AAP Internet Bulletin 1730 Wednesday Feb 17, 1999

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-1999
AAP Internet Bulletin 1730 Wednesday Feb 17, 1999





[A][OCALAN AUST KURDS][FED]

64 charged after Australian Kurd protests

Sixty-four people are about to be charged with unlawful assembly after the Greek consulate
in central Sydney was stormed and occupied by protesters early today, a barrister said.

A 15-year-old boy, 20 women and 43 men are being ferried to various Sydney police stations
to be charged under the Commonwealth Act, barrister William Barber told reporters.

Dozens of police are flanking the driveway of the Sydney Police Centre to hold back
chanting supporters of the protesters who are about to board police mini buses.

Mr Barber said more charges were likely to be laid after police view video evidence of the
protest.

All 64 including one man with unspecified injuries in St Vincents Hospital were expected to
be granted bail, Mr Barber said.

"They're a bit tired and a bit upset about what might be happening, but they are fine," he
said.

"The police took videos of the actual demonstration. After viewing those videos, police are
laying further charges."

Two violent protests occurred at the Greek consulates in Melbourne and Sydney today.

Three people were arrested but later released after the Melbourne protest.

The protests were part of a wave of demonstrations at consulates and embassies around the
world as Kurds reacted to reports the Turkish separatist leader Ocalan had been handed over by

Greek officials to authorities in Kenya.

The demonstrations started as Turkish authorities announced Ocalan had been taken to
Turkey, where he is regarded as a traitor and terrorist and could face the death penalty.





[I][OCALAN][EUR]

Greece 'tried to save Ocalan' in Kenya

Greece said today it had tried to save the life of Abdullah Ocalan but the Kurdish rebel
leader chose instead to take his own path.

Ocalan was arrested in Kenya yesterday after leaving the Greek Embassy in Nairobi, where he
had been granted temporary refuge, and was flown to Turkey.

Premier Costas Simitis said Greece afforded Ocalan shelter when none of its European Union
partners would do so.

"We gave him help and effectively protected his life for the whole period of time that
Ocalan trusted himself to the Greek government and Greek services," Simitis said in a
statement.

But during his 12-day stay at the Greek ambassador's residence, Ocalan decided to
communicate with "third parties" and go ahead with "unilateral talks with the Kenyan
government and make his own choice of movements," Simitis said.

He appealed to Greece's EU partners to now take responsibility for protecting the
imprisoned head of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.

But Simitis also threatened to take "whatever means are necessary" to secure the release of
hostages held by Kurds at Greek and other diplomatic missions around Europe.

Government officials said the premier was suffering from a severe case of flu and was
unable to address the 300-member parliament, which was engaged in a heated debate over the
government's apparent failure to protect Ocalan.

Seven deputies from Simitis' governing Socialist party have demanded the resignation of
Foreign Minister Theordoros Pangalos, who spearheaded the Ocalan operation.

Greece is home to more than 5,000 Turkish Kurd political refugees, many of whom support
Ocalan's PKK. But while there is sympathy for the PKK among many deputies, many were outraged
when the PKK occupied the diplomatic missions.





[F][ECONOMY]

Consumer confidence at five-year high

Australian consumer confidence has reached its highest level in five years, according to a
private sector indicator.

And the buoyant economy could likely ensure the next move in interest rates was up,
although probably not until 2000, according to Westpac Banking Corp Ltd general manager
economics Bill Evans.

His observations following the latest consumer sentiment data and the publication yesterday
of the Reserve Bank of Australia's quarterly economic outlook which indicated the central bank
was maintaining a steady rates outlook for the time being.

The Westpac Banking Corp/Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index rose by 3.1 per cent
in February to 116.6 from 113.1 in January, in seasonally adjusted terms.

Mr Evans said consumer confidence was at its best level since 1994.

"This rise follows the sharp 8.3 per cent rise in January, and the combined two month jump
in confidence is the largest since October/November 1993, which coincided with the
announcement of Sydney's successful bid for the Olympic Games," he said.

"That jump in 1993 confidence also followed the Reserve Bank's last rate cut in the
interest rate cycle and preceded an exceptional growth spurt in 1994."

Mr Evans also said today, on the basis of the Reserve Bank's economic outlook, he expected
official interest rates would be steady through 1999, and likely raised 50 basis points in
early 2000.

