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> Mon., Dec. 22, 2003
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Israeli Elite Reservists Refuse to Serve in Gaza
Libya: Nuke Admission
California Budget Crisis
Independence for Kosovo?
Muslim Women Protest Headscarf Law in Paris
Free Speech Radio News Headlines
9/11 Fund Deadline Approaches
The 9/11 fund deadline is midnight on Monday December 22nd.
After that the families of those who died or were injured
in the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks will be unable
to apply for the billions offered by the U.S. Congress as
compensation for their loss. In order to receive a portion
of the funds, the family must agree to not sue any airline
or other U.S. entities for negligence. As of last week the
fund has paid out nearly 1 point 5 billion dollars and as
many as 90-percent of those involved have filed claims.
Some gay and lesbian partners of victims, while filing for
benefits, are still unsure if they will receive any compensation.
Kenneth Feinberg who is running the program said that states’
laws would prevail regarding recognition of the relationships.
Also to date, at least 73 people are suing a variety of defendants
including the U.S. government. But, the defendants are suing
for answers and accountability rather than money, even if
it takes years as expected.
Asylum Seekers Hunger Strike
Asylum seekers continue their hunger strike on a small island
off Australia waiting for the Australian government to have
a change of heart. Guy Deegan reports from Sydney.
Italian Transit Strikes
Italians transit workers continue their strike hoping union
leaders find the will to force the government to fulfill promises
made four years ago. In Breschia, Diletta Valese reports.
Boston Officials Plan No-Protest Zones
On Friday, The Boston Globe reported that police and security
officials working on plans for July’s Democratic Party
presidential nominating convention expect to set up a five
block perimeter open only to delegates, police and journalists.
Dave Goodman has more from Boston.
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Israeli Elite Reservists Refuse to Serve in Gaza
(3:33)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher passed out after a
confrontation with Palestinians during which witnesses report
Maher was heckled and called a traitor. Witnesses also say
Maher was jostled by the crowd of Palestinians, and according
to the Israeli daily Haaretz, the group attempted to choke
him. The Israeli daily is also reporting that items were thrown
at Maher for climbing the Mount via Mugrabi Gate, which is
generally an access route for non-Muslims. Meanwhile, in the
Occupied West Bank, five Palestinians were injured today in
an Israeli incursion into the refugee camp of Jenin. Israeli
troops also reinvaded the Balata refugee camp near Nablus
only hours after the end of a five day incursion into the
camp that left 15 year old Nour Omran and 6 year old Mohammed
Al-Aaraj dead. Meanwhile, thirteen elite reservists from the
Israeli army have written a letter to the Israeli prime minister
saying that they will not be part of a “rule of oppression”,
in reference to the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza strip.
As we go to air, Ariel Sharon is giving the reservists a chance
to retract their letter. Mohammed Ghalayini reports from Gaza.
[top]
Libya: Nuke Admission (4:04)
Today the International Atomic Energy Agency announced it
will travel to Libya as early as this weekend to inspect the
north African country’s nuclear capabilities. This comes
after Friday’s announcement by President Bush and British
Prime Minister Tony Blair that Libya’s leader Gaddafi
acknowledged his country possessed a program to develop non-conventional
weapons including nuclear and chemical weapons. Gaddafi said
Libya would abandon its programs to develop such weapons and
allow international inspectors to enter the country. President
Bush responded by saying that if Libya continues to cooperate
and assists in the Bush administration’s war on terror,
Libya would gain a secure and respected place among nations.
However, Bush made no mention of Libya’s human rights
abuses or of the detainment of hundreds of political prisoners.
Mitch Jeserich reports from Washington DC.
[top]
California Budget Crisis (3:29)
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Rigde this weekend raised
the national so-called terror alert to the color orange, the
second highest in the President’s post 9-11 color-coded
scale that rates the likelihood of a terrorist attack. While
there is no specific threat, critics charge that the orange
alerts drain state budgets and funnels moneys away to security
protocols, costing states millions of dollars. One state that
will be hit particularly hard is California where governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger used special budgetary powers to make
cuts in the state budget. The move lets him keep a promise
to cut an unpopular car tax, but it paves the way for more
cuts in education and other services. Christopher Martinez
reports from KPFA in Berkeley.
[top]
Independence for Kosovo? (3:42)
A trial began today in Serbia for the alleged assassins
of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic who was gunned down
March 12 of this year. Djindic helped to oust Slobodan Milosevic
in 2000 and infuriated Serbian nationalists by sending him
to the Hague war crimes court. The trial starts just days
before Serbia's general election for a new Prime Minister
scheduled for this weekend. The United Nations Security Council
has reiterated support for the UN mission’s plan for
improving conditions in Kosovo prior to final status talks.
The UN mission in Kosovo, (UNMIK) last week unveiled a roadmap
for the implementation of international standards in Kosovo.
Under UN resolution 1244, Kosovo is still a part of Serbia
and Montenegro even if Belgrade’s writ no longer applies
to most of the province. Kosovo Albanian politicians have
by and large welcomed the standards for Kosovo plan, but it’s
been roundly rejected by the authorities in Serbia and Montenegro
who say the document paves the way for Kosovo’s independence.
More from Sputnik Kilambi.
[top]
Muslim Women Protest Headscarf Law in Paris
(3:56)
Over the weekend, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said
in an interview that he is against allowing teachers in public
schools to wear Islamic headscarves, saying the Islamic dress
has "no place" among civil servants. In France,
President Jacques Chirac’s proposal to introduce a bill
that would ban the wearing of what he termed “conspicuous”
religious signs in French state schools is being met with
mixed reactions. While polls show that a majority of the French
people supports the idea of a law to reassert France’s
secular identity, France’s Muslim population feels specifically
targeted by this law. Critics warn that the law will drive
France’s five million Muslims into greater isolation.
On Sunday, three thousand Muslim teenagers - mainly women
- demonstrated in central Paris to defend their right to wear
the Islamic scarf. Nick Champeaux reports from Paris.
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