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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1989)
1 f6 p TAT Q O | Q-pct Associated Press Nebraska!! ^ X iL* W W LJr X-/ AJS^^^Cir Edited by Diana Johnson Wednesday, January 25,1989 Involvement in building plant recalls German World War horrors FRANK.FUR I , West Germany - Charges that West German compa nies helped Libya build w hat may be a poison gas plant recall horrors from two world wars and images of what a politician called the “evil, self-de ceiving German.” Germany shocked the world in World War I by wiping out 5,000 Allied soldiers April 22. 1915. with chlorine gas, introducing the era of chemical warfare. The Nazis later use Zyklon B gas to kill millions of pris oners, most of them Jews, at the Auschwitz death camp. In addition to lessons of the past, the current debate dwells on moral standards in a nation that has devel oped ari arms export industry in the last 15 years that ranks fifth in the world. “German profib have grown much more quickly than ethical stan dards,” said the Rev. Friedhelm Hengsbach. a social sciences profes sor at St. Georgcn theological univer sity in Frankfurt. “The Germans are very smart in the sense of economic realities, but they’re not that shrewd when it comes to ethical responsibilits and political realities,” the 51-year-old Jesuit priest said in an interview . *S.'r»rK'rr Gnnvpl m m^niK’r nf P:»r liament for the opposition Social Democrats, put the problem suc cinctly: “Now, our history has caught up with us again. The evil, self-deceiving German is back.” In ilscurrcnt issue,the left-leaning magazine Dcr Spiegel said the atti tude of West German industry is “export at all costs” to guarantee prosperity at home and “tens of thou sands of people pay for the exporters’ prosperity with their lives.” “First comes the food, and then morals?’ ’ it said, referring to a line by the German author Bertolt Brecht. ‘ ‘ Not even that: many deals are made completely without morals.” Government statistics say West German companies legally sell about S16.6 billion worth of guns, subma rines. munitions and other arms over seas each year. That puls the country in fifth place behind the United States, Soviet Union, France and Britain. Several state and local investiga tions are under way to determine the amount of arms and arms-related goods sent abroad illegallv. Included are inquiries into reports of West German involvement in Iraqi poison gas production in addition to allegations that west uerman com panies helped build the plant at Rabta. south of Tripoli, that Libya says makes medicines and the United States says is for producing chemical weapons. Iraq acknowledged using poison gas during its war with Iran, in which a cease-fire was reached in August, and has been accused of using it on minority Kurds. Reports arise frequently of West German companies evading export restrictions, as Gansel reminded a noisy parliamentary debate on the Libyan matter last week. “The string of arms-export scan dals is long,” he declared, including sales of sensitive nuclear technology to Pakistan, India and South Africa. Gansel. 48, said Zyklon B gas killed “countless defenseless Jews’ and reminded fellow legislators the image of the “evil, self-deceiving German’’ had become a theme for boih new, spaper cartoons and editori als. Many newspaper stories, maga zine articles and TV programs aboui the chemical plant scandal point out the German historx of poison gas dating to World War 1. In Munich, the Sucdeulschc Zei tung reminded readers in an editorial Jan. 13: “Not everyone ma\ like ihe Germans; no one has forgotten their past. Whoever has as much power as the Federal Republic must also bear responsibility.” Joachim Perels, a political science teacher at Hanover University, said in an interview : “It is a question of current-day morality and the Na/i past. You just can 't lose sight of that second point. It would be better if West Germany didn't supply Libya w ith any materials that could be used for war.” Friedrich Justus Perels, the profes sor’s father, was executed by the Na/is along w ith thousands of others for alleged involvement in the unsuc cessful attempt to kill Adolf Hiller in 1944. Michel Friedman, spokesman for Frankfurt’s Jewish community, said of the Libyan scandal: “German companies should be more conscious of what’s taking place in Libya,” an enemy of Israel. “It's part of the special responsibility of the Ger mans, and a special responsibility isn’t just something to pray about on Sundays.” Cyprus newspaper says Iran should cooperate with release NICOSIA, Cyprus -- An Iranian newspaper said Monday that Iran should cooperate with the United States