A-10 THE NEW MEXICAN Friday, July 4, 2008

Bush will attend Olympics opening ceremonies

By James Gerstenzang
and Ching-Ching Ni
Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON — The White
House confirmed Thursday that Presi-
dent Bush would attend the Beijing
Olympics opening ceremonies next
month, despite human rights concerns
that have led to boycotts by his coun-
terparts in Britain and Germany.
The decision, while expected, illus-
trated the dilemma Bush faced after he
promised Chinese President Hu Jintao
in September that he would go to Bei-
jing for the games.
China has put huge stock in the
quadrennial competition, turning the
August athletic celebration into a sort
of world-stage validation of its eco-
nomic growth and its politics. international leg of the Olympic torch they will not be at the opening cer-
But along with its sought-after stat- relay — the pressure grew on Bush to emonies; French President Nicholas
ure as an Olympic host has come new stay home. Sarkozy has held out the possibility of
scrutiny of its human rights policies, Other world leaders have said they attending, depending on progress of
particularly its actions in Tibet follow- might attend the games to watch their talks involving Chinese officials and
ing independence protests in March. athletes compete but avoid the open- representatives of the Dalai Lama, the
As China’s efforts to crush protests by ing ceremonies as a way to quietly exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.
Buddhist monks grew more violent protest Chinese policies. British Prime The Chinese government on Thurs-
— and critics sought to draw atten- Minister Gordon Brown and German day said it has held another round of
tion to the violence by disrupting the Chancellor Angela Merkel have stated talks with the Dalai Lama’s envoys.

Father kept UNLOCK

kids in cage YOUR
in the back DREAMS HOME EQUITY LOAN/
of his truck � LOW RATE
LINE-OF-CREDIT
By Jeremy Gorner and � ENJOY MORE CASH
Emma Graves Fitzsimmons
Chicago Tribune � MAKE EASY PAYMENTS
� ENJOY CONVENIENCE
CHICAGO — A Chicago area
man was arrested Monday and � TAX SAVINGS
charged with child endanger-
ment after keeping one of his
children locked in a cage in
the back of a pickup truck at a
Posen, Ill., gas station, police
said Thursday.
Ricardo Gonzalez, 35, later
admitted he has locked up both
his daughters, ages 5 and 2, in
the cage to control them so they
wouldn’t run away, police said.
The child endangerment
charge is a misdemeanor, but a
Cook County State Attorney’s www.secunm.org
Office spokesman said it has not ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ���
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�
yet been determined whether
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the offense will be upgraded to MORE INFORMATION
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Gonzalez’s pickup truck was
spotted about 4:30 p.m. Mon-
day at a gas station in the 3000

everything is on
block of West 147th Street in
Posen when someone stand-
ing at a fuel pump heard what
she thought was a crying child,
authorities said. Police said
Gonzalez was sitting in the

SALE
driver’s seat at the time with
the 2-year-old in his lap while
the 5-year-old was locked in the
cage crying.
The person at the fuel pump
who heard the crying “looks
inside this pickup truck and
noticed a male subject pushing
a juvenile’s hands back into the
cage,” said Posen Deputy Police
Chief Vickie Paggi. “She didn’t
think this was right and notified
police right away.”
Before Gonzalez had the
chance to leave the gas station,

20 OFF %
he was taken into custody, Paggi
said.
Gonzalez admitted he “used
16 HOURS ONLY!
the (cage) to control (his chil-
dren)” so they wouldn’t run
FRIDAY & SATURDAY

518
away, Paggi said.
The children were turned
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of Children and Family Services, - or -
which is investigating the inci-
dent as an allegation of abuse of
the two children by their father,
said agency spokesman Kend-
all Marlowe. She also said the
children have been placed into
foster care.
OR take advantage of five year or 18 month
financing options. Sale Ends 7/5/08

The agency has had prior

contact with the family in 2006,
when they investigated the chil-
dren’s mother for neglect, Mar-
lowe said. That allegation was
“substantiated,” Marlowe said,
but DCFS provided the fam-
ily with “supportive services”
instead of placing the children
in foster care.
The makeshift cage was
installed in an area behind the
OR

r s
front driver’s side and passen-

e a
**
Y
ger’s side seats of Gonzalez’s
truck, and was made from rope,
metal fencing, wires and
bungee cords, Paggi said, adding
that he locked the cage with a

OWN
padlock.
D
Months***
Gonzalez’s neighbors said he
O N E Y
works evenings collecting trash
NO M EST
and scrap metal in his truck and
always had the girls with him. N O INT E R
Paggi said Gonzalez initially
admitted locking them in the
cage while he worked because NO MONEY
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the family had no baby-sitter.
But later, Paggi said, Gonzalez
said he locked them in the cage
NO INTER TS
when they were out of control.
One neighbor, Tracy Burns,
said she grew concerned after
she saw him installing fencing
and a padlock in his truck with
a drill and tying the passenger
$
2,500 GAS CARD! .00 EST

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door shut with a rope from
the outside. The girls’ mother
works long hours as a dental
assistant at a nearby medical
center, Burns said.
Burns grew concerned after
seeing Gonzalez making the
cage, and several neighbors had
been in contact with authorities,
she said.
“I heard the drilling and
wondered, ‘What could it be?’ ”
the 38-year-old housewife said.
“Then I thought, ‘Is this so his
kids can’t get out?’ ”
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other American Home promotional credit plan, the remaining balance and the amount of Finance Charges that have accrued from the date of purchase through and including the last day of the promotional period will be included in your regular revolving balance and
regular credit terms will apply. Minimum purchase of $999.99 on same day purchases only. 20% deposit required for special orders (must be cash, check, Visa, Mastercard or Discover). As of July 1, 2008 accounts are subject to an APR of 23.30%, which may vary,
minimum monthly FINANCE CHARGE of $1.00.Promotional plan available July 4, 2008 through July 10, 2008, as detailed above. Prior purchases excluded. Offer subject to credit approval. Refer to CCA for details. Promotional financing not available on as-is items.
***18 Month Plan: When you use your American Home credit card account, Finance Charges are deferred for promotional credit plan purchases and then accrue from the date of purchase through and including the last day of the promotional period if the purchase
amount is not paid in full by the promotional period end date (540 days from date of purchase). If the promotional credit plan purchase is not paid in full before the promotional period ends or regular revolving and/or any promotional plan payments are not paid when
required for three consecutive billing cycles, under this or any other American Home promotional credit plan, the remaining balance and the amount of Finance Charges that have accrued from the date of purchase through and including the last day of the promotion-
al period will be included in your regular revolving balance and regular credit terms will apply. Minimum purchase of $1,499.99 on same day purchases only. 20% deposit required for special orders (must be cash, check, Visa, MasterCard or Discover.) As of July 1,
2008 APR is 23.30%, which may vary. Minimum monthly FINANCE CHARGE of $1.00. Promotional plan available July 4, 2008 through July 10, 2008, as detailed above. Prior purchases excluded. Offer subject to credit approval. Refer to CCA for details.
Promotional financing not available on as-is items.
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