Marchenko Hailed as ‘Martyr’ by President in Rights Speech : Reagan Condemns Soviet Violations, S. Africa Apartheid

WASHINGTON — President Reagan, acclaiming Soviet dissident Anatoly Marchenko as “a martyr for the cause of human rights,” condemned rights violations from the Soviet Union to South Africa in a Human Rights Day speech today.

“The United States intends to hold the Soviet Union to the human rights commitments it made at Helsinki,” Reagan said, noting that the Soviets were among the signers of accords reached in the Finnish capital 11 years ago.

“The Soviet government, despite a few gestures this year, gestures that reflect posturing more than flexibility, continues its systematic violation of human rights,” Reagan said in a speech at the Old Executive Office Building.

“These realities remain unacceptable, and we will continue to do our utmost to press for change.”

‘Apartheid . . . Must Be Ended’

In addition, Reagan said, “we remain deeply concerned . . . about the denial of human rights in Africa. The system of apartheid and the state of emergency in South Africa are unconscionable and must be ended.

“The brutality and repression in Ethiopia, Angola or any other repressive African regimes are of no less concern.”

Reagan saluted Yuri Orlov and Anatoly Shcharansky, recently emigrated Soviet dissidents who joined him on the speaker’s platform, as “people of extraordinary moral courage” and added, “Anatoly Marchenko, who we are saddened to hear recently died while in prison, is a martyr for the cause of human rights.”

Soviet officials said today that Marchenko’s death was caused by a cerebral hemorrhage after a long illness. Family and friends in Moscow said they were informed of the dissident’s death Tuesday. (Story on Page 6.)

Armando Valladares, a Cuban who spent 22 years in prison, was also present as an honored guest at today’s ceremony.

Prison Memoirs

Valladares has attracted attention because of his prison memoirs, “Against All Hope,” which portray the abusive treatment he claims to have suffered while in confinement.

Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Ricardo Alarcon said in an interview last week in Havana that Valladares is a creation of Cuba’s enemies.

He said Valladares, 49, was jailed not for his ideas but because he was a “terrorist” who worked for a counterrevolutionary group.

Orlov was released two months ago as part of the deal that allowed U.S. journalist Nicholas Daniloff to return home after he had been accused by Soviet authorities of spying.

Shcharansky, who has resettled in Israel, met privately with Reagan in the Oval Office after the ceremony.