Photo montage by Adam Connors
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RANKINGS 1-5
| 6-10 | 11-15
| 16-20 | 21-25
| 26-30 | 31-35
| 36-40 | 41-45
| 46-50 | next
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21
Miyazawa Kiichi
FINANCE MINISTER, JAPAN
BORN Oct. 8, 1919 in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
EDUCATION University of Tokyo
FAMILY Married, one daughter and one son
E-MAIL g04398@shugiin.go.jp
QUOTE "The IMF initially took a textbook approach. It could
have adopted a more strategic method."
POWER POINTS Blamed by many for failing to prick the bubble
economy when he was last at the finance ministry, the former PM is
now credited with getting Japan Inc., if not steaming ahead, then
at least back on track. The veteran pol's long memory also helped
him recognize the real depth of the Asian Crisis. He threw other countries
in the region a $30-billion lifeline, too.
22
Lee Hoi Chang
PRESIDENT, GRAND NATIONAL PARTY, SOUTH KOREA
BORN June 2, 1935 in Seoheung, Hwanghae province, Korea
EDUCATION Seoul National University, Harvard University
FAMILY Married with two sons
E-MAIL hoicl@chollian.net
QUOTE "Our democracy is not for negotiation with North Korea."
POWER POINTS The duty of the opposition is to oppose, and Lee
Hoi Chang is not one to shirk an obligation. Lee has showed his political
chops by using unemployment and scandals in President Kim Dae Jung's
cabinet to generate anti-DJ sentiment across the country. A purge
of the GNP old guard leaves him in firm control of key National Assembly
committees - ensuring continuing checks on Kim and his reform policies.
23
Lee Kuan Yew
SENIOR MINISTER, SINGAPORE
BORN Sept. 16, 1923 in Singapore
EDUCATION Cambridge University, Middle Temple, U.K.
FAMILY Married; one daughter, two sons (deputy PM Lee Hsien
Loong and the head of Singapore Telecom, Lee Hsien Yang)
E-MAIL lee_kuan_yew@pmo.gov.sg
POWER POINTS The Crisis and the Internet-age were supposed
to make the "Old Man" irrelevant. Only nobody told him. Instead of
grumbling about change, the SM has emerged as a cheerleader for it,
proposing a wave of "creative destruction" and "the abandonment of
rules which have served us well for 30-plus years." Can LKY.com be
far off?
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Edwin
Tuyay for Asiaweek
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24
Joseph Estrada
PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
BORN April 19, 1937 in Manila
EDUCATION Engineering, Mapua Institute of Technology
FAMILY Married, 13 children
E-MAIL erap@erap.com
POWER POINTS Allegations of cronyism and corruption in government,
two major kidnappings and a virtual civil war in the South. These
are tough times for the Malacaņang tough-guy - and he has the record-low
popularity ratings to prove it. Erap denies all charges of impropriety
and has kept the economy on an even keel. But perception is everything
in Philippine politics and the champion of the poor has a make-or-break
year ahead of him.
AP
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25
Pervez Musharraf
CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF AND MILITARY RULER OF PAKISTAN
BORN Aug. 11, 1943 in New Delhi, India
EDUCATION Command and Staff College, Quetta, Pakistan; Royal
College of Defense Studies, U.K.
FAMILY Married with one son and one daughter
HOBBIES Squash, badminton, bridge
POWER POINTS As career moves go, it was a biggie. On Oct. 12,
1999, Gen. Musharraf staged a military coup, ousting PM Nawaz Sharif
and a government seen as corrupt and incompetent. Promising efficient,
honest rule, the general initially garnered much public support. That
has waned. Relations with India stayed sour following an incursion
into Kashmir, the economy remains mired in debt and doubt, Sharif
escaped the death sentence and elections are three years away. Still,
there are no obvious challengers to Musharraf's command of one of
Asia's biggest armies - and one of the world's newest nuclear arsenals.
RANKINGS
1-5 | 6-10 |
11-15 | 16-20
| 21-25 | 26-30
| 31-35 | 36-40
| 41-45 | 46-50
| next >>
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