Dear Mr. Kofi A. Annan,
　　 Mrs. Mary Robinson,
　　 Mr. Secretary-General George Robertson,

If you have a referendum (on independence) in East Timor, then the question is why can't you have a referendum elsewhere.

It would hit the whole basis of Asia nationalism, specially in communist China. The history of Asia's feudalism revealed more self-protection and defense mechanism. Many countries are under-democratic level in our world, can not yield to human right's best.

Mahathir says U.N. structure "feudal', Oks troops in Timor

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 13 ---
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday criticized the structure of the United Nations but agreed to participate in a U.N.-led peacekeeping mission to East Timor.

Mahathir accused western powers of dominating the U.N. likening the world body to a "feudal" government where reforms are difficult to implement and dissenting voices are oppressed.

"It is ridiculous that this important world body is still tethered to the results of the World War fought over 50 years ago," he said when opening a four-day Commonwealth Law Conference.

"The victory of certain nations in that war seems to entitle them to hegemony over the United Nations and the world forever. The permanent five will not yield to anyone nor forego their veto rights. Any one of them can frustrate the rest of the other 170-odd members."

While such "undemocratic power may sit well with China and Russia," Mahathir noted the other three permanent members of the U.N. Security Council --- the United States, Britain and France --- "preach democracy ad nausea."

"It does not become them to be blatantly feudal and undemocratic in the United Nations when they so vehemently insist that every country must be democratic," he said.

Mahathir charged the council "controls" the affairs" of the U.N. and "prevents any dissenting voice from being heard."

Later at a press conference, the premier said Malaysia has agreed to participate in a U.N. peacekeeping mission in East Timor.

Communist China which has threatened to invade if Taiwan declared statehood, saw ROC President Lee's declaration as a "dangerous" lurch towards de jure independence.

BEIJING, Sept. 13 ---
Mainland China's newspapers have been cashing in on a spat with Taiwan, with some boosting circulation by firing verbal salvoes at the estranged island's demand for political equality, industry sources said on Monday.

Mainland China's state media have also been trying to outdo each other hurling invective at Lee.

The official Xinhua news agency described Lee as a "deformed test-tube baby cultivated in the political laboratory of hostile anti-China forces".

The Liberation Army Daily called Lee a "rat running across the street with everybody shouting 'Smack it'".

But a source familiar with mainland China's policy toward Taiwan said Beijing has been careful to separate politics from economics.

Beijing has tried to reassure Taiwan investors, who have poured some US$40 billion into mainland China.

A group of Taiwan students visited communist China recently and a stage play directed by a Taiwan director has been allowed to be shown, albeit with many changes to its script.

"Our propaganda attacks only Lee Teng-hui and Taiwan independence," said the source who asked not to be identified.

"Chinese do not feel any antagonism towards Taiwanese. That's the success of our propaganda," he added.

Taiwan wants to do something for helping other country revitalize their economy.

TAIPEI, Sept. 13 ---
Goce Stefanovski took six months leave from his company in Ohrid, Macedonia, and joined 96 compatriots from all over Macedonia for a job training program in Taiwan.

Stefanovski, manager of the engineering sales department of EMO Ohrid, a high voltage electrical appliances manufacturer, said he appreciated the good learning environment, as well as the exotic experience to learn about another culture.

Stefanovski is among 40 Macedonians aged between 18 and 30 attending computer-aided drilling and computer-aided tool training courses at the Taishan Vocational Training Center near Taipei. Another 57 trainees are being accommodated at the Taichung Vocational Training Center.

The vocational training program is an integral part of the Republic of China's economic assistance project for Macedonia. The two countries established diplomatic relations last February and both pledged to promote cooperation and to extend economic and trade relations.

At the Taishan Vocational Training Center, the trainees are taking 18 weeks of technical training courses, both theoretical and practical. To improve the trainees' job capability, a two month apprenticeship at factories in Taiwan is arranged for each of them after they finish courses at the center.

Director D.S. Hwang of the Taishan center, an associate professor at Tamkang University, said that the trainees, most of whom have technical engineering backgrounds, showed good comprehension abilities and much enthusiasm for learning. Although it was only the second week since the courses began on Sept. 8, the instructors have taken note of various educational levels of the trainees and developed different approaches to providing instruction.

Experienced in sponsoring technical training programs for domestic as well as foreign trainees, the Taishan Vocational Training Centerand the Taichumg Vocational Training Center have been entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to design and implement special training programs for some 2,000 Macedonians, who will come to Taiwan in different groups. The 97 trainees in the first group are attending courses in five categories --- computer-aided drilling, computer-aided tools, automobile maintenance, industrial electronics, and furniture-making and woodworking.

According to Director Hwang, the expenses (approximately NT$1 million for each trainee) are much higher than those for domestic trainees because of special accommodations and extra curricular activities. At the boarding house, the trainees have modern facilities and an environment similar to youth hostels in Europe. In the recreation room, there are telephones, cable TVs, and computers for the Internet and E-mail. The kitchen staff have even learned to cook European dishes for the guests from afar.

In addition to technical training courses, the center has arranged outings to museums and nearby scenic spots on weekends. All trainees talked about the weekend cultural tours with great excitement. When asked about their impression of Taiwan, Filov Emanuel, Robert Doncevski and Goce Stefanovski all mentioned the robust urban life of Taipei and the grandeur of the National Palace Museum and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

Director Hwang said that in the coming weeks, the center will also arrange for trainees to visit factories and industrial establishments around the island.

The trainees were selected from among thousands of applicants for the program. Language ability is taken into account, and a technical engineering background is preferred. Fluent in English, Zoran Nechovski, for instance, is a university student with a double major in mechanical engineering and management. Nechovski said that he appreciated this excellent opportunity which will better prepare him to become an industrial manager.

Tormented by long years of war and turbulence among their Balkan neighbors, Macedonians have high expectations about their Chinese friends in Taiwan helping them revitalize their economy.

Please support Taiwan it can do its best for world's peace.