to secure the release of Ameri cans and Iranians kidnapped in Leba non, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported. The agency, monitored in Nicosia, quoted the Ettcla’at daily of Tehran as saying, “When (PresidentGeorge) Bush explicitly calls for cooperation to win the release of Americans held against their will, why shouldn’t we ... use this chance so that Iranian hostages may also go free ” l he newspaper was rctcrring to Bush’s plea in his inaugural speech for assistance m securing the release of the American hostages. Nine Americans arc among the 15 foreigners missing in Lebanon, with most believed held by Shiite Moslem groups loyal to Iran. The longest held hostage is American Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent of The Associated Press. He was kidnapped March 16, 1985. Three Iranian diplomats and their Lebanese driver, who also held an Iranian passport, were kidnapped in 1982 in east Beirut, which is con trolled by the Lebanese Forces, the main Christian militia. Nebraskan Photo Chief Connie Sheehan The Daily Nebraskan(USPS 144 080) is published by the UNL Publications Board, Ne braska Union 34, 1400 R St, Lincoln, NE, Monday through Friday during the academic year, weekly during summer sessions Readers are encouraged to submit story deas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-1763between 9a m and5 p m Monday through Fr day The public also has access to the Publications Board For information, contact Tom Macy, 475 9868 Subscription price is $45 for one year Postmaster Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34 1400 H St Lincoln. NE 68588 0448 Second oass postaqe Daid at Lincoln, NE ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1989 DAILY NEBRASKAN Serial killer electrocuted in Florida’s death seat STARKE, Fla. ~ Ted Bundy, a charming law school dropout who. ended years of denials that he was a killer with emotional confessions to the gruesome slayings of 20 women in four states, was electro cuted Tuesday for murdering a 12 y ear-old girl. Bundy's last words, before a black-hooded executioner pulled a switch at 7:06 a.m. sending 2,000 volts through his body, were to his lawyer and a minister: 4 ‘Give my love to my family and friends.” More than 100 proponents of the death penally waiting in a field across from the Florida Slate Prison cheered, lit sparklers and set off firecrackers at the signal that 42-year-old Theodore Robert Bundy had finally been pul to death for a crime committed al most 11 years ago. Three earlier execution dates were stymied by appeals. “Burn, Bundy, bum!” some shouted. A group of about a dozen people parodied an old tune by singing “On top of old Sparky” - a reference to the nickname for Flor Ida’s oaken, three-legged electric chair. Only about two dozen people opposed to the death penally turned up to keep a vigil in the field. “The people of Florida today administered justice,” Gov. Bob Marunez said 1 1/2 hours after the execution. “If there’s ever been anyone on Flonda’s death row that deserved the electric chair, Ted Bundy was that individual.” Bundy had been quick-witted, known for his cockiness and arro gance, a handsome, blue-eyed charmer. He was the subjectol five books and a television miniserics, “The Deliberate Stranger.” But he recently claimed to “feel God’s presence,” and was I l Tammy Tayk>r/Daily Nebraskan reported at the end to be remorse ful about his bloody trail of kid nappings, sadistic sexual mutila tions and slayings in his home stale of Washington, and in Ulah.CoIo nHn nnH Plrvrirln His execution, for the murder of sixth-grader Kimberly Diane Leach of Lake City, made him the 20th man pul to death in Florida and the 106th in the United States since the U.S. Supreme Court al lowed states to reinstate the death penally in 1976. Leach was kidnapped from the grounds of her junior high school Feb. 9, J978, just three weeks after the killings of two women at Chi Omega sorority at Florida State University. The child’s body was found three months later in an abandoned pigsty. Bundy was also under a death sentence for the two Chi Omega murders. Until near the end he had in sisted he was innocent, although be had been suspected of as many as 36 killings and disappearances. Then late last week he began talk ing to investigators from the four Western states, dosing the books on 20 unsolved crimes, including some in which he had not been a suspect. “Good,” sighed Vivian Ran court, mother of Bundy victim Susan Rancourt, when reached at her LaConner, Wash., home shortly after the execution. “The only thing I can say is thank God, it’s finally over.” One of Bundy’s final acts was to permit James Dobson, a California psychologist