"We now expect that there will be no more interest rate cuts in 1999," said Mr Evans.

"The next probable move is likely to be a modest increase in the first quarter of 2000,
when US rates will be higher and inflationary pressures both domestically and offshore have
increased."





[I][UK BRITS][UK]

Natalie Imbruglia wins two Brit Awards

Aussie songstress Natalie Imbruglia continued her award-winning spree by claiming two
prizes at the prestigious Brit Awards in London.

Imbruglia grabbed both awards for which she was nominated -- best international newcomer,
and best international female solo artist.

The prizes, earned on the strength of her worldwide hit Torn, followed her triumph at the
MTV Europe awards in November for best song, and her swag of six statues at the Australian
Record Industry Association awards in October.

In winning her newcomer prize tonight, the former Neighbours star beat compatriots Savage
Garden, as well as the highly fancied B*witched (B*witched) and Eagle-Eye Cherry.

In the best solo female artist category, she left in her wake such luminaries as Madonna,
Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morrissette.

As she accepted her newcomer award from All Saints Nicole Appleton and Shaznay Lewis, a
buoyant Imbruglia, wearing a gold shawl, said her move to London -- originally to pursue an
acting career -- had toughened her up for the entertainment business.

"First of all I came to London to act and I hadn't any idea of the struggles that were
coming," she said.

"I'd like to thank Britain for all the challenges it presented me."

Imbruglia then raised chuckles in the crowd after being called back up from her dinner
moments later to accept her solo artist award from England soccer star Ian Wright and Miss
World, Israel's Linor Abargil.

"I was just relaxing into my creme brulee - I don't know what to say," she said.





[A][REPUBLIC HOWARD][FED]

Howard's answer to referendum: Yes and No

Prime Minister John Howard said today he would campaign for a Yes vote on a proposed
preamble to the constitution but would back the No vote on the republic at November's
referendum.

Mr Howard said he supported the second question recognising God and prior Aboriginal
occupation to be put at the referendum, but will back the No vote on Australia becoming a
republic.

The prime minister said he would not be surprised if there was universal support for the
question on the preamble.

"There was very little opposition to it in the party room," he told reporters in Canberra
today after government members last night endorsed cabinet's republican proposals.

Mr Howard said the government would seek the advice of any Australian on the wording of the
preamble, including Opposition Leader Kim Beazley.

"At the end of the day it will be a preamble I feel I can totally support," he said.

Beazley earlier said the preamble must reflect resolutions passed by last year's
Constitutional Convention in terms of issues such as indigenous recognition.

"Today I am writing to the Prime Minister to offer him the full bipartisan support of the
federal Labor Party in redrafting the preamble to the Australian Constitution," Mr Beazley
said.

"Two essential preconditions have to, however, be filled by this preamble for it to go
forward safely to the Australian people.

"Firstly, it must be a document that genuinely unites us, a 50 per cent plus one vote on a
preamble would not do that. It has to be a preamble that unites all Australians behind it.

"And the second is it must be a preamble which genuinely contributes to the reconciliation
process and therefore is a preamble that the Aboriginal community finds acceptable and not an
insult to them."

The government announced last night republicans and monarchists would be given $15 million
to push their case, with supporters of a directly elected president forced to align themselves
with the monarchists.

Mr Howard said two committees representing each side and both comprising nine people,
including two politicians on each side, would determine how the money was spent.





[A][ALP VIC QUIT][VIC]

Theophanous quits after Brumby ultimatum

Opposition Leader John Brumby said he would recommend elevating new Labor recruit Mary
Delahunty to Labor's frontbench to take the place of former upper house leader Theo
Theophanous, who resigned today.

Mr Brumby said he had met with Mr Theophanous today after he had commented that Labor
needed a "new direction", told him his behaviour was unacceptable, and demanded his
resignation.

Mr Brumby said he planned to call a meeting of all opposition MPs later today or early
tomorrow to tell them of Mr Theophanous' resignation and to recommend he be replaced with Ms
Delahunty.

Mr Theophanous, the MP for Jika Jika in northern Melbourne, had held the portfolios of
WorkCover, employment and industry.

His resignation follows several weeks of instability in the party with a widening rift
between the parliamentary ALP and the trade union movement.

Mr Brumby signalled he would proceed with tomorrow's launch of the party's policy platform
as planned, saying it was the key to renewal and positioning of the ALP before the next
election.

