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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 18, 1986)
Page 2, Portland Observer, June 18, 1986 I Letters to the Editor ■ z ~ - South African Terrorism and Reagan’s Responsibility” Along I be Color Line by Dr. Manning Marable ; Don't Hold Water j; Your May 7. 1986 article by Bob ? Lothian. "Israel and South Africa The ; partheid C onnection," in which he quoted Ihemba Ntinga. a rcpresenta • live of the African National Congress to J the U N Observer Mission in New < York, raised several issues worthy of 5 comment There is no hasis in fact that "Israel » is one of the countries most responsible ' for keeping apartheid a liv e ." nor Io any J o f the "s im ila rity " arguments hetween •, Israel and South A frica i The statements that equate Israel as a - racist country don't hold water. Condi lions in Israel and South Africa cannot be compared Unlike South Africa, where apartheid is legal. Israeli Arabs enyiy the right to vote and freedom o f movement, including the freedom to reside where they wish and key c iv il and political rights that black South A f ricans seek Io extend Israeli citizen ship to Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza would necessitate formal Israeli annexation of these territories aposi lion the Israeli Government has not la ken Blac k South Africans want full integ ration in their country — politically and c iv illy , the situation and goals of the two groups are fundamentally diffe rent Furthermore, Israel recently wcl coined and is assimilating thousands o f black Ethiopian Jews, removing any question, if there was one. of its devo tion Io racial equality As for the military and economic al- legations. the facts are otherwise Israel trades less with South A frica in ab»o lute terms than Western nations, and even black African states, according to the International Monetary bund's /Jr re c to ry of Trade Yearbook (Washington. D C 1985) A congressional research study is sued in 1984 was unable to find any evidence that Israel did not adhere to the 1977 U N embargo on arms sales to South Africa The emphasis placed on Israel obscures the fact that Pretoria is largely self-sufficient m ilitarily. Lastly, one must look at the histon cal differences between the two coun tries Both nations are surmunded by hostile neighbors The reasons arc ut terly distinct: Israel faces opposition from the Arab World because, with the exception o f Lgypt. no Arab slate is w illing to publicly recognize Israel's right to exist This policy dates back to 1948, long before there was the prob lem of the Palestinians The A ra b Pl.t) program is not aimed at altering internal Israeli ethnic relations; its aim is to e lim in a te Israel South A fric a 's neighbors oppisc it because o f its cruel and unjust policy o f apartheid They do not claim South African territory as their own To draw an historical analogy het ween the origins o f Israel and the de velopment of South Africa is to ignore history Israel's birth was not for col omzation for profit or proselytism It was a wish Io overcome European box Hilly toward Jews. Jewish tradition and the horrors o f the Holocaust The roots o f South African apartheid lie in the South African slave trade ad ministered by the Dutch East India Company in the early l7(X)'s Separate areas were established for the two races le g a lly mandated residential re strictions and the pass requirements provided prototypes for current South A frican "h o m e la n d s" and "pass laws Nowhere in Israel's history can one find discriminatory legal decrees, slavery, or doctrinal statements favor ing inequality In conclusion let us take a look at who is hehind the campaign Io link Is rael and South Africa in a so-called "alliance " The list includes the Soviet B loc, the Arab countries, non governmental organizations such as the PLO, and the Soviet front World Peace Council Their aims are Io ( I ) depict Israel as illegitimate so that it w ill be ostracized like South Africa and thus generate support lor the Palestinian cause, and (2) to undermine the U S image in the Third World by linking Israel with South Africa and in tum the United States, thereby increasing Soviet influence Statements which misrepresent lies between the two states serve only to divert public attention from the injus tice being visited on blacks and other non whites in South Africa Rosalyn Borg Area Director American Jewish Committee. Portland Chapter For five years, the Reagan administration has followed a policy o f "constructive engagement" with the South African government No divestments from the apartheid state. Reagan has pleaded, because American corporations some how exert a positive influence on the racist state's economic system No sanctions, the President has insisted, because quiet persuasion is more effective than direct confrontation Now the world has seen in grim detail the logical consequ ences o f "construcctive engagement " South A frica's recent military commando air and ground raids against Zimbabwe. Botswana and Zambia, were denounced throughout the world The Reagan administration was probably not upset about the loss of Africans' lives — it was simply embarrassed that its covert ally in Pretoria had acted so rashly and in such an overtly criminal manner Consequently. Reagan promptly ordered the expulsion o f South Africa's senior military at tac he from the U S B utthcU S government simultaneously