a2_Castlegar News August 11, 1990

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LOCAL/ PROVINCIAL NEWS

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nenindl August 11, 1990 Castlegar News

- LOCAL/PROVINCIAL NEWS

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VANCOUVER (CP) — Tourist Alert issued by the RCMP. The following persons, believed travelting in British Columbia, are asked to call the person named for an wapeat per- sonal message:

Jack Clark of Ladysmith, Si sohin

Clark.

Jake Olfert Gwena Olfert.

Robert Ratcliff of Nanaimo, call Debbie Stackard.

Lyle and Della Thom of Neilburg, call Cikki Dlysdale.

Cheryle Phillips of Fort St. call Clay Calder.

Rodrigue Landry of Moncton, call Beth Peake.

Bob Dunh of Penticton, Christine Dunn.

enneth Clark of Kelowna, call

Jennifer Clark.

Philip Bukta of Calgary, call Kay Bukta.

Desmond McKay of Abbottsford, call Vivian Donato.

Paul Larsen of Minnesota, call Ruth Larsen.

David and Beth Bunnett of Calgary, call Sandra Bunnett.

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John,

call

FOR THE RECORD

In the Wednesday edition of the Castlegar News an incorrect figure was given for a reward being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for vandalizing trees in the Robson area. In fact, the reward being offered by Ken Wyllie, director of Area J on the Regional District of Central Kootenay board, is $500.

j

ONE FOR THE ROAD

Petro-Canada employee Kellie Plotnikoff, 19, puts a little elbow grease into it during a busy Tuesday morning at the gas station. — cosnews photo by Ed Mills

2 more Socreds pack it in

HARRISON HOT SPRINGS, B.C. (CP) — A controversial former Social Credit cabinet minister and a current minister have decided to quit Politics, it was announced

Bill Reid, the former tourism minister who resigned last September at the request of Premier Bill Vander Zalm, and Education Minister Tony Brummet will not run in the next elec- tion — expected either this fall or next spring.

Brummet, the member for North Peace River, was not at the Socred caucus retreat, where the decisions

were released.

Reid, member for Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale, resigned from cabinet last September following a report that money controlled by hi ministry went to a company owned by his former campaign manager and a friend.

The Opposition New Democrats wanted” him charged, but then- attorney general Bud Smith refused, contending that a conviction could not be obtained.

Moe Sihota, the NDP justice critic, hired a lawyer to prosecute Reid, but

the case was dropped when Smitli would not turn over police evidence.

Smith resigned as attorney general last month when surreptitiously taped phone conversations suggested he tried to interfere with the NDP prosecution. The tapes were tabled in the legislature by Sihota.

Two weeks ago, on the final day of the last session, Reid went on a ram- page in the house, calling Sihota sleazy, a wacko and a turkey.

Vander Zalm said Reid's decision to leave politics was a good idea.

“If, in fact, Mr. Reid has been and

1 expect continues to be a target for criticisms . . . then perhaps it’s best for him and best for all. that he do something else in life.””

So far six Socred members have decided not to run in the next elec- tion.

The others are Walter Davidson, Terry Huberts, Austin Pelton and Speaker Stephen Rogers.

And Vander Zalm fuelled election speculation Thursday by naming Rita Johnston, transportation and high- ways minister, as deputy premier.

Report to be released despite RCMP

VANCOUVER (CP) — The RC- MP public complaints commission says it will release both interim and final reports from its public hearings — despite opposition from the force.

Commission vice-chairman Fer- nand Simard said that after seeking legal opinion on whether the Priva. Act and the RCMP Act Prohi it release, the commission deter

released,’ he said. ‘*When there is no publicity there is no justice and in this case justice will prevail.

The commission’s first effort is an interim report on a five-day public hearing last March into allegations that logger Don Robinson was pun-

and kicked by Cpl. Bruce Waite while’ in the custody in the Gibsons,

The RCMP, however, does not interim reports arising from any public hearings released to anyone

other than the solicitor-general and the RCMP commissioner.

