Section A · Page 9
The University Daily Kansan Nation/World
Wednesday, March 15, 2000
Putin vows to save industry, economy
The Associated Press
NOGINSK, Russia — Acting President Vladimir Putin,
expected to sweep March 26 elections, has vowed to rescue
Russia's dying industries and revive its economy, but his
plans so far are vague.
This struggling textile town, once a showpiece of the Soviet era, symbolizes the enormous task Putin faces: Residents now struggle to make marginal livings.
International financial organizations want Russia to make more progress on switching to a market economy, but the old ways have strong support Russia.
Officially, unemployment in Russia is running at 12 percent, but the real rate is thought to be much higher.
Economists say sweeping market reforms are vital if the economy ever is going to prosper. A host of problems must be tackled, including a byzantine tax system, a weak legal system that can't enforce contracts, criminal gangs that prey on small business, official corruption and red tape.
In addition, the most valuable companies — particularly lucrative oil and mining enterprises — were grabbed by politically connected insiders in highly dubious privatization deals during the Yeltsin years.
Putin has given conflicting signals by saying he wants to continue market reforms but increase state controls. Aides the acting president still is working on an economic program that might be ready before the election.
Internet spawns porn crimes
FBI fights back budgets millions
The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For five months, Bill Mannering went to work every day and pretended he was a 13-year-old boy.
Spending four to six hours a day on the Internet, the Sacramento County sheriff's detective set himself up to be approached by a man seeking sex with children. The two talked about sex by computer for more than three weeks, and then the man asked the boy to meet him.
"He basically seduced my persona," Mannering said. "He arranged for the whole thing."
But when the man arrived at a Sacramento mall for the meeting on Aug.14, he encountered a 23-year-old female deputy dressed like a boy and was arrested.
Mannerning is part of a growing field of law enforcement officers scanning the Internet for crimes against children.
"The computer has this aura of anonymity," said Randy Aden, supervisory agent of the FBI in Los Angeles. "When you add adolescent children just now discovering their sexuality, exercising their independence ... it's a powder keg of a problem."
The FBI launched Operation Innocent Images in 1995 to investigate the growing number of cases of Internet-related child exploitation, said Angela Bell, an FBI representative in Washington.
"In 1996, we opened 113 cases.
In 1998, we had 698 cases. In
1999, we opened 1,497 cases."
Bell said, FBI agents have
made 515 arrests and won 439 convictions since Operation Innocent started, she said.
The FBI budgeted $10 million, including money to train local police officers and establish regional task forces, Bell said.
About 100 FBI agents work full time on Internet child exploitation cases, and the Innocent Images budget pays the salaries of about 50 officers from local law enforcement agencies, she said.
That includes Mannering's salary for his work on the Sacramento Regional High Tech Crime Task Force, one of three in California that investigates child crimes on the Internet.
The joint task forces consist of local, state and federal agencies and are financed by grants from those three sources and donations.
Taiwan's election rides on island loyalty
The Associated Press
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Although he grew up in Taiwan and is one of three main candidates in Saturday's presidential election, James Soong still feels the need to assure voters he is Taiwanese.
The savvy politician, who was born in China and moved to Taiwan when he was 7 years old, knows that no one can claim to be a mainlander and win.
But now, as China and Taiwan drift farther apart, being Taiwanese is what counts. More voters are insisting that their leaders have their roots on the island.
Recent threats from China to attack Taiwan if it indefinitely delays talks about reunification sparked a battle in the tight election race about which candidate loves Taiwan more and who is most ready to protect it.
Lien Chan of the ruling Nationalist Party was born on the mainland, but he comes from a wealthy family with deep ties to Taiwan. His links to the island haven't been challenged.
Chen Shui-bian, born in a poor town in southern Tainan County,may be the most Taiwanese candidate.
Chen's Democratic Progressive Party has questioned Soong's loyalties and have suggested he would be most likely to cave in to China's demands.
Su Li-chen, owner of an herbal medicine shop, said she did not think any of the five candidates would betray Taiwan.
"We are all Taiwanese, and I will vote for the one who cares and will do the most for the public," she said.
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