‘We Must Remember’ : Governor Proclaims a Day to Honor Genocide Victims

Fighting back tears at a Capitol press conference, Gov. George Deukmejian declared Wednesday a day to honor victims of genocide and called on President Reagan not to visit Bitburg cemetery in West Germany, where Nazi soldiers are buried.

Repeating a request he made earlier this week in a letter to Reagan, Deukmejian called on the President to reconsider his opposition to a congressional resolution marking the 70th anniversary of the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.

Deukmejian said that his aunt was one of 1.5 million Armenians who died in the massacre.

“If the world had not been indifferent, if the world had not let it happen to the Armenians in 1915, perhaps we wouldn’t have had these further genocides,” the governor said. “We must remember. We must speak out.”

Attacks Apartheid

The Republican governor likened the genocide of Armenians and Jews to the racial oppression of blacks in South Africa under apartheid.

And he said that in an effort to end apartheid, cutting off U.S. investment in South Africa is a “tool” that must be considered--including divestiture of University of California holdings in companies that do business in South Africa.

Deukmejian’s press conference coincided with the anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian massacre. The governor proclaimed Wednesday to be a day of remembrance for the victims of genocide and ordered flags flown at half-staff over state buildings.

“As a citizen of the freest and most tolerant nation on Earth, I feel a personal responsibility to remember and to speak out against these atrocities,” he said. “They are still occurring today.

Welcomes ‘Public Attention’

“I welcome the public attention that is being focused on the abhorrent system of apartheid in South Africa, the brutal aggression against Afghanistan and all violations of human rights wherever they occur.”

Deukmejian’s public disagreement with Reagan over both the cemetery visit and the Armenian commemoration is unusual, because the governor has long been one of Reagan’s staunchest supporters.

Reagan has opposed a congressional resolution marking the 70th anniversary of the Armenian genocide out of fear of offending Turkey, a military ally of the United States. The Turkish government refuses to acknowledge that the massacre took place.

And the President has touched off a storm of protest by planning to visit the Bitburg cemetery when he visits Germany next month.

‘Other Appropriate Sites’

“There are other appropriate sites he could visit to demonstrate that continued effort on the part of the peoples of Germany and the people of the United States to reconcile the differences following World War II,” Deukmejian said. “But I don’t think he should go to Bitburg.”

Deukmejian blamed the President’s actions on “poor advice” from associates.

While Deukmejian’s comments on apartheid Wednesday indicated his strong feelings on the issue, he stopped short of advocating that California end its economic dealings with South Africa.

The UC Board of Regents, of which Deukmejian is a member, is scheduled to discuss in June whether it should sell off $1.7 billion that it has invested in companies that do business with South Africa. In addition, the Legislature is considering several bills that would end investment of state retirement funds in such companies.

“This is certainly one tool that has to be considered,” Deukmejian said. “ . . . But I’m pleased about the fact that there is this debate that is going on.”

UC Berkeley Demonstrations

In recent weeks, students have demonstrated at the University of California, Berkeley, calling for divestiture of investments connected to South Africa. Last week, more than 150 students were arrested when they blockaded two UC Berkeley buildings.

Deukmejian told reporters that he had discussed the protests with his son, who attends UC Berkeley, but would not divulge the nature of their conversation.

However, the governor said he believes it is appropriate for students to demonstrate peacefully against apartheid as long as they comply with the law.