HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 1992 11:25:22 -0400
From:         Nhan Tran <tran@PEORA.SDC.CCUR.COM>
Subject:      NEWS/VN: Pentagon released more POWs documents
X-To:         FISHLM%SNYBUFVA@pucc.princeton.edu, scv@media.mit.edu,
              seasia-l@msu.BITNET, vietnam@cco.caltech.edu, vn-news@saigon.com

08/13

POW-MIA

Copyright, 1992. The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon on Thursday released 12,000 pages of
previously classified documents dealing with American prisoners of war and
servicemen missing in action from the Vietnam War.
   It was the second release of documents since President Bush's executive order
of July 22 to declassify the material, and brings to 42,000 the total number of
pages that have been released.
   The documents were opened to perusal by reporters and Pentagon spokesman Bob
Hall said arrangements had been made to make them available to the general
public at the Library of Congress.
   He said the library would have the documents available on microfilm or for
reproduction about the end of the month.
   Hall said the latest documents released included files on live sighting
sources and the POW-MIA files of former defense secretaries Elliot Richardson,
Caspar Weinberger and Frank Carlucci.
   He said the files include correspondence with members of Congress, families,
returnees and the National League of Families.
   He said the Richardson files, covering the years 1972 to 1973, also include
Defense Intelligence Agency studies of known POW camps, and documents outlining
information on mistreatment, escape attempts and medical care.
   He said the Carlucci and Weinberger files, covering the years of the Reagan
administration, contain a draft presidential report on POW and MIAs that was
prepared but apparently never issued.
   Hall said the entire amount of documentation to be declassified amounts to
about 1.5 million pages.
   He said declassification of live sighting reports was expected to be
completed by 1993 and the rest of the declassification by 1994.
   The Pentagon said paper copies from roll microfilm at the Library of Congress
would cost about 10 cents per page, with a minimum purchase requirement of $15.
   Microfilm will cost $30 per roll.
   About 1,000 rolls of microfilm would be required to copy the complete set of
approximately 1.5 million pages.
   A handling fee of $3.50 will be charged for each shipment of $20 value or
less. For orders of more than $20, the fee will be about 8 percent of the value.
   The Library of Congress Photoduplication Service telephone number is (202)
707-5640. The address is Washington, D.C. 20540.
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Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 1992 11:26:57 -0400
From:         Nhan Tran <tran@PEORA.SDC.CCUR.COM>
Subject:      NEWS/VN: VN cooperating with UN anti-drug efforts
X-To:         FISHLM%SNYBUFVA@pucc.princeton.edu, scv@media.mit.edu,
              seasia-l@msu.BITNET, vietnam@cco.caltech.edu, vn-news@saigon.com

08/13

VIETNAM COOPERATING WITH U.N. ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS

    HANOI, Aug 13, Reuter - Vietnam has begun cooperating with United Nations
efforts to stop drug abuse and to combat trafficking across its borders, a U.N.
official said on Thursday.
    The U.N. Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) has committed $407,963 to help
Vietnam work out an anti-drug plan, William Beachner, the Bangkok-based UNDCP
regional director, said.
    Beachner, who is visiting Hanoi, told Reuters the UNDCP and Vietnamese
officials would sign a project document committing Hanoi to work out a drug
abuse control master plan.
    Vietnam has 100,000 to 150,000 drug addicts, he quoted Hanoi authorities as
saying, including some 50,000 in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, where drug
abuse was widespread during the Vietnam War.
    Newspapers in Hanoi have recently said free market economic reforms by the
Vietnamese government have made things easier for opium traders by liberalising
domestic trade.
    The country lies in one of the world's major opium producing regions and
near the notorious "Golden Triangle" -- the area where the borders of Laos,
Burma and Thailand meet -- a centre for trafficking in opiates.
    Beachner said U.N. drug officials were worried that heroin produced in
Burma, and now smuggled across China and Thailand might in the future be sent
through Laos and Vietnam.
    China, which has been cooperating with U.N. drug officials for the past five
or six years, has said some opium is now crossing the border from Vietnam, he
said.
    "The more Vietnam opens up, the more likelihood that heroin will pass
through here," he said.
    The Vietnamese government says it has been trying to stop opium production
by persuading ethnic minorities in remote mountain areas to substitute other
crops for the opium poppy plants they have traditionally grown.
    The government estimates 2,000 ha (5,000 acres) in Vietnam are under poppy
cultivation, producing 20 to 30 tonnes of opium per year, Beacher said.
    The Rangoon government says 400 tonnes of opium are produced in Burma
annually, but U.S. drug experts estimate production at 2,000 tonnes, and U.N.
officials at about 1,200 tonnes, he said.
    Laos produces 200 to 400 tonnes, according to estimates by the Vientiane
government and other sources, Beachner said.
    Vietnam, at UNDCP's suggestion, has formed a government task force to fight
drug production, abuse and trafficking, he said. It is headed by Hanoi's Office
for Mountainous Areas and Ethnic Minorities, with officials from 17 ministries
and state bodies.
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Correction: all citizens are first issued identity cards at the age of 12 ie.
            Primary 6. I think the US is the
Apparently-To: @pucc.Princeton.EDU:SEASIA-L@MSU.BITNET
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Date:         Thu, 20 Aug 1992 14:18:31 CDT
From:         Francis Ngoh <francis@DADD.TI.COM>
Subject:      21st-Century Singapore

