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> Thur., May 6, 2004
FSRN
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Today's lead stories:
Democrats on Capitol Hill: Sack Rummy & Exit Iraq
US Attacks Najaf; Medhi Army Fights Back
Mumia on Prisoner Torture and Abuse
Sudan: Crimes Against Humanity?
Colombian Oil Strike Enters 2nd Week
FSRN Headlines
Bush on Cuba
Today George W. Bush announced he received the recommendations
from his so-called Commission for the Assistance of a Free
Cuba. Details of the proposed policy have yet to be released
but, Bush’s comments point to a pre-emptive policy in
Cuba.
Bush to Curb Money to Cuba
Reports suggest the Bush administration wants to curb the
flow of money Cuban immigrants send to their families in Cuba,
insure U.S. government sponsored Radio Marti is received by
Cubans, and generally take a more active roll in toppling
Fidel Castro. Sara Stevens with the Center for International
Policy says that flying U.S. planes over international waters
to get U.S. propaganda radio into Cuba is provocative by Cuban
standards and will not get the job done. Stevens adds that
hindering the flow of money just takes food off the tables
of the Cuban people and has no effect on Castro.
Child Military Recruitment in Sri Lanka
UN officials and Scandinavian truce monitors said the Sri
Lankan Tamil Tigers have restarted a child recruitment campaign
into military service. Ponniah Manikavasagam reports from
Sri Lanka.
Violence in Nigeria
Religious clashes have claimed more lives in central Nigeria
where Christians and Muslims are involved in revenge killings.
Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.
CA Voting Age to 14?
A California state Senate committee has passed legislation
that aims to lower the voting age to 14. From KPFA in Berkeley,
Brian Edwards-Tiekert reports.
[top]
Democrats on Capitol Hill: Sack Rummy & Exit
Iraq (4:08)
Today Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill have begun calling
for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for
allegedly covering up abuses to Iraqi detainees. This comes
as the Bush administration formally requested an additional
25 billion dollars for the military in Iraq. Though the request
is likely to be granted by Congress, some lawmakers say several
conditions must first be met, including the resignation of
Rumsfeld, and for President Bush to detail an exit strategy
from Iraq. And as Mitch Jeserich reports, the ranking Democrat
on the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee, who was
a strong proponent of the Iraqi invasion, now says that Iraq
is unwinnable.
[top]
US Attacks Najaf; Medhi Army Fights Back
(3:52)
US soldiers backed by tanks and armored fighting vehicles
today seized control of the governor's office from Shiite
militiamen in the Iraqi holy city, Najaf, leaving more than
40 Iraqis dead. The American attack -- which included the
use of helicopters -- is part of a renewed offensive against
followers of the fiery cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who has been
declared an outlaw by the occupation authorities. From Najaf,
Correspondent Aaron Glantz gives us this look at who is fighting
in the Medhi Army of Muqtada al-Sadr.
[top]
Mumia on Prisoner Torture and Abuse (3:25)
FSRN regular commentator Mumia Abu-Jamal, a resident of
Pennsylvania’s death row, provides a unique perspective
on the ritual humiliation and torture of prisoners.
[top]
Sudan: Crimes Against Humanity? (3:25)
The slayings of thousands of civilians in the Sudan has
lead some members of the US Congress to support a resolution
investigating whether the Sudanese government is guilty of
crimes against humanity. Karen Mitchell of FSRN’s DC
Bureau reports.
[top]
Colombian Oil Strike Enters 2nd Week (4:36)
While Colombian authorities are searching for the remains
of paramilitary leader Carlos Castaño, who was allegedly
attacked and possibly killed by his own forces on April 16,
a strike of the country’s oil workers, unionized under
the government-owned Colombian Petroleum Company -- Ecopetrol,
has been simmering since late April. After 19 months of frustrated
negotiations between the oil workers union, called the USO,
the government, and the state-owned Ecopetrol -- the workers
of the USO declared its first general strike in 37 years.
The government immediately denounced the strike as illegal,
saying it could interfere the “essential public service”
of gasoline distribution. As the strike reaches its two-week
mark, Nicole Karsin has more from Colombia’s north central
river-port town of Barrancabermja.
[top]
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