European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 24, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes saturday november 24,1990 Akihito performs ancient shinto rite under Japan a postwar Constitution which Calls him not a god King but a Symbol of Tokyo apr emperor Akihito on Friday stepped Back into the world of myth and signified his formal accession to the worlds oldest hereditary throne while demonstrators protested the ceremony a Cost and religious nature. Akihito performed a shinto rite representing communion with the Sun goddess. The ceremony has been performed by most of Japan a emperors since at least the 7th Century and in the past it was believed to give monarchs their status As living gods. Away from the flickering torchlight of the Palace courtyard where the rite was held thursday night and then repeated before Dawn Friday thousands or japanese protested the use of about $17 million in tax Money to pay for it. Hundreds of scholars in the North and labor unionists in the West demonstrated peacefully. More than 1,000 christians across the country fasted to protest the funding of the rite which they say violates Japan a constitutional separation of Church and state. Some critics of the communion called the Dai Josai or great food offering ritual also believe holding it indicates a desire within Japan a conservative government to bring Back the emperor worship of prewar Days. Ultra leftist radicals who would abolish the monarchy altogether marked the beginning of the six hour ceremony by launching six mortar like projectiles at an Imperial Villa in Kyoto in Western Japan police said. Radicals were also believed to have set fires at three shinto shrines and four train stations outside of the capital just after Midnight. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents. Akihito 56, is the first japanese emperor to be enthroned since his father the late emperor Hirohito assumed the chrysanthemum throne 62 years ago. He is also the first to assume the throne his Peoples  acknowledging the shinto basis of the Dai Josai government officials say state funds Are justified to a preserve Imperial tradition and Are not being used to propagate the religion that until 1945 was government sanctioned. But the continued importance of Akihito a religious role was clearly visible throughout the officially secret rite. Akihito wearing his most holy White silk Robes and surrounded by court chamberlains slowly proceeded to the shrines led by two attendants lighting the Way with torches. Other attendants carried a Large parasol Over Akihito a head or unrolled a Rush mat before him. Yet another rolled up the mat behind the emperor after each deliberate step. Before joining the gods in the communion Akihito offered a a sacred Rice wine and other foods from around the country to the Sun goddess Amaterasu from whom legend says the Imperial line descended. He then prayed to a fall the gods of heaven and Earth for the peace and Prosperity of his nation. Only two female attendants Clad in White and red Kimono and with hair tied in a Pony Tail nearly 6vi feet Long witnessed the emperors actual communion held in the Torch it inner Sanctuary of two specially built shrines on the Palace grounds. Inside the inner Sanctuary with Akihito and the attendants was a stylized bed from which the goddess was summoned. A scholars before world War ii theorized that at one time the ceremony might have involved the emperor symbolically having sex with the Sun goddess representing a Union with the divine. Palace officials however deny that theory and said the emperor would not touch the bed during the ceremony. Min video a an electronic wonder billed As the worlds smallest vide camera is displayed by a technician at an Industrial fair in Essen Germany. The minicab less than two inches Long and about two thirds of an Inch in diameter is designed for use in medical and Security Fields. It Sells for about $1,500.american on trial in Malaysia says pot was for pain Kuala Bumpur Malaysia up a an american computer lecturer who could face execution under malaysians harsh drug Laws Friday told a court he had read and kept data on the medicinal value of marijuana. Kerry Lane Wiley 38, of Sacramento calif., is the first . Citizen to be charged under the statute mandating the death sentence for anyone caught with half an ounce or More of heroin or morphine 2 pounds of opium or 6.4 ounces marijuana. He told the court he used marijuana As a pain reliever for injuries he had suffered As a youth. Wiley earlier testified he suffered pain from missing cartilage in both Knees and had symptoms of arthritis in both hands and Perio Stitis in his left Arm wrist and ankle. A i believe in it and swear that marijuana has medicinal purposes for the pain that i have a Wiley said. He told defense