European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 6, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday september 6, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 3naacp official starts hunger strike co says Saint ignoring discrimination in military by Luke Britt staff writer the european president of the National association for the advancement of coloured people began a hunger strike wednesday to protest Gen. Crosbie e. Saints response to allegations that the military suffers from widespread discrimination. Arthur w. Diggs has accused Saint the . Army Europe commander of ignoring a a wide Range of injustices in usage urn a equal Opportunity program. Diggs an air Force technical sergeant said he will not eat until a someone decides to listen and take immediate  a a we be tried talking to the command for four years and they a he general Saint a has chosen to ignore the obvious problems of All types of discrimination that go on in his command a Diggs said thursday. Saint could not be reached for comment thursday but in a letter last week the general responded to similar allegations made by Arthur Fletcher chairman of the . Commission on civil rights. In the letter Saint defended usage urn a record on civil rights and the army a system of redress for complaints. # Fletcher visited several military installations in Germany in August. Before returning to Washington he criticized usage urn a system for reporting and investigating discrimination. Fletcher gave a report of Arthur w. Diggs his findings to among others president Bush and Secretary of defense Dick  not going to take this anymore a Diggs said. A hundreds of complaints have been filed and the command has almost never taken a serious  Diggs has requested that Fletcher and the entire commission which is appointed by the president conduct an investigation of the military a civil rights climate. Diggs who is assigned to the 4th air support operations group in Frankfurt can be ordered to eat and would risk court martial if he refused military Legal officials said. The Serge ant could also be court Martiale if he loses the ability to do his Job because of the hunger strike the officials said. An officer in Diggs military office said the sergeant has been granted leave from aug. 20 until sept. 16. The officer said no one in the office was aware of Diggs intent to conduct a hunger strike when his leave request was approved. A spokesman for the . European come had no comment on Diggs fast. Charles Rivera the civil rights commissions director of Public affairs said thursday in Washington that the fast was a a potent act that this person has  Rivera went on to say a the allegations that chairman Fletcher received during his Touri of military bases were equally  the commission spokesman said that he expects Fletcher to Brief the entire commission at its monthly meeting sept. 13.eucom defends stance on civil rights cases Stuttgart Germany a amps the . European come on thursday responded to discrimination complaints that were made to Arthur Fletcher chairman of the . Commission on civil rights in August during Fletcher a visit to military bases in Europe. In his statement Navy capt. Gordon i. Peterson eur come a director of Public affairs said the command had not yet received a formal report from Fletcher but a we View with concern any indication that our military or civilian personnel or their family members perceive their environment to be anything except free from  . Military commanders in Europe Peterson said Are a totally committed to protecting the civil rights of service members Ana civilians. A discrimination in any form is not tolerated a Peterson said. He noted that the military a goal is fair treatment for All a goal that military commanders give a the highest priority a the Navy Captain went on to say that equal Opportunity is a command responsibility that involves everyone. Military authorities try to take care of complaints at the lowest level in a Chain of command he said. When a Scricc member believes however that his or her complaint Hasni to been handled properly Peterson pointed out that there arc a a number of ways to pursue it further. A fall complaints Are investigated thoroughly to protect the rights of the individual a Peterson said. A where discrimination exists appropriate Steps Are taken promptly to remedy the  i i soviets in san Francisco a sailors aboard the soviet sailing ship pallada work in sailing into san Francisco Bay on wednesday. The pal the rigging of one of its 15-Story-tall masts shortly after Lada will be docked at pier 45 for three  asks help from germans for . Investors Bonn Germany apr Robert m. Kimmitt the new . Ambassador in Bonn asked Germany on thursday to loosen up bureaucratic tangles hampering americans who want to invest in the nation. The 43-year-old Kimmitt who replaces Veteran Diplomat Vernon Walters said he Hopes to encourage greater american investment in former East Germany. A in doing so we will depend on receiving fair unimpeded Market Access on the basis of commercial rather than political considerations a Kimmitt said during a speech to the Atlantic Bruscke Bridges group that promotes German american relations. A the bureaucratic hurdles that would be american investors sometimes encounter in setting up and doing business in the Fri Federal Republic of Germany Are inconsistent with Germany a policy of encouraging foreign investment a Kimmitt said. A while we must accept the geographic advantages other nations enjoy All other objective factors must be As equals possible a the ambassador said. Kimmitt was not More specific and embassy officials were not available to elaborate. In recent weeks some american firms have complained that the tre hand a a government Agency responsible for privatizing businesses in former East Germany a has been slow in responding to . Offers. Kimmitt also asked for Germany a help in overcoming a deadlock in negotiations involving nations who signed the general agreement on tariffs and Trade Gatt. The United states has been pressing european Community nations including Germany to drastically reduce their farm subsidies. Washington says the subsidies Are harmful to american farm exports. But West europeans arc reluctant to abandon their Farmers to the extent demanded by Washington