They have been foiced to sacrifice their rights to the political ambitions of the Soviet Union. The attempted defection of Lithuanian sailor Simas Kudirka last November evidences just how far Lithuanians have been stripped of their rights. Seeking asylum on an American ship. Kudirka was forcibly beaten and removed from the U.S. vessel by Soviet sailors. American behavior during this incident was of course inexcusable. New State Department guidelines. issued partly as a result of pressure by myself and other members of the House Subcommittee on State Department Organization and Foreign Opperations. should prevent further U.S. confusion. and improve our responses to asylum requests. What has not improved. however. is the Soviet attitude toward Lithuanian desire for freedom. There have been no new declarations coming from the Soviet Union since the Kudirka case which clarify the individual right to emigrate to the country of ones choice. There have been no declarations that Lithuania will be given her independence at any time in the future. Happily. the Kudirka episode has also evidenced the fact that the Lithuanian desire for freedom is still burning.
Keywords matched
asylum requests Seeking asylum emigrate