European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 20, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 a the stars and stripes wednesday May 20, 1992 at a glance Lawrence Welk who parlayed Folksy Charm and bubbly a Champagne music Quot into the longest running show in to history died sunday evening at his Home in Santa Monica Calif. See Story on Page 6. Court to hear pension Case with billions of dollars at stake the supreme court has agreed to decide whether states must refund taxes they illegally collected on pensions of retired Federal workers. A Page 4 3 climbers rescued the storm that stranded three climbers on North America s highest Peak without food fuel or water for a week broke Long enough Tor a helicopter to get in and Pluck them off. A Page math fun win or lose the four Quot athletes Quot who represented department of defense dependent schools in Europe at fridays National a mat counts Quot Competition missed a top 10 finish but helped prove that math can be fun and rewarding. A Page 9 11th car beefed up part of the latest and most lethal addition to the 4th so 11th army cavalry regt s was Uny piled to the Public last weekend during an open House at the tickets army Airfield near Fulda. A Page 10 ., Japan automakers talk  And japanese automakers have stepped gingerly toward Trade peace agreeing to form a committee to seek ways to reduce their sales imbalance. A Page 17 Index Abby Ann Landers 19 action line.16 comics.19-21 commentary.13 faces a no places .22 letters .12 Money matters.17 sports.23-28 to listings.27 weather.11protesters from Page 1 Bridge  the same time heavy gunfire bursts also were used to scatter demonstrators in the Sanam Luang area. No casualties were reported. Arrests continued with 25 students taken into custody by police in the Sanam Luang area. Officials said they also had seized Teera Yut Boonmee one of the country a Foremost student activists in the 1970s and now a teacher at thammaset University. Speaking earlier in the Day on nationwide television Suchinda said the government had to use Force to Root out marxists who were trying to overthrow the constitutional monarchy. Thailand a Economy has been among the worlds fastest growing. The increasingly educated and affluent Middle class resents the military a habit of holding repeated coups to maintain control. The pro democracy protesters Range from students and academics to poor workers Community leaders and business peo fat be. Despite the apparent Broad support the pro democracy orces seem ill equipped to take on a military establishment that has held Power since 1932. Pro democracy Leader Chamlong Simuang a politician respected for his honesty was among hundreds of protesters arrested monday after Suchinda declared a state of emergency in the capital area. In Bangkok a City of 10 million people Many shops and private companies a including major foreign corporations a closed for business tuesday fearing More violence. The thai Stock markets main Index hit a six month Low in panic Selling. Long lines formed at some gasoline stations and automatic Teller machines. One shopping Plaza checked everyone who entered for weapons As unsubstantiated rumours swept the City of roaming mobs and armed troublemakers. Officials at seven City hospitals said 16 people had died and 420 have been treated for injuries since  saw at least five other people dead. Protests escalated following Suchinda a appointment by a coalition of five pro military parties formed after March elections. Tens of thousands gathered for a peaceful protest sunday but it turned violent. The unrest climaxed late monday As gunfire erupted at barricades the military erected outside the Royal hotel to prevent the crowd from heading toward government buildings. Thousands of screaming demonstrators had been taunting the soldiers charging up to the barricade with motorcycles and commandeered Public buses. Several thousand defiant demonstrators who remained near the barricades were cleared at Dawn when soldiers firing nonstop in the air made a final charge sending Many demonstrators fleeing into the hotel. Hundreds of soldiers kicked in doors in a room by room search of the 297-room hotel. They dragged about 2,000 male demonstrators out of the rooms on their hands and Knees and beat scores with Rifle Butts without provocation. The demonstrators their hands tied behind their backs with their shirts were herded into military  from Page 1 Union a Security group of nine of the 12 european Community nations. Britain says the europeans must do nothing to offend or to distance themselves from the United states Leader of the 16-nation nato Alliance. A i think wars have to be fought under National command and control a a Sharpe told the news conference. A a. When you actually come Down to it there is a supremo and in the last 40 or 50 years he a always been an american Isnit he Quot in the new edition Sharpe noted that in the Post cold War period a there is less obvious reason Why the United