[Word Of Mouth] - Brief Article

Business Asia, June, 2001

"I will finish what you started. Force against force, arms against arms. You can run, but not far."

-- PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, SPEAKING ON THE GOVERNMENT'S OFFER OF A REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE CAPTURE OF A REBEL GROUP HOLDING 20 HOSTAGES.

"We will not sell our state enterprises or national assets in fire sales, ever. Business is business. We have to negotiate to get the right price."

-- THAILAND PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN SHINAWATRA ON THE PLANNED SALES OF SHARES IN STATE COMPANIES.

"I do not regard the job of cutting taxes as finished -- we are tax cutters rather than spending increasers."

-- AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD ON THE RECENT RELEASE OF THE 2001 AUSTRALIAN BUDGET AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE TAX CUTS.