“The force objects to the public release of the report at this time,” said Insp. Jacque Delisle from RCMP headquarters in Ottawa. ‘*We still have difficulties with the inter- pretation (of the Privacy Act and the RCMP Act).

“The (RCMP) commissioner hasn’t received a copy of the report so he hasn’t had a chance to reply to the recommendations.”’

Delisle said the RCMP would not object to a final report being made public.

Robinson's mother Bev Farewell, who initially laid a complaint against the force on behalf of her 30-year-old son, said Thursday she was pleased with the decision.

“I'm very happy. The hearing was public, and we knew that, so I thought it was going to be released from the beginning.”

carrying the off ,7, heods to the store to cash

morning.

Costiews grote by td Mulls

LOTTERIES

NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL NEWS

KAMLOOPS, B.C. (CP) — The winning numbers drawn Thursday in the B.C. Keno lottery were 6, 7, 11 35, 44, 53, 54 and 55.

The winning numbers in Wed- nesday’s Lotto 6-49 draw were 11, 23, 29, 30, 44 and 49. The bonus umber

was 41.

There was no winner of the jackpot prize of $1,909,436.80. Therefore, the Lotto 6-49 jackpot prize pool estimate for the next draw will be $4,000,000.

The four Extra winning numbers for British Columbia on Wednesday

were 43, 46, 77 and 95.

The winning numbers drawn Wed- nesday in the B.C. Keno lottery were 7, 8, 9, 19, 23, 24, 27 and 52.

These numbers, provided by Canadian Press, must be considered unofficial.

NATIONAL NEWS

Youth unemployment hikes rate

OTTAWA (CP) — The unem- ployment rate rose to 7.8 per cent in July from 7.5 per cent in June as more people were unable to find work last month, Statistics Canada said.

July’s unemployment rate is the highest since last January.

The federal agency said the number of unemployed rose 46,000 to 1,070,000 in July from 1,024,000 the month before, with Ontario bearing the brunt of the rise.

“The rise in unemployment was evenly distributed between men and women and was concentrated among young people,” Statistics Canada said.

The number of jobless rose in July as more people entered the labor force but could not find work.

The size of the labor force, the total number of people employed or looking for jobs, increased, 61,000 to 13,700,000 in July from 13,639,000 in June.

Unless otherwise stated, all figures are adjusted to take seasonal variations into account.

There were also a small rise in the number of people working last mon- th, even though the unemployment rate rose as more people went into the labor force, the federal agency said.

The number of people with jobs edged up 15,000 to 12,630,000 in July from 12,615,000 in June.

Statistics Canada said the end of strikes in Ontario led to.an increase of 26,000 people working in the con- struction industry last month. More

People were also emloyed in finance, insurance, real estate and service in- dustries.

But a downward trend in manufac- turing for the last several months con- tinued in July as employment fell by 9,000 in that industry.

Across Canada, there were 16,000 more people working in British Columbia last month and a slight in- crease in employment in Nova Scotia.

The number of people with jobs fell 19,000 in Ontario while there was lit- tle or no change in other provinces.

Before taking seasonal variations into account, the actual number of unemployed in July rose to 1,076,000 up 67,000 or 6.7 per cent from the same month last year.

The seasonally adjusted number of jobless jumped 50,000 in Ontario and 7,000 in Alberta with little or no change in the rest of the provinces.

The unemployment rate rose from:

the previous month in four provinces, fell in five and was unchanged in one.

Unemployment rose in Ontario to 6.5 per cent from 5.6 per cent, in Prince Edward Island to 14.4 per cent from 13.6 per cent, in Alberta to 6.9 per cent from 6.4 per cent and edged up in New Brunswick to 11.9 per cent from, 11.7 per cent.

It also edged down in Manitoba to 7.8 per cent from 8.0 per cent and in Saskatchewan to 7.0 per cent from 7.2 per cent.

Unemployment was unchanged in British Columbia at 7.9 per cent.

