European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 a a a the stars and stripes tuesday april 17,1990 news updates Hud contracts Washington apr an investigation by the department of housing and Urban developments inspector general has concluded that Federal regulations were not intentionally violated in no bid contracts awarded to three former Reagan administration officials. The new York times reported in its sunday editions that officials not identified by the newspaper said the inspector general determined that there May be an appearance of favouritism in the contract awards and that they should have been awarded through competitive bidding. The investigation concerned nearly $200,000 in consultant contracts granted by Mary k. Bush acting director of the Federal housing finance Board to Wendell Gunn a former top aide to housing Secretary Jack Kemp and two former Treasury department officials Margery Waxman and Kevin  site cleanup Massena . Up a a general motors corp. Study has put a $37.5 million Price tag on cleaning up a superfund site that polluted Waters at an adjacent Mohawk Indian reservation a $100 million less than proposed by the Epa. The environmental Protection Agency proposed last month that pm spend $138 million to clean up pcs or poly chlorinated biphenyl and other toxic materials from areas fouled by years of waste dumping at the pm Central foundry in upstate new York. The company a $37.5 million plan differs from the Epars in several ways said Doug Premo an environmental Engineer for the Auto manufacturer. The Federal Agency recommends the dredging and excavation of soils and sediments contaminated with pcs while Premo said containment and biological treatment of the waste would be More Cost effective and have less Impact on the  victim Seattle apr a soviet helicopter Pilot who stopped radiation spewing from the chernobyl nuclear reactor by dropping tons of Sand and Concrete will undergo a Bone mar Row transplant in the United states this month doctors say. Anatoly Grishchenko 53, made five flights in three Days through heavy ionizing radiation in a Mission to Encomb the reactor. He apparently is the first chernobyl victim to come to the United states for medical treatment doctors at Fred Hutchinson cancer research Center said. Grishchenko has pre leukaemia typified by Low counts of platelets needed for clotting and of White blood cells to fight  latvian party Riga Latvia . Up a nearly 600 Radical latvian communists have formed a new party dedicated to the creation of an Independent Latvia with full rights to private property. A the voters have voted for an Independent Sovereign Latvia a said Ivars Kezbers the former communist ideology chief chosen to Lead the new party. A this also demands a change from  the split among the latvian communists followed March 18 elections in which popular front activists and other nationalists gained control of the latvian parliament. Aquino confirms British troops Are training her Security forces Manila Philippines apr president Corazon Aquino monday confirmed that British troops Are training filipino Security forces after renegade officers promised to attack what they called British mercenaries in the army. Last week the Young officers Union a shadowy group believed linked to december a failed coup claimed British mercenaries were training philippine forces in a a Clear violation of philippine  asked about the claim Aquino said there were no mercenaries training her forces. A however there is a team of British military engaged in training the pig presidential Security group on military activities and this was done at the request of the philippine government a she added. The British embassy was closed monday for the easter holidays. The presidential Security Force guards Aquino and foreign dignitaries. The Union s warning was the first directed against the British since the dec. 1-9 failed coup in which 113 people were killed and More than 600 wounded. Rebel soldiers have frequently warned the United states to avoid a a meddling in philippine affairs after . Jets flew air cover for government forces during the coup attempt. The failed coup was the sixth and bloodiest bid so far to oust Aquino. A fugitive sex army officer suspected of playing a leading role in december s coup attempt said mutineers gone into hiding will not surrender a a until this government shapes  former it. Col. Gregorio Onasan did not specify what changes he wanted but criticized alleged corruption and incompetence. A it the december coup attempt May have failed tactically or it May have been a setback tactically. But you have to agree that just like August in 1987, it has really jolted this administration into for once setting directions a Onasan said. A a that Sall we ask a Onasan added a and then we can probably surrender and then you can save on the 5 million on my head a Onasan said in an interview on Cable news network. Portions of the interview were carried monday by the Manila times newspaper and a private television station. He was referring to the 5 million peso $227,000 Reward offered by the government for information leading to his arrest. Onasan initially supported Aquino when she came to Power during the 1986 a people Power revolution. Aquino dismissed a Onasan a statement saying that he was merely repeating earlier criticism of her government. Freed