and host of a syndi cated radio show, to videotape an interview to be broadcast later. Dobson described Bundy as “feel ing great remorse.” He quoted Bundy saying his crimes “should serve as a warning to the dangers of nomnuranhv.” Bundy appeared frightened when he was escorted into the death chamber. But he moved eas ily to the chair, nodding to hiv attorney, James Coleman, and Gainesville minister Fred Law rence, who had counseled him earlier. “Jim and Fred, I’d like you to give my love to my family and Friends,” he said in a strong voice that trailed off at the end. Bundy stared straight ahead and his jaw tightened when workers adjusted a chin strap and filled a hood over his shaven head. When the switch was thrown by the anonymous executioner, who is paid $150 for the job, Bundy’s body surged back against the chair. His fists clenched. A doctor pronounced him dead at 7:16 a.m. EST. Uprising leaders reject peace plan JERUSALEM -- Pro-PLO under ground leaders Monday rejected Defense Minister Yit/hak Rabin’s offer of elections in the occupied lands, and called for escalating the Palestinian uprising to counter tougher army policies. In the city of Nablus in the occu pied West Bank, assailants hurled firebombs into an Israeli bank, injur ing several Arab employees and causing minor properly damage, the army said. Arab reports said four employees were treated for burns or smoke inhalation. A 33-year-old man w as shot with a plastic bullet in the West Bank vil lage of Jaba, and four Palestinians were wounded in the occupied Ga/a Strip when army troops opened fire to hall stone throwing, Arab hospital officials said. The army said it w as checking the I -— — reports. In an underground leaflet circu lated in the occupied territories, the Unified National Leadership of the Uprising rejected Rabin’s proposal to hold elections in return for an end to violence. Rabin, No. 2 in the left leaning Labor Parly, also proposed extended autonomy as an interim solution. The leaflet said the proposal “w ill be sent to the garbage d imp of his tory.” Prime Minister Yit/hak Shamir, head of the right-wing Likud bloc, also criticized Rabin’s plan. “I hear that all the Arabs reject this plan,” Shamir told Israel radio. ' 1 would not propose that we enter into a whirlpool of arguments about a thing that stands no change of coming into being.” Shamir’s closest ally, Foreign Minister Moshe Arens, said Israel’s peace plan still was being formu lated. Arens, speaking to leaders ol Hadassah, an American Jewish women’s organization, rejected talks with the PLO and Israeli participation in a proposed international peace conference. A dozen Israeli peace activists, meanwhwile, met with Palestinians in the Arab village of Jabel Mukaber on the edge of Jerusalem and told residents they backed Israeli talks with the PLO. The meeting was part of a mount ing campaign to pressure Israel to change its policy toward the PLO, whicn recently renounced terrorism and recognized the Jewish stale. Since the uprising began in De cember 1987,367 Palestinians and 15 Israelis have been killed. Guerillas propose delaying election SAN SALVADOR, El Salva dor - Leftist guerrillas fighting the U.S.-backed government offered Monday to participate in elections and respect the outcome if ballot ing is postponed from March to September. The Marxist-led guerrillas, who throughout the 9-year-old civil war have rejected elections as a “farce,” set several other condi tions in what they termed “a politi cal proposal to contribute to ^Wesidcntial elections are scheduled for March 19. The guer rillas proposed they be postponed until Sept. 15. The rebel proposal is contained in a document signed by the top five guerrilla commanders. It is to be made public at a news confer ence in Mexico City on Tuesday. The Associated Press obtained a topy of the proposal on Monday, the day the document was dated by its signers. The insurgents set several con ditions in addition to postponing the election: - Halting what it terms the armed forces* repression of labor and campcsino leaders and of street demonstrations. - Confining military and police personnel to barracks on election day. - Awarding a seal on the Central Elections Council to the Demo cratic Convergence, a leftist elec toral alliance whose leaders have maintained political links to the rebel army, and forming a watch dog panel to guarantee the integ rity of the vote count. - Revising the electoral code through negotiations among all parties. - Respecting absentee ballots cast by Salvadorans who have left the country during the war. - Requiring the United States to stay out of the electoral process and forbidding U.S. aid to any contending party.
