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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 1980)
Page 2 Portland Observer January 24,1960 EDITORIAL/OPINION Rhodesia:Election fever grips the county By N. Fungai Kumbula Support literacy Entry tests not fair Zimbabwe’ s politics has always Union (ZAPU ) 1960. Considered from the liberation movement. Up been bizarre, to say the least. It’s the until 1963, he was Nkomo’ s deputy the most dangerous African at one Nicaragua, recently freed from the U.S. The State Board of Education has decided that only country in the world that: 1) in ZAPU. That year, after ZAPU point, he was jailed for almost ten supported dictator Somoza through a socialist university graduates - and even university stu used to be free as Zimbabwe 2) was was banned and all the nationalists years by the white minority regime revolution, has followed Cuba's example by dents -- should be literate. No quarrel w ith that. stolen and became Southern had agreed not to form any more o f Ian Smith in a futile attempt to declaring 1980 as the "Year of Education." parties, he went ahead and formed s tifle the nationalist movement. To insure literacy, they will now require ap Rhodesia 3) joined with the then In 1961, Cuba sent m ore than 35,000 plicants to the University of Oregon and Oregon Norhtern Rhodesia and Nyasaland ZAN U , causing the split that has Generally considered an oppor teenagers out into the countryside, each with State University to pass a language test designed to become the federation o f not yet healed. He remained the tu n ist, his flirta tio n s and secret Rhodesia and Nyasaland 4) became head o f ZA N U u n til about two negotiations with Smith in 75 and 76 a hammock and lantern, to l.'ve and work with to measure their writing ability. Southern Rhodesia once more with years ago when he was ousted. He may hurt his chances. His the people and to teach them to read and This might not seem unreasonable, and if tests the breakup o f the Federation in subsequently signed the internal association with Robert Mugabe in write, in one year, more than 707,000 adults were not biased and all students were able to 1963, became simply Rhodesia, an agreement and thus effectively the Patriotic Front and his later en learned to read and w rite , reducing the address tests w ith the same preparation, it would international outlaw in 1965, a destroyed what little credibility he dorsement o f the armed struggle pseudo Black republic in March illiteracy rate from 23.6 to 3.6 percent. and the calibre o f the other can had left. While Muzorewa won 51 not be unreasonable. 1979, a British colony once more in A p p ro x im a te ly half o f N icaragua 's one didates all work in his favor, seats, Sithole could do no better It is common knowledge that Black children - December 1979 and is about to however, look for him to pick 25 to than 9, coming in third. A ruthless, million citizens over the age of ten years are especially those attending Albina schools -- are become real Zimbabwe once agin. 30 seats. power hungry, stop at nothing unable to read and write. In some areas, the not being properly educated. They are not being Among other things, the London Robert Mugabe, 57, the scholarly politician, he is expected to do wor illiteracy rate is over 90 percent. Nicaragua taught to read and write. Chicano, Indian, and talks just concluded set the stage for se than Muzorewa again. M arxist (he is said to have five begins its literacy crusade while it is also faced degrees: law, public administration Asian refugee children have a decided d is the return o f the rebel colony to James Chikerema, 58, form er •‘ legal’ ’ colonial status in pre w ith rebuilding it's economy, devestated by and economics), he is Nkomo’ s par vice president o f ZA P U , form er advantage. Poor white children - those who at paration for elections to be held the war, and developing institutions nffglected tner in the Patriotic Front guerrilla president o f FR O LIZI (formed in tend what the Administration calls economically next month. by the Somoza regime. alliance. He is considered much less an e ffo rt to unite Z A P U and disadvantaged schools - do not have an equal Theoretically, this will be the first flexible than Nkom o, not as ar ZA N U ) and form er m inister o f Already volunteer teachers have arrived in education. time since the country was stolen in ticulate and almost too honest to be Transport in Muzorewa’ s interim Nicaragua from Cuba and help is promised As long as these differences in opp ortun ity 1890 that Zimbabweans o f all colors a p o litic ia n . He is a relative government. This association