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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1984)
Page 2, Portland Observer, December 12. 1984 Foundation official sees So. African progress by Robert Lothian A Ford Fou n datio n o ffic ia l and South A fr ic a expert speaking in Portland Thursday, December 6. said the current round o f protests in that co u ntry m ight lead the opposition movement into actions that are “ pre m ature," bringing on a new round of repression that could set it back. D r. W illia m D . C arm ichael, Vice President o f the Ford F ou n datio n with responsibility for its developing country programs, had just returned from his 18th trip to South A fric a . His talk, "S o u th A fric a and its Im plications for U .S . Foreign P o licy ," was sponsored by the W orld A ffairs C o u ncil o f O reg o n at the M a r rio tt Hotel. Carm ichael described a tense and explosive situation in a South Africa that seems on the verge o f massive change. "Tho u gh violence is increas ing ," he said, "there is evidence that the violence w ill lead to a just new social order and not to a bitter civil w ar." A series of recent protests by a wide range o f the p op u latio ns o f South A fric a ’ s Black townships has caused the arrests o f 1200 leaders, including " frie n d s and g ra n te e s ," said C a r michael. M an y townships are under occupation by the South A fric a n arm y, experiencing "atrocities asso ciated w ith occupying fo rc e s ," he said. In ad d itio n, he continued, a two- day w o rk stoppage organized by Black unions was 65 - 90 percent suc cessful, and "cause o f very consid erable concern to the government o f South A fric a ." Dr. William D. Carmlchaal, vice president of the Ford Foundation, mingles with the audience following his talk on South Africa and its implication for U.S. foreign policy. (Photo: Richard J. Brown) H e described "in h u m an and ap palling conditions” in the Black town ship o f M o n g w ali, which he visited recently, as an example o f the situa tion causing the protests. M ongw ali, with a population o f 10,000, has roots that go back to 1820 as a mission sta tion and successful farming commun ity. But the South A fric a n govern ment considers it a " b la c k s p o t" surrounded by white South Africa. Its citizens are considered "surplus peo p le ," and their town is scheduled to be bulldozed, said Carm ichael. The people w ill be relocated to a hom e land and then whites will resettle their former home. " It is this aspect of sep arate developm ent that I think we have to pause over," he said. C arm ichael said that some Black leaders he spoke with, including union leaders and the w ile o f Sieve Biko, cautioned that a new layer of opposi tion leadership lacking 'he experience of those v ‘••s have been arrested could cause the protest m ovem ent to be " p o litic a lly propelled in to actions that will bring down a new stage o f re pression that w ill elim in a te a new generation o f leaders and start the whole cycle o f protest and repression all over again." As he spoke. Bishop Desmond Tutu was about to meet with Presi dent Reagan and A m erican Black leaders continued their protests at the South A fric a n embassy in W ash ington. The Reagan Tutu meeting signifies a positive change in attitude by U.S. policy makers, who are beginning to realize that it ’s "tim e for a dialogue with these people,” he said. People in the U .S . are realizin g that " w h a t happens there does affect what hap pens here,” he added. The talks also represent a signal to South A fric a n leaders that it is time for them, also, to enter in to dialogue w ith Black leaders, he said. Tutu has been critical o f Reagan’s policy o f "constructive engagement" with South A fric a , calling it " e v il” and " im m o r a l." W h ile Reagan's policy is ostensibly meant to encour age effo rts at in te g ratio n by U .S . companies and through selective use o f U .S. aid, critics say it amounts to at least tacit support o f the apartheid regime. C onstructive engagem ent, said Carmichael, includes quiet diplomacy and "avoidance o f anything smacking o f economic w arfa re , and avoiding anything that could be construed as a pinprick or negative statement against the South African government.” Carmichael described some positive developments w ith in South A fric a . "E lem en ts o f the w hite population recognize that change is called fo r ." For example, he said, the Black Sash organization o f mainly white women, a grantee of the Ford Foundation, has been involved in recent protests, and o ffers paralegal services in some townships. Carm ichael spoke against divesti ture. He cited the Ford M o to r C o m pany's recognition o f a Black union and education programs financed by M o b il O il C o rp o ra tio n as positive aspects o f U.S. investment. CHRISTMAS GREETINGS Thee Barber Shop L. R ogers Propnetor Open: 6:00 - 6 : » 1407 N.E. Meson at Union..................................... Phone Portland OR 97211...... ........................................... 