only country that uses the driving license as a form of identification. Note
 that they're introducing new P.R. (Permanent
Residency) cards with photos to immigrants. I'm not sure if this info is
 accessible by other US agencies, just like I'm
not sure if Singaporean "identity cards allow government ministries and other
 bodies to cross-index information about them.".
Still, this news (not sure if it's authentic) is interesting, considering that
 the government doesn't allow people to bring
in videotapes, home or otherwise without previewing them; and that email access
 is limited at the local University.

>From: Bob_Frankston@frankston.com
>Subject: 21st-Century Singapore
>The government of Singapore has announced a plan to link all households
>through grids of fiber-optic cables that will allow high-speed exchanges of
>text, sound, video and other media.  The project called the National
>Information Infrastructure (NI), will also include a wireless communications
>network to give mobile-computer users access to information services.  The
>NII is part of Singapore's drive to become a world leader in information and
>communications technology, which officials see as the backbone of
>21st-century economies.  Towards this end, all citizens 18 and older have
>been issued identity cards that allow government ministries and other bodies
>to cross-index information about them.
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Date:         Wed, 19 Aug 1992 10:10:56 PDT
From:         "Indonesia Publications/Task Force" <apakabar@IGC.APC.ORG>
Subject:      LAOS: Students Appeal
X-To:         seasia-l@msu.edu

/* Written  5:02 pm  Aug 18, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:hr.news */
/* ---------- "Laos" ---------- */
Organization of Laotian Students Fighting for Independence
and Democracy

APPEAL

We, Laotian students studying in Eastern Europe, appeal to everyone,
all organizations of communities all over the world for interest
in our affairs, for support of our fight with the Communist regime
in Laos for human rights. Our country has been occupied by Communist
aggressors from Vietnam since 1975. Human rights and the principals
of democracy have been broken in that time.

We ask everyone of good will, every organization and every community
of the world to send appeals to the Laotian government to request the
immediate release of the following political prisoners:

1. Nang King Khamsensouk - a professor at the Academy of Pedagogy
in Vientiane, Dongdok. She was arrested on November 1991 with a
group of 75 students.

2. Ounmano Khamsensouk who was arrested on October 1991.

3. 25 students who were arrested in Borykhamsay province.

4. 10 students who were arrested in Thakeg in Khammouane province.

5. 15 students who were arrested in Savannakhet province.

6. 102 students who were arrested in Pakse province.

7. Khamphui Latsami, the former Vice-Minister of the State Committee
of Planning in Laos, Khamfang, the former chief of the Department
of Ministry of Justice, and 59 people who were also arrested on
October 8, 1990.

All of these persons were actively engaged in political work. After
arrest they were transported to "re-eeducation camps" in Phadeng in
Houaphane province.

We appeal once more for the support for our aims for the release of
political prisoners by sending appeals with signatures to:

Kaysone Phomvihane
President of the Laotian Democratic People's Republic
Vientiane, Laos

Khamtay Siphandone
Prime Minister
Laotian Democratic People's Republic
Vientiane, Laos

[We rely on your support for our aims for freedom and independence
for our country, and also democracy for our tired nation.]
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Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 1992 11:58:00 EDT
From:         EEMOISE@CLEMSON.BITNET
Subject:      Exaggerated bombing statistics?

