SWB
FE/0073 B/1
B. INTERNAL AFFAIRS
12 Feb 88
INDIA
GNLF supporters begin 40-day strike in Darjeeling hill area (Excerpt) Sporadic bomb blasts and damage to a Darjeeling-Kalimpong road bridge by the militants marked the first day of the 40-day general strike sponsored by the Gurkha National Liberation Front in Darjeeling hills [on] Wednesday [10th February] despite the strictest-ever security arrangements all over the three strike-affected sub-divisions. GNLF President Subash Ghisingh reached the Bihar state capital Patna through Nepal en route [to] New Delhi on receiving a telegraphic communication from federal Home Minister Buta Singh [on] Wednesday afternoon, according to intelligence sources here [Darjeeling].
While the administration claimed "total lack of response" to the strike call with "normal" functioning in all government offices and banks, reports reaching here indicated that normal life was "seriously" hit as the employees absented from duty and all modes of transport off the road. The GNLF women's wing alleged that police used force to open shops in Darjeeling and elsewhere in the hills... (PTI in English 1714 gmt 10 Feb 88)
MALAYSIA
Problems facing attempt to form new Malay party (Excerpts) The move by a group of former UMNO leaders to set up a new party for the Malays (a major ethnic group in the multi-racial country) as Pertubuhan Kebangsaaan Melayu Bersatu Malaysia or UMNO Malaysia has apparently hit a snag. According to several legal experts in the Societies Act, the registration of a new party whose name is the same or similar to UNMO, which has been ruled an unlawful society by the high court on 4th February, can only be considered after he name UMNO has been deleted from the register of societies by the registrar...
Apart from the group apparently jumping the gun from the legal aspect, its solidity appears to be showing signs of a crack. Only two days after the announcement of the initiative to form the proposed party, several leaders reported to support the move have denied their involvement. They include former Prime Minister Hussein Onn, former Deputy Primary Industries Minister Radi Sheikh Ahmad and former Deputy Transport Minister Hajjah Rahmah Osman. They were mentioned as being the pro tem deputy president, a pro tem committee member and pro tem deputy permanent chairman... (Bernama in English 1343 gmt 10 Feb 88)
Sabah government declares support for Mahathir (Excerpt) The east Malaysian Sabah state government supports Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister, no matter what happens, Sabah Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan said [on] Thursday [11th February]. He said Dr Mahathir had been chosen to head the Malaysian government which was democratically and constitutionally formed. The federal government was a legitimate government and we support all policies made by it, he added at a briefing for Sabah assemblymen, MPs and senators at his official residence... (Bernama in English 0713 gmt 11 Feb 88)
PHILIPPINES
Security forces placed on combat alert for NPA "summer offensive" (Excerpt) Security forces outside Metro Manila have been placed in combat alert following reports that communist guerrillas would unleash their "summer offensive", military commander said [on] Thursday [11th February]. Constabulary chief Maj-Gen Ramon Montano said the attack was reportedly planned to be carried out in the outlying provinces of Quezon and Laguna south of here [Manila]. He said the military got wind of the planned attack from several documents captured by government troops following a recent clash with dissidents in Quezon Province... (PNA in English 0718 gmt 11 Feb 88)
TAIWAN
(Excerpts)
Premier Yu Kuo-hua on government plans
Premier Yu Kuo-hua said [on] Wednesday [10th February] that the ROC will continue to promote political reforms and to accelerate economic liberalisation and internationalisation. Premier Yu, in a year-end press conference, the fourth since he took office, clearly answered 18 questions raised by local and foreign reporters... The Premier said the Executive Yuan will soon work out concrete measures based on the principles set by the ruling KMT to strengthen the ROC's central parliamentary organisations, to institutionalise local government systems and to allow the establishment of new political parties...CNA in English 0305 gmt 11 Feb 88) Legislative Yuan brings forward opening of 81st session (Text) Members of the Legislative Yuan [on] Tuesday [9th February] unanimously resolved to advance the opening of its 81st session to 23rd February. Registration for legislators to attend the upcoming session, originally slated for