Meech dead but talks continue

OTTAWA (CP) — Quebec and Ot- tawa are close to agreement on a deal that would give Quebec enhanced powers over immigration.

The pact would be the first con- stitutional agreement since the death of the Meech Lake accord in June.

Spokesmen for Quebec and Ottawa said the agreement could be final by the end of summer.

“Significant progress appears to have been made on the key issues an-

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der di: ion,”*-said-Helga—Wintal, chief negotiator for the federal- provincial relations branch of the Immigration Department,

The normal summer holiday slowdown and the Quebec gover- nment’s preoccupation with Mohawk unrest are the only factors blocking a resolution on outstanding issues, said Marc Lacroix, spokesman for

Jury still

MONTREAL (CP) — After years of research, some forestry experts from North America and Europe still dog’t blame acid rain as the main culprit for forest decline, despite what ecologists say.

At best, scientists told an inter- national forestry conference here, acid rain is just one of many stresses affecting trees.

Basing their conclusion on intensive research and monitoring in Canada, the United States, and Europe, the scientists’ say air pollution plays at most a minor role,

In fact, said Canadian Paul Ad- dison, there is evidence the maple forest dieback documented in Quebec — and blamed directly on airborne emissions — seems to have been reversed.

“We're seeing maples recovering, and syrup production has been on the

Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration and Cultural Communities.

“The only outstanding issue is financial compenstion,’’ said Lacroix. ‘‘It’s now a question of how much money will be transferred from the federal to the provincial gover- nment.””

Wintal declined to discuss details of negotiations.

With the death of the Meech Lake accord, Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa-said-he-would not attend future first ministers’ conferences and would negotiate only with Ottawa.

Along with financial compen- sation, Quebec was seeking a minimum percentage of all immigran- ts entering Canada and a greater say in the rules admitting immigrants to Quebec. These demands were ad- dressed by the Meech Lake pact

Quebec was also seeking more

The 1978 Cullen-Couture

Power to set for i

without relatives: aad family sesieted immigrants who hope to enter Canada with the sponsorship of family who are Canadian citizens, a source said. v7

There would be no change to family class immigrants who enter the coun- try to be reunited with family mem- bers and Ottawa would still control citizenship.

Quebec has long sought more con- trol over immigration into the provin- ce because of its concerns over a declining birthrate and its linguistic and cultural security.

There is already a detailed separate deal between Ottawa and Quebec recognizing Quebec’s demand for special immigration powers.

out on acid rain

increase,” said Addison, director of forest resources and environment division at the federal Great Lakes Forestry Centre, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

. Addison acknowledged evidence that buildup in the soil of some chemicals and metals deposited by rain reduce nutrient intake in trees. “But trees don't die of nutrient

Canadian navy ca

OTTAWA (CP) — The Canadian navy is so run down it couldn't con- tribute effectively to a multinational force in the Persian Gulf, says a retired admiral.

say: ‘Send the navy’,’’ Fred Crickard,

a retired rear admiral, said Thursday. ““Well, we've allowed the navy to

die — there’s no navy to send."" Prime Minister Brian

consider helping a multinational force in the region.

Some experts have speculated that Canada could send a naval vessel or two to assist in an international blockade of Iraq after that country’s invasion of Kuwait last week

But Crickard, who teaches at Dalhousie Univeristy in Halifax, said the only warship Canada could send is the HMCS Athab

said that Canada “‘isn’t entirely bereft of equipment,”’ and that Canada will

which has ineffective defences against the kind of air-attack

which takes its name from the federal and Quebec immigration minister of the day, made it easier for Quebec to allow French-speaking immigrants to come to the province.

It also gave Quebec the right to admit some immigrants rejected on the basis of federal criteria.

The Meech Lake accord would have incorporated the Cullen-Couture agreement into the Constitution. It also called for Quebec to take over most of the federal government's im- migration services in that province, with financial compensation from Ot- tawa.