may from other nations. Americans have a special newcomer to the top spot having effectively have finished him o ff exist it is not fair to bar any student from any w ill be able to participate in the choosing o f a government to run responsibility to help since it was our govern been Ndabaningi Sithole’ s deputy in even though he did break away from school because of a test score. their country. After seven years o f a ment that kept Somoza in power in spite of full ZANU (Zim babwe A frica n Muzorewa later on. He is not taken bitter war o f liberation that claimed knowledge of the torture and terror wrought National Union) before Sithole was seriously at all. in excess o f 20,000 lives, a ceasefire kicked out. Because ZANU carried by his administration. Jeremiah Chirau, 59, a creation was fin a lly agreed upon. the bulk o f the fighting, over the o f Ian Smith, has never been his A lth o u g h m anpow er fo r the Literacy With a British appointed Gover past two years he has come to be the own person. In the last election, he Crusade w ill be provided m ainly by The 1980 Census will soon be taken - an at nor, Lord Soames running the coun most popular nationalist leader, did not win a single seat...not even Nicaragua's youth, other items are needed: tem pt to count the people living in the United try, it was agreed that the freedom rising in direct proportion in his own district! This time, he is paper, notebooks, pencils; boots, lanterns, 4- States. The information gathered will determine fighters would come out o f the bush Muzorewa’ s tumbling. He should expected to do even worse if that is pick up more seats than any o f the at all possible. wheeler drive trucks; denim cloth; ID badges representation in the state le gislature and and be housed in sixteen camps around the country and the Smith- other candidates, 30 to 40 maybe? fo r volunteer teachers. U.S. citizens have Congress, as well as allocation of federal funds. W ill all this electioneering finally Muzorewa forces would, likewise, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, 54, bring peace to Zimbabwe? The an been asked to raise $500,000 for the purchase Traditionally minorities - especially Blacks and be confined to their barracks. A arrogant, naive, inarticulate, this swer has to be NO. The Black vote is of cloth to make clothing and hammocks for Chicanos- have not been fully counted so their 1,300 man Commonwealth peace election is shaping up to be a clossal going to be split six ways, leaving keeping force (from such countries the volunteers. A $25 donation will completely com m unities loose representation and funds. disaster for him. His naivete may be none o f the candidates with a clear outfit one volunteer; $100 will support a volun The importance of an accurate count should be as Britain, Australia, New Zealand, attributed to his lack o f experience. majority. Britain and South Africa Kenya and F iji) would police the He rose from obscurity to national are pulling what strings they can to teer fo r one m onth; and $500 w ill o u tfit a apparent. country to keep the freedom fighters prominence in 1974 when he led the influence the outcome o f the elec brigade of 20 teachers. The Census also offers temporary work. Per and the Smith forces apart. African rejection o f the so-called tions. South A fric a would D onations can be sent to "L ite ra c y sons interested in employment should contact Crucial to the talks was the agree Pearce proposals. Briefly held the definately like to see Muzorewa Crusade," National Network in Solidarity with the State Employment Office, King Facility, the ment to hold general elections next presidency o f the African National elected; B ritain would prefer the Nicaraguan People, 1322 18th Street NW Peninsula Park Center or the State Welfare O f month to choose Zimbabwe’s next Council when ZAPU, ZAN U and Muzorewa, but would grudgingly government. Already guaranteed 20 Washington, D.C. 200036. F R O L IZ I all united under his accept a Nkomo victory. Both are, fice on Interestate. For inform ation call 248 o f the 100 seats, the whites will vote leadership in 1974. His credibility therefore, w orking very hard to 4187. first on February 14 (“ Valentine" started to crum ble when he prevent a Mugabe victo ry. The should turn in his grave). Blacks will negotiated w ith Smith and sub current Soames regime in Salisbury then go to the polls February 27 sequently signed the ill-fated inter has been dispatching Rhodesian through the 29th. They w ill be nal agreement. A fte r he became soldiers to hunt “ renegade” choosing from six candidates and “ fighrehead prim e m inister” o f ZANU forces that have