A WORLD WAR ON BRIBERY

One of the bad consequences of economic globalization is the globalization of corruption [June 22]. Nowadays, money from corruption, theft and drugs knows no international frontiers. It can stealthily move throughout the world, thanks to large-scale information and travel networks. Nation-based law-enforcement agencies are waging a 19th century war against a 21st century enemy.
MARC STERNBERG
Fontenay-aux-Roses, France

Worldwide corruption could very well have its origins in the church. Almost all religious organizations foster the giving of donations, tithes and offerings for "noble" causes or for the construction of temples or centers of worship that help increase their power.
PABLO HERNANDEZ TREVINO
Cuernavaca, Mexico Your report on corruption brought to mind the question of why Zaire's Mobutu Sese Seko was allowed to purchase magnificent mansions abroad while his people starved at home. European governments supposedly were against his dictatorial methods yet did nothing to stop the wanton waste of money that could have been better used to feed the nation of Zaire.
ELLEN FEDELE
Three Rivers, South Africa Your article on bribery and the misuse of money brought much needed publicity to some deeply troubled regimes. However, one bastion of corruption was conspicuous by its absence: Morocco. Since the days of the Barbary pirates and their hostages, the Maghreb has polished its bribery techniques. Where did late Zairean dictator Mobutu Sese Seko go to die? He chose Morocco.
EDWIN NELSON
Brussels

The article presents Washington as the major mover and shaker in the battle against commercial corruption. However, the Argentine judge investigating responsibilities in the $250 million bribery case involving U.S.-based computer firm IBM and Banco Nacion requested the appearance in court of four IBM executives but the U.S. Attorney General did not respond. Hardly a good example to set.
EDWARD ALIMONDA
Cardiff, Wales

Bribery and corruption seem to be everywhere, and on a grand scale. Yet your article didn't take note of the scandals swirling around Washington with charges of tainted foreign campaign donations. Ordinary citizens in Nairobi, Jakarta, Paris, Mexico City and elsewhere may at last be disgusted by the greed around them. However, judging from Clinton's popularity polls, no one in the U.S. seems to care. Maybe Americans need a branch of the anti-corruption organization Transparency International set up on Pennsylvania Avenue.
STEVE SCHNEIDER
Menorca, Spain ISLAND OF ANXIETY

I want President Clinton and all Americans to acknowledge the differences between Taiwan and China and know that Taiwanese are not Chinese citizens [June 22]. It is pointless to ignore the fact that Taiwan is its own sovereign nation and should never be a part of China. The U.S. should recognize Taiwan as an independent nation. It can maintain and foster diplomatic relations with both China and Taiwan, while acknowledging that they are two distinct countries with separate governments.
KENNETH M. YU
New York City For us Taiwanese, China's plan is very clear: take Taiwan first; then other parts of Southeast Asia will be easy targets. The U.S. has the right not to send a single G.I. here to die, but at the same time, it shouldn't cut off the weapons sales that allow Taiwan to defend itself. One should take it seriously when the Chinese say the 21st century will be a "Chinese century." We don't want to be the next version of Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia, and we hope the rest of world won't be as dumb as Chamberlain.
LIN CHIH TU
Tainan City, Taiwan If China decides to take Taiwan by force, the U.S. will inevitably be involved. Taiwan does not want to become a U.S. responsibility, nor does it want to be sacrificed to the U.S.'s need to improve its relationship with China. Any step toward reunification with China should be decided by people in Taiwan, not by China or the U.S.
HUI-CHING YU
Lubbock, Texas

IGNORANCE BEGETS RACISM

Reading about the Jasper, Texas, dragging death of a black man, James Byrd Jr., was alarming [June 22]. Racists in the U.S. who belong to the Ku Klux Klan and similar hate groups that preach white supremacy should not forget that they are descendants of European settlers and immigrants. The only true Americans are the Native Americans. Hatred comes from ignorance.
IVANO SEGHEDONI
Modena, Italy

