a & WORLD The double standard in the FRG media By RITA HOPPE BERLIN — For the past few weeks, to turn on West German television meant an almost certain confrontation with bellowing voices railing self- righteous accusations of human rights abuses against the GDR. This campaign is being carried out by the mass media in _the FRG and West Berlin in the hope that the recent thaw in east-west relations will contract back into a cold war freeze. ’ The incident that sparked this anti- GDR belligerence concerned the arrest of a group of protesters who tried to disrupt the annual January march in Ber- lin, held since 1946 to commemorate Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, the founders of the Communist Party of Germany murdered in 1919 by counter- revolutionaries. Arrested for breaking the law by attempting to disrupt the march and hoist a banner carrying a quotation from Luxemburg “Freedom is the frecdom to think differently,” some of the protesters have since been allowed to leave for West Germany. There, one hopes they will join in the 16-year-long campaign against berufs- verbote, that notorious, undemocratic statute which forbids people with “anti- constitutional” political beliefs (primar- ily communists, but also including a growing number of trade union and peace activists) from employment in the public service sector, affecting teachers, railways workers, post office employees and others. The new arrivals to West Germany can also join in the campaign to legalize the party founded by Lieb- knecht and Luxemburg which has been banned since 1956. Few laments have been heard from the mass media in the FRG about these human rights abuses. I have spoken with many friends and acquaintances and personally heard no one protest their government’s action. People here express considerable satis- faction with their hard-earned social and economic achievements, pointing out that there exist ample opportunities to take part in the political process. Their definition of freedom was not the self- serving, unrestrained quest for bigger possessions. Rather freedom here is understood as the right to education, to an assured job in the field of one’s choice, to a fulfilling social and family life. The acceptance of these rights implies the affirmation of certain duties and this the small group of provocateurs attempted to undermine. This latest campaign against the GDR endangers the good relations between the two Germanies, as well as the disar- mament process impelled by the: INF agreement. Under the cover of “human rights,” an offensive is being carried out, by those circles in West Germany who want to discredit the recent internation- ally welcomed peace initiatives and efforts by the GDR toward the normali- zation of relations in Europe. These des- perate efforts to jeopardize the presently healthy international dialogue will fail to quell the majority European public opin- ion in favour of peaceful coexistence and detente. Protest rally in Dortmund, one of many in 16-year campaign against berufs- verbote: not a topic on FRG media. TASS PHOTO — V. GLUKOV INTERNATIONAL FOCUS Tom Morris There are none so blind ... Israeli army investigators are pre- tending to be the stupidest people Here’s how the professionals do it one earth. We’re told the army is “looking into” the beating death of 14 year- old Ayad Agel, a Palestinian boy who was taken from his home by soldiers Feb. 7 and found three hours later lying in an orchard. H died in hospital that night. . ; Army investigators are also “‘look- ing into” how a 25-year-old man died (he was shot through the head) the same weekend. On Feb. 7 another Palestinian teenager died in hospital from severe blows to the head he had received days earlier. At Ayad Agel’s funeral, Feb. 8, Israeli soldiers opened fire on mourners, wounding ‘two more children aged 11 and 15 years. There is no word yet if Israeli authorities are “investigating.” What could these sleuths be searching? What exactly can’t they see? Any evening they’re welcome to sit in front of my television set and watch their troops in action. The mystery will be cleared up quickly. . They'll see young people dragged screaming into jeeps and trucks as Army victims know who are responsible. the cameras roll. They'll see people clubbed repeatedly, openly. . Soldiers’ faces are uncovered, their unit tags are plain to see. Licence plates of army vehicles can be clearly identified. Israeli soldiers “investigating” Israeli military atrocities is a sick joke. If they want to know who is killing and brutalizing the Palestini- ans, ask any television viewer, any school child — anyone but an Israeli soldier. 8 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 17, 1988 While the Israeli army stumbles about trying to discover who is murdering and brutalizing Palesti- nians, the FBI is showing far more initiative and success. Way back in 1981, the Bureau was seized with the need to investi- gate Americans who were helping Central American refugees, many of whom were being shipped back to their countries and to certain death. The U.S. Committee in Solidarity With the People of El Salvador — a country-wide organization based mainly in the. religious community — was the FBI’s main target. But by 1987, the net had widened to include 160 U.S. mainstream national organizations, trade unions and churches — anyone who op- posed Reagan’s Central American policy. A full 52 of the FBI’s 59 field offices were wiretapping, following, photographing and harassing citi- zens. Since the majority of Americans oppose Reagan on Central America, the FBI’s task was truly herculean. Perhaps they might show Israeli investigators how it’s done. a Prospects growing for Afghan peace MOSCOW — The end is in sight for the eight- year long Soviet military involvement in Afghan- istan, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev last week informed surprised Soviet television audiences. Barring unexpected complications, he said, Soviet troops will begin leaving the country May 14, and the withdrawal will be completed within ten months. It has been an open secret for some time that the United States and the Soviet Union have reached broad agreement on how to deal with the issue. Now, said Gorbachev, the “proximity” talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan are about to bear fruit. Soviet forces will pull out, American and other outside aid to the rebels will be terminated, and an estimated three million Afghan refugees outside the country will be given opportunities to return to their homes. The U.S. and the Soviet Union will jointly act as guarantors of the accord. “The. withdrawal of Soviet troops combined with other aspects of the settlement, including guarantees of non-interference, is one thing,” he said. “‘Various states are involved in this. “National reconciliation and the establishment of a coalition government is another thing. This is a purely internal Afghan issue. It can only be resolved by the Afghans themselves, though they belong to different and even opposing camps. When, however, it is hinted that the USSR take part in talks on the issue, and even talk to third countries, our answer is firm and clear: don’t expect us to do it, it is none of our business. Or yours for that matter,” he stressed. “Implementing political settlement in Afghan- istan will be an important rupture in the chain of regional conflicts,” he said. “States and nations have significant reserves of responsibility, political will and determination to put an end to regional conflicts within a few years. This is worth working for.”