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> Mon., Oct. 31, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Samuel Alito Nominated to Supreme Court
The Fallout of Scooter Libby Indictment
Bombs Hit New Delhi, Kill 62
Kashmir to Open Line of Control
Mexican Government Cracking down on Journalists
Rosa Parks Body Lies in Honor at Capitol Rotunda
Edward Roybal Rebembered
FSRN Headlines
UN RESOLUTION ON SYRIA
Today the United Nations Security Council adopted a unanimous
resolution that warns Syria of serious consequences if it
fails to cooperate with UN investigators probing the assassination
of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Haider Rizvi
reports from the United Nations.
The resolution is the outcome of a diplomatic compromise
between those seeking to impose sanctions against Syria and
the ones who are against it. Originally, the United States
, Britain and France, which sponsored the resolution, wanted
to threaten Syria with sanctions, but Russia, China and other
members strongly opposed the wording that suggested such an
action. Both Russia and China are empowered to veto any Security
Council resolution. Last week, an independent investigative
team, which was appointed by the UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan, submitted a report to the Security Council. The report
implicated many high-level Syrian officials in the assassination
of Hariri. The Syrians strongly denied these charges and called
the investigation politically-motivated. The investigation
will conclude in December.
DETAINEE ABUSE PUNISHED
Two US soldiers have been charged with assaulting two Afghan
prisoners at a US base in central Afghanistan. Sonali Kolhatkar
has more:
The charges against two soldiers from an Alabama National
Guard unit, include conspiracy to maltreat, assault and dereliction
of duty. They are accused of striking the detainees and punching
them in the chest, shoulders and stomach, and could face a
court martial. It's not the first time that US soldiers have
been implicated in prisoner abuse In early 2002, according
to a leaked Army investigation report, two men were brutally
beaten to death and denied medical treatment. US soldiers
have recently come under scrutiny when Australian media aired
footage of the burning of two Taliban corpses. The incident
gained widespread attention and was condemned by Afghan president
Hamid Karzai. Last week the American Civil Liberties Union
announced that at least 21 detainees have been killed in US
custody in Iraq and Afghanistan. Investigations in US interrogation
methods used in Guantanamo and US-run bases in Afghanistan
and Iraq have revealed systemic patterns of abuse. To date,
there have been more than 400 investigations but only a handful
of soldiers have been disciplined and a few convicted. From
KPFK, I'm Sonali Kolhatkar.
WEST BANK UPDATE
A cease-fire declared by Palestinian armed groups has ended
only hours after it began. Manar Jibrin reports from the West
Bank.
Palestinian armed factions agreed to a unilateral ceasefire
on Sunday on terms that Israel discontinue attacks within
the occupied territories Shortly after the cease fire was
called, Israeli soldiers assassinated a Palestinian fighter
in Qabatia, a town just south of Jenin. Since Sunday evening,
three Palestinian fighters have been killed in Qabatia and
at least ten civilians were injured. Six others were arrested.
Israeli soldiers have also detained a Palestinian accused
of connections to Hamas during an invasion to the West Bank
city of Tulkarem. Islamic Jihad has vowed to retaliate for
today's assassination In Qabatia. For FSRN from IMEMC.Org
in Palestine I am Manar Jibrin.
LA HAINE
Four nights of rioting in a Paris suburb have followed the
deaths of two youths who were thought to have been fleeing
the police. Tony Cross reports from Paris.
The bereaved families of Ziad Benna and Banou Troure today
turned down an invitation to meet Interior Minister Nicolas
Sarkozy who had said that some youths from poor areas are
"scum". This, after four nights of rioting in the
Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois. Battles between youths and
police resulted in at least one tear-gas grenade landing in
a local mosque last night - further angering local Muslims.
The violence follows the deaths Thursday of the two teenagers
who were burnt to death after jumping the wall of an electricity
transformer. A third boy was hospitalized. The rioters, and
the 500 people who staged a peaceful march on Saturday, believed
that the three were being chased by police. The authorities
deny this, although they say that a police patrol was in the
area to investigate a robbery. The incident has brought to
a boil resentment of racism, unemployment and poor living
conditions, along with the sort of heavy-handed policing that
Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has championed. The minister,
who was greeted with a hail of stones on a recent visit to
another suburb, promises more repression. He says that the
police will track down "gangsters and drug-dealers"
who are running a "shadow economy" in the neighborhood.
For FSRN, I'm Tony Cross in Paris.
RAILWAY BLOCKADES
Plans for a high-speed railway to connect Italy and France
are meeting stiff opposition today. Diletta Varlese has the
story.
Thousands of residents of the Susa Valley in northwest Italy
strongly oppose current plans to construct a high-speed railway
in the region. They say the construction project will devastate
the local environment. Geological surveys to test the soil
were to begin this morning, but had to called off after thousands
of people blockaded survey work and regional train activity.