On Fri, 14 Aug 1992 05:59:16 PDT "Indonesia Publications/Task Force" <apakabar@I
GC.APC.ORG> said:
> /* Written 12:04 am  Aug 14, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
> /* ---------- "VIETNAM: HANOI SIGNS ITS FIRST GREE" ---------- */
> Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
> print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.
>
> Area: Environment
> Reference: Third World Dvpmnt; Environment; Agriculture
> Title: VIETNAM: HANOI SIGNS ITS FIRST GREEN PROJECT AGREEMENT WITH UNDP
>
>
> bangkok, aug 11 (ips/yuli ismartono)
>
> between 1961 and 1975, u.s. planes dropped more than 13 million
> tonnes of bombs and 72 million litres of herbicide on southern
> vietnam to flush out hiding guerrillas. in 1966, the u.s. military's
> land-clearing operations razed down an estimated 25,000 ha. of
> forests.

     Can anyone provide a source for the figure of 13 million
tonnes of bombs dropped on southern Vietnam?  I believe this is
a serious exaggeration.

     The figures that I have seen, which are consistent
with the information released by the US Department of Defense, indicate
that the total bomb tonnage for all of Indochina was about 7 million
tons; of this about 4 million tons were dropped on South Vietnam.
To get the total up to 13 million tons, according to these figures,
you would have to include not only the bombs dropped on Laos, Cambodia,
and North Vietnam, but also a huge quantity of artillery shells fired
in South Vietnam.  Some of this information is in
James P. Harrison, _The Endless War_, p. 3.  I cannot recall where I
have seen the rest of it.

     If there is good evidence for the much higher estimate for the
bombing of South Vietnam given in this article, I very much want to see
it.

Edwin Moise
Professor of History
Clemson University
Clemson, SC  29634-1507
U.S.A.
                                        EEMOISE@CLEMSON.BITNET
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Date:         Thu, 13 Aug 1992 10:36:17 -0400
From:         Nhan Tran <tran@PEORA.SDC.CCUR.COM>
Subject:      NEWS/VN: VN gets 1sts US commercial shipment
X-To:         FISHLM%SNYBUFVA@pucc.princeton.edu, scv@media.mit.edu,
              seasia-l@msu.BITNET, vietnam@cco.caltech.edu, vn-news@saigon.com

08/11

VIETNAM GETS FIRST U.S. COMMERCIAL SHIPMENT

    HANOI, Aug 11, Reuter - Vietnam has received its first commercial ship
container from the United States since the war -- filled with American books on
business, accounting and economics, a U.S. businessman said on Tuesday.
    The shipment of more than 35,000 books, worth $70,000 and including many
American textbooks, was bought by Fahasa, a state-run bookstore in Ho Chi Minh
City.
    Floyd Holcom, whose management consultant and business information company
arranged the sale, said bookstores in Vietnam were hungry for American
publications.
    "The major need here is for textbooks and international business and
economics books. They sell really quickly," he told Reuters by telephone from Ho
Chi Minh City.
    A trade embargo that Washington imposed on Hanoi in 1964 and extended to a
reunified Vietnam when the communists defeated the Saigon government in 1975
bans nearly all U.S. business transactions with Vietnam.
    But Holcom, a managing partner of the IBIS Group, said Powell's Books of
Portland, U.S. was able to sell the container due to an exemption in the
embargo.
    Washington, which has no diplomatic relations with Vietnam and classifies it
as an enemy country, began to ease the embargo last year by allowing U.S.
commercial transactions of a humanitarian nature and direct telecommunication
links with Vietnam.
    The shipment arrived in Ho Chi Minh city on Monday.
    Holcom said Vietnamese authorities apparently initially denied Fahasa
permission to import the books, but later gave approval.
    Bookstores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city that used to offer texts on Marxism
are now filled with books on international finance, accounting practices and how
to learn English.
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Date:         Tue, 18 Aug 1992 13:39:48 -0400
From:         Nhan Tran <tran@PEORA.SDC.CCUR.COM>
Subject:      NEWS/VN: VN's effort to protect elephants
X-To:         FISHLM%SNYBUFVA@pucc.princeton.edu, scv@media.mit.edu,
              seasia-l@msu.BITNET, vietnam@cco.caltech.edu, vn-news@saigon.com

