European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 12, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The so aim ipe vol. 50, no. 152 thursday september 12,1991 authorized unofficial publication for the . Armed forces 35e d 8693 Fletcher says Bias taints military Justice in Europe by Janet Howells Tierney Washington Bureau Washington a racial discrimination seems to spill Over into the . Military Justice system in Germany where service members claim the Black to White ratio of prisoners in military jails is about 4-to-l, the chairman of the . Commission on civil rights said wednesday at a press conference. Arthur a. Fletcher a comments in Washington were made in conjunction with the release of his preliminary report on civil rights complaints he received during an August visit to five military installations in Germany. Evidence also seems to support allegations that about four Black youths for every one White Are sent Back to the United states from Europe when they have serious conflicts in the overseas military communities or with local nationals he said. Fletcher on wednesday elaborated on complaints he see related Story on Page 8 first Laid out in an exclusive interview with the stars and stripes published aug. 21. In that interview he said he had received a hundreds of complaints from overseas schoolteachers Active duty members and their spouses and civilian government workers. The complaints he said appeared to represent systemic discrimination. Thirty three of those written and videotaped complaints Are now being reviewed by the commission he said wednesday. A the system itself still discriminates and Isnit applied evenhanded by and we re hopefully going to find out which individuals at overseas military installations allow that to continue a Fletcher said. He noted however that Quot clearly the key leadership of the . Military intends to Root out All vestiges of discrimination in the armed services. The problem a see Fletcher on Page 2 Gorbachev says troops to withdraw from Cuba Moscow apr president Mikhail s. Gorbachev in the clearest sign yet that he is ready to sever Strong soviet military ties with hard line Cuba said wednesday that thousands of soviet troops would soon leave that Island nation. It was not Clear if that would constitute a Complete soviet military pullout from Cuba where Fidel Castro a authoritarian Rule is far out of step with the changes that have swept the soviet Union since last month s failed hard line coup. Gorbachev speaking at a joint news conference with . Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii said a we will soon begin discussions with the cuban leadership about the withdrawal of a soviet training  lie said about 11.00 1 soldiers were involved. The figure of 11,000 troops cited by Gorbachev was higher than soviet troop estimates by Western military analysts including the International Institute of strategic studies in Loudon and the . Stale department. State department officials wednesday estimated the soviet military civilian presence on the Island at 5.h00 to 6,100, made up of 2,600 to 2,0 h combat troops 2,000 people involved in intelligence a see Cuba on Page 2 Israel says it has freed 51 lebanese prisoners protesters meet Independence a flotilla of Small Craft including this boat flying a peace Pennant meets the . Aircraft Carrier Independence on wednesday As it arrives at the american naval base in Yokosuka near Tokyo. The seaborne protest by japanese anti nuclear groups was directed at the massive Flattop As it headed for its new Home port. See Story on Page 8. Jerusalem apr in a major break in the stalemate Over Western hostages in Lebanon Israel announced wednesday that it released 51 lebanese prisoners and turned Over the bodies of nine Muslim guerrillas alter receiving definitive word that one of its seven missing servicemen was dead. Israel said it acted in recognition of . Secretary general Javier Perez de Cuellari a efforts to secure an Overall Swap to win the release of the 11 Western hostages held in Lebanon by pro iranian terrorist groups. The move came As Perez de Cuellar held talks with iranian officials in Tehran. A Deal to free the Western hostages is considered Likely to involve the release of Israel s servicemen missing in Lebanon or proof that they Are dead and the freeing of some Arab detainees. The israeli military statement said the 51 prisoners were freed wednesday from Khiam jail in israeli controlled South Lebanon which is run by the South Lebanon army Israel s militia ally. No information was Given on which prisoners were released. Israeli authorities say 25 1 to 3 h prisoners Are held in the jail. In addition Israel holds other prisoners whose release is demanded by the hostage holders including shiite cleric Sheik Abdul Karim Soheid who was kidnapped by israeli commandos in pjs1. The South Lebanon army commander col. Antoine la had said on the army a voice of the South radio station that the prisoner release was made for a humanitarian reasons and As proof of our willingness to make a  he said it was hoped the move a will get a response from the parties involved a those holding some of our soldiers and some of the israeli  a we Hope they will do the same As we see prisoners on Page 2stripper strikes bowls pm Over at Lakenheath Page 3