Four train station have been occupied and a general strike
supported by local trade unions took place throughout the
valley. Piercarlo Cotterchio, president of the Environment
Legacy Association in Susa Valley, is at a barricade in Pietrabruna.
(clip)"We're putting up barricades because we expect
a serious attack by police. Our intention is to hold out until
5pm since survey tests are only possible during daylight hours."
Police are attempting to dismantle the railway blockades and
to disperse protesters occupying rural lands in the valley
where the geological tests are to begin. Protesters have announced
plans for random railway blockades in the coming days. For
FSRN, Diletta Varlese, Italy.
[top]
Samuel Alito Nominated to Supreme Court
(3:15)
President Bush has nominated 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals
Judge Samuel Alito to replace retiring justice Sandra Day
O’Connor on the Supreme Court. Senate Republican leaders
are welcoming Alito’s nomination, and are calling for
a fast confirmation, while Democrats are cautioning against
hurried confirmation hearings. Abortion rights advocates are
also questioning Alito’s record. Rhym Katkhouda of the
DC Radio Coop reports from Washington, were Bush made his
nomination.
[top]
The Fallout of Scooter Libby Indictment (3:04)
Lewis “Scooter” Libby will be arraigned on Thursday.
Libby resigned as Chief of Staff for Vice President Dick Cheney
after he was indicted on 5 charges Friday for perjury and
obstructing a Justice Department investigation into a White
House leak that exposed a covert CIA operative. There was
more fallout over the weekend concerning the indictment, as
Democratic Senators have begun calling for the dismissal of
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove. And, as Mitch
Jeserich reports from Washington, some high ranking Democrats
in the House are calling for Congressional investigations
into both the CIA leak and the White House's use of intelligence.
[top]
Bombs Hit New Delhi, Kill 62 (3:15)
A sequence of three bomb blasts ripped through crowded marketplaces
in New Delhi on Saturday, killing 62 people and injuring over
200, as shoppers were busy buying gifts for Muslim and Hindu
festivals. Two days after the attacks, people are trying to
come to terms with the violence, which have been described
as the worst attacks in the Indian capital. Indian security
analysts are blaming the blasts on Pakistani-supported cross-border
terrorism groups, and some doubt has been cast that this could
bring a dark cloud on ongoing peace talks between India and
Pakistan. From New Delhi Vinod K. Jose reports.
[top]
Kashmir to Open Line of Control (2:27)
Despite the three serial blasts in New Delhi, India and
Pakistan have agreed to open the line of control in Kashmir
at 5 points, to allow the people of Kashmir see and help each
other in the aftermath of the October 8 quake. The line of
control will be opened starting November 7, a move that has
been welcomed in Kashmir. From Srinagar, Shahnawaz Khan has
more.
[top]
Mexican Government Cracking down on Journalists
(2:42)
Mexican President Vicente Fox yesterday accused reporters
of failing to inform the public on the government's reconstruction
efforts in the areas damaged by hurricanes Stan and Wilma.
Federal authorities have said that that tourist zone of Cancun
will have made a near-complete recovery by the end of the
week. Meanwhile, thousands of families in Chiapas are still
trying to cope with the destruction left by hurricane Stan
nearly a month ago. As FSRN's Vladimir Flores reports, journalists
reporting on irregularities in the distribution of relief
aid and inconsistencies in the rebuilding process, are receiving
unwelcome attention by government officials.
[top]
Rosa Parks Body Lies in Honor at Capitol Rotunda
Over 30,000 people made their way through the Capitol Rotunda
today to view the casket of modern civil rights leader Rosa
Parks. Parks, is the first woman and only the second African-American
to lie in honor at the Capitol, and only the second African
American. Senate Chaplain Rear Admiral Barry Black, spoke
about Park’s legacy. [ AUDIO (1:23) ]
[top]
Edward Roybal Rebembered
Former LA City Councilmember and Congressperson Edward R.
Roybal was laid to rest today in East Los Angeles. A trailblazer
in representative politics, Roybal was the first Latino to
serve on the LA City Council since 1881. He then went on to
run for lieutenant governor and later for one of the powerful
LA County Supervisor seats. In 1954 he won the seat representing
the 25th congressional district of Los Angeles. At a memorial
service held last night, LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa reflected
on his relationship with the elder statesman. [ AUDIO CUT
(:31) ] In that spirit, he championed the causes of Latinos,
the working-class and the elderly. Long-time Boyle Heights
resident Arturo Herrera also attended the memorial service…
[ AUDIO CUT (:25) ] Edward Royabl died of complications resulting
from pneumonia last Monday. He was 89 years old.
[top]
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