08/17

Vietnam-Elephants

Copyright, 1992. The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

   BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Vietnam said Monday it will double the area it
devotes to natural parks and reserves in an effort to protect elephants, who are
losing their habitat.
   The plan would bring the total area of the parks and reserves to 4.94 million
acres.
   Recent logging has forced 37 elephants in two provinces to enter populated
areas, where they pose a danger, the official Vietnam News Agency reported.
   Several of the elephants have become violent, killing people and damaging
houses and crops, according to the dispatch, received in Bangkok. Seven
elephants have been killed by angry villagers, it said.
   The Council of Ministers has directed that the animals be moved to Cat Tien
National Park.
   The government also is offering a prize to contributors to a campaign to save
the elephants. The prize equals 30 percent of the value of the saved animals,
the Vietnam News Agency said, but its report did not put a price on the
elephants.
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Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 1992 11:26:35 -0400
From:         Nhan Tran <tran@PEORA.SDC.CCUR.COM>
Subject:      NEWS/VN: VN criticises Russia over dissident radio
X-To:         FISHLM%SNYBUFVA@pucc.princeton.edu, scv@media.mit.edu,
              seasia-l@msu.BITNET, vietnam@cco.caltech.edu, vn-news@saigon.com

08/13

VIETNAM CRITICISES RUSSIA OVER DISSIDENT RADIO

    HANOI, Aug 13, Reuter - Vietnam criticised its former backer Moscow on
Thursday for allowing a dissident radio station to broadcast programmes
reportedly advocating the overthrow of Hanoi's communist government.
    The foreign ministry said the station, "Radio Irina," was eroding Vietnam's
relations with Russia.
    "We consider the fact that Radio Irina operates to advocate the overthrow of
the Vietnamese government, as the BBC radio has broadcast many times, an act
going counter to statements by Russian leaders on relations with Vietnam," the
ministry said in response to a reporter's query.
    Russian Radio reports monitored by the British Broadcasting Corporation said
Radio Irina began broadcasting in July after leasing a transmitter from Russia's
communications ministry.
    The station is named after Irina Zisman, a Russian woman who helped create
it. The reports said Zisman set up the radio with help and money from Vietnamese
living in Russia and the United States.
    "Vietnam and Russia both want to maintain friendly relations and cooperation
on the basis of mutual respect and benefit. This spirit has been reaffirmed many
times by the Russian leaders," the ministry said.
    "It not only doesn't contribute but also erodes the existing understanding
and good sentiments between the two nations."
    The former Soviet Union was Vietnam's superpower ally and its main source of
aid and preferential trade.
    The ministry, asked to confirm a BBC report that Hanoi had asked Moscow to
close down the station, said: "Our stance has been clear from the very beginning
of this issue. The Russian government knows it and knows what it must do."
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Date:         Tue, 18 Aug 1992 13:40:41 -0400
From:         Nhan Tran <tran@PEORA.SDC.CCUR.COM>
Subject:      NEWS/VN: Taiwan to aid VN, Indonesia, Philippines
X-To:         FISHLM%SNYBUFVA@pucc.princeton.edu, scv@media.mit.edu,
              seasia-l@msu.BITNET, vietnam@cco.caltech.edu, vn-news@saigon.com

08/17

TAIWAN TO AID VIETNAM, INDONESIA, PHILIPPINES

    TAIPEI, Aug 17, Reuter - Taiwan, expanding its foreign aid programme in
southeast Asia, has listed Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines as priority
recipients, officials said.
    The island's US$1.2 billion International Economic Cooperation and
Development Fund plans to extend low-interest loans totalling at least US$70
million to the three countries, fund director Chou Yen said.
    "Aid will help the economies of these countries develop and strengthen our
relations with them," Chou said.
    Taiwan does not have formal diplomatic ties with the countries, which
recognise China instead.
    But unofficial links are growing and Taiwan has become a major foreign
investor in southeast Asia.
    The fund plans to offer a US$30 million loan to Vietnam to build a 100 km
highway near Hanoi and a US$10 million to US$15 million loan to help develop
small private companies, Chou said.
    The loans would be Taiwan's first to Vietnam. The island is the biggest
foreign investor in Vietnam, with investments totalling US$755 million to date.
Air links are due to be restored next month.
    The fund plans to lend US$10 million to Indonesia, its first loan to that
country, to help it set up a rural credit programme and a small industrial park,
Chou said. Taiwanese investment in Indonesia totals US$3.4 billion.
    The fund agreed in April to lend US$20 million through the Asian Development
Bank to the Philippines. The money will build a water distribution project in
Manila, Chou said.
    Taiwan has also said it will help Manila develop the former U.S. naval base
at Subic Bay into an industrial zone, though no commitments have been made. Chou
said the fund had provided about US$130 million to 10 countries since 1989.
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Date:         Wed, 19 Aug 1992 10:09:15 PDT
From:         "Indonesia Publications/Task Force" <apakabar@IGC.APC.ORG>
Subject:      FIJI: Constitutional Referendum?
X-To:         seasia-l@msu.edu