Mr Theophanous told Mr Brumby at a meeting this morning that Labor needed a new direction
to revitalise the party and to present a unified front.

"Quite clearly it is untenable to have two of the leadership group with significantly
different views about what needs to be done and taking account the interest of the party and
after talking to my family I have decided to tender my resignation," he told reporters.

Mr Theophanous said his motivation in calling for unity and a focused direction had always
been in the interest of the party as a whole.

Mr Brumby hauled Mr Theophanous into the meeting this morning after Mr Theophanous called
for change in direction within the ALP in a front page interview with the Herald Sun.





[F][GEORGES][VIC]

Top people's shop calls in accountants

Melbourne's prestigious department store Georges has appointed an administrator after today
revealing a saga of trading difficulties since its grand reopening last year.

The announcement came this morning after The Age newspaper reported growing speculation
among top designers that the exclusive department store would close its doors.

A statement issued by the directors of Georges said Michael Humphris, of accountanting firm
Sims Lockwood & Co, had been appointed as administrator.

"Unsatisfactory trading levels in the last few weeks have led to a deficiency in cash
required to pay suppliers and bankers, in order to keep the business running," the statement
said.

Trading difficulties began almost as soon as the Melbourne icon was relaunched as a mecca
of style and luxury last February.

The old Georges had closed in 1995 after more than 107 years following declining
patronage.

Shareholders put additional funds into the new business in June and in September further
funds were injected and a new interim management team was introduced.

With and former Australia PepsiCo executive David Head at the helm as CEO, the new
management made good progress and the store had experienced a "strong Christmas".

Georges management recently completed a $7 million plan, which will need about two to three
years to turn a profit, to restructure the business.

"Unfortunately, the company has been unable to raise the required funds to implement the
restructuring plan," the statement said.





[X][TAPE][NSW]

Tape research to bring criminals unstuck

Forensic science student Katrina Gates hopes her research will help police make charges
stick.

The University of Technology, Sydney honours student has made exhaustive tests on commonly
available clear adhesive tapes and plastic packing tapes - all in the line of police forensic
work.

Sticky tape is used regularly in crime for such things as sealing parcels containing drugs,
packing explosive devices, tying and gagging robbery victims and taping documents together.

The result of Ms Gates' work is the beginning of the first comprehensive Australian
database on adhesive tapes, giving police another useful tool for establishing links between
crimes and suspects.

Her research project, involving about 60 different brands and types of tapes, was done in
conjunction with the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

A UTS spokesman said she was one of two graduating UTS forensic science students about to
begin full-time work in the AFP physical evidence section.

She has compiled a CD-ROM of her results with the intention of making them available to
physical evidence laboratories around the country.

Although it would be a rarity for adhesive tape evidence to be crucial in the
identification of an offender, being able to establish two tapes were of the same kind would
be another link in the clue chain for police, she said.

Despite most of the test tapes being produced by three principal manufacturers, she said
she was able to distinguish among all 60.

"If they were not different in chemical composition then they differed in thickness, width,
weight or their level of fluorescence under ultraviolet light," she said.





[A][COUCH HOWARD][FED]

Howard defends 'cheap' $10,000 couch

Prime Minister John Howard defended a decision to refurnish his office today, saying new
Chesterfield-style chairs were cheaper than the alternative.

The Joint House Department spent $10,300 on a five-piece leather lounge suite for the prime
minister's office, The Sydney Morning Herald reported today.

But Mr Howard said the old chairs had been there for 11 years and needed to be either
refurbished or replaced.

"I'm advised that the alternative (of refurbishment) that was being advocated by those
who've condemned my decision would have involved the cost of $24,864 plus ... $1,500 for
consultancy," he said.

"So not only was the alternative that I decided upon involving Australian-made material, it
was also, on those figures, significantly cheaper."

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said earlier today the decision to unnecessarily refurnish
the office demonstrated where the government's priorities lay.

"The prime minister is spending more on refurnishing an office that doesn't need to be
refurnished than he is prepared to spend in (GST) compensation for a new home buyer," Mr
Beazley told reporters.

"And three times as much as he is prepared to offer a self funded retiree in compensation
for the losses they will experience for the implementation of a GST.

"That just about sets the priorities in place."





[T][CRICKET AUST][CRIK]

Aussies leave on Caribbean odyssey

The Australian cricket team is heading off to the West Indies in defence of the Frank
Worrell Trophy.

