Home > Programs
> FSRN
> Fri., Feb. 18, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
Thanks to FSRN.org
for making the daily programs available to Pacifica.org
Today's lead stories:
Army Destroyed Photos of Torture
Bush Claims Syria is Out Of Line
Early Elections Scheduled in Cyprus
Kurds Introduce Talabani as Presidential Nominee
Demonstrators Converge at WTO Headquarters in Geneva
Bhopal Activist Confront Dow
FSRN Headlines
Nepal's King Cuts Phones Hoping to Curb Protests
The King of Nepal cut telephone lines in and out of the country
today in an attempt to squash potential protests against the
monarch. In an interview, he said he took control at the beginning
of this month to protect the constitutional monarchy for democracy
and avoid political instability. Political analysts say the
military and police are staunch supporters of the king and
masterminded the takeover. Maoist rebels have been struggling
since 1996 to establish communist rule. More than 11-thousand
people have been killed in the related violence. Yet, the
Maoists have considerable popular support in some regions
of the country. In other regions, people say they are fed
up with corruption and instability and support the king.
Mexican Government Slams CIA Director's Statements
The Mexican government has reacted harshly to comments made
by the U.S. CIA director claiming that 8 Latin American countries
might face pre-election instability. Luz Ruis reports from
San Cristobal.
U.S. Considering Training Indonesian Military Again
Re-opening old wounds, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza
Rice indicated that the U.S. would restore Indonesia as a
country eligible to receive military training from the United
States. Meggy Margiyono reports from Jakarta.
Greenpeace Stops London Oil Trading
Oil trading was halted when environmentalists burst onto the
floor of London's International Petroleum Exchange in protest
over the oil industry’s contribution to global warming.
From London, Naomi Fowler reports.
Bush Signs Pro-Corporate/Anti-Consumer Legislation
George W. Bush took his pen to new legislation that consumer
advocates say will strip citizens of their rights to a fair
day in court against irresponsible corporations. Business
groups lobbied Congress hard for the change that moves class
action cases to federal courts which tend to be easier on
corporations accused of fraud or negligence. Bush said he
thinks this will go a long way to curb what he calls “the
lawsuit culture” and be more efficient.
[top]
ARMY DESTROYED PHOTOS OF TORTURE (3:20)
Internal US Army documents unveil new allegations of torture
against both detainees and civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Army investigated claims by senior officers in Afghanistan
who say they witnessed Special Forces assaulting civilians
during raids in two Afghan villages. The documents, obtained
by the ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights, also
indicate that photos of US soldiers in Afghanistan posing
with hooded and bound prisoners were destroyed. Mitch Jeserich
reports from Washington.
[top]
BUSH CLAIMS SYRIA IS OUT OF LINE (2:30)
Following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister
Rafik Hariri, President Bush says he's working with allies
in Europe in an attempt to force Syria out of Lebanon- claiming
that Syria is out of step with what he calls the progress
being made in the Middle East. Critics, meanwhile, maintain
that this is just the latest ploy by the US to gain more ground
in the Middle East. Joining us today to talk about the developments
in Syria is professor of politics and Chair of the Peace and
Justice Studies Program and the University of San Francisco,
Stephen Zunes.
[top]
EARLY ELECTIONS SCHEDULED IN CYPRUS (3:14)
Early elections are scheduled for the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus this Sunday. Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister
Mehmet Ali Talat resigned in October of last year after his
coalition government split over UN General Secretary Kofi
Annan's plan to unite the Greek and Turkish regions of the
island were rejected by the southern district. Ezgi Saritas
has more.
[top]
KURDS INTRODUCE TALABANI AS PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE
(5:33)
Fresh off their success at the polls, Iraq's two main Kurdish
political parties have put forward 72 year old Jalal Talabani
as their candidate for President of Iraq. If he succeeds in
obtaining the post, it will be a fitting chapter in one of
Iraq's most colorful careers. From Northern Iraq, FSRN's Aaron
Glantz has this profile.
[top]
DEMONSTRATORS CONVERGE AT WTO HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA
(3:41)
At the World Trade Organization headquarters in Geneva yesterday,
protesters demonstrated against ongoing preparations for the
next WTO ministerial summit, to be held in Hong Kong this
December. Julia Steinberger reports.
[top]
BHOPAL ACTIVIST CONFRONT DOW (2:23)
Activists for justice in Bhopal traveled to Lake Jackson,
Texas last night to confront Dow chemical officials over their
failure to cleanup abandoned pesticides from a plant it owns
in India. A 1981 explosion at the plant killed over 100,000
Bhopalis and continues to pollute the city. From KPFT, Erika
McDonald has the story.
[top]
|
Listen
to the show 
Help
stream
download