Six other provinces have im- migration agreements with the federal government, but they are not as ex- tensive as the deal currently being negotiated with Quebec.

loss,,’’ he said in an interview.

- Frank Oberle, Canadian forestry minister, said in an interview that “‘the jury’s still out’’ on the effects of acid rain on forests.

n't help

deployed in the area. Two other destroyers are in the midst of a lengthy repair and update program. “*We only have one ship on the east coast capable of defending itself and it has a very primitive Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile system," said Crickard, the former deputy com- mander of Maritime Command.

Crickard also id a distant operation requires a great deal of

and pply support.

BRIEFLY

From Wire Service

German unity in October.

> posal.

ciat Democrats.

the Montreal Gazette reported.

Bernier and Bi

shipment.

Election setback for Germanys

BONN — West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and East German Prime Minister Lothar de Maiziere have accepted a setback in their bid for all-German elections before December, but left the door open for

The West German government said it would shelve plans for all- German elections Oct. 14 and revert to the original Dec. 2 poll date after the opposition Social Democrats made it clear they would block the

Announcement of the decision came after a stormy debate in rliament between the Christian Democrat-led government and the

De Maiziere made a surprise visit later to Bonn and said he an hi might still accept a formal merger of the two states in October — cven though they had wanted unity and elections to come together. De Maiziere told reporters after talking with Kohl that German unification in October is still conceivable.

Company makes huge donation

BAIE-COMEAU, Que. — Hdyro-Quebec is donating $5 million toward the construction of a concert hall to reward this town for accep- ting a controversial PCB shipment during the 1989 provincial election,

Hydro-Quebec’s board of directors reluctantly approved the donation last month at the request of officials in Premier Robert Bourassa’s office, a source at Hydro-Quebec told the Gazette.

The donation comes at a time when electricity rates for Quebec consumers will rise 14.5 per cent over the next two years.

“It’s not right,’’ the Hydro-Quebec source said to the Gazette. “*Baie-Comeau’s elected officials agreed to accept the PCBs last year. They’ re now being rewarded for their co-operation

Hydro-Quebec spokesman Michel Bernier confirmed the donation to the Gazette, adding that one of its size is unprecedented.

The utility usually donates about $3 million each year to a variety of groups and charitable foundations that stage cultural events. Comeau Mayor Roger Theriault denied any link between the $5-million donation and the town’s acceptance of the PCB

Washington cover-up exposed

WASHINGTON — A U.S. House of Representatives committee concluded that White House officials under former president Ronald Reagan “‘controlled and obstructed” a federal government study of Agent Orange exposure among Vietnam veterans.

The con essional panel said a secret White House strategy to deny

of the Centres

for Disease Control Study i in 1987.

The report by the House government operations committee bolsters

arguments by two veterans’ groups, the American Legion and the Viet- nam Veterans of America, who filed a lawsuit last week seeking to have the CDC resume its study of the health effects of Agent Orange ex- posure during the Vietnam War.

“The White House compromised the independence of the CDC and undermined the study by controlling crucial decisions and guiding the course of research, at the same time it had secretly taken a legal position to resist demands to compensate victims of Agent Orange ex- posure and industrial accidents,"’ the report said.

‘Agent Orange was a herbicide used to destroy ground cover during the Vietnam War. It has been blamed by veterans groups for 19 cancers and other health problems, including birth defects.

Trinidad rebels charged

PORT-OF-SPAIN — Charges of treason and murder will be laid against all 114 members of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen Muslim sect that staged a six-day coup attempt beginning July 27 against the Trinidad and Tobago government, police said.

The Muslims, including a 14-year-old boy, face the death penalty if convicted.

The radical group held Prime Minister Arthur Robinson, legislators and journalists hostage at the parliament building and the state television station during the ordeal, which ended with their uncon- ditional surrender

Official reports said at least 23 people were killed and hundreds of others including Robinson injured during the coup attempt

U.S., lraqi troops massing on borders

By The Canadian Press

The United States has received more support for put- pressure on mobilizing to protect Saudi Arabia while Arab leaders seek a diplomatic way out of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. The United States talked of strengthening its Desert Shield force in Saudi Arabia to as many as 250,000 troops and hinted at a possible naval blockade to choke off

ting itary and economic

Iraq’s oil exports. } But Iraqi President

sheikdom of Kuwait.

