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> Wed., Mar. 23, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
NAFTA Summit Kicks Off Today in Texas
Arab League Summit Comes to a Close with Debate over Israeli
Peace Process
Planned Parenthood Rejects States Plan to Release Private
Health Records
Major Public Sector Strikes in India
Prevention on Terrorism Act in UK Limits Freedoms
Mixed Feelings on Prisoners in Cuba
FSRN Headlines
Kyrgyzstan Demos
Riot police broke up an opposition rally in the capital of
Kyrgyzstan today and the new interior minister warned that
authorities may use force to restore order suggesting that
the government is seriously attempting to contain the protests
in the Southern portion of the country. Interior Minister
Keneshbek Dushebayev says the law provides every right to
take action, including by using physical force, special means
and firearms. The new top police official spoke hours after
President Askar Akayev fired his predecessor and the chief
prosecutor over unrest in the south, where opposition demonstrators
have seized control of several key government buildings and
pressured the president to resign over alleged vote fraud
in recent parliamentary elections.
Guatemala Reduces Sentences of Officers Who Murdered Bishop
A Guatemalan appeals court has knocked 10 years of the sentence
of two military officers in a high profile case for the murder
of a bishop. Catherine Elton reports.
Extraordinary Rendition
A federal judge extended a temporary restraining order to
keep the US government from transferring detainees at Guantanamo
Bay to other countries. Mitch Jeserich has more.
Chile Denies Selling Arms After 1994
Chile's Defense Minister Jaime Ravinet has denied Chile sold
weapons to Ecuador in 1995 as that country waged an undeclared
border war with Peru. Jorge Garreton reports from Santiago.
11th Circuit Refuses to Take Up Schaivo Case
The full 11th Circuit of Appeals in Atlanta has denied a petition
by the parent’s of Terri Schiavo to order to re-insertion
of her feeding tube. Schiavo has been in what doctors have
characterized as a persistent vegetative state for 14 years.
Her feeding tube was removed five days ago under a state court
order sought by her husband – Michael Schiavo. Terri
Shiavo’s parent’s had requested that the full
11th Circuit appellate panel review a decision made earlier
today by a three-judge appellate panel. That panel also declined
to take up the matter. Schaivo’s parents have indicated
they will take the matter to the US Supreme Court today. The
Florida Senate is currently debating a bill that would prohibit
the denial of food and water if patients had not expressed
their wishes in writing. The outcome of that measure remains
uncertain.
[top]
NAFTA Summit Kicks Off Today in Texas (4:14)
President Bush and his counterparts from Mexico and Canada
met in Texas today to discuss North American security and
economic issues. Efforts to develop a new trade pact between
the three nations were linked to concerns stemming from 9-11.
From KPFT in Houston, Renee Feltz reports.
[top]
Arab League Summit Comes to a Close with Debate over
Israeli Peace Process (2:31)
A two-day summit of Arab leaders concluded today in Algeria
which resulted in a decision to better market a 2002 peace
plan for Israel by sending a committee to explain the plan
to Europe, the United States and other nations. The Arab League
Summit finished with Arab leaders and officials agreeing on
the necessity of fostering peace between Arabs and Israelis-
although some officials disagree on the correct formula. Oula
Farawati has more…
[top]
Planned Parenthood Rejects States Plan to Release
Private Health Records (4:05)
Government agencies in two states have demanded that health
care providers hand over the medical records of dozens of
patients. Arguing that such demands are illegal and unconstitutional,
Planned Parenthood is suing to block the state seizure of
private records. Jenny Johnson reports.
[top]
Major Public Sector Strikes in India (2:28)
Thousands of Bank employees took the streets in India on
strike yesterday. Today public sector insurance employees
were also on strike. This as the employees of the government
owned telephone company continue their week-long strike as
well. All of them are protesting on the government's move
towards promoting mergers and acquisitions. These workers
fear recent moves by the government is to "gift"
- giving away profit making public sector companies to multi
national corporations. Vinod K. Jose has the details of the
strike from New Delhi.
[top]
Prevention on Terrorism Act in UK Limits Freedoms
(4:14)
A British foreign national who was held under the country's
now expired anti-terror laws for over 3 years has attempted
to commit suicide. Mahmoud Suliman Ahmed Abu Rideh has been
admitted to a London hospital after a drug overdose. He was
also treated for an infection from the electronic ankle tag
he is forced to wear. At least two other prisoners have faced
severe psychiatric difficulties since their release from Belmarsh
Prison, nick-named "Britain's Guantanamo." The British
government has released ten foreign nationals they've been
holding indefinitely without charge or trial under emergency
terrorism laws- although the men continue to live under severe
surveillance and restrictions on their movement and communication.
From London, Naomi Fowler reports:
[top]
Mixed Feelings on Prisoners in Cuba (2:43)
Two years ago, Cuban authorities arrested, tried and sentenced
75 people accused of receiving money from Washington-sponsored
organizations to destabilize the Cuban government. The international
press decried what it termed human rights abuses against the
dissidents- while local residents have mixed feelings about
the prisoners. In Cuba, Joseph Muti has more.
[top]
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