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> Mon., Mar. 22, 2004
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Hamas Leader Killed by Israeli Forces
Sumpreme Court Hears Privacy & Death Penalty Cases
911 Hearings on the Capital
Worldwide Protests Against War
New IMF Agreement in Argentina
FSRN Headlines
Several hundred people with disabilities closed the entrances
in front of the Department of Health and Human Services today
with some locking their wheelchairs and and others lying on
foam mattresses. They are demanding a meeting with Bush administration
officials to discuss what they are calling the institutional
discrimination in current Medicaid policies that provide funding
for institutions but deny payment if someone receives the
same services at home. Bob Liston is an organizer with ADAPT.
The nursing home industry has been lobbying strongly against
it. The bill has been stuck in Congress since the Clinton
administration. Outgoing deputy secretary Dennis Smith said
Secretary Tommy Thompson was on an overseas trip but did put
in writing that incoming deputy Mark McClellan would meet
with the advocates for rights of the differently abled.
Pentagon officials dropped all charges, but the ones for
adultery and pornography against the Muslim Army Chaplain
from Seattle who ministered to the prisoners being held by
the US government at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Martha Baskin reports.
The Bush-Cheney re-election clothing maker, the Spalding
Group called the inclusion of Burmese goods in its fashion
line an error; a Spalding vendor says it shipped the garments
before Bush signed the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act last
September.. Sara Turner reports from the Workers Independent
News Service.
Elections around the world over the weekend held both anticipated
and surprising results. French socialists made significant
gains by obtaining 40-percent of the vote while the far right
took more than 16-percent. Taiwan’s high court is set
to play a significant role in determining the fate of their
elections. For now, President Chen Shui-bian, a staunch proponent
of independence from China, is claiming a narrow victory.
Tiawans stock market tumbled today as opposition members took
to the streets demanding a recount. Meanwhile in Central America,
Normon Stockwell reports on election results from El Salvador.
[top]
Hamas Leader Killed by Israeli Forces
Earlier today – Israeli forces assassinated the founder
and spiritual leader of Hamas. Sheik Ahmed Yassin was killed
as he was leaving a mosque after morning prayers. Hundreds
of thousands of Palestinians streamed into the streets in
protest and marched in funeral procession for the slain Sheik.
The Palestinian Authority has called for three days of mourning
and ordered a general strike. Governments around the globe
have harshly condemned the extra-judicial killing. Free Speech
Radio News talked with the Labor Minister for the Palestinian
Authority, Ghassan Khatib, about the murder and the implications
of the Israeli action on the Middle East Peace Process.
[top]
Sumpreme Court Hears Privacy & Death Penalty
Cases
The United States Supreme Court heard arguments today about
whether a Texas man sentenced to death in 1986, whose IQ is
just above the mental retardation level, should receive a
new trial. The Court also heard arguments regarding the constitutionality
of arresting detained individuals simply for not providing
their names. Ingrid Drake from our Washington, DC bureau has
this Supreme Court round-up.
[top]
911 Hearings on the Capital
Today the release of a new book by former White House counter
terrorism specialist Richard Clark slams President Bush for
ignoring terrorist threats before 9/11. The book release comes
just before Clark testifies this week before the 9/11 Commission.
Other high administration officials will also be testifying
in Washington including Secretary of State Collin Powell and
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. However there are still
no arrangements for either President Bush or Vice President
Dick Cheney to testify. Mitch Jeserich has more.
[top]
Worldwide Protests Against War
Last Saturday, March 20, was the one-year anniversary of
the US led invasion of Iraq. Millions of people worldwide
rallied to protest the invasion and subsequent occupation
of that country. Free Speech Radio news correspondents around
the globe attended some of those rallies. We begin our coverage
in Mexico – where protests were held outside the US
Embassy in Mexico City. Vladimir Flores was there.
Thousands went to the streets in India against the US occupation
in Iraq. Vinod K Jose reports from New Dehli.
In Johannesburg, SA, 500 to a thousand people rallied in
Library Gardens and marched to the Workers Museum. Melinda
Tuhus reports.
And in Texas – yet another protest was held not far
from the Western White House in Crawford. Stefan Wray was
there.
[top]
New IMF Agreement in Argentina
Last Tuesday, Argentina signed a new letter of intent with
the International Monetary Fund and PAYED $3.1 billion dollars
in defaulted debt. Matt Goldin reports from Buenos Aires.
[top]
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