On Thursday, Iraq was reported to have massed for- ces at the northern border with Turkey and southward Israel test-fired a missile in apparent response to Iraqi threats.

The Baghdad government also closed its borders to foreigners trying to leave Iraq or Kuwait, where more

toward Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

than $00 Canadians remain.

After Iraq annexed Kuwait on Wednesday, the Ex- ternal Affairs Department in Ottawa said Baghdad told all foreign embassies in Kuwait to leave by Aug. 24. The Associated Press said they have been asked to move to the

Iraqi capital.

A day after the United Nations condemened the an- nexation, Arab leaders opened an emergency summit in to withdraw and avoid

Cairo to give Iraq a “last chance” international military intervention. Britain, France and Australia

Saddam Hussein remained defiant a week after his country’s invasion of the oil-rich

to two months, the source said.

Iraq and

The United States was dispatching about 140 F-15s, F16s and other warplanes, including “‘tank killer’” A-10s, Pentagon and other sources reported. Three aircraft carrier groups were also being stationed in the region.

Thé Pentagon reported that 50,000 Iraqi combat units were moving south in Iraq, and that if they entered Kuwait, the total invasion force would number “‘about 170,000."" Only a day earlier, had put the Iraqi force at 100,000.

However, Pentagon spokesman Pete Williams said

the intelligence estimates

the Iraqi troops in Kuwait “‘seem to be in a defensive

posture."”

against Iraq.

Besides the U.S. ground froces, navy units were coverging on the Persian Gulf area.

U.S. President George Bush has described the Saudi operation as wholly defensive, and he seemed to consider the UN-ordered economic embargo the preferred weapon

But gaps were appearing in the embargo — the latest an announcement by Sri Lanka that it would continue trade with Iraq. A tough, mulitnational naval blockade looked more and more like the most effective weapon

A Soviet Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday

Council

the Kremlin would not join a multinational ground or naval force unless it was approved by the UN Security

Thousands of nervous Saudis, Americans and other

Thursday

they are sending ships and planes to the gulf in response to U.S. appeals for help with a multinational force to defend heavy the world’s largest oil exporter

In Saudi Arabia, more U.S. fighter planes arrived to

Saudi Arabia —

bolster the number of U.S. combat about 4,000.

A U.S. Defence Department source, who spoke on

condition of anonymity, said the

prepared to put “‘many divisions”

it’s all done,"”

in Saudi Arabia in the face of a continued Iraqi buildup in Kuwait

“*We have contingency plans that could result in the insertion of up to 200,000 to 250,000 ground forces before said the source. Such moves could take up

lined up at Saudi immigration offices Thursday to get exit visas to leave the kingdom

Banks reported I transfers of as

troops initially to

of cash and di much as $2 million US abroad.

In Riyadh, the Saudi capital, a Canadian diplomat said today most of the 3,000 Canadians registered with

the embassy are ‘‘staying put."”

United States is

The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait Aug. 2 was rooted in grievances over oil, money and land.

Saddam complained that Kuwaiti overproduction of petroleum had driven down world oil prices and Iraq’s oil revenues. He also rejected Kuwait's demands that Iraq repay an estimated $15 billion in loans. And he reasserted longstanding claims on Kuwaiti territory.

Military poised to enter Mohawk dispute at Oka

Premier Robert Bourassa asked for the military to be brought in

MONTREAL (CP) — As soliders continued to prepare to deploy near Mohawk barricades, an Armed For- ces commander said troops won't leave their barracks until a federally appointed mediator calls for them.

Meanwhile, the Mohawks issued a Statement saying that any military presence at the barricade will be seen as negotiating in bad faith and might jeopardize a settlement to the con- flict.