vetoed efforts at the United Nations to carry out effective sanctions against the apartheid regime South Africa also embarrassed Reagan by proudly ju s tify ing Us military maneuvers by pointing Io the example o f the American bombing o f I ibya We have only done what you Americans did in Africa. South African President P W Botha claims However, this recent example o f armed, state directed terrorism has backfired Even inside the apartheid system, some influential whiles are attempting to divorce themselves from their government's desperate actions Ihc Johannes burg Slur termed the raids "irresponsible" and "shortsigh ted South Africa's /tu w riru l)a \ journal warned that the actions could "weaken the economy , delay the long awaited revival of business and aggravate employment " Since Sep (ember, 1984. about I .60(1 people have been killed in p o liti cal violence," and growing numbers of white leaders in the private sector are recognizing finally that the only resolution to their crisis is open, political negotiations with the African National (ongress (A N C l the legitimate representative of oppressed blacks I lie raids have nearly destroyed the Commonwealth's peace efforts in the region A team of negotiators was in Capetown when the attacks occurred Reportedly, the ANC had been urged to use its influence to reduce political dc monstrations and strikes In return, the apartheid regime was to legalize the ANC and to release imprisoned ANC leader Nelson Mandela In the wake of these assaults, the ANC has called for a massive, national strike on June 16 O liver Tamho. the highest ranking leader o f the ANC in exile, has declared le t every university and school he emptied ol its youth Let every mine, factory, farm and white home be without labor Let every shop close its doors Let every community stnke a blow for freedom " W hat obligations do we have in this campaign for democ racy and black freedom in South Africa ’ We must organize solkiantv marches, demonstrations and vigils on June 16. speaking out against the criminality and immorality of apar theid Second, these demonstrations should support efforts by over twenty Congressional Republicans and Democrats to have more effective sanctions against South Africa The proposed legislation would hall any new U S investment and ban bank loans to South African businesses It would halt U S finns from engaging in construc tion, energy related, or engineering contracts with apartheid corporations And the bill also bans the importation o f South African steel, uranium and coal into the U S Finally, we must again demand the immediate release of Nelson Mandela and every political prisoner These steps might not end the alliance between the Reagamtes and the apartheid regime President Reagan hears the responsibility tor these recent murderous assaults against African people, because he has continued to defend the enmes of apartheid more than any other politician outside of South Africa But if we succeed in the next steps, we ll go a long way toward losering a climate ol strong, external pressure This w ill culminate in meaningful negotiations, at long last, between the ANC and the white minority And perhaps in the long run. this may represent a major transition toward the destruc tion o f the apartheid system /<» Monnmc MaruW , » ,« b r io m r P n if r u o r o f P o litic a l Si in t e r and S o ia d o g i a t P u r .lu e I n n r r t i t i in M t i l lo ta ie llr ln.tianu htfinnm n Ihn J u li tiim it the C o lo r l i n t .ip p ra n in m o rt than I t i ) n r m p a p r n in itm alion alh The Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 Ztv t/ S Hep H lihon, H (,ra\ III On July 4ih. we w ill celebrate the 100th anniversary ot the Statue o f Lib erty America s worldwide symbol ot freedom and justice As we celebrate, however, let uv not forget the over 27 m illion black South Africans who remain oppressed by the world s only official government pol icy tif racism And let us not lorget our obligation as a freedom loving people lo eliminate I micd Slates economic support lor the repressive apartheid regime in South Africa On May 2 I along w uh a coalition of bipartisan colleagues, I intmduccd ihe A n u /Apartheid A d ot I986 Ih«- b ill. HR 4868, would go j long wav toward removing ibe United Stales as a finan cier of apartheid I be legislation would ban all loans lo South A liic.i in effect depriving the apartheid regime ot $1 billion with which to finance its trade In addition, the bill would EDITORIAL/OPINION Police Bureau Famous Again, for the Wrong Reason Once again the Portland Police Bureau has be come famous again for the wrong reasons. The Bureau is now Itxikcd upon by the entire nation as sexist The treatment o f former Police Chief Penny E. Harrington is a classic example o f sexual dis crimination During her 22 years with the Bureau, Harrington had to file numerous c ivil rights suits, accusing the Bureau o f denying her opportunities because o f her gender. I ll is came Io a climax when a bias com mission, right wing extremists with the Bureau, and a nonsupportive Mayor forced her to resign. Portland's recognition for having a sexist Police Bureau is an accurate assessment Eor the Bureau is already known nationally as being a racist, brutal, and corrupt organization. The dumping ol dead oppossums by White officers in the Bureau in front ot a Black owned restaurant, the distribution and selling ot the "D o n 't Choke 'E m , Smoke "* ill ' i Oreqoo . Newspaper 1 Publisher s Asso» ration ■ ■ T i 1 l.loyd D Stevenson bv White officers; and the Special Investigation Division (SID) scandal, all reinforce such a negative perception ot the Bureau Harrington's treatment by the "W h ite male dominated Bureau" should become a (allying point tor feminists and other minorities For het treatment by the Police Bureau demonstrates what can happen w hen someone other than a White Male challenges the "status q u o ." Equally important, the Portland City Govern ment Body must move to eradicate the elements ot racism, sexism, brutality, and corruption in the Bureau. As elected officials, they are responsible for the welfare o f its citizens By continuing to allow such conditions to exist with the Police Bureau, city politicians are jeopar dizing the safety ot its citizenry , which is derelic tion of their duties as elected officials. Portland Observer NMPA pe * Alnca including Ihe purchase of shares issued by South African en tities and traded on stock exchanges anywhere in the world. • p ro h ib it I S c o n trib u tio n ot technology to South A frica's energy sector, thereby not aiding South A f ric a 's quest to r energy sell sufficiency; and, • ban the iui|s,ri.,i,,„i ,.| uianium . coal WASSERMAN 2' Nâ*T>W8» The P utt tond <H a e tu n wee astabtehad n 1>70 Subacrtmona »15 00 par year In the Tn County area ►oat m aa ta t Sand addreaa c h a t o n to the PXrrttoad Oftarrw r. P O ____ » Z»» B oi 3137. Portland. Oregon >7208 A t i o c i l l o n - founded I8>5 A lfredi.. Henderson. Editor/Publisher A l Williams, (renerai Manager J p ORTWND OBSERVER • IS to» on« I?*) for two Bo■ 3137 Portland OR <P20B kAt • ban ail new I S investment in South Thursday b * Erta PuMWsng Cowpany. Ine.. 1483 N E KBkiga worth. Portland Oregon >7211. Pxwr Ortica B o i 3117, Portland Oregon >7308 Second deae pnetage pakl at Portland. Oregon M fM B tt ■ • deny landing righis to South African iirciall, making business and oilier bilateral relations significantly less convenient; regime makes changes only when its economic interests are at slake The bipartisan coalition sponsoring the Anu-Apartheid Act o f 1986 believes Ihal this legislation can apply the proper leverage lo force Ihe government to make meaningful reforms and negotiate a democratic system with black leaders However, more importantly, it w ill re duce U S economic fuel for the p o liti cal engine ol apartheid We believe the b ill is an important step forward As Congressman Walter Eauntroy ( D D C ) . co-chair o f the Free South Africa Movement and co leader with Gray o f the congressional delegation to South Africa Iasi January noted at its introduction, our b ill " is strong medicine for a seriously ailing country " Randall Robinson, executive d im tor ol Lransafrtca and co-chair o f the Free South Africa Movement said, "Transatrica welcomes the Anu Apartheid Act ol 1986 as another posi tive step towards the removal o f inter national support tor Ihe government ol South Africa II is our hope that Con gress ratifies this b ill without d e la y." T he Anu Apartheid Act o f 1986 may indeed he strong medicine But it may he just the elixir ol hope South Africa so desperately needs It is essential because instead o f g iv ing aid and comfort to the regime in Pretoria, we should he extending our hand to black leaders who still hold hope that meaningful change can come about without even greater violence And it is essential to us as Americans i f we are to N: perceived as truly being on the side o f freedom and justice in South Africa "* ' ■ I Tb» Portland Otnmm tUSPS »888801 a pubMvad avatv , uee« ’ Em” T-shirts by White officers; the killing ot • close South A I i k an bank offices in this country. denying South Africa lower cost access to U S capital. and steel, reversing the unfair in roads South Africa has made into our coal and sieel industries because o f its essentially slave labor market the sanctions would he lifted if South Africa met two conditions the release ot political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, president ot the ban ned African National Congress, and the start of good faith negotiations between the government and black leaders for a new political system. la s t year, an overwhelming biparti san maginly in Congress look a stand against apartheid By a vote o f 5X0-48, my House colleagues approved the Anu Apartheid Act o l 1985 I he bill was derailed in ihe Senate by a filibuster But as a result o f the tre mendous Congressional support tor the measure. President Reagan issued an executive order on September 9th which included a ban on the importa lion o f krugerrands and a ban on hank loans lo the Pretoria government M r Reagan's sanctions have not slopped (he killin g and maiming o f thousands ol black South Africans or the (ailing ot hundreds more The black death rale in Ihe townships has almost doubled from 70 a month during the slate ol emergency to a tragic 150 per m onth ih is year G o vernm cnl- sanctioned segregation is still the law of the land In the past two weeks. South Africa has raided Zimbabwe, Zambia, Bots wana and Angola These forays into neighboring black countries de monstrate that apartheid is not simply an internal problem but also a threat lo regional peace History shows that Ihe South Africa N a tio n a l A d v e rtis in g R a p ra a a n ta tlv a , ^ A m a lg a m a te d P ub lishers Inc N e w York HKVE a &H0W CHAsMce (N Ml H U H ?/
