News Briefs
Michigan Alliance for Disarmament Issues Statement on Iranian Airbus Downing
"The shooting down of an unarmed Iranian civilian airliner by the U.S. Navy in the Gulf on July 3rd, although no doubt unintentional, was not just a "tragedy," as President Reagan called it. It was a predictable and inevitable crime caused by the reckless U.S. military presence in the Gulf. The attempts to justify this act by the Reagan administration, presidential candidates George Bush and Michael Dukakis, and many members of Congress, in terms of the "right of U.S. forces to defend themselves," are reprehensible.
"Of course in this case a U.S. Navy cruiser "defended itself" against a civilian airliner. One need not imagine the well-merited derision with which similar excuses made by the Soviet Union would be met. We heard the response when the Soviets shot down a civilian KAL airliner in 1983. In that "tragedy," everyone was quite clear that accident or no accident, the Soviet action was a crime. The U.S. justifications deserve the same response.
"The key question this incident raises is not whether the shooting-down was a mistake. It is rather what the U.S. is doing in the Gulf. Officially the story is that vast military forces are necessary to "preserve freedom of the seas." In view of the rather cavalier approach to the freedom of the skies demonstrated in this incident, that excuse seems rather doubtful. More realistically, the U.S. military presence is meant to protect "our oil," that is, the interests of the U.S. and European oil companies. As U.S. taxpayers are paying millions of dollars a day for the honor, and as Iranian civilians are being killed by those forces, it is past time to demand that the U.S. immediately and unconditionally withdraw its forces from the Gulf."
Activist Serving Five Years in Prison
On Jan. 11, 1988 Katia Komisaruk, who last summer destroyed a NAVSTAR mainframe computer at Vandenberg Air Force Base (see AGENDA August 1987), was sentenced to 5 years in prison. She is presently incarcerated at Camp Geiger in Spokane, Washington. Her sentence included the provision that if she were to receive money from a potential book or movie about her action, she would owe the first $500,000 to the government as restitution. Katia and her support group, the White Rose Collective, are presently appealing her sentence on the basis that she was not given a fair trial. Contributions to Katia's legal defense can be sent to the White Rose Collective. 1716 Felton St., San Francisco, CA, 94134.
Children's Visitation Program Underway
The Children's Visitation Program (CVP) is a broad-based, statewide coalition of individuals and organizations concerned about the welfare of children whose mothers are incarcerated. Their goal is to work with the Department of Corrections and female inmates to develop and implement quality programs and services designed to maintain and strengthen the bonds between incarcerated women and their children.
A 6-month pilot program will begin in September at the Huron Valley Women's Facility. The program will take place on Saturday mornings from 9:30 am to 12:45 pm. There are numerous opportunities for volunteers to participate in this exciting program. If you are interested please contact. Dr. Christina Jose Kopfner at 973-8611 for additional information.
Women Q-tip Q-Zone
On Sunday July 3, about 50 women (including 12 from Ann Arbor) staged a demonstration and civil disobedience action at the Seneca Army Depot. The women marched from the Seneca Women's Peace Encampment to the Q-Zone gate of the Depot, where the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons in the United States is located. The women sang, displayed banners proclaiming "Lesbians Rising in Resistance" and "Women Rising in Resistance," and danced. The group carried a ten-foot Q-tip to "Clean out the Q-Zone." Four women were arrested.
The August issue of free women's words will feature women's peace camps.
Pollack Refuses Gay/Lesbian Support
In a July 16 meeting with representatives from the U-M-based Lesbian and Gay Rights Organizing Committee, candidate for the Democratic Congressional bid, Lana Pollack refused to publicly acknowledge support from gay and lesbian groups. Pollack stated that she would not sponsor or co-sponsor legislation on gay rights during her first term if she were elected to Congress. "My sexual orientation is of the majority's kind. Gay and lesbian rights simply are not on my agenda," stated Pollack. After meeting with Pollack's opponent in the primary Dean Baker, who supports equal rights for lesbians and gay men, LaGROC gave Baker their endorsement.
Television Series Promotes Peace
Peace InSight is a new locally produced television series created by people from a variety of peace groups including: the Ann Arbor/Juigalpa Sister City Committee, Beyond War, Computer Programmers for Social Responsibility, Women's Action for Nuclear Disarmament, and SANE/FREEZE. The series aims to show how individuals can contribute to world peace. It features talks by peace advocates, interviews with local authorities on issues of justice and peace, and activities of peace activists here and around the world. The shows will be aired every Tuesday throughout August and the first two Tuesdays of September at 7:05 pm on Community Access Channel 9. Programs will be replayed every week on Fridays at 6:05 pm.
Independent Presidential Candidate Challenges Electoral System
In November, Dr. Lenora Fulani will become the first Black woman Presidential candidate on the ballot in all 50 states, according to a New Alliance Party press release. Fulani, a New York psychologist, is associated with the New Alliance Party, which backed Jesse Jackson until it became apparent that Dukakis would win the Democratic Presidential nomination. At that point Fulani chose to challenge the Democratic Party rather than to vote tor Dukakis, whom she considers the "lesser of two evils."
Fulani's platform emphasizes non-intervention, disarmament and peace. She also advocates an end to racism, sexism, anti-Semitism and anti-gay bigotry. In her announcement of candidacy, Fulani stated: "Across this country the people cry out for a decent life for themselves, their children, their families. Job training, job opportunities. Farm subsidies. Decent welfare benefits. This is what the people need. But when it has come time to select a President of the United States, there have been only two parties on the ballot in every state of the country. Two parties- the Democrats and Republicans- with a bipartisan loyalty to white corporate America, to the rich, the very rich, and the ultra-rich. You could not vote for a party which stands for the people, instead of profits. Until now."
Christic Institute to Appeal Case Dismissal
The Christic Institute recently announced its decision to appeal U.S. District Court Judge James L. Kings dismissal of its Secret Team case (see AGENDA, Apnl & May. 1987) On June 23rd, ust one business day before the start of jury selection in the Iran/Contra civil lawsuit, Judge King halted the case which would have brought Secret Teamers: Richard Secord, Theodore Shackley, John Singlaub, and their co-conspirators to trial.
Christic Institute attorneys claim that the judge's dismissal of the case is a "judicial grace riddled with serious legal errors." One of the grounds on which the attorneys claim the judge's decision was legally faulty, is that the judge refused to accept affidavits, even though their admittance in court is federally mandated.
The Christic Institute has expressed confidence that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals will reverse Judge Kings recent ruling in the Iran Contra lawsuit.