In California, as in the country as a whole, an increasing number of citizens see themselves in part in terms of national or ethnic identity, and turn to the ethnic press (in both English and other languages) for news and comment. To offer a taste of the stories and ideas circulating in this overlooked section of the media, PNS offers a monthly column of gleanings from California ethnic publications with the help of a network of over 50 editors.

EDITED BY ANDREA QUONG AND FRANZ SCHURMANN, PACIFIC NEWS SERVICE

GOP NOW FACES CHARGES ABOUT IMPROPER FUNDS -- AND ABOUT ITS RESPONSE TO THOSE CHARGES

Republicans have been quick to criticize the Democratic Party for the so-called "Asian connection" in campaign contributions. This GOP response has brought criticism from Asian American groups -- and revelations that the Republicans enjoyed similar levels of support from Asian American sources.

Time magazine was first to report that the U.S. subsidiary of a Hong Kong firm owned by Ambrous Tung Young acted to guarantee a loan to the National Policy Forum, an entity established by Haley Barbour, then-chairman of the Republican National Committee. It defaulted on a $500,000 loan.

Republican officials have said that Young's firm is incorporated in this country and run by U.S. citizens -- and that there is no more reason to reject money from Asian-American sources than from Irish-American or any other ethnic group.

Despite these reassurances, Asian Americans are concerned about fundraising efforts of the National Republican Senate Committee, which has placed advertisements charging Clinton and Gore "systematically solicited and laundered millions of dollars from drug smugglers, illegal arms dealers, and even Communist officials of the People's Republic of China."

- Asian Week (San Francisco)

FORMER ATTICA INMATE WINS $4 MILLIION IN SUIT

Nearly 27 years after the uprising at Attica, a federal jury has awarded damages to one of the inmates involved.

Frank Smith, 64, won a $4 million judgement because the state mishandled the situation in which 43 people were killed.

Smith, considered a leader of the rebellion, was beaten and tortured after the prison was retaken. In all, 1,281 prisoners are suing the state for $2.8 billion.

- The Final Call (Chicago)

KAO CASE NEEDS ACTION

A decision not to press charges against the police officer who shot and killed a Chinese-American resident of Rohnert Park, Calif. has drawn an angry response.

Officials explained that the officer assumed Kuan Chung Kao was a "deadly martial arts expert" because he was swinging a broomstick. Members of the Chinese-American community who are familiar with stereotypes of Asians say the decision did not surprise them. However, many feel that the case shows the government -- at least in Sonoma County -- is not able to protect the civil rights of their community.

- World Journal (San Francisco)

INDIA NOW RANKS THIRD AS COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF US IMMIGRANTS

Some 45,000 immigrants entered the United States from India in 1996, which brings it into third place as a country of origin -- its highest standing ever -- after Mexico, with some 163,000 new arrivals, and the Philippines, with about 56,000.

Well over half of these immigrants intended to settle in just five states: California, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Illinois.

- India West (Emeryville)

VIETNAMESE VILLAGE RISES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Filipino soldiers who came to forcefully repatriate some 500 Vietnamese held in a refugee camp in Palawan, the Philippines, were greeted by Father Ramos Aguelles and his parishioners carrying a statue of the Madonna.

The soldiers retreated, and the government announced a change of plans -- it will build a village on the site of the camp, with the help of some $2 million in contributions from overseas Vietnamese.

- Viet Magazine (San Jose)

UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS MAKE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO U.S. ECONOMY

Undocumented workers in the United States contribute some $30 billion to the economy, despite their low wages and the fact that they produce low-cost goods and services.

"Even though U.S. authorities charge that undocumented workers cause American society a lot of problems, the facts are that undocumented Mexicans bring a very big part of the wealth that has raised the living standards of American citizens," according to Manuel Monreal, director of the Workers' University of Mexico.

He concedes that the U.S. economy does incur costs with these workers, particularly expenditures in education and medical costs, an estimated total of $3 billion.

Monreal also noted that these workers have, typically, not received any wage increases in the last 20 years, and that they are used to bring down the wages of other workers.

- La Opinion (Los Angeles)

OFFICIAL EUPHORIA OVER EMPLOYMENT FIGURES IGNORES REALITY IN SOME COMMUNITIES

The White House has announced it is "euphoric" over the low unemployment rate of 4.8 percent. But this analysis ignores one key fact -- black unemployment is running at 10.3 percent, and has actually risen recently.

Behind the headlines, there is the ugly truth of a 33.3 percent unemployment rate among African American youth -- and these numbers are all low estimates. More realistic numbers would be 50% higher.

People have been too busy talking about balanced budgets to think about issues like unemployment -- and when unemployment comes up, they can always hide behind that 4.8 percent and say, "isn't that wonderful?"

If African Americans don't make noise about these rates, why should anyone else? Black Caucus, where are you?

- Sun Reporter (San Francisco)

WINNING IS HARD, BUT RUNNING THINGS MAY BE EVEN HARDER

Managing a stable society is more difficult than managing a revolution, according to Nur Misuari, leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

The Moros' struggle with the Philippine government ended in September of 1996, with the signing of a peace treaty creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Misuari is now the governor of the Region, made up of the Philippines' former four primarily Muslim provinces.

"It now appears that the burden of peace is greater than the burden of war because we have to face a lot of complexities in civil society," Misuari said.

After three years, the people of the ARMM will vote on the extent of their autonomy from the Philippines, but the MNLF has not put down its guard. In the future, he says, "computers, paper, pens will replace arms. Eventually, maintaining the arms would be hazardous to the children."

- Filipinas (San Francisco)

ANALYSIS SHOWS SIGNS OF A POSSIBLE NEW POLITICAL ALIGNMENT Chinese-American votes were the deciding factor in the victory of ballot propositions approving bond funding for a major new sports stadium and shopping mall complex in San Francisco, according to an analysis by the Chinese-American Voter Education Council.

Council director David Lee noted that turnout in the districts closest to the planned project was considerably higher than usual, and that Chinese-Americans now account for 20 percent of home ownership and 30 percent of voters in those districts.

African-American voters in these districts also turned out in unusual force and Lee and said this suggests that these two communities could work together to secure their common interests in the future.

- World Journal (San Francisco)