refused to therein lies the problem. It means Zimbabwe -- Rhodesia, what come into the camps. This in spite the 80 seats set aside for them will be following he had quickly dissipated of the clearly spelled out provisions split six ways. Chances o f a when it became apparent he was no in the agreement that the Salisbury stalemate arc, therefore, rated ex By Missionary E. Thomas more than an echo, a mouthpiece regime was to remain neutral. at the dinner which was sponsored dinner a glorious occasion. I would cellent. A cursory look at the six for Ian Smith. It became clear also by Power House Church of God in I f Mugabe is robbed at the polls, also like to extend a special thanks candidates may provide a glimpse of Greetings in the name o f our Lord that he had “ won” the March elec chances are that the war w ill con Christ and Franklin's Market. to my brothers o f the Afgan Lodge what the outcome most likely w ill and Savior, Jesus Christ. tions simply because he was the least tinue as if nothing has happened. It was a great honor to have as for their loyal support. be. The Lord blessed us to begin the o f five “ evils.” Both South Africa The other side o f the coin is: South special guests Mother Eula Williams May God bless you and keep Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo: at 62, year ot 1980 with a free dinner, for and Britain are working very hard to A frica , which should have been o f the First Ecclesiastic Jurisdiction smiling on each of you. he is the oldest candidate and also all who were interested, which was see him elected because he has been required to withdraw i t ’ s troops o f the State o f Oregon, and her Your Servant for Christ, generally regarded as the father of held at the Moore Street Com and promises to be “ a very good from Zimbabwe, has been allowed daughter Missionary Eddie James Zimbabwe’ s nationalist movement. m unity Center on N o rtl\ boy.” He will be lucky to get more to keep them there. Further, she has from Oakland, California. Rev. L. Franklin Pastor In 1952, formed the Rhodesia Killingsworth and Moore Street. than ten seats. warned that i f Mugabe wins the I want to thank my wife and Power House Church o f God African Workers Union to demand We were blessed to feed more Ndabaningi Sithole, 57, elections, she will invade Zimbabwe family and the members of Power higher wages and better working in Christ than two hundred and fifty people Methodist minister, formerly Zim “ to protect her interests.” So, if House for their help in making this conditions; subsequently formed the babwe's fire breathing revoluntary Muzorewa wins, fine; i f Mugabe National Democratic Party (NDP) par excellence, has been on a down wins, however, it’ s a no - no. 1957, Zimbabwe African Peoples grade ever since his ill fated defectio ENOUGH FOR NOW! Job opportunity, too Letters to the Editor A open letter of thanks Black boat people: No room in the 'land of freedom" Continued I from page I column 4 the dreaded Ton tons Macoutes (secret police) testified that there are standing orders to arrest and im prison such persons. One refugee who had escaped from a Haitian prison last Novem ber said two returnees were tortured in his presence-one fatally. This refugee said he had been jailed because his wife had been overheard to say that Haiti should hold elec tions in 1980. He said he doesnt know what happened to his wife following her arrest. Nevertheless, the U.S. govern ment maintains that the Haitians art economic rather than p o litica l refugees - in short, that they are merely looking for work. But, reports Kathleen Newman, senior research assistant fo r the World Watch Institute and an ex pert on im m igration, “ The Haitians” attorneys made a pretty Hie difficulties o f the Haitians refugees are part o f an overall pat tern o f discrimination made legal by restrictions in the Immigration and Nationality Act o f 1965. Govern ment statistics for 1975-76, the last year such figures were kept, show that 96 percent of asylum applicants from such right-wing government as Chile, Iran, the P hilippines and South Vietnam were denied san- cturary. In contrast, 95 per cent of the applicants from communist countries (except Yugoslavia) were approved. Since 1972 only 58 sophisticated argument that the refugees are poor because o f the p o litica l system there. You can become a political refugee in the act of being an economic refugee. It’s a case of "voting with your feet." PORTLAND OBSERVER T h . Portland O btrrvrr (USPS 969 6 8 0 ,,a p u s h e d every Thu, n Pub'" £ 2 9 Com« * nV. In«., 220, North Killingawort 977^^ 97217- P° ” Office B<” ' 3,37 Portland Oreg. 9'208 Second class