European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 14, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 the stars and stripes try a i a a a a a a it of Quot a p or rest <4 a sell amp Law Quot i -wlf.tf. -ar4 j m-1r. A a a. V ? a a a Ltd it \,i?1 of Tri. A c �?~14,s a tto be a a a t. Quot jew a j Vij . Rosenthal n two years ago almost to the Day this Man sat in a soviet political Camp in solitary punishment starving. He would not eat the thin fuel or the Gray Lump of bread that was his breakfast ration. He would eat nothing. If protest by starvation was the Only weapon left to him that was the weapon he would use. Most of his 16 years in the gulag were spent in solitary. This Man never stopped fighting the evil Empire in prison out of prison Back in prison. Now what pleasure to write this sentence Here is Mart Niklus asking what is in this Little Jar on the table opening it and spreading Strawberry Jam on a croissant right Here in new York City at breakfast at the Regency. ,. Once 1 was allowed to visit political prisoners in the cold Camp where Niklus was held the last years prison Camp 35 near the City of Perm in the ural mountains he had been freed five months before and we never met. But his Story is known Well to those foreigners whose lives or minds have been touched by one of the great sagas of this Century a the unremitting struggle against communist despotism by the rebels of the soviet Union and its colonies. And it is known to All the citizens of the Baltic nations who yearn for the Independence taken from them by the germans and russians before during and after world Warll. At breakfast Niklus wore a Blazer with an embroidered e a for Estonia. He was first sentenced for sending abroad pictures of living conditions in Estonia eight years in prison. Released he continued fighting and was sentenced for telling the truth about the German soviet pact that led to the death of the Baltic nations. The second sentence was 10 years plus five years in exile probably Siberia. He had served eight years when he was released in july 1988. He was 34 years old then. He had spent More than half his whole life in soviet prisons. Niklus managed to smuggle some state property out of Perm 35, a striped convict uniform. He was forced to Wear it in Perm 35 because he was a he chose to Wear it later the Day he took his scat in the newly elected Congress of the estonian Independent popular front. Niklus believes Baltic Independence is based on existing International Law the real crime for which he was imprisoned. That was american policy for 40 years until the Bush administration shuffled it aside to help Mikhail Gorbachev try to keep the soviet Empire pasted Wicker Thost Baltic Statts Are. Just grim like of re Little pigs i so the dream of Baltic Freedom is delayed by big Power politics. But Niklus spreads his Jam calmly convinced it is not dead. Like virtually All the newly liberated prisoners he continues to fight in the belief that the soviet internal Empire is rapidly approaching extinction. They have been saying that for some years. Now nobody laughs. The dissidents turned out to be better prophets and analysts than the Western experts and certainly better than Gorbachev and his entourage who now warn that unless they get Western help the end May be near. Niklus is against help for the soviet apparatus and sees communism As a system that cannot be reformed or rebuilt a just replaced. He believes Western businessmen have delayed the end of the soviet system for decades but system and investments will go Down together. Niklus says he is thankful the Gorbachev Era brought about his new Freedom thankful but not grateful a precisely what All released prisoners say. He says to Orv -7fttr gratitude is not owed by the victims to the jailers members or supporters of the communist system that created the gulag. He talks about foreigners who fought to keep the names and memories of the prisoners alive abroad and about soviet citizens who risked their own lives and Liberty to do the same thing at Home. The gratitude he says belongs to them and that without them he would not be having breakfast in new York. He would be at Perm awaiting shipment to Siberia 1 get mail from americans who Are icy about Baltic Independence bitterly recalling anti semitism and collaboration with the germans. Only a fool would be oblivious to them or the memories. But the soviet system imposed a common tyranny on All its people a balts jews russians ukrainians armenians gulag was Universal. To me that fact gives meaning to the suffering of All imprisoned behind its cell doors dignity to their National causes and Hope that one Day the prisoners will Lead not the jailers. C a few Vortis time Quebec holds key to evolution of new Canada Down where i come from in the old confederacy the idea of secession is no longer so appealing. Despite scare headlines it s not As popular m Quebec As it once was either. Now even a a separatism is used arc but americans should not doubt that Quebec is about to achieve new political status More Power More authority More Independence from the writ of the Federal government a if not the a Quebec Libre Quot Charles de Gaulle once called out for for which he was promptly kicked out of Canada. A something went a Dick in the minds of Quebe cers the night Mccuch Lake died a wrote Wayne Grigsby in the Montreal Gazette. Quot the Dick that sounds in the minds of people who decide its no longer Worth the struggle to save a Rocky the Point was emphasized by an estimated 200,000 Quebe cers parading and cheering beneath the provinces Leur de Lis Flag in Montreal on St. Jean Baptiste Day just after the death of the Meech Lake Accord. Long pushed by prime minister Brian Mulroney the Accord would have legitimized Quebec so distinct society Quot w Ith us French language heritage and 6.5 million people of Canadas 26.5 million. Last month Manitoba and Newfoundland refused to ratify Meech Lake killing the agreement and leaving Quebec outside the Canadian a family Quot but in an upbeat mood. Something certainly had gone Quot Click a for example in the minds of the Large and vigorous Minier family of which some two dozen members held a sunday reunion at their fishing Camp on Lac Bre Beuf near la baie. Their All but unanimous View a conveyed to american visitors in accented but serviceable English by several of the French speaking clan a was that a Canada has rejected not the other Way around take note. The Miniers and other Quebe Cere a admittedly an unscientific. Sampling a seemed almost relieved. Quebec and Ottawa have been circling one another warily in search of a new relationship for Many Carv Lerv a Vangjo phones a Quebe cers whose first language is English a seem to fed that the failure of Meech Lake now forces i he Issue to conclusion. Not mans however Are advocating outright Independence though Quebec might Well have sufficient economic strength and cultural identity to make it work. Most seem to expect instead greater autonomy for Quebec within Strong continuing links to the Ottawa government. A common currency is generally expected for example. But Marcel Martel of the weekly reveil Points out that the governors of the Central Bank in Toronto set interest rates and the value of the Canadian Dollar for National purposes that do not always coincide with Quebec a or with those of the Saguenay Lac St. Jean Region where his newspaper is published. A More Power Quot for Quebec in setting monetary policy is essential he said in a Telephone interview. Gaetan St. Hilaire an insurance broker in Jonquil re suggested that when the new arrangement was worked out it would authorize Quebec to ratify or veto any arrangement Ottawa May make that would affect the province. Nor will any other province then be Able to say Yea or nay to Quebec As Newfoundland and Manitoba did in failing to ratify Meech Lake. St. Hilaire said that Quebe cers were More determined to gain greater autonomy now than in 1980, when the Sague nay Lac St. Jean area voted heavily Lor a sovereignty a. Then he says there was considerable mistrust of a parti qu6becois provincial government that favored secession. Now the Liberal government of Premier Robert Bourassa a which supported Meech Lake a inspires greater Confidence with its promises to maintain economic stability. Bourassa plans a nonpartisan commission to develop proposals a a referendum May follow a for a new provincial status. One provision almost certain to be included is greater control for Quebec Over immigration with an Eye to maintaining us a a distinct French identity a though Bou Rassa told time Magazine that Quey. Anglophones had a a a fundamental and irreplaceable role in the provinces future. One reason Quebec is Likely to achieve new autonomy is that the other provinces seem not so much opposed to it As eager Tor the same autonomy. That May be the rear reason Meech Lake failed. If so what Kina of Canada will the . Eventually on its Northern Border a Loose confederation a common Market for the Best available answer keep it eur eyes on Quebec. C new York tunes
