Fire Rat: Earth Season: 3d

14 Aug ~~ 17 Aug

Allegiances and allies. Things lose their distinctiveness by subsuming themselves into larger entities. Loose associations become more formal. Groups of people organise themselves under one banner. Large organisations admit new members. New beginnings made on a foundation of consensus.
The Fulfilment:
Bosnia: Pres Tudjman of Croatia agrees today that the Croat microstate in Bosnia will cease to exist on 31 Aug and merge with Muslim Bosnia. Perfect! "Things lose their distinctiveness by subsuming themselves into larger entities."
CIS: Defence ministers of the ex-Soviet republics meet and back up russia in its objections to NATO expansion. "Groups of people organise themselves under one banner."
France: Toulouse: Gunmen block airplane soon after its landing, open the cargo hold and seize about $880,000 in foreign currency being shipped by Brinks.
Russia: Chechnya: Rebels say a ceasefire has been declared; govt says not. But fighting does settle down somewhat. "New beginnings." This is the righting of the balance.
Japan: Govt issues formal apology to the "comfort women" who were used as sex slaves during the war, but refuses to broach the subject of compensation for victims. "New beginnings."
Israel: Govt officials meet with PLO officials to discuss civilian issues for the first time in six months. "New beginnings on a foundation of consensus."
Russia: Chechnya: Thousands of civilians using the lull in fighting to flee Grozny.
Peru: Arequipa: Some 35 people electrocuted on a bridge when fireworks knock down a power cable onto the bridge during a festival. Very sad event and very curious because it should have happened about one full day earlier, during Fire.
Colombia: Leftist guerrilla leaders make peace overtures after 30 yrs of struggle. "New beginnings."
Cyprus: Turkey is urging for peace on the island, but also warning that further truce violations will not be tolerated. "New beginnings."??
Israel: Govt agrees to recommence scheduled meetings with Arafat. "New beginnings on a foundation of consensus."
Korea: Yonsei: Violent protests and rebellion by thousands of university students demanding immediate reunification with communist north. Police helicopters saturate the campus with tear gas, but at least 6000 students hold out against the assault. This is a very dangerous situation to be developing at this time: if any students remain holding out until the weekend, they will be in mortal danger of seeing their protest brutally crushed, like at Tiananmen Square; if these protests continue until September, then they will likely bring down the government!!
Cyprus: Crowd returning from the funeral of man killed by Turks a few days ago launch a new assault on No Man's Land and another man is killed by the Turks. Guess not ....
Jordan: Karak: Bread riots by people protesting the price of bread after govt relaxes price controls. and it doubles. This is another dangerous situation. If the protests continue into the weekend, brutal suppression is likely. If they survive the weekend, then the govt could be in jeopardy by the end of the month.
Russia: Chechnya: Rebel leader and new govt general meet for four hours and then declare a ceasefire together. "New beginnings on a foundation of consensus."
USA: Pres Clinton names special envoy to make a tour of the Allies, mend fences and try to build united front on the Cuba issue. "New beginnings on a foundation of consensus."
USA: Ross Perot wins the nod from his Reform party to be their candidate with 65.2% vote.
Dominican Republic: Democratically elected president sworn in today.
Jordan: Amman: Bread riots spread to the capital. King Hussein is threatening an iron fisted response if order is not restored. Not good, not good.

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