Camp Aguinaldo, radio station DZRH said It quoted a volunteer Red Cross worker, Ben Mejia, as saying the bodies of 12 people in civilian clothes had been taken to another hospital It was unclear whether they had been killed by rockets or ground fire from rebel marines holed up in the upper-class neighborhood AIRPORT CLOSED Manila’s international airport remained closed for a second day and government all domestic and international flights were cancelled. Officials said they would reopen thé international airport only upon in- structions from the Presidegfal palace. Sporadic fighting occurred. throughout the day near Camp Aguinaldo, headquarters of the armed forces, Jets-and helicopter gunships strafed and rocketed suspected rebel positions, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes. Authorities said at least 28 people were killed and 100 wounded since rebel troops and Marines tried to over- throw the government. It was the sixth attempt to topple Aquino since she was swept to power in the 1986 civilian- military uprising that ousted Fer- dinand Marcos. The about 1,400 Canadians living in the Philippines were reported safe.