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> Mon., Nov. 7, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Indian Foreign Minister Removed Over Oil-for-Food Program
Allegations
Bush’s Latin American Tour Marked by Protests and Stymied
Negotiations
Montreal Demonstrates Against the Free Trade Areas of the
Americas
Texan Voters Head to the Polls over Same Sex Marriage
The Battle Over California’s Proposition 75
Activists Denounce US Government HIV Policies
FSRN Headlines
RIOTS STILL RAGE IN PARIS
France's government presented a new plan for neglected low-income
areas today after 11 nights of urban unrest. Tony Cross reports
from Paris.
Chirac, who's been practically silent since the unrest began,
said that the police will take tougher action ... but that
measures will be taken to ensure justice and equal opportunities.
After he spoke, more than one-thousand-400 vehicles were set
ablaze, 30 police were attacked, some of them by shots from
air-rifles, and 395 arrests made. And today, a 60-year-old
man died from injuries received Friday when he was beaten
up outside his home. This evening it's the turn of prime minister
Dominique de Villepin to address the nation. He's said that
as of tomorrow, local officials will be authorized to declare
curfews in their areas. In the longer term, he said that mayors
will be given more power to tackle social conditions and promised
to reverse budget cuts of local social welfare groups and
improve education and housing. Despite previous plans social
deprivation and institutional racism are still there, made
worse by budget cuts. Also today, the influential Union of
Islamic Organisations in France issued a fatwa, or command
to the faithful, forbidding participation in attacks on property
or threats to people's lives. For FSRN, I'm Tony Cross in
Paris
FUJIMORI ARESTED IN CHILE
A Peruvian delegation is now in the Chilean capital to discuss
the fate of exiled former president, Alberto Fujimori. FSRN's
Jorge Garretón reports from Santiago.
Chilean police arrested former Peruvian president Alberto
Fujimori this morning in Santiago. Fujimori was hunkered down
in a 5 star hotel after his arrival by private jet last night.
Custom officials allowed his entry despite an international
warrant for his arrest. After Chile informed Peru of Fujimori's
arrival, Peru quickly asked that he be arrested based on a
bilateral treaty for wanted criminals. A Supreme Court Justice
assigned to the hear a future extradition case says he will
place Fujimori under house arrest at the 5 star hotel where
the wanted former leader was captured. Fujimori is wanted
for multiple charges including corruption and human rights
abuse. Fujimori arrived in Santiago as his last stop before
his announced return to Lima, where he plans to run in next
April's presidential election. For FSRN this is Jorge Garretón
in Santiago.
GUANTANAMO BAY CASES
Three of six Bahraini nationals held at the US Naval base
at Guantanamo Bay were released today. The men were detained
for four years without ever being charged. This, as Supreme
Court announced it will hear a case to determine whether the
Bush administration can use military tribunals to try detainees
at Guantanamo Bay. Mitch Jeserich reports from Washington
DC.
The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously today to hear the
case of Yemenese national Salim Ahmed Hamdan who is challenging
his planned military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay. Hamdan is
accused of being Osama bin Laden's security guard and personal
driver. His lawyers claim that the military tribunals violate
the Geneva Convention protections for prisoners of war. The
case is a direct challenge to the administration's plan to
deal with the some 500 detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. Last
year the Supreme Court, in another case pertaining to detainees,
said that the administration did not have a blank check in
conducting its war on terror. Chief Justice John Roberts recused
himself from the decision. Roberts ruled at the circuit level
last year on the Hamdan case in favor of the administration.
He has previously indicated he would not participate in cases
he heard at the lower levels. However Supreme Court nominee
Samuel Alito, if confirmed by the Senate, would likely hear
the case.
US-INDIA MILITARY EXERCISE
Thousands gathered in eastern India today to