The tour represents the first time Australia will play a Test series under the captaincy of
Steve Waugh.

Australia has won its last two series against the West Indies and is likely to start the
tour as favourite.

The two teams will play four Test matches with seven one-day internationals to follow.

The first tour match is against an Invitation XI at Antigua from February 22, with the
first Test starting at Queen's Park Oval at Trinidad on March 5.

The Australians head to London for two days before flying to the Caribbean.

Stuart MacGill is not only hoping for spinner-friendly wickets so he can partner Shane
Warne during the four-Test series against the West Indies, but he also wants to be picked for
the following seven one-day internationals and then the World Cup in England.

MacGill's turners are untried in the international one-day arena but he is sweating on an
opportunity.

"I want to play all forms of the game ... and it will happen one day," MacGill said.

Players who continue through until the World Cup will not be back in Australia until June.





[T][GOLF AUST][GOLF]

Aussie champ Spence eyeing Order of Merit

Australian Masters champion Craig Spence cut his victory celebrations short and has his eye
on overhauling runaway leader Jarrod Moseley to win the PGA Tour of Australasia's Order of
Merit.

Having vaulted into second spot, Spence said today he believed he could claim the OOM top
spot - and the many great career spin-offs that go with it - even though time is running out
with just two events remaining.

"I think if I play good in the last two weeks I can win it," said Spence as he prepared for
the $550,000 Canon Challenge at Terrey Hills starting tomorrow.

"It's in the back of my mind, it really is but I want to put it aside for the rounds I have
left, otherwise it may have a negative effect."

Moseley has amassed $311,268 in prizemoney, thanks mainly to his Heineken Classic win,
while Spence now has $227,035 - first prizemoney this week is $99,000 and for the Tour
Championship at Royal Canberra it's $90,000.

Both young stars will naturally play both events, as will Peter Lonard who's only $13,691
behind Spence.

Spence celebrated his Masters triumph over Greg Norman long into Sunday but, leaving a
return home to Colac for later, he was in Sydney by Monday night and sensibly took yesterday
off to rest before resuming practice after today's pro-am.

"I want to get up there again as soon as possible," he said. "I know how difficult I have
found it in the past to back up the next week because of the mental stress but it's a nice
goal for this week to see how I cope with it.

"I think patience will be the key - not to expect it to happen as easily and naturally as
it did last week."

Spence, Moseley and Lonard are just three of dozens of players anxiously eyeing the OOM,
with their end of season position to decide career futures at both the top and bottom end of
the scale.





[I][US CLINTON JONES]

US judge considers Clinton contempt move

In a sign that US President Bill Clinton's legal troubles aren't over, a federal judge said
she is prepared to consider whether he should be found in contempt of court for his testimony
about Monica Lewinsky in the Paula Jones lawsuit.

District Judge Susan Webber Wright said she waited to address the issue because of the
impeachment trial and the fact that Jones' case was before an appeals court. It was settled in
December for $US850,000 ($A1.35 million).

"Accordingly, I believe that now it is time for the court to address the contempt issue,"
she said in an order issued Tuesday after a conference with lawyers.

Wright also said she would step aside from the case if she were asked to do so by attorneys
because of her contact with a House impeachment case manager. She gave lawyers until Friday to
file a request.

The White House referred all requests for comment to Clinton's private lawyer in the case,
Robert Bennett. Bennett did not immediately return a call to his office seeking comment.

Jones' spokeswoman, Susan Carpenter-McMillan, said she had not talked with her client, but
added that Clinton should be held for contempt.

"My God, he lied," she said. "If he can get away with not being held for contempt, I
suppose we could all lie."

Wright raised the possibility of contempt in a footnote to her decision on September 1 to
release a transcript of Clinton's testimony in a deposition in the Jones sexual harassment
case.

At the time, Wright said she "has concerns about the nature of the president's January 17,
1998, deposition" but "makes no findings at this time regarding whether the president may be
in contempt."

In the deposition, Clinton said: "I have never had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky."
He acknowledged on August 17 before a federal grand jury - and again in a nationally televised
address - that he had an inappropriate relationship with Lewinsky.





[I][ROMANIA MINERS]

Romanian troops ready as miners march

Defying a hefty prison sentence, the head of Romania's coal miners led 40 buses filled with
supporters toward Romania's capital Bucharest, where authorities braced for a possible
showdown today.