“A build-up of military force around Kahnawake will be regarded by the Mohawk people as something akin to gun boat diplomacy,” said Orwen Young, a legal advisor to the Mohawks.

Irvin Goodleaf, a spokesman for the Mohawk Nation office in Kahnawake, said Mohawks see the possible deployment of the army as an aggressive act

“For the 30 days or so it’s been a verbal battle,” Goodleaf said. “‘Now they want to escalate the situation.””

Lt.-Gen. Kent Foster told @ news conference the army's role in the

month-old standoff between police and armed Mohawks will depend on

the efforts of mediator Alan Gold, a _

judge and veteran labor negotiator, to bring both sides to the negotiating table.

if Chief Justice Gold finds in his discussions that there is a role for us to play we would do our best to react to that,’’ Foster said.

“Clearly we are going to continue to get ready to put our forces in place and so on for that eventuality."

Foster said the earliest the soldiers could be ready to move from Canadian Forces Base Valcartier near Quebec City — where 4,400 troops and 1,400 vehicles are available — is today

The public will be notified

“It is not a question of hiding our activities now, we have no intention of doing thai Canadian Forces Base Montreal at the St-Hubert airport south of the city

Prime Minister Brian Mulroncy said Wednesday the army will be at the disposal of Quebec after Quebec

Quebec's provincial police have been facing armed Mohawks from behind barricades since a July 11 gun fight in Oka, 30 kilometres west of Montreal

The Mohawks were occupying a pine forest which they and the town both claim

One provincial police officer was killed in the battle. Mohawks at Kahnawake set up sympathy barricades the same day, blocking the Mercier Bridge which links Montreal and the south shore

The premier has also suggested the army will allow some of the police to get back to their regular duties. The idea was given more urgency by a report today that the provincial force has given out 14,500 fewer tickets — at an average of $70 cach — this year because so many have been busy with the crisis.

Brutality countinues in Liberia

By GILL TUDOR

MONTROVIA (Reuter) — It was all over very quickly, another casual killing in Liberia’s civil war

One moment the skinny, aging man was whimpering for his life. The next, he was dead by the roadside.

Rebel fighters shot the man in full view of journalists in a Monrovia suburb. The man was among the thousands killed by both sides im the seven-month conflict

In downtown Monrovia, Reuter correspondent Michael Roddy repor- ted rotting corpses littered the streets and starving dogs picked at their en- trails

The rebels found the man hiding in his tim shack as they advanced through the Congo Town area of the capital, a few kilometres from the city centre.

A rebel commander held up a government army uniform and a han- dful of bullets wrapped in a small knitted pouch — all found, he said, among the man’s meagre belongings.

The man stammered his innocence in broken English. For a while it seemed he had won a reprieve.

**He will lead us to the people who left these things,’ the commander said.

But the man made one fatal mistake. In his fright, when the rebels first found him, he blurted out a few words in the Krahn language

The war has cemented an im- placable hatred between President Samuel Doe’s Krahn tribe and the up- country Gio and Mano people who support the rebel forces. Both sides have killed members of rival tribes as a matter of routine.

Another rebel started jostling the man and pushed him a metre or two away toward the grass.

The man's eyes were wild with terror as the rebel raised his AK-47 assault rifle and shot him at point- blank range.

The man lurched backward onto the grass, screaming-

The rebel pumped three more rounds into his body, until he stopped moving

There was a brief silence. Then the rebels sauntered on down the road toward the battlefront

In the capital's centre, correspon dent Roddy said the corpses were quickly decomposing in the tropical heat and humidity, vanishing faster than the clothes still stuck to their bodies or the plastic bags of groceries they clutched in their hands when they were shot, possibly as suspected looters.

The city is strewn with shell casings and broken glass left from the fierce Street fighting which erupts without warning at any time and any place.

There is no semblance of normal life left im the city which has been without power, water or food. for more than a month

“I haven't had rice since last mon th,” one distraught woman com plained. “‘My children are starving.”