states should continue to pay the  he warned that with both Europe and Japan dependent on the  Navy defense cutbacks in Washington could Lead to increased maritime instability. According to Jane a the  Navy had scheduled deliveries for 22 ships in 1992, compared with six scheduled for 1993. Although the russian Navy faced bigger cuts it was a far from being a Navy rotting on its moorings a Jane a said. A activity in area exercises weapon training and trials have continued at Only a slightly reduced Tempo and submarine operations have hardly been affected at ail Quot Jane a said. A the threat is still real enough encapsulated both in russian dormant capability and growing nationalist Fervour in unstable countries. Jane a pinpointed the Mediterranean and Black seas As Likely areas for future conflicts. Regional surveys in the $243 Book said a North Africa although libyan submarines do not go to sea its warships were often deployed and the country is perhaps too easily  algerians military buildup and aspirations were a a growing cause of  a Middle East european shipyards were completing contracts with Oman saudi Arabia and Kuwait for new vessels. Iran has two or three kilo class submarines scheduled for delivery and sub Crews Are training in the Baltic. A Asia no country has reduced defense spending with Thailand heading naval spending on four new chinese frigates and plans for a helicopter support  from Page 1 tinted complaints of rape Over the past five years. The annual count More than doubled Over the period from 40 in 1987 to 102 in 1991. During that time the size of the Navy fell from 608,112 men and women to 594,396. In comparison reported rapes in the United states went from 91,110 in 1987 to 100,433 in 1990, the latest year available a a 10 percent increase according to the Justice department. The nations population grew from 244 million to 250 million during the time. The number of reported rapes dropped in the air Force and army the newspaper said. An investigation released last month found that Navy and Marine corps aviators had molested at least 26 women a half of them Navy officers a at a Las vegas pilots convention. The Navy a inspector general rear adm. George w. Davis who conducted one of two investigations into the incident said a closing ranks and obfuscation Quot on the part of officers who supposedly had knowledge of the incidents made it impossible to know their exact nature severity and or  from Page 1 at British  in a statement issued monday in Washington the Pentagon called the incident amp terrible accidents that occurred a in the fog of  it said questions raised at the inquest might never be resolved. The pilots who were flying a-10 warthog tank killer jets and fire on a British russians pull Cape canaveral Fla. A with Only five hours notice russian inspectors showed up at Cape canaveral air Force station to make sure the United states had got rid of All nuclear missiles banned under a 1987 treaty. The six member team from the Commonwealth of Independent states was accompanied by a dozen  Disarmament officials when they arrived sunday air Force capt. Ken Warren said monday. The inspections Are allowed under the armoured personnel Carrier submitted a written statement but would not testify at the inquest. The  Government backed their decision. Coroner Nicholas Gardiner said the pilots statement a May be True it May not. It May be partly True it May be partly untrue. But what is Clear beyond any doubt is that it is not the whole  the families attitude hardened Over the Case which dominated newspaper front pages tuesday. Anne Leech whose 20-year-old son was killed said the american pilots a a must be held responsible for their a intermediate Range nuclear forces treaty signed by the United states and the then soviet Union in 1987, Warren said. It bans nuclear tipped missiles with ranges of Between 500 and 5,500 Miles. A we used to process and test launch Pershing ii missiles and obviously that series of weapons was eliminated by the treaty and the inspectors Are Here to ensure we have done that a he said. Asked if the base had indeed Eli i Tion it was total  on monday As the families toasted the verdict with Champagne outside the Oxford court Leech had said she Only wanted to hear the pilots version not have them tried. The pilots were not identified at the inquest. An inquest to determine cause of death is required for All bodies returned to Britain. An inquest cannot impose criminal or civil charges though they May follow. Other possible verdicts were accidental death or an a a open verdict meaning the cause was unclear. Rated the Pershing he quickly replied a ooh  the team apparently finished its duties monday and was expected to head Back to Washington before returning Home Warren said. The treaty allows inspectors 32 hours to finish their work he said. Sundays visit to Cape canaveral was the fourth under the treaty which says the Surprise inspections can continue through 2001. Surprise Florida inspection