Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 30, 1990 TAG: 9003300008
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VILNIUS, LITHUANIA LENGTH: Medium
The decision announced by the Defense Ministry General Staff came a day after Lithuania offered two compromises: it suspended a plan to institute its own border guard, and it told citizens not to resist Soviet attempts to seize their firearms.
Both sides seemed to be yielding in the war of wills over Lithuania's March 11 declaration of independence, the strongest defiance of Mikhail Gorbachev in his five years as Soviet leader.
"I think Lithuania is seeking a way out, and I think Gorbachev is seeking a way out," said Algirdas Brazauskas, head of the Lithuanian Communist Party, which split with Moscow in December.
But the war of words did not die down entirely.
Lithuanian President Vytautas Landsbergis, asked about the Defense Ministry's offer, said: "I don't have much trust in this promise. There have been instances where very high military officials have lied."
Lithuanian leaders are angry that the military said nothing before arresting 23 deserters Tuesday.
Defense Ministry officials told Tass that Lithuanians who left the Soviet armed forces when their republic declared independence would not be punished if they resumed their military service.
However, those who continue to hide will be "searched out, detained and be subject to criminal punishment in accordance with current law," they said.
Red Army soldiers on Tuesday stormed two psychiatric hospitals in Lithuania to apprehend deserters. Witnesses said some of the deserters and a policeman who tried to stop the detentions were beaten.
The Lithuanian prosecutor's office said Thursday it had opened a criminal investigation into the beating of the police officer. The republic's Interior Ministry said the policeman sustained a concussion.
Lt. Gen. Frants Markovsky of the military General Staff told Tass a special military commission had been set up to track down deserters.
Soviet officers visited the families of 97 soldiers who deserted, and in 40 cases were told the soldiers would return, Markovsky told Tass. In 42 other cases, parents said they were willing to help the military but did not know where their sons were, Markovsky said.
Soviet officials estimate 250 Lithuanian soldiers have deserted. Lithuanian figures put the number at about 900.
Wednesday was the deadline for Lithuanians to comply with Gorbachev's order issued last week to turn in their firearms or have them seized.
Deputy Interior Minister Vaclavas Zabarauskas said Thursday that only 1,500 of the 30,000 registered guns had been turned in. Local officials have said they will not cooperate with Moscow.
Tass said the sign-up for a volunteer Lithuanian "territorial defense" border guard continued despite Lithuanian leaders' assurances it was being suspended.
Landsbergis, meanwhile, appealed again for the U.S Congress to extend recognition to Lithuania.
Czechoslovakia's state news agency reported Thursday that President Vaclav Havel had offered his country as a neutral site for talks between Gorbachev and Landsbergis.
by CNB