The Human Tragedy

It is a war without end, a no-win situation in which nobody can provide answers to some questions: How long will this go on? Which side will eventually prevail? What is the cost to the nation in money, matériel, men?

This was has no name. It is more an endless series of skirmishes than a sustained military confrontation. Yet, this war has been raging intermittently for 26 years in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.

The Don of Dhanbad

Dhanbad’s dreaded Mafia gangs were riveting topics of conversation last fortnight, and for different reasons. Film actor Shatrughan Sinha, with the blessings of the ruling Congress(1), launched a film on the Mafia, swamping the town’s hotels with an entourage of 250. Sinha was not being foolish in filming so dangerous a subject-his chief patron is Laliteshwar Prasad Sahi, Bihar’s health and family welfare minister. And Union Irrigation Minister Kedar Pandey travelled all the way to Dhanbad to inaugurate the shooting of the film.

India aide says Pakistan missile triggered n-tests

New Delhi, May 13 (Reuters) – Pakistan’s test launch of its longest-range missile last month triggered this week’s series of underground nuclear tests by India, a senior Indian official said on Wednesday.  

In a briefing for Western news agencies hours after India stunned the world with two more underground nuclear blasts, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, set forth the rationale for the tests in unambiguous terms.  

“No more tests are planned,” he said.

MANILA PHONE LOAN MARKS MAJOR CREDITOR INITIATIVE.

MANILA, March 15, Reuters – A 288 million dollar syndicated loan for the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Co marks a major initiative by Manila’s commercial bank creditors to recycle existing debt, bankers said.  BOT International (HK) Ltd, Citicorp International Ltd and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp are lead­ managing the loan. Syndication started…

R. K. Narayan

The Man From Malgudi It took me some time to discover Rasipuram Krishna Swami Narayan’s house. Yadavagiri, the suburb of Mysore City, where Narayan stays, is an incredibly quiet area, with long, neat streets, tree-shaded bungalows lining them. It was late afternoon, and the neighborhood was just emerging from its siesta. “R. K. Narayan?” asked…

Governor’s Disgrace

Eighteen hours after Haryana Governor Ganapatrao Devji Tapase committed the most undemocratic faux pas in India’s political history, he was cowering on a sofa in the Chandigarh Raj Bhavan’s large reception hall. “This is Haryana!” yelled apoplectic Lok Dal MLAs, eyes blood-shot, neck veins bulging, pressing around the diminutive Tapase in a knee-touching, eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation.…

VIOLENT PHILIPPINE POLLS SEEN MARKING RETURN OF OLD POLITICS

17 January 1988 Reuters News English (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, Jan 17, Reuter – Monday’s local elections are billed as President Corazon Aquino’s last step in returning the Philippines to democracy, but bloody campaigning has left many here wondering if there has been genuine change.  Analysts polled by Reuters said the elections would bring…

Philippine economy needs steady hand to keep recovery from going stagnant 

20 January 1988 The Globe and Mail B24 English All material copyright Thomson Canada Limited or its licensors. All rights reserved.  The Philippines has experienced its best growth in seven years, but it still faces a daunting array of problems. Analysts say President Corazon Aquino must now demonstrate that she can manage the economy.  …

EUROPEAN INVESTORS SHY AWAY FROM PHILIPPINES 

16 February 1988 Reuters News English (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, Feb 16 – A stream of unsettling news from the Philippines has held back many potential small and medium-sized European investors, European Chamber of Commerce secretary-general Christian Roehr told Reuters.  Roehr said several large European multi-nationals had long been in the Philippines and “are…

India says China has surveillance base in Myanmar

3 May 1998 Reuters News English (c) 1998 Reuters Limited NEW DELHI, May 3 (Reuters) – India’s defence minister said on Sunday China had built a sophisticated electronic surveillance base in Myanmar’s Coco Islands and was beefing up airfields in Tibet to take supersonic fighters. “China has installed sophisticated electronic surveillance equipment in the Coco…

FEWER SIESTAS, LEANER STAFF BOOST MANILA TAX REVENUES

9 March 1988 Reuters News English (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, March 9, Reuter – Fewer staff members taking fewer siestas may help the Philippines boost South-East Asia’s poorest tax-collection effort, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Bienvenido Tan said on Wednesday.  Tan told Reuters the country’s tax revenues as a ratio of gross national product…

Aquino Again on Defensive After Honasan Escape

3 April 1988  Reuters News  English  (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, April 3, Reuter – Coup leader Colonel Gregorio Honasan’s escape from captivity on Saturday has dramatically revived threats to Philippine President Corazon Aquino’s power, analysts said.  “Honasan’s escape couldn’t have occurred at a less convenient moment for Aquino,” an Asian diplomat said.  Aquino is…

BUSINESSMEN LASH OUT AT MANILA DEBT/EQUITY PROGRAM

18 April 1988 Reuters News English (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, April 18, Reuter – Filipino and foreign businessmen have launched a sharp attack on the Philippines’ 20-month-old debt/equity swap program, charging it is too restrictive and arbitrary and actually deters investors.  “Disillusioned investors are the worst possible advertisement for the Philippines,” said a statement…

AQUINO SAYS ADB LEADERSHIP SHOULD REMAIN ASIAN

28 April 1988 Reuters News English (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, April 28, Reuter – The Asian Development Bank’s annual meeting opened with a call from Philippine President Corazon Aquino to keep the bank’s leadership Asian and to temper its policy prescriptions.  “(The bank) must continue to view banking, especially development banking, as a relationship…