284-4181 Prudent investor rule upheld by court by Robert Lothian Bogle nixes nuclear zone M em bers of the Portland-baaed New Clear Vision confronted City Council candidate Dick Bogle, Thursday, December 6th. at his campaign headquarters. Responding to their challenge to his oppo sition to declaring Portland a nuclear-free zone. Bogle said "Every one In his right mind Is against nuclear madness, but the competing interests in this Instance are Jobs for the people of Portland and a healthy economic climate pitted against what I feel Is an Issue best addressed by those charged w ith national policymaking." Neither side changed their position, but Bogle said he would meet with the group end thoroughly discuss the m atter. Herb Cawthorne. also running for the Council seat, supports making Portland a nuclear- free zone. (Photo: Richard J. Brown) MRS. C’s WIGS M a n y w tq t p ric Hd at >6 >10 b »16 A Lane County circuit court judge ruled on December 4 that the State Board o f Higher Education violated the state's "prudent invester” rule in I97 7 when it voted to divest its en dowment fund of stocks held in com panies doing business in South Africa. Student groups had convinced the Board to divest itself o f stocks held in 27 corporations involved in South A f rica as a blow against apartheid. The endow m ent fund then totaled S I2 m illio n , about S3 m illio n o f which was invested in companies with South Africa connections. Current endow ment fund investments in companies that do business in South Africa are about $7 m illio n out o f a to tal o f $20 million. The O regon Investm ent C o u ncil overrode the State Board's I977 deci sion with the aid o f an attorney gen eral's opinion. The Board’s decision to divest was never carried out, which explains why the endow m ent fund continues to include investments in companies that do business in South Africa. The judge's decision came at a time when the debate over divestiture is heating up nationwide, and as Black and white leaders and celebrities con tinue to be arrested at South African embassies in W ashington and other cities. The ruling appears to be a set back to the divestiture movement in Oregon, but student leaders said that at least the court battle gave the issue some publicity. Lawyers said the de cision would be appealed. d»'<* Belly CaBme Propnefor » N t * l 0OUO4AJ H A 1 * 1 » CCX1 » MH» A l l Marilyn RB01 Now $15°° Reg. »1B.96 707 Now $28» s Reg. »36 00 M R S. C ’» W IQS N.E. Premont 281-6325 Clesed tun. 6 Hen. OPIN Tune, thru tat. 11:30 AH to 6:00 PH M aurice Barron, 49. has baan elected Vice Présidant and Direc tor of Taxation of Safeway Stores. Incorporated. Barron la a Certified Public Accountant and baa a BA In accounting and an M B A In taxation and baa baan wttb Safeway nine year«. Excellent barbenng The most comfortable and beautiful shop in the city. The State Board o f Education must abide by the state's prudent investor rule, according to the judge. That rule stipulates that investment decisions must be based first and foremost on economic factors, such as the lik e li hood o f adequate return on invest ments. Social considerations can be taken into account, said the judge, but only when it is clear that other factors arc equal. The students’ lawyers were unsuc cessful in their attempt to prove that investments in South A fric a did not yield as much as other investments, and were therefore not prudent. The judge did call for public forums where goals for future investment could be discussed. The lawsuit was filed by a coalition o f student groups opposed to apart heid who sought to overturn the I978 attorney general’s opinion. EMMA'S KITCHEN SOUL FOOD Merry Christmas 3' Ie TO ALL OUR CUS TOMERS Who supported us throughout the Tough Fiscal Year and Best, Best Wishes for a HAPPY NEW YEAR 1329 N.E. Fremont • 281-2560 Tuea. - Sat. 6 e.m. -1 2 a.m ., Sunday 1 p.m. -12 a.m. C lo sed M o n d a y •Just $ 5 0 m i n i m u m ! 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Treasurer
