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Show Man Maa dog. H's hardly news that we would oppose legislation in Congress to break up the larger otl companies. But when editorial writers for some of the nation's leading newspapers make independent judgments that divestiture spells bad legislation, we think that's legitimate news. And so, in the interest of a free flow of information, we present the following editorial comments: The Arizona. Republic oil Breaking up the companies would be a national disaster THE KANSAS CITY STAR ts The people pushing divestiture aro not doing anything to ease the energy shortage or bring down prices; they are just playing to the political galleries by trying to sock it to Big, Bad Oil hnrs 3ffartfort The effort by some liberal congressmen to force divestiture by the nation's major petroleum companies is so laughable that the initial inclination is to ignore the rantmgs as petty demagoguery. Unfortunately, history has proven that petty demagoguery, when ignored, all too often can succeed in achieving incredibly destructive ends." "At growing and dangerous shortage "That's not possible," he informed me. "We will not allow any foreigners into our country until we have succeeded in our revolution. You have ruined our country; you are not needed here any more." I asked the official if he could tell me about life in the new Cambodia. He agreed to give me the first press interview by a Cambodian leader to a Western newsman. He said he was Khek Bin, the commander of a strategic chunk of border. the Khek Bin explained that Cambodia level today is ruled at the grass-roothree-ma- n as known committees by Anka. He confirmed that most of Camhad been evacubodia's ated soon after the takeover a year ago and forced (he used the word "asked") to march to rural areas where they were put to work in the paddyfields producing their own food. "The weak fell by the wayside," said Khek Bin, summing up in one sentence the familiar story told by refugees that all sick people in hospitals had been forced to join the marches with even the elderly not spared. I plucked up courage and asked him to confirm or deny the horror stories brought out by the refugees that several hundred thousand Cambodians had been ruthlessly murdered by the Khmer Rouge. "We deal harshly with our enemies" was his simple answer. a time when the country faces a of domestic fuel supplies, it would seem in- credible that Congress would attempt to punish people who are investing their money and talent in the search for new sources." THe Spoxesian-Revie- w of Spokane: A Federal Energy Administration study indicates that requiring oil companies to split up would result in less production and higher prices to consumers. If this is true, it would be a clearcut case of cutting off ones nose to spite one's face." rs Mass executions I asked him to confirm whether all soldiers in the Lon Nol army from corporal up and their families had been executed in mass murders after the April takeover. "We deal harshly with our enemies," he repeated. Khek Bin denied reports by refugees that thousands of people have died from starvation in Cambodia: "Today, everyone in Cambodia receives enough to eat. Before, many starved and the few had more than they needed. We do not have money now; everyone is assigned a ration, and it is enough. Khmer Rouge and people all receive the same ration." The interview was at an end. The curious Khmer Rouge soldiers who had gathered around us to listen to the interview began to move away, and I was led down the road toward the border bridge. I still had my camera but I had not forgotten the warning to refrain from taking pictures of the countryside and the sweating laborers. 'You are not welcome' the border looked at me with said, "Co back to are not welcome At bridge, Khek narrowed eyes Bin and Thailand now. You here. You have a white skin. You are lucky this time because we will kill any white people who come unasked into our country. We hate you. You have ruined our country and it is the task of our revolution to rid it of your evil effects. This is a warning to you. Do not come back again. Our border is closed to all of you." Neither my interpreter nor I looked back until we had both safely climbed over the barbed wire into Thailand. Then we turned to watch Khek Bin striding back towards Poipet. The effects of the Khmer Rouge takeover of Cambodia reach into Thailand, where 100,000 refugees are crowded into camps, living behind barbed wire, barely above the subsistence level. United Nations relief efforts are underway, but much of the food and medicine intended for the camps is grabbed up by corrupt Thai police and officials. The refugee problem in Thailand is virtually unsolvable, with men, women and children facing years of confinement under guard, unwanted by Thailand and ignored by a world only too eager to forget Vietnam and Indochina. THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR tured has served the nation very well. would let it alone. It The industry as presently struccould continue to do so if government an rranrisro (ftjromclr Once big oil is broken up, who's next? It is logical to expect that the line will form on the left, of course, to bust up the automobile industry, steel, aluminum, the computer industry, and anything else big and inviting." DESERET NEWS of Salt Lake City: "... instead of trying to break up oil companies, the government should get on with the job of formulating a rational and comprehensive national energy policy" Mb 27, Observations, Box A, Mobil Oil Corporation, ISO East 42 Street. New York. N.Y 10017 c 19f mom O Cofoorawsi 6 The 100,000 Cambodian refugees find life hard in Thailand, where they are not UN and the Red Cross provide their food and shelter. welcome and where the |
