Korean Ex-Presidents On Trial

DANIA, FLORIDA: As the Super Tuesday primaries approach, runaway Republican front-runner Bob Dole is hoping to capture a majority of the 362 delegates. Monday, he called on his Republican competitors Steve Forbes and Pat Buchanan to reconsider their candidacies for the nomination. "I would hope we can come together as a party and as a team ... and beat Bill Clinton," Dole said. Forbes flatly denied reports that he might trade his campaign for a flat tax plank in the GOP platform, calling the idea "totally out of bounds." Jack Kemp, who had suggested the possibility and offered himself as a broker flew to Washington over the weekend instead of campaigning with Forbes on Monday. Meanwhile, Pat Buchanan anticipated a "rough day" on Tuesday but maintained that his supporters would "Go to San Diego to do battle for the things we believe in."SEOUL: Two former presidents have gone on trial for mutiny and treason in connection with their bloody seize of power. Chun Doo-hawn and Roh Tae-woo, who ruled South Korea in successive terms from 1980 to 1993, are accused of masterminding the 1979 takeover and the ensuing military crackdown that killed 240 protesters in 1980. As the two ex-generals came to court, 20 people were arrested for trying to throw rocks and eggs at their bus A fight broke out in the courtroom after the father of a student leader beaten to death by riot police in 1991 stood and cursed the two, saying, "We should execute them!" Fourteen other people are on trial, including two former defense ministers and three current members of parliament. Defense lawyers say the allegations are politically motivated. Prosecutors, however, argue that the trial will show that "justice is alive in this country." TIME's Irene Kunii says the trial could have far-reaching implications. "This trial tests the legitimacy of the Chun-Roh governments," Kunii says. "The rewriting of history could effect the parliamentary elections in April and next winter's presidential election." Kunii says The trial will be held every Monday and is expected to last one year.Forbes Continues Campaign, But For What?MIAMI: An aide to Steve Forbes said on Sunday that Forbes may withdraw from the presidential campaign in about three weeks if he receives adequate assurances that GOP frontrunner Bob Dole will include a flat tax plank in the Republican platform. Forbes has repeatedly said he will remain in the race until the convention, despite calls by party heavyweights to drop out to allow Dole to focus his campaign on beating President Clinton. Dole has called for tax reform, but has not committed himself to a specific flat tax proposal. Forbes won the Delaware and Arizona primaries but has not been able to build on those victories in subsequent contests. The centerpiece of his campaign - a 17 percent flat tax - has sparked interest among GOP voters, though it has not translated into support at the polls. Jack Kemp, who endorsed Forbes last week, acknowledged that he could serve as a liaison between the two candidates. Many political analysts were puzzled by Kemp's seemingly odd timing last week, but these new rumblings from the Forbes camp suggest a possible rationalization: Kemp may have known that Forbes was on the verge of dropping out, but wanted to save his tax idea. In announcing his support, Kemp insisted he was not refusing to endorse the eventual GOP nominee. Perhaps he was really endorsing an idea.