Editorials
Monday, May 25, 1998

Memorial Day recalls
the price of peace

WITH the country at peace, it's important that peace not be taken for granted. Memorial Day,dedicated to remembering those who gave their lives in war for their country, reminds us that peace comes with a price in blood.

The holiday originated after the Civil War, but there is a dispute over exactly where and when. Some authorities say it began on May 30, 1868, when Gen. John A. Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, called on his men to strew flowers on the graves of their comrades. But other authorities maintain the first Memorial Day was in Waterloo, N.Y., on May 5, 1866, when village flags were flown at half-staff. There was also a parade and a ceremony, with a Union general as speaker.

In 1966 the House of Representatives adopted a resolution formally recognizing Waterloo's claim. The holiday is now observed on the last Monday in May.

From its Civil War origins, Memorial Day has become the annual occasion to remember the dead of all wars. For Hawaii, the holiday has special meaning stemming from its dead in World War II, many of whom are buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

In addition, the holiday brings to mind the need to restore the Waikiki Natatorium, the memorial to the dead of World War I. Its present boarded-up, crumbling condition is a disgrace. This should be an occasion for renewed dedication to the Natatorium's restoration.

The Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor brought the tragedy of war home to the people of Hawaii in devastating fashion. It taught the need for vigilance and military strength to safeguard the nation against aggression. Today we pay tribute to the fallen of all of America's wars and pray that no others will be called upon to make such a sacrifice.

Marcos’ remains

THE Philippines' almost certain next president, Joseph Estrada, has reopened an old wound by declaring that if elected he will allow the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos to be buried in Heroes Cemetery in Manila.

The dictator died in exile in Honolulu in 1989. His body was returned to the Philippines in 1992 and has since been kept in an air-conditioned glass crypt in his hometown of Batac, about 400 miles north of Manila.

Corazon Aquino, who became president after Marcos' overthrow in 1986, refused to allow Marcos to be buried in Heroes Cemetery and her successor, Fidel Ramos, maintained that policy.

Estrada, who has a wide lead in unofficial returns in the presidential election, said it was time to bury the past. He suggested that if Filipinos could forgive the Japanese for World War II atrocities they should be able to forgive Marcos for his alleged crimes. However, no one has suggested giving a Japanese general a hero's burial in Manila.

Marcos' widow, Imelda, fared poorly as a presidential candidate but endorsed Estrada when it became clear she had no chance. The Marcoses' son, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., was elected governor of Ilocos Norte and their daughter, Imee, was elected to the House of Representatives from that province.

Estrada was a supporter of Marcos during his presidency, but that evidently didn't hurt his campaign, any more than the opposition of the Catholic Church and much of the Philippines' business and professional elite.

The decision on the Marcos remains raises doubt as to whether the president-elect will pursue litigation against Mrs. Marcos and other figures from the Marcos regime and whether he will continue efforts to recover the billions of dollars said to have been stolen by the Marcoses. Little progress has been made on either front in the years since Marcos was ousted from office.

North Korean crime

IT'S often hard to decide what to make of North Korea's announcements -- how much is propaganda and how much is real. This becomes more understandable when you realize that the regime in Pyongyang is truly an outlaw in the world community.

North Korea has long been considered a rogue state for its missile sales to other unstable governments, attempts to acquire nuclear weapons and terrorist operations against South Korea. Now it has added smuggling of counterfeit currency and cigarettes, gold, narcotics, ivory and pirated compact discs. North Korean diplomats have been caught smuggling these items.

With its economy in shambles, the Pyongyang regime has become desperate to find ways to pay its bills. In the words of Frank Cilluffo of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, "Unlike Latin America or Europe, where organized crime attempts to penetrate the state...North Korea is penetrating organized crime."

This year Thai police found 2- 1/2 tons of ephedrine, a key ingredient in the illegal drug methamphetamine, in a shipment bound for North Korea. A year ago, Japanese police found 130 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in cans of honey unloaded from a North Korean freighter.

In 1995 Taiwan police seized 20 ship containers loaded with counterfeit cigarette packaging destined for North Korea. One of the companies affected said the seized materials could have been used to make cigarettes worth $1 billion.

In March Romanian customs officials stopped two North Korean diplomats carrying 12,000 pirated CDs. It was the third such incident in recent months.

This is literally a criminal regime. How can the United States do business with such a government? Only by approaching every proposal with no illusions and demanding the fullest safeguards.

---

Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership

Rupert E. Phillips, CEO

John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher

David Shapiro, Managing Editor

Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor

Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors

A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor