VOL.100,NO.54 (USPS 650-640)
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
THURSDAY NOV.9,1989
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NEWS: 864-4810
As East Germany shrinks W. Germany expected to feel burden of exodus
By Angela Baughman Kansan staff writer
As disillusioned East Germans continue to flood West Germany by the thousands, three KU professors and two West German students support the fight for democracy but are leery of what the mass exodus means for small West Germany.
More than 50,000 East Germans have entered West Germany since Saturday, when East Germany's Communist government allowed free travel through Czechoslovakia, the first time the German Democratic Republic has opened a direct channel to the West since the Berlin Wall was built in 1961. Nearly 200,000 people, more than one percent of the GDR's entire population, have crossed West Germany's border this year, either emigrating or fleeing through Hungary, Czechoslovakia or Poland.
Jaroslaw Piekalkiewicz, professor of Soviet and East European studies, said he thought the East German government was betting on West Germany to stop the "hemorrhaging" of people, because the resettling of them would be at the expense of West German taxpayers.
"If nothing is done, there will be a
half of a million or a million more people," he said. "We can't really be too enthusiastic about people leaving East Germany because that means trouble for West Germany."
Piekalkiewicz said he thought it would be very difficult for Egon Kreuz's government to come through enough reforms to satisfy his people.
Yesterday, Krenz, who has led the GDR for only three weeks, dissolved the 21-member Politburo, the nation's most powerful decision-making body, in an attempt to quell unrest.
Six other Politburo members were re-elected, and four new members did not follow, the Dresden party chief who helped bring advocate for democratic reforms.
Karin Plewka, a West German graduate student who will return to Maxim University after the spring semester, said that on an international level, it was good that the East Germans were doing something about their government. However, she did not think the mass exodus into West Germany was good for her country.
"It's not so good for West Germany itself," she said. "Compared to
America, it's a tiny country. We've had problems before with crowding, unemployment and housing shortages."
The Federal Republic of Germany, including West Berlin, compares in size to Wyoming. It automatically grants East Germans citizenship and helps them start new lives.
Heinrich Nissen, Gelting, West Germany, senior, said his country was benefiting from the influx of mostly young and intelligent East Germans, but West Germany eventuall would have problems because of them.
"I think at this point, West Germany is just profitting from the people coming in," he said. "We're a little frightened of what is going to happen in the future."
Ron Francisco, professor of Soviet and East European studies, said the competition between the West Germans and the new citizens was a problem but that the West Germans were much more resentful of German ethics who came to the country through political asylum.
"At least the East Germans are integrated to Germanic culture," he said.
Roy Laird, professor of Soviet and
East European studies, said he thought the situation was tragic and ironic.
"These people are terribly, terribly tired," he said. "They want freedom, but they don't know what it is. I think the whole thing should drive home to us that there is no separation between political and economic freedom. They want both."
Laird said he thought the United State's position would be to walk softly and carry a big stick and to be careful and hopeful.
> The Associated Press contributed information to this story.
E. German leader revamps Politburo
The Associated Press
BERLIN — Communist Party chief Egon Krenz yesterday ousted the old guard from the ruling Politiburo and replaced them with reformers in a desperate move to quell widespread unrest and strengthen his 3-week-old leadership.
Thousands of East Germans, disillusioned by 40 years of Communist rule and skeptical of promised reforms, continued to flood from their homeland, with more than 50,000 reaching West Germany since Saturday. Pro-reform groups pleaded with their countrymen to stay to help "build a real democratic society."
Krenz hurled a stinging attack on his predecessor and long-time political patron Erich Honecker, and Communist authorities took the first steps toward registering New Forum, the nation's largest pro-democracy group.
"Our country is going through a tense and extremely difficult development," Krenz said in a speech to the Central Committee, which unanimously approved his proposal to dissolve the entire 21-member Politburo.
The Central Committee announced the election of a new 11-member Politburo and reaffirmed Krenz, as the party's secretary general. Krenz and six other Politburo members were re-elected.
The committee elevated four new members to the Politburo, the nation's most powerful decision-maker, included Hans Midrow, the 61-year-old party chief who is said to be a leading advocate for democratic reforms.
All of the aging Politburo members dropped were closely associated with Honecker, whom Krenz replaced on Oct. 18.
Krenz said the responsibility for the nation's turmoil rested with those party members "who made subjective decisions over the important issues of the economy by thinking that this was the opinion of all party members."
It was unclear how much power any such group would have because the constitution guarantees the leading role of the Communist Party. Krenz has said the Communists' leading role is not a matter of debate.
He also said independent, non-communist groups would be allowed a greater role in society.
Powell discusses military role
Gen. Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks on glasnost and today's military.
By Derek Schmidt Kansan staff writer
"We know that Secretary Corbache is not Thomas Jefferson brooding over a Declaration of Independence," said Gen. Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "But he's let the genie out of the bottle, and I don't believe it will return."
MANHATTAN — Changes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union mark a turning point in world history, the highest-ranking U.S. military officer said yesterday.
Powell, 52, delivered the 83rd Landon Lecture at Kansas State University. He addressed about 1,000 people, talking about the military role in international relations.
"It produces thousands of tanks, but store shelves that are empty of butter and sugar," Powell said of any government-run economy. "People are restless. An ideology without new recruits will die."
Movements for democracy in Poland, East Germany and the Baltic States are signs of ideological and political change in their communist systems, he said.
He said that "a certain weariness with regional conflicts" among world leaders ended fighting in some areas, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.
The end of the Nicaraguan ceasefire does not now warrant U.S. military intervention in that country, but President Bush is prepared to ask Congress for military aid for the contra rebels if matters worsen, Powell said.
W.
We know that Secretary Gorbachev is not Thomas Jefferson brooding over a Declaration of Independence.
- Colin Powell
Gen. chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
He refused to say whether the Cold War had ended.
"This no longer reflects the complex relationship that exists between the West and the East," Powell said.
Dissatisfaction among the people of communist nations and growing military competition from the United States during the Reagan and Bush administrations contributed to Soviet efforts to reshape his nation's political and economic systems, Powell said.
"The power of the mass media could penetrate the very walls of the Kremlin," he said, and media coverage shortened the shortcomings of the communist system under world scrutiny.
"Glasson was given to us by our creators," he said, referring to Gorbachev's political reforms. "No political perestroika is necessary for us. Government of, by and for the people is its own renewal."
Western democracies have seen examples that oppressed people pursue, Powell said.
The United States should credit the Soviets for progressing and encourage more reform, Powell said. The
goal of the West is to bring the Soviet Union into the world community, he said.
Future superpower competitions will be economic, political and intellectual, not military. Powell said.
However, he said, the United States must maintain its military strength and must be prepared to use force whenever necessary.
That is one reason a proposed expansion of Fort Riley, near Manhattan, is necessary, Powell said. Military officials last week announced plans to nearly double the size of the 100,000-acre military base. Area landowners complain that they will lose their property.
"I realize that there are competing interests," Powell said. The military now is considering whether the expansion is in the community's best interest and it is necessary to provide adequate space for training with modern equipment
The military should play a larger role in stopping drug shipments into the United States, he said, but it must be careful not to overstep its bounds by acting as police and making arrests.
"I am a simple soldier," he said.
Powell, the first Black to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said he did not have political aspirations.
sample soldier, he said.
The Landon Lecture series is named for former Kansas Gov. Alf Landon, the 1938 Republican presidential candidate. Other military officials who have delivered lectures include Gen. William C. Westmoreland, Gen. Alexander Haig and Gen. Vernon Walters, said Charles Reagan, coordinator of the series.
Texas set to return Grissom to Kansas
The Associated Press
OLATHE — A Texas Court of Appeals was set to order Richard Grissom Jr. back to Kansas this morning, and authorities said they would travel to Dallas where he is being held to bring him back to Kansas to be tried on first-degree murder charges.
The Court of Appeals in Dallas late yesterday afternoon denied a motion filed by Grissom's attorney that would have delayed an earlier court decision that ordered Grissom back to Kansas.
Appeals court officials said as a result of the ruling yesterday, a mandate would be issued this morning ordering Grissom back to Kansas, where he is charged with murdering three Johnson County women.
