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> Thur., May. 19, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Opposition to Republican Efforts to Eliminate Filibuster
Alarm Over Expanded Surveillance
Former Haitian Prime Minister Continues Hunger Strike
Immigration and the EU Constitution Referendum in France
Australia Under Regional Pressure to Sign Amity and Cooperation
Treaty
Malcolm X Birthday
FSRN Headlines
The FBI is calling extremist environmental and animal rights
groups more dangerous than Al Qaida. Wendy Wang reports from
D.C.
The federal case against the former Florida university professor
being tried on secret evidence in accordance with the so-called
Patriot Act started jury selection this week. Lance Robson
reports from WMNF in Tampa.
More women in Ciudad Juarez have been killed. Local police
blame it on domestic violence and call it a “private
matter.” Latin America correspondent Shannon Young has
more.
Connecticut based General Electric has been hit with a 450-million-dollar
federal lawsuit by one of its own executives charging he was
a victim of racial discrimination at one of G-E's subsidiaries.
Ebong Udoma reports from Fairfield.
Current regulations adequately protect foster children who
are used in clinical drug trials, according to a Bush administration
official. Donald Young with the Department of Human Services
said that additional protections were unwarranted at a Congressional
hearing yesterday. Doctors who spoke at the hearing also said
that the current foster care system serves children well.
Congressman Peter Stark of California noted that prisoners
used in clinical drug trials are granted more rights than
children in foster care, like having an advocate who specifically
serves the their needs. The hearing was in response to an
Associated Press report last month that said foster children
have been used in HIV/AIDS drug trials since the 1980’s.
The Bush administration contends that the only way to provide
safe drugs for children is to continue testing on foster children.
[top]
Opposition to Republican Efforts to Eliminate Filibuster
(3:46)
Senate business came to a stand still today as the debate
on the future of the filibuster continues. Today, members
of the Black Caucus as well as black ministers gathered at
the Capitol to oppose the Republican effort to eliminate the
rule. Dolores M. Bernal reports from Capitol Hill.
[top]
Alarm Over Expanded Surveillance (4:00)
Civil libertarian groups are alarmed at an expected bill
from the Senate Intelligence Committee that will make much
of the Patriot Act permanent and expand surveillance and law
enforcement powers that are commonly associated with what
is known as the Patriot Act II. Mitch Jeserich reports from
Capitol Hill.
[top]
Former Haitian Prime Minister Continues Hunger Strike
(3:51)
In Haiti, about 5,000 supporters of former President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide demonstrated in the country's capital of Port-au-Prince,
demanding the ousted leader's immediate return from South
Africa. Meanwhile, imprisoned former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune
has been on a hunger strike for over one month, bringing him
to the verge of death. Neptune has been accused of participating
in an alleged massacre in February 2004, but nearly 11 months
after turning himself in, no evidence has been presented against
him has yet to see a judge. Meanwhile, jailed paramilitary
leader Louis-Jodel Chamblain, who is in the same prison as
Neptune, is closer than ever to being freed after the supreme
court earlier this month overturned a jury's historic verdict
that had convicted him in absentia for his role in the so-called
Raboteau massacre in 1994. Reed Lindsay reports from Port-au-Prince,
Haiti.
[top]
Immigration and the EU Constitution Referendum in
France (3:30)
If ratified, the European Union constitutional treaty will
protect certain immigrant rights. In the meantime, national
governments are doing all they can to stem the flow of immigration.
While Spain has just documented some 700,000 immigrants, their
status remains precarious. In France, the immigration issue
is touchy and Interior Minister Dominque de Villepin has presented
a repressive proposal against undocumented immigration. There
are approximately 15 million immigrants who do have the right
to vote in Europe. As Raphaël Krafft reports, the new
constitution does not meet the expectations of advocates of
citizenship to both nationals and residents in Europe.
[top]
Australia Under Regional Pressure to Sign Amity and
Cooperation Treaty (3:45)
A diplomatic skirmish in South East Asia has broken out
over whether Australia will be allowed to join in the up coming
East Asia summit, out of which a new regional organization
may emerge. Australia has so far been barred from attending
the conference, most vocally by host country Malaysia, because
of its reluctance to sign The Treaty of Amity and Co-operation,
due fears the move will anger the United States. Erica Vowles
reports form Sydney.
[top]
Malcolm X Birthday (1:17)
Today, May 19, would have marked Malcolm X's 80th Birthday.
His may be best remembered for his fierce anti-racist speeches.
In 1963, Malcolm X addressed a crowd with The Ballot or the
Bullet speech- words which are still relevant today.
[top]
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