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> Fri., May 21, 2004
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Today's lead stories:
Congress Questioning Operation Iraqi Freedom?
100 Days of Summer Protests Begins Against RNC
Claims of Racism at Sodexho-Marriot
Part 1: US Moving on Free Trade Agreements: Colombia
Part 2: US Moving on Free Trade Agreements: Australia
FSRN Headlines
Israeli Army Says it is Pulling Back from Rafah
The Israeli military is partially pulling back from its incursion
into Rafah. More from the International Middle East Media
Center in Bethlehem.
US Military Personnel Exempt from Criminal Court
Bush administration diplomats are moving forward to extend
the exemption of U.S. military personnel from prosecution
in the International Criminal Court. Haider Rizvi reports
from the United Nations.
Concientous Objector Found Guilty of Desertion
A military court in Georgia has found a conscientious objector
guilty of desertion. Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejia, a member
of the Florida National Guard, refused to rejoin his unit
in Iraq after a two-week furlough in October. Mejia said he
applied for conscientious objector status after witnessing
the violent deaths of children and other innocent people in
Iraq. But, the military judge said he refused to let his court
become a venue for criticism of the U.S. military offensive
in Iraq. A jury will decide this afternoon on a sentence.
Mejia could face up to a year in prison and will likely be
deported to Costa Rica where he is still a citizen despite
serving for nine years in the U.S. national guard.
Communications Workers Continue to Strike
One hundred thousand members of the Communications Workers
of America began a four-day strike today -- 5,500 of those
workers are in Connecticut. Melinda Tuhus reports from New
Haven.
Boston Sued Over DNC Protest Permits
The City of Boston is being sued over their process for getting
permits to demonstrate at the Democratic National Convention.
Chuck Rosina reports from Boston.
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Congress Questioning Operation Iraqi Freedom?
The House Armed Services Committee met today to explore
rising concerns over the US occupation of Iraq. Among those
who testified was Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Richard
Myers. Questions were raised about the detainee abuse pictures,
the raid by Iraqi police backed by U.S. soldiers of Governing
Council member Ahmed Chalabi, and the increasing attacks on
U.S. Troops which some committee members said cast doubt over
the success of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Selina Musuta reports
from Capitol Hill.
[top]
100 Days of Summer Protests Begins Against RNC
Activists’ 100 days of protest leading up to the Republican
National Convention began today in NYC. The 100 days will
see marches, rallies, and spontaneous demonstrations to oppose
President Bush’s policies. But protest organizers have
run into major obstacles -- the City of New York has denied
many of their plans to vocalize dissent. FSRN’s Leigh
Ann Caldwell has this report from WBAI in New York.
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Claims of Racism at Sodexho-Marriot
Managers of one of the nation’s largest institutional
food suppliers – Sodexho Marriot went to court yesterday
over their claim that their employer is engaged in racial
discrimination. Karen Mitchell reports from D.C.
[top]
Part 1: US Moving on Free Trade Agreements: Colombia
Negotiations have wrapped up in the Free Trade Agreement
talks between the United States and Colombia, Ecuador, and
Peru, in Colombia's Caribbean port of Cartagena. These talks
were seen by the US as a chance for negotiators to meet each
other, and set dates and locations for upcoming rounds. The
US wants the deal to be signed by February 2005. And while
the Andean country’s leaders are pleased with these
first meetings, many thousands throughout Ecuador, Peru and
Colombia have been showing their disgust with the proposed
trade agreements. In Colombia's main cities, thousands have
protested the Free Trade Agreement with police swiftly repressing
the largest march of 15,000, in Cartagena. From Cartagena
de las Indias, Nicole Karsin has more.
[top]
Part 2: US Moving on Free Trade Agreements: Australia
The US-Australia Free Trade Agreement may have been signed,
but it still needs to be passed by the US Congress and the
Australian Parliament before it takes effect. Meanwhile, the
debate over its merits is still raging in Australia, with
recent studies focusing on its potential impact on the cost
of prescription drugs. Christine Baker reports from Sydney.
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