attorney Shafee Abdullah that marijuana also was used in chemotherapy of cancer patients and also for people suffering from multiple sclerosis. The californian was arrested last november after customs officers raided his House in the suburb of Kuala Bumpur and found 9.4 ounces of marijuana in six tin cans. Wiley was questioned by the prosecuting attorney thursday about a receipt found in one of the tin cans. He told the court that he had informed his former attorney Karpal Singh and Shafee of the receipt mailed to him by a Friend in Bangkok Thailand. He denied the receipt was his. Malaysia first introduced the health penalty for drug offences in 1975 As an option for judges sentencing convicted traffickers. The government of prime minister Mah Athir Mohamad amended the Law in 1983 to make the death penalty by hanging mandatory for All traffickers. Since 1975, More than 100 people have been executed under malaysians Tough anti drug Laws including 27 foreigners. 6 Wiley a next hearing was scheduled for dec. 10.drug dealers offer to surrender if the re not extradited to . Bogota Colombia apr the Medellin cocaine Cartel says hundreds of its members Are willing to accept a government offer not to extradite them if they turn themselves in. But the members still refused to confess to crimes. A Cartel statement thursday to president Cesar Gavi Ria also said the members wanted special Protection and would be willing to stay in a special compound guarded by the army. The traffickers statement did not indicate if the offer to surrender applied to Pablo Escobar the Medellin cartels Leader. Such a surrender by Between 200 and 300 Cartel members a implies the end of All activities related to drug trafficking or narc terrorism a the statement said. The government seeking to end a 15-month-old War with drug traffickers that has left More than 500 people dead responded to the communique by extending an Olive Branch. Justice minister Jaime Giraldo outlined a series of Legal guarantees drug traffickers would Enion if they surrendered. I j in september Gaviria offered to prohibit extradition and reduce Jaili sentences of drug traffickers who surrendered and confessed their crimes. In thursdays statement the traffickers were adar entry accepting Gaviria a offer with conditions. These included traffickers request that they not be required to confess As the Gaviria offer demands. Thev said such confessions would constitute self incrimination a prohibited even in the United states a in comma a a confession crimes committed is not required just some of them a a said Giraldo he a nofes&wh0 Surre Lder be a world today Vatican denies holdings in birth control company Vatican City a the Vatican on thursday denied a German television report that its Bank once held shares in a drug company producing birth control pills. However a spokesman at the Geneva Switzerland Headquarters of the pharmaceutical company Serono which was named in the report said the Vatican did have shares in its Rome subsidiary in the late 1960s and possibly Early 1970s. The Vatican vigorously prohibits its faithful from using any form of artificial birth control. The Pope recently urged roman Catholic pharmacists not to sell drugs which directly or indirectly Hurt  who says he talks to Madonna faces charge Vicenza Italy apr a Man who claims to see and speak to the Virgin Mary has been indicted on the charge of abusing the Public Faith the italian news Agency Ansa reported. A Vicenza magistrate is investigating Renato Baron and the 35 members of his organization work of love which guides italian and foreign pilgrims to the Hill where Baron says his encounters with the Madonna have taken place. If found guilty they could receive up to three months in jail and an $1,800 Fine each. Baron and the members of his organization were recently found innocent of embezzlement charges in nearby Venice. The Case is on Appeal. The group has accepted donations from the Faith Ful who flock to the Hilltop hoping to catch a glimpse of the Madonna Santa Goat decorations spark Strong objections Singapore up a Christmas decorations depicting Santa Claus As a Goat and a Merman plus displays of trolls with horns tails and razor Sharp Teeth sparked objections from shoppers incur Day contending the most popular Holiday figure is beg maligned. A wave Anta alone a pleaded housewife Sharon wee. It started when the mandarin hotel dressed a i sep stir so at in traditional Santa attire and placed the figure m front of the building. Rwy poke in Anfu a the hotel said the a Santa was a bonded to blend East and West with yearofffilcoar6 rear of Serso by objected contending the Goat is profit is a Sanic 8�?o� t0 some Christian is naive use m a Christmas display was of decoration was taken Down last week but the hotel left the smaller Goat figurines