European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday december 20, 1992 world the stars and stripes Page 11 de Klerk fires 6 generals in crackdown on military Cape town South Africa a president . De Klerk on saturday dismissed six generals As part of a crackdown on the defense forces and admitted some units were involved in illegal meddling in politics. De Klerk said some i 1 by operatives were still involved in unspecified ill i activities and the government was taking urgent Steps to halt their operations. Government opponents have Long claimed the military acts As a a third Force to destabilize opposition groups and foment violence in Black townships that has claimed thousands of lives in recent years. De Klerk who has repeatedly denied allegations of military misconduct gave no details on Why the officers were being removed. The admission of illegal activity is Likely to damage de Klerks already weakened government As it negotiates with the african National Congress on ending White minority Rule. Government admissions of wrongdoing in the past have repeatedly undermined de Klerk. De Klerk told a news conference that two generals and four brigadier generals were being forced to retire along with 10 other members of the defense forces. He said another seven defense Force members were placed on compulsory leave. He said the names would be made known As soon As possible and information on the illegal activities would be turned Over to police the attorney general and the Goldstone commission a judicial commission investigating political violence in South Africa. De Klerk said the information showed military personnel and a collaborators of the South african defense forces have been involved and in some cases Are still involved in illegal and or unauthorized activities and a was a result of the information that has now been conveyed to me Steps Are being taken with immediate effect to bring to an end All illegal or unauthorized activity and malpractice which have now come to Light a he said. De Klerk last month appointed it. Gen. Pierre Steyn to investigate secret military operations after the Gold Stone commission disclosed a Covert military plot to discredit Anc officials. According to files seized by the commission from military offices the plot proposed using criminals and prostitutes to Compromise Anc officials. De Klerk last year promised to end political dirty tricks after disclosures that police gave Money to the inkatha Freedom party the Ancus main rival among Black groups. South korean president elect Kim Young Sam raises his hands in Victory saturday in Seoul. S. Korean vote ends 32 years of military dominated regimes Seoul South Korea a South koreans first Leader to be in 32 years with no military connections said saturday he would work for Broad Domestic reforms but maintain traditional alliances with Japan and the United states and push for new foreign friends. President elect Kim Young Sam a former dissident turned ruling party candidate said he also would move quickly to Cement South koreans relationship with newly formed allies China Russia and Eastern european nations. Kim 65, was elected with 42 percent of the vote ending 32 years of Rule by military dominated regimes and former generals. President Roh Tae woo a former general elected in 1987, was barred by Law from succeeding himself. Kim assumes office in february. The peaceful election was a Victory for the still fragile electoral process which since the founding of the nation in 1948 has not seen a Transfer of Power free of violence. After presidential elections in 1987, dozens of protesters were injured in a week of demonstrations Over charges of vote rigging. Opposition Leader Kim Dae Jung who finished second congratulated his opponent also a Mark of increasing Faith in the democratic system. Kim Dae Jung contested two previous elections. The opposition Leader said he was resigning from parliament and retiring from politics. The Media had reported a late surge of support for opposition candidates but voters chose the party that has governed for a decade and through its antecedents for three decades. The election is widely considered the fairest in korean history despite charges of corruption and vote rigging. Kim favors the continued presence of 36,000 american troops in Korea though that could be a stumbling Block to reunification. With All 24 million votes counted Kim Young Sam got 41.98 percent Kim Dae Jung had 33.89 percent and Park Chung Hee a former general got 16.2 Reservoir collapse kills 5 people in India from wire reports new Delhi India a an overhead water Reservoir collapsed in a City in Southern India saturday killing five people and injuring 15 others a news Agency reported. At least three More people were believed to be buried under Mounds of debris from the Concrete tank press Trust of India said. About 450,000 Gallons of water burst from the tank sweeping away three mud and Straw huts below the report said. Two Hundred rescuers and firefighters were Clearing the debris which blocked a Road and smashed 25 Cycle rickshaws the report violin disappears Munich Germany a police on Friday said a rare 1774 Gagliano violin has disappeared without a Trace from the Prince Regent theater in Munich. The violin built by italian master craftsman Nicola Gagliano is valued at 220,000 Marks about $141,000police said. So far the investigation indicates that the violin was stolen sometime late thursday or Early Friday. Police said they have no clues on who May have taken it from the theater a locked property room. Police said the violin was owned by the Federal Interior ministry in Bonn and on loan to the Regent theater cats have a dog s life Moscow a russian pet lovers appealed to president elect Clinton for humanitarian Aid for their dogs and cats and offered a russian companion for the incoming first cat socks a newspaper reported saturday. The Sirius dog Star pet club in the Black sea resort of Sochi sent Clinton a letter asking for unspecified humanitarian Aid for their animals Komsomol Skaya pravda reported. A even cats now have a dog s life a the newspaper said referring to russians economic woes. The club also offered to let socks a become Friendly with a russian siberian cat named Boris Nikolajevich after russian president Boris n. Yeltsin. The russian cat was born aug. 19, 1991, the Day hard liners announced they had seized Power from soviet Leader Mikhail s. hurts 5 in Athens Athens Greece a a fire in a paint shop set off a powerful explosion Friday that rocked Central Athens injuring five people slightly police said. The blast appeared to have been caused by leaking Gas pipes an officer said speaking on condition of anonymity. Officers cordoned off Canning Square and warned bystanders not to Light any cigarettes As the smell of Gas drifted Over the area. The explosion occurred at 6 50 p.m., spreading panic among Christmas shoppers. It smashed windows in nearby installation cited Mexico City a faulty installation of a City waterline caused a crack in a Gas pipeline one of several factors leading to the Guadalajara sewer blasts that killed 206 people authorities say. Attorney general Ignacio Morales Lechugo issued a report Friday saying work Crews Laid the waterline too close to the Gas pipeline damaging its protective cover so a leak eventually opened. But the report said the april 2 explosion was caused by numerous factors. The findings also cited failure of officials to act on reports of a Strong smell of gasoline just before nine blasts gouged deep trenches in a District of Mexico a second largest for compassion new Delhi India Mother Teresa Calcutta so Saint of the gutters a pleaded for global compassion toward aids victims Friday saying it was unjust to treat them like lepers. Aids patients need love and help and it was unfair to isolate them the Nobel laureate told the rotary club in new Delhi. The albanian born roman Catholic nun reminded her audience that Peoples attitudes toward patients of leprosy had undergone a Radical change and said it was time that myths about aids also were eliminated