However, it was unclear if legal papers also filed yesterday by Grissom's attorney asking the state's highest court to review the case could cause another delay in Grissom's return.
Grissom's attorney in Dallas, Paul Sunatona, said last night that he did not know if his petition asking the Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin
to review the case might stop Grissom's return.
Shumatona said he would have to research the issue before deciding what options he and his client might have.
Shunauta said he would probably again ask the higher court to stay with him, but that she did not know if his死define for filing such a request had passed.
"If there's nothing I can do, there's nothing I can do," he said. "If there's something I can do, I'll do it."
"Based on what we were told by the Court of Appeals, we're expecting to have him back tomorrow," Morrison said yesterday.
Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison said he was informed yesterday afternoon by the Court of Appeals that an order for Grissom's return would be issued today.
The Court of Criminal Appeals, Texas' highest court, is not obligated to consider Grissom's case. If they agree to consider it, his return could be delayed anywhere from two weeks to a month, officials with the Dallas County District Attorney's office said earlier yesterday.
Hayden proposes abortion options
By Beth Behrens
The abortion recommendations made by Gov. Mike Hayden yesterday would not place restrictions on abortions performed at the University of Kansas Medical Center but could require girls under the age of 16 to notify at least one parent before having an abortion.
Kansan staff writers
After months of silence on the subject, Hayden, speaking to the Kansas Public Health Association in Manhattan, also proposed some limits on abortions after the 22nd week of pregnancy and called for more money for education programs.
"Forbidding the Medical Center from performing abortions could have serious consequences, particularly for pregnant women with life-threatening conditions," Hayden said. "In addition, it could jeopardize the mission of the facility."
Hayden said that banning abortions at the Med Center would be "unfounded and counterproductive."
Martio Pernoll, executive dean of medicine, said the governor did
"Kansas, like most states, operated under Roe vs. Wade," he said. "With the Supreme Court putting the responsibility back on the state, his statement would update state legislation."
not undertake his proposals lightly.
He said most abortions at the Med Center were performed because of medical complications.
Reactions to the governor's proposals from anti-abortion and prochoice supporters were mixed.
Pat Goodson, legislative director of Right to Life of Kansas, said the proposals would not solve the issue.
"It's a do-nothing proposal," she said. "He's advocating the extension of programs that have failed for 25 years and have made significant contributions to part of the problem."
Goodson said the programs had allowed girls to think have premarital sex was OK as long as they did not become pregnant.
"Abstinence is the only answer."
"it's promoting birth control as a solution," she said. "We're telling them they have no limits as long as they are protected.
Pam Skarda, coordinator of the KU Pro-Choice Coalition, said Hayden's proposals would not substantially change the situation in Kansas.
Jeff Feist, vice chairman of the KU chapter of Students for America, said he thought the governor had made good proposals.
"He's making good strides in the pro-life sector," Feist said. "We'll see where he goes from here."
"Basically what he's saying is, 'I'm going to legislate what already is,'" she said. "The regulations he's proposing aren't unreasonable. However, we believe women should have the right to choose at any time. There are always extenuating circumstances that change things."
"I can see some merit for a young woman to have some adult aware of the situation," she said.
State Sen. Nancy Parrish, D-Topeka, said she thought the governor's approach was reasonable.
During the last legislative session Parrish proposed an amendment to a parental notification bill to place the age limit at 16. The bill called for the limit to be 18 years. The bill and the amendment were defeated.
Goodson said the parental notification bill, as proposed, would not work because girls could notify a parent of an accident instead of their parents.
"I would prefer that it be modified so that it would not have to be a parent, it could be another family member. I feel it's good for someone to be aware."
"It's like telling them, 'Your parents have to be notified, but only if you want them to be,'" she said.
Jean Rosenthal, member of the Lawrence National Organization for Women, said parental notification was probably better than consent but that it would only place more obstacles in the way for pregnant teenagers.
"If they can't tell their parents about it, it was probably a parent involved, or the situation at home was so broken down they couldn't go to them," she said. "I think the people we should have the most consideration and options for are young women.
Parrish said the judicial bypass would work only if people were available to help girls through the system.