SUBMIT OR BE EXCLUDED

As a lifelong Southern Baptist, I must point out that the Southern Baptist Convention amendment requiring a wife to "submit graciously" to her husband has no binding effect on Southern Baptist churches [June 22]. It has become a tool for excluding people from serving in the church. If this amendment had been in force, I would probably not have been able to be appointed as a missionary several years ago. My concern is that in the future it will be used against those who object to the wording.
NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST
Rio de Janeiro

THE WORLD ON FIRE

Your article "Smoke Signals" reported on the alarming number of forest fires [June 22]. Through prudent forest management, it is possible to cope with these fires while meeting the rising demand for wood products. Canada's highly efficient fire-fighting sys tem and sound forest practices have enabled us to handle large blazes while increasing our forest base and our output of paper products. Between 1990 and 1995, our forest cover increased almost 900,000 hectares, while our production went up 22%.
FRANCOIS BLAIN, Director
Media Relations
Canadian Pulp and Paper Association
Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Canada

ABACHA STOOD FIRM

Nigerian General Sani Abacha was a man who stood up for his country and continent [June 22]. He tried to propel Nigeria into becoming a heaven on earth, despite his critics and threats from abroad. He was, however, a true Machiavellian leader who believed the end justified the means. I hope those who follow him will be able to keep his dream of a stable Nigeria alive.
M.K. HAKEEM
Kampala, Uganda

GUERRILLA CAPITALISM IN BRAZIL

I enjoyed your examination of Brazil's Landless Rural Workers Movement, or Sem Terra [June 22]. In any other law-abiding nation, the Sem Terra rebels would be put in jail. But in Brazil they are labeled leftists, not criminals. I can remember the media coverage in 1959 of leftist Fidel Castro's coming to power. People like him are brothers of the leftists who supported Chile's Salvador Allende. They invade rural estates and kill the owners while the police look the other way. But, in Chile, the people got rid of Allende and his supporters. In Brazil, of course, President Fernando Henrique Cardoso is politically correct, and it is the landowners who are the criminals here.
GUMERCINDO QUIROGA
Porto Alegre, Brazil

NUCLEAR TESTS EXPLAINED?

I think that by not signing the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty [June 8], the Indian government has made a point about nuclear haves and have-nots. The government, however, owes its people an explanation on the imperatives that drove it to carry out the nuclear tests, one that goes beyond the currently ambiguous "security reasons."
ANEESH PRABHU
Bombay

ASIA'S BROKEN DREAMS

It was interesting to read the assessments of your panel of economists about what lies ahead for Asia [June 22]. Of the countries in the East Asian region, Malaysia has come to symbolize the mouse that dares to roar against the supposedly mighty Western lion. The mind-set of the West has always been ethnocentric: the West is better; it must be better; nobody should be better than it. So when East Asia boomed economically, there was envy. But now the downturn in the economy gives the West the opening to say the East Asians are confirmed mice, that the so-called Asian tigers were just an illusion. But Malaysians have the faith and internal resilience to work through this hardship.
WINNIE MUJAH
Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad has integrity and honesty, the attributes that make him popular. This is not Indonesia. The majority of Malaysians stand behind Mahathir, trusting that his wisdom will pull us out of the current economic crisis. While it is true that our government was forced to resort to a number of desperate actions, on no account should the crisis be blamed on Mahathir. His call for revamping the international financial system is appropriate and necessary. The West should consider the wisdom of what he says instead of criticizing him.
PETER J. PEREIRA
Selangor, Malaysia

Mahathir's disdain for the west, when it suits him, is almost as bad as his quiet begging for its approval. He must realize that he is not talking to uneducated people. If he is not careful, he will follow Suharto into infamy.
NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST
Kuala Lumpur

CORRECTION

A letter published in this column [June 22] from Dan Jog in Doha, Qatar, incorrectly identified him as the editor of the Khaleej Times. S. Nihal Singh is the editor of that newspaper, which is published in Dubai.