hostages were kidnapped in �?T86, not �?T87, Paris paper says Paris apr the three hostages freed in Beirut Lebanon last week were captured in 1986 by the libyan Navy not by palestinian guerrillas in 1987 As has been claimed the prominent newspaper be Monde reported monday. Be Monde a front Page Story which gave no specific sources endorsed reports in other French publications last week As questions arose about the release of frenchwoman Jacqueline Valente her belgian companion Fernand Hout Ekins and their daughter. The report could increase pressure on the French government to reveal More details about the release for which it thanked libyans Leader col. Moa mar Qadhafi. The Fatah revolutionary Council a libyan backed palestinian faction headed by terrorist Adu Nidal claimed in november 1987 that it had seized a yacht carrying suspected pro israeli spies in the Mediterranean Between Cyprus and Lebanon. Aboard were Valente two of her daughters a who were freed in 1988 a Hout Ekins and four members of his family who Are still held while Adu Nidal demands the release of a palestinian prisoner in Belgium. Be Monde said the boat actually was captured by the libyan Navy in 1986 in Waters Between Malta and libyans Gulf of Sidra it said Qadhafi later decided to ask Abu Nidal a group to claim responsibility. A 1986 abduction Date would explain the mystery surrounding Sophie liberte the girl freed with her parents last week. By All accounts she was bom in Captivity and thus had been described As being about 2 i years old. But when she was released into the Media spotlight there was general agreement that she looked and acted As i she were 4. Be Monde said the new explanation jibes with a couple of comments by the freed hostages who have declined to answer questions about their abduction and Captivity. An aide to Abu Nidal claimed that the hostages were held in Lebanon throughout their Captivity. But be Monde noted that Hout Ekins who walked to Freedom at the French embassy Iii Beirut said he was a tired by the voyage a suggesting he had made a Long journey. Also Hout Ekins said they had been kept for a Long period in a a Large Villa Quot a which be Monde said was Quot unthinkable in the hell of  the week before the hostages were released Qadhafi publicly appealed for them to be set free. Immediately after their release Qadhafi was thanked by French president Francois Mitterrand and was praised As a a humanitarian Quot by foreign minister Roland Dumas. Be Monde said there Are no firm rules for governments in dealing with hostage cases but asked a at what Point does a state have the right to enter into this hellish game if it must support the most shameful of lies for the enormous Benefit of  okla. Teachers Call 5-Day walkout protesting failure to of pay raises Oklahoma City apr striking teachers shut Down More than one fifth of Oklahoma a school districts monday to protest the Legislatures failure to pass an education Reform Bill that would Nave included teacher pay raises. Hundreds of teachers carrying placards showed up at the state Capitol. A we would never accept a 48th ranking in sports a read one sign referring to what the teachers say is Oklahoma a ranking among the states in teacher pay. The minimum beginning salary for a teacher with a Bachelor s degree is $15,060. The Oklahoma education association representing 80 percent of the states teachers called a five Day statewide walkout. Teacher walkout. A at that Point Well decide what a next a Feeley said. A of course if the problem is solved before Friday that la be another matter. But at this Point we re committed for one  the teachers Are incensed by a state Senate vote that killed an emergency clause to the school Reform and tax Bill. The measure has been the work of an eight month special session called by gov. Henry Bellmon last August to come i with ways to improve Oklahoma schools. Eri association least 124 of the states 606 school districts were closed monday. The associations Delegate Assembly is scheduled to meet Friday to discuss the the emergency clause would have made the measure effective immediately. After the Senate voted wednesday to drop the emergency clause legislative leaders got the Senate to Send the Bill Back to committee to keep it from going to Bellmon without the emergency clause. The Bill would have made a number of changes including proposals to set greater equity in the Way state funds Are allocated salary increases for teachers a school consolidation plan and a program to close schools that done to meet accreditation  would have provided an addition $212 million for schools that could a used for teacher salaries and other item. It also proposed $1,500 increases Irin mum teachers salaries for each of ire next four years. Much of the opposition stemmed Roj the supporting tax plan which Cable a half cent increase in the St a. An j sales tax and increases in corporate an personal income tax. Be the education association docs not Lieve the walkout is illegal Feeley Saia the governor asked the state s a  general Robert Henry on Friday take a fall action necessary to pre Vernok a Gal disruption of the education homa  Henry a office was researching giant attorney Genew Steps to take. Assistant Tuomey Ned Bastow or. Said last week 1981 statute makes stakes against f Laville Al but its to Jug the prohibition applies to state strikes