postage paid at Portland Oregon i UtbJ ^ .'PTIO7’ ” 50 m Tri County area »8 00 per ye 2“ rTr' 5 ^ n,V * fM Send address changes the Portland O b s ^ r r . P O Bos 3137, Portland Oregon *7206 Otu^n " r'* position it expressed only in r ° ,hW ,hrou« h° “ ' '* > P«Der « «• J * " ' ’* ” ,ubmrt,#r <,nd nece, sanry reflect the oprnron of the Portland O b s m rr 283 2486 ALFRED L. HENDERSON Editor/Publisher National A dvertising Representative A m algam ated Publishers Inc N ew York M l MSI X 1 st Place Community Service ONPA 1973 1st Place Best Ad Results ONPA 1973 5th Place Best Editoria! ONPA 1973 Honorable Mention Herrick Editoria! Avvard NNA 1973 2nd Place Best Editorial 3rd Place Community Leadership ONPA 1975 3rd Place Assoc.»,.on Toundwf f « M Community Leadership ONPA 1978 refugees from H a iti have been granted asylum, according to INS statistics An aide to Senator Kennedy said across-the-board asylum fo r the refugees will be made more likely af ter President Carter signs the Refugee Act. Under the pending bill, a maximum of 50,000 refugees may be adm itted, compared to 17,400 under the old law. This limit could be exceeded if the President determines, before the start of the fiscal year and after consultation with Congress, that it is justified by “ special humanitarian concern." Two amendments in the House- approved version are aimed at alleviating the grinding poverty un der which many refugees live in this country. One amendment would authorize HEW to reimburse local governments for such social services as resettlement aid and job training. The other amendment would authorize the Attorney General to grant work permits to refugees while their asylum applications are pen ding. Although im m igration reform advocates support the bill as a big step in the right direction, they said that it is far from a panacea. The government, for example, could still deny the Haitians asylum on the grounds that they lack clear-cut credentials as political refugees. “ I think that’s one o f the most difficult questions," said Newman. "Where do you draw the line bet ween politics and economics? With a broader definition o f "refugee.” there may be some hope that the bill w ill broaden the d e fin itio n o f “ political refugee.” And by expan ding the overall number of refugees admitted, there is a chance of taking in more o f the gray area between political and economic motives. But the INS have reiterated its basic view time and time again: Being poor alone does not entitle you to asylum. Whatever b ill the Congress passes,” said an aide to Congressman W alter Fauntroy (Demo., D.C.) “ there are going to be problems because o f the mindset o f the people who administrate it.” Fauntroy, a member o f the Congressional Black Caucus, fears that the INS w ill retain its bias towards the Haitians “ because they are Black, they are poor, and they are fleeing from a non-communist ally o f the U.S.” in an increasingly turbulent Caribbean. Asylum advocates also point out that the House version o f the bill curtails the prerogative o f the A t torney General to use parole a u th o rity to grant asylum. The amemdment states that he may use this authority only on an individual b a s is-n o t to include broad categories o f refugees--and only when it is justified by “ compelling reasons in the public interest.” Black political leaders-the 17- member Congressional Black Caucus in particular-are becoming increasingly im patient with the government’ s determination to send back the H aitians. The Black Caucus has been assuming leadership role in recent month what had been a rather lonely o paign by activist attorney and cl ch oganizations. Fauntroy noted that the Cau “ Guidelines fo r Black Vote evaluation o f presidential c, didates” includes support ’ change the U.S. immigration syst which has discriminated against Haitian boat people, while favor those from Southeast Asia.” Caucus members have met recent months with State Depa rnent and Im m igration a Naturalization Service officials, well as White House staff, in tryi to turn the government around. They counted a small victo recently when Rosylyn Cart publicly compared the plight o f t Haitians w ith that o f the Ca, bodian refugees. Her commen followed a meeting last Novcmb in which more than a hundred Bla, Florid? politicians and leade called for .'--U.S. Attorney Gener to grant asyium to the Haitians t his "parole visa” authority as w, done for hundreds of thousands , refugees from Indochina, Cuba ar Eastern Europe. C O P YR IG H T P N 8 1« "A n g er causes a man to ba ’ • r fro m th e t r u t h " Hasidic Saying Zoroaster laid. ' I n doubt if •n action be just, abstain."
