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> Tue., June 8, 2004
FSRN
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Today's lead stories:
Ashcroft Before Congress
Global Development in the G8
Iraqi Journalists Threatened
Renewable Energy Conference in Germany
Massacres in Arauca, Colombia
FSRN Headlines
British Officer Misleads Gov. on Iraqi Deaths
A British military officer admitted he inadvertently misled
Parliament about the numbers of civilian deaths in Iraq that
involved British soldiers. Armed forces minister Adam Ingram
told MPs last month that 33 cases of alleged abuse were investigated.
However, he now admits the number of cases really is 61 with
14 more launched since his testimony. A spokesperson with
the Prime Minister’s office said that the allegations
were being investigated; they just were not being recorded.
UN to Vote on Iraq Future
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on
the U.S. created plan for the immediate future of Iraq. Haider
Rizvi reports from the U.N.
Anti-Biotech Activists Arresting in SF
Foes of biotech were arrested while another 500 to 1000 protestors
confronted scientists, executives and job seekers at the Biotech
Industry Organization conference. More from KPFA’s Kellia
Ramares.
G8 Considers Int. Environmental Treaty
Today at the G8 summit in Georgia, the Kyoto protocol, an
international treaty on the environment has been put back
on the table for negotiations. Aura Bogado reports from Brunswick.
US Naval Base in West Africa
The United States plans to deploy a naval task force off the
coast of West Africa, reportedly to protect the nation’s
growing strategic oil interest in the Gulf of Guinea. Sam
Olukoya reports from Lagos.
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Ashcroft Before Congress (4:27)
For the first time in over a year, Attorney General John
Ashcroft testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee. However,
the hearing, that was scheduled to look at the Patriot Act,
took a turn due to a story in today's Washington Post of a
leaked Department of Justice memo suggesting the DOJ advised
the White House that torturing Al-Qaeda suspects may be justified.
Attorney General Ashcroft refused the requests of some committee
members for copies of the memos without a clear explanation
of why. And Mitch Jeserich reports, this has some lawmakers
calling for Ashcroft to be in contempt of Congress.
[top]
Global Development in the G8 (2:18)
With the G-8 summitt on its way, here on capitol hill the
Commission on Weak States and US national security issued
a report outlining deficeincies in U.S. development policies
toward what they call failed or weak nations. Selina Musuta
reports from Washington, DC.
[top]
Iraqi Journalists Threatened (2:32)
Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi this week announced
a plan to reintegrate militia groups into Iraqi society, but
the plan does not include the rebel Medhi Militia, which continued
to battle U-S troops today in Baghdad. Security in the country
continues to be the top concern for most Iraqis, but as David
Enders and Salam Talib report from Baghdad and Kirkuk, local
journalists continue are at greatest risk.
[top]
Renewable Energy Conference in Germany (4:08)
The surging oil prices and the instability in the Middle
East has lent added credence and urgency to an international
Renewable energy conference that has been taking place in
Bonn, Germany.Following the failure of the UN Earth Summit
in Johannesburg to agree to a 15 percent target on introducing
renewable energies world wide by 2010 – the German government
invited the world to a international conference on renewables
in Bonn. While many NGO's welcomed the targets set by some
countries to phase in renewable energy they slammed the lack
of real political will and funding to bring clean affordable
energy to the world's poorest. Jennifer Macey reports from
Bonn.
[top]
Massacres in Arauca, Colombia (4:30)
As car bombs continue to explode in Colombia ‘s main
cities -- one was detonated yesterday in Medellin injuring
12 and another last week Colombia’s third largest city
of Cali – the war that rages in Colombia’s countryside
goes virtually unreported. As the Colombia Army undertakes
it’s largest military offensive against the country’s
guerrilla, paramilitary groups continue to massacre the local
villagers. The United Self Defense Forces of Colombia, or
AUC are in a negotiation process with the Colombian government
and this week, several hundred paramilitary fighters concentrated
in northwestern Colombia to begin a process of verification
of demobilization that will be monitored by the OAS. However,
massacres of five, six, ten people are occurring all the time,
but because of the danger in reaching these rural areas of
combat and because the Colombian press is encouraged to report
the official version of events, the severe humanitarian crisis
that poor villagers in Colombia’s countryside are facing
is seldom heard. Nicole Karsin traveled to the oil-rich, war-torn
Arauca state where 12 campesinos were tortured and murdered
on May 19 and 20. She joined a humanitarian commission that
was the first to speak to witnesses and verify the scenes
of the massacre and she has this story.
[top]
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