Union leader Miron Cozma, who was sentenced in absentia on Monday to 18 years in prison for
leading a deadly 1991 march on Bucharest, announced his defiance on Tuesday and accused
authorities of orchestrating a politically motivated prison sentence.

Interior Minister Dudu Ionescu condemned the latest protest as "similar to an act of
terrorism" and said troops would prevent the miners from reaching Bucharest.

Minor clashes were reported late Tuesday between the miners and police west of Bucharest.
But the government fears worse violence in the wake of skirmishes last month that injured 200
people, mostly riot police.

Thousands of miners on Tuesday held a rally in the city of Targu Jiu and called for the
government's resignation. The miners taunted security troops who ringed the central square,
saying they couldn't be turned back.

Later, the miners set off for Craiova, 180 kilometres west of Bucharest. Police blocked the
road just outside of the town with a bus late Tuesday, but the miners broke through it and
continued toward the capital.

The miners could arrive in Bucharest as soon as Wednesday. Police were stepping up security
and Bucharest Mayor Viorel Lis said any protest in support of Cozma would be illegal.

Cozma, who has led several violent protests by miners over the past decade, was convicted
for undermining state authority and jeopardising railway traffic during a 1991 protest that
left three people dead and nearly 300 injured.

Cozma had already completed an 18-month sentence for the convictions last year, but filed
an appeal. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction and in a surprise move added 16-and-a-half
years to his sentence.





[F][TYNDALL]

Tyndall urges investors accept RSA offer

Tyndall Australia Ltd today recommended its shareholders accept a $738 million takeover
offer from UK-based Royal & Sun Alliance plc.

Tyndall managing director Michael Wilkins said that in the absence of a higher offer, the
Tyndall board of directors "has resolved to recommend that shareholders accept the bid".

Mr Wilkins said the recommendation to shareholders has been based on the assumption that
Part A takeover document is acceptable, the "stated position" of its major shareholder,
Guinness Peat Group plc (GPG), and the company's internal view of its own valuation.

Before the market opened today, Royal & Sun Alliance Australia Holdings Ltd (RSA) announced
a takeover offer of $2.80 per share for Tyndall shares.

It also revealed that it had reached an agreement with GPG to acquire 9.9 per cent of its
51 per cent stake, signalling the support of the offer price by GPG.

Under the RSA offer terms, Tyndall shareholders will retain the fully franked dividend of
3.5 cents per share, which was declared yesterday.

Mr Wilkins said that this valued Tyndall at $747 million.

Tyndall shares closed up 32 cents at $2.97.





[F][AUST DOLLAR]

$A hit by weaker yen, commodity prices

Falling commodity prices and a weaker Japanese yen battered the Australian dollar today,
stripping back the domestic unit by more than two thirds of a US cent.

Salomon Smith Barney bond and currency strategist Stephen Halmarick said the easing bias
reflected in yesterday's Reserve Bank of Australia quarterly review was also impacting
negatively on the currency.

At the close of trading today the Australian dollar was at $US0.6347/52 from 0.6418/23
yesterday.

During the day it fell to a low of $US0.6338 and reached a high of 0.6378.

Mr Halmarick said the yen weakened significantly overnight against the US dollar following
comments by a Japanese official yesterday supporting a weaker yen.

Japanese vice finance minister for international affairs Eisuke Sakakibara reportedly said
he welcomed the yen weakness resulting from the Bank of Japan's decision to ease short-term
interest rates last week.

The falling yen today whittled away the value of the Australian dollar.

The US dollar closed trading here at 118.17/22 Japanese yen, from 116.83/88 yesterday.

Commodity prices also hit new lows overnight, with the Commodity Research Bureau index - a
measure of 17 US commodity futures prices - finishing down 2.44 at 184.33 after hitting a low
of 184.25.

MMS Standard & Poor's said this was a new 21-and-a-half year low.

Gold prices also tumbled in New York, with gold for April delivery settling $US3.80 lower
at $US287.40 an ounce.

And in London, three-month copper and aluminium prices hit new lows, with aluminium falling
to a five-year low at $US1,189.50 a metric ton and copper hitting a new low at $US1,410 a
ton.

"All of those are adding to the short-term down side for Aussie," Mr Halmarick said.

KEYWORD: NETNEWS 1730

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.