/* Written 11:55 pm  Aug 19, 1992 by PACNEWS@f990.n900.z90.pegasus.oz.au in
 cdp:reg.pacific */
/* ---------- "FIJI - LABOUR" ---------- */
FIJI - LABOUR: DAILYPOST/RNZ/RA  PACNEWS ED-1,  AUGUST 17 1992

Fiji's Opposition Labour Party has called for a national referendum on
reforming the country's racially biased Constitution.

Delegates to Labour's annual conference warn there will be concerted opposition
to the recently formed government of Prime Minister  Sitiveni Rabuka if there
is no progress on this and other issues within twelve months.

The meeting of mainly ethnic Indian delegates was the first since  theLabour
Party supported Major General Rabuka for the Prime  Ministership, despite his
leadership of the two military coups in 1987.

Labour leaders say the decision was based on gamble that General  Rabuka would
honour a promise to moderate Constitutional restrictions on  thepolitical power
of the country's Indian population.

Labour has threatened to withdraw support for General Rabuka if the commitment
is broken - but he does not currently require Labour  support in Parliament.
...ends.

--- FD 1.99c
 * Origin: Pactok Project (90:900/990)
--
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Date:         Thu, 13 Aug 1992 08:38:00 -0700
From:         Hong Wai Chin <chin@CS.SFU.CA>
Subject: Re: Malaysian Consulate
X-To:         SEASIA-L%MSU.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu

Consulate General of Malaysia, 925 W. Georgia , (604)685-9550

Fred Chin   chin@cs.sfu.ca
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Subject: (no subject given)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Tue, 18 Aug 1992 10:40:27 +1000
From:         pol@POP.CC.ADFA.OZ.AU
X-To:         seasia-l@msu.edu

Please, all e-mail for Ian MacFarling is not to come addressed to the
Department's e-mail.  Please re-address all e-mail for sub seasia-L to Ian
MacFarling on his e-mail address of i-macfarling@ccadfa.oz.au.   This is
very important. Presently, all mail you send is blocking my e-mail address.
 e-mail for Ian MacFarling MUST MUST be sent to his e-mail address.  Thank
you for your co-operation.
Shirley Ramsay
Secretary
19.8.92.
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From: EEMOISE@CLEMSON.BITNET
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Subject: Re: Exaggerated bombing statistics?
Date: 14 Aug 92 17:23:00 GMT
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU

On Fri, 14 Aug 1992 11:59:39 CDT Dave Kohr <drk@MELODIAN.CS.UIUC.EDU> said:
> It seems like it would be useful to put these figures into perspective by
> comparing them to, say, figures for bombing during WWII.  Does anyone know
> offhand of estimates of the tonnage of Allied bombs dropped on Germany and
> Japan during WWII?

Dave -

     Total US Army Air Forces "air munitions" tonnage--which
I believe essentially means bomb tonnage--for World War II was
2,150,000 tons, of which 1,613,000 tons was dropped in the European
Theater and 537,000 tons in the Pacific Theater.  Navy and Marine
Corps bombing would have added practically nothing to European
Theater figures, and only a moderate amount--surely less than
200,000 tons--to the Pacific Theater figures.

     By comparison, USAF tonnage for Indochina was 6,162,000 tons,
and I believe adding Navy and Marine Corps bombing brings the total
to about 7,000,000 tons.

Source: Carl Berger, ed., The United States Air Force in Southeast
Asia, 1961-1973, rev. ed. (Office of Air Force History, 1984), p. 368.

     Please note that the WWII figures are theater figures; the
tonnage actually dropped on the countries of Germany and Japan,
not counting what the US dropped on targets in France, North Africa,
New Guinea, etc., would probably be a little over half of the
figures given.

Ed Moise
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