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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1986)
Editorial Impose sanctions, end U.S. hypocrisy Restrictions on news coverage may prevent the world from seeing the South African government's brutality, but the violence continues just the same. Black opposition to apartheid has not diminished, nor has the violence against this protest. Shortly after the South African Parliment reconvenes at the end of this month. President P.W. Botha is expected to announce reforms in the laws that regulate the daily lives of blacks. In all likelihood few, if any, meaningful changes in that nation’s racial laws will be proposed. Last August, Botha announced several measures that were touted beforehand as the beginning of the end of apartheid. The hype, however, failed to match reality. Pass laws still regulate the movements of blacks. Educa tion continues to be segregated and funded dispropor tionately in favor of white children. Political opposition groups are banned from meeting. A state of emergency exists in most areas, bringing with it curfews, government arrests and detentions without charge and a ban on gatherings arid political speeches at funerals. In short, more than 70 percent of the South African population continue to be treated as non-citizens by a government that advocates racial superiority. Botha's August speech and subsequent remarks follow one line of thinking — South Africa will resist outside pressure and reform at its own pace, if at all.-After meeting \ with Botha in South Africa last week,'a group of U.S. .con gressmen voiced their skepticism at the prospect" of major changes in apartheid. One member of the delegation called Botha "totally closed and unwilling to be.responsive." For South Africa’s blacks, the time'for peaceful change may already have passed. Reacting to increased government violence against black dissent, the leader of the African Na tional Congress recently called for an increase in the group.'s guerrilla war against the, white tegime.Thus, the cycle of violence will escalate and further hinder the prospects of a . peaceful solution to the political and. social polarisation. While far from laudable, the reaction of the ANC to an intractable government is understandable: Bishop Desmond Tutu, while retaining his opposition to all forms of violence/ recently stated his equally firm conviction that injustice must be combated. . /* I here comes a time, the 1984'Nobel Peace Prize win- ‘ ner stated, “when it is justifiable to overthrow ah unjust system by violence.” , ° . Tutu’s remark is significant in that it acknowledges the limits to black patience with apartheid/ While it may be; argued that the Afrikaner government will abolish t.h°e more •; significant aspects of apartheid over time, it is just as likely . that civil war will erupt beforehand.’The potential cost in human life would be great,, given the sophistication of the = South African military. And as past events-have shown, the government has not shiedaway from the useof force tq quell • unrest. Given the increasingly dim chances for reconciliation, . what role should the United States play? There are those, iri cluding President Reagan, who have resisted meaningful U.S. economic sanctions against South Africa. Supporters of the U.S. administration’s policy of constructive engagement claim the United States can bring a quicker end to apartheid by increasing business ties. U.S businesses operating in South Africa, they argue, provide blacks with jobs and pro mote so-called progressive employment practices. This argument is flawed. First , it ignores the history of U.S.-South African relations. Despite increased business investment over the last 37 years, apartheid has become more entrenched and resistant to change. In fact, the rise of the South African economy and the subsequent high standard of living for most whites is a direct result of apartheid. The exploitation of a readily available supply of cheap, surplus black labor is the essence of this brutality. Those who argue that sanctions would cause suffering for black South Africans ignore the past and current pain blacks have already endured and the call by many blacks themselves for U.S. sanctions. Further, Reagan’s eagerness to impose economic sanc tions against Nicaragua and, more recently, Libya, ring hollow given his timidity to impose sanctions on South Africa. There is no doubt about whether the South African government is a terrorist nation. Its daily brutalization and treatment of the black population is terrorism on a scale equal to that of Nazi Germany. Thus we urge the president to speak with one face, and hit South Africa where it is most vulnerable to U.S. pressure — its economy. U.S. business interests cannot be placed above the immorality of apartheid. Page 2 ; Room tax: . Eugene Mayor Brian Obie unyeiled:a plan to raise the tax on hotel and '(hotel, rooms from 6 percent to 9 perqpnt n\ 4iis„ annual state-of-the-city address last Mon-* * day... He said the. tax woujd raisct'nearly, .one third of the cost' Id expand Eugene’s Mahlon Sweet Airport. * ’ •" ”• ' Airport'expansion is a worthy goal. Economic * progress will be,‘hindered ° unless-the airport’s.capacity is increased. ' ~ Bui a"room-fax increase would be an inafT" propriate method of 'generating ’ the necessary funds. * • -. . ' ‘ Obie" argues, the tax is' justified : because those who use the airport for* business trips stay' in hotels and motels.’ True, 'some of those who .fly into Eugene' visit on-business, but they-usually dpt for ' larger-facilities such as the .Miltori.- The. smaller motels and hotels” still Would be forced to raise their rates. And;because. . the. increase would be imposed drily on• '.-Eugene hotels and. motels, consumers! would be attracted to nearby Springfield’s lower rates, • . > • ' lObie also contends the -increase. . wduld not divert convention business to Portland because Portland's rate’ js already 9 percent. This may Be true, but it seems ironic to raise -rates charged to the very people Eugene is trying to attract.’, ’ And even with the $3 million generated by the tax increase, officials will be $7 million short of the region’s $10 million share of the project's price tag. Obie referred to additional federal or state grants and indicated the airlines Oregon Daily EmeraM The Oregon Daily Emerald Is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Oaity Emerald Publishing Co, at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403 Ti’*,fmer*id independently ol ihe University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law General Staff Advertising Director Susan Thelen n^"n3,\a0er Russell Steele Classified Advertising Vince Adam* Assistant to the Publisher jean Ownbey Advertising Sales David Wood Sales Manager, John Boiler, Michael Gray, Robin Joannldes, Carlos Lamadnd nhaC an^,u,r<1' ^,ha*n L®u,h0,d- Ju,,e Lewis, Catherine Lilfa, Anne Mane Vramzan, Laura Willoughby Production Vince Adams, Kelly Alexandre, Shu Shm0 Chen, Ellen Cross, Monica Dwyer, Stormi Dykes, Manuel Flores, Steve Gibbons, Rob Hare, Mary Lewis, Jim Marks Ann?< u",‘in' ^ary J^ay MarV McGonigal, Rob Miles Angie Muniz, Kara Oberst, Charla Parker, Ken Parrott Jennifer Peterson, Jim Ptafl. Geof< Ramviiie, Michele floss. Alyson Simmons. Peg Solonika Gregory Tipps would Jh- required tp.cbugh.up a greater0 • portiondh.tHe costs. • Wh «t H e r -or hot these •' measures.-will raise $7. Million is- unclear. • •. • . • • » • : • - Other questions Remain.:unarte.\yefit»d. The proposed. city ’income! ;.h»x.; which 'wquld’ havtf- financed airport • expansion .ami'other'projects-' Was rejected-by > 4-1 margin in'Nov.emi>er in;pa.rtj»pca.use the, ■ entire hill.for enlarging the.airpqrt-would have been. paid by ftu genii', -Under; the- pro * ■ posed • room-tax increase. Eugene still would -pay. for a- service .that residents throughout;the county would.‘-ivjoy. t ‘ • Obi'e asked Springfield and .the rest of .* the . county, to. match ..the .increase, but county officials-are, !i.keiy'to be-upenthus ed about the jequest because they recfeh'tly 'announced plans to sebka PperconVcbUh ty .‘rooni-tax "increase Jo fund; tourism pipmqtioo; . . Afstc .voters-will be dehied.the 6pp»)r tun'jty to. vote on the proposal The fax can be ' implemented' following City ’Council a p pit) vail' Ob i e pro ha b I y particularly sup ports this filature because voters rejected • the city income-tax prbpusfjl in November and .Oregonians as "a .w hole ^ha.ve greeted V propejjy" tax increases with hostility, witnessed by“ a ‘substantial increase in school levy, failures Iasi year Most bC these problems would be solved.if airport.expansion whs funded by a . countywide property-tax increase. Voters may be less hesitant to approve a property-tax increase' .if they are convinc ed airport expans’oiris-a necessity. J Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Assistant Editorial Pag* Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Friday Edition Editor Sidelines Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Community Features General Assignment Student Activities Student Government University Affairs • Julio Shipper' • • Diana Elliott JolaywHoui? Michelle Brence Scott Harding Robert Comas Karen Stallwood Sheila Landry Allan Laro Diana Elliott Scott McFeirJdge Gary Jimener Julie Freeman Mary Lichtenwalner Linda Hahn Kirsten Bolin Reporters Sean Axmaker, Dan Coran, Ron Gullberg. Deborah Janes. Kim Kaady. Andrew Lamar. Capi Lynn, Chuck Thompson Photographers Kamila Al-Napar. Shu Shing Chen. Steve Gibbons. Rob Hare, Derrel Hewitt, Jim Marks, Ross Martin News and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 686 3712 Classified Advertising 686 4343 Production 686 4381 Circulation 666 SS11 Monday, January 13,19*8(
