6A
Monday, March 18, 1996
NATION/WORLD
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Taiwanese flee homes
The Associated Press
TAIPEI, Taiwan — More than half the population of two Taiwanese islets fled their homes yesterday, one day before China launches a new round of menacing war games host 11 miles away.
Some 300 people squeezed onto a crowded boat and evacuated the Chu Islands, near China's coast. About 100 people were left behind because there was no room on the boat, Taiwanese news reports said.
Another 100 residents chose to stay, officials said.
Determined to quell independence sentiment the week before Taiwan's first direct presidential elections, Beijing begins a new round of military exercises in the Taiwan Straits today, just as another round ends.
The evacuation came one day after China denied U.S. claims it had promised not to invade Taiwan. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province to be reclaimed by force if necessary.
Beijing claims that Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui — sure to win
another term in voting on Saturday — is growing less inclined to reunite Taiwan's government with the Chinese mainland.
The pre-election maneuvers started two weeks ago with a round of ballistic missile tests that ended Friday. The four missiles fired were believed to have carried dummy warheads.
War games planned for this week are to last until after the vote, and China shows no signs of letting up.
"People on the island realize even more that Lee Teng-hui himself created the tensions in the Taiwan Straits," the Xinhua News Agency said.
Still, Lee's lead in opinion polls has changed little since the start of the crisis, and some opposition supporters are even expected to vote for him as a gesture of defiance.
The 73-year-old president said that the war games have backfired by weakening support for Beijing.
"This kind of bullying mentality will only make those Chinese people who are yearning for freedom and democracy more disgusted with the Communist regime," Lee
said. "They shall not achieve their purpose."
At a televised forum for Lee and three presidential challengers yesterday, two of the candidates seemed to agree with the president's tough stance.
"It's useless for us to admit them or surrender, so the only thing to do is to make ourselves strong," said Chen Li-an, an independent.
But another independence candidate, Lin Yang-kang, accused Lee of dragging Taiwan to the brink of war.
Yesterday, about 5,000 of Lin's supporters marched through the center of Taipei in a rally denouncing the president.
"We are afraid if the situation deterlorates, a war would be inevitable," said demonstrator Chen Wei, a businessman.
In Beijing, Chinese Premier Li Peng accused the United States of fanning tensions by sending warships near the island.
"If somebody attempts a show of force in the Taiwan Straits, his efforts will be not only futile, but can merely complicate matters," Li said yesterday.
DUNBLANE, Scotland — Queen Elizabeth II came with flowers and sympathy, and a nation paused in silence yesterday to mourn 16 murdered children and their teacher.
The Associated Press
Britain mourns tiny victims
"She obviously felt for us," said Jim Herbert, a local physician who was one of the first on the scene Wednesday after Thomas Hamilton opened fire on a kindergarten gym class then killed himself.
The queen and her daughter, Princess Anne, arrived after the town marked a somber and tearful Mother's Day at church. She placed a bouquet at the school gate — one tribute among thousands — with a simple card: "With deepest sympathy, Elizabeth R."
At Dunblane Cathedral, the Rev,
Colin McIntosh recalled the tiny
victims of an attack that no one
will understand.
"We are remembering every boy and girl in that class because we know how happy they were and how much fun they had together and how much their parents loved
them and how unfair and wrong it all seems to be, and we don't understand it," McIntosh told the children in the packed congregation.
"Even the grown-ups don't understand why this has happened." McIntosh said at the service, which was broadcast nationally.
A minute's silence fell across Britain at 9:30 a.m., observed in streets, shops and churches and by broadcasters. At London's Heathrow airport, planes scheduled to depart delayed starting up engines, and passengers stood in silence at the four terminals.
Television screens silently rolled smiling pictures of the 11 girls and five boys slain and their teacher, Gwenne Mayor.
In Dunblane's small Roman Catholic church, a swollen congregation of 400 joined in praying: "As we mourn their passing from this life, comfort us with the knowledge that they live now in your loving embrace."
Three of the murdered children were Catholics.
The queen visited the school, the cathedral and the hospital in nearby Stirling where some of the 12 injured children were treated. Two teachers also were injured.
Craig Paterson, a ginger-haired 11-year-old, told the queen that bullets had smashed into his classroom, next to the gym. He said the class didn't hesitate when their teacher shouted, "Everybody duck now!"
"Thank goodness they did what they were told," Craig's mother, Elizabeth Paterson, quoted the queen as saying.
Among the people waiting outside the school when the queen laid her flowers was Jeanne Brown, 50, who had come from Glasgow with her mother and her son to place their own bouquet.
"When you put your flowers down, you can really feel your heart swelling up." Brown said.
The school is to reopen Friday after a week of funerals beginning today. The first will be for two 5 year olds who were best friends, Emma Crozier and Joanna Ross.
THE NEWS in brief
Ear amputation no more in Iraq
The Associated Press
the Iraq News Agency reported yesterday.
NICOSIA, Cyprus --- Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has ordered an end to the practice of cutting off the ears of army deserters and draft dodgers,
Quoting the army newspaper Al-Qadissiya, the agency also said Hussein had ordered the release of hundreds of jailed deserters and
draft dodgers, provided they post $750 ball and attend a 27-day rehabilitation course.
No explanation was given for the decision. But it may be linked to parliamentary elections that Saddam
has decreed for March 24.
The practice of cutting off ears began in 1994 when Hussein sought to stop a flood of desertions from the military.
Iraqi dissident groups said some
coupon
30,000 soldiers had deserted that year, and Baghdad-based diplomats confirm desertions remain high. According to human rights monitors, thousands of Iraqi deserters have suffered ear amputations.
FREE
with this coupon
coupon
PSYCHIC SHOW
March 23 & 24
coupon
50 Exhibitors from Five States!
coupon
Psychics, tarot readings, several generations of metaphysics & clairvoyant & dream interpreters from 4 states. Also exhibitors selling crystals, books, cards other merchandise from the metaphysical world. NATIONAL GUARD ADPACY
200 Iowa Street • Across From The Holidome
For More Info. 816-475-2076
coupon
coupon
$3 value
coupon
Call Now! Charge By Phone: (816) 471-0400
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No.1, "Winter Dreams"
FRIDAY 8 P.M. March 29
DVORÄK Serenade in E Major for Strings
SATURDAY 8 P.M. March 30
SUNDAY 2 P.M. March 31
LYRIC THEATRE 11th and Central
Concert Comments with Dr. Charles Springman free to ticktickholders one hour prior to each performance,
THE KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY
William McGlaughlin, conductor
Missouri Arts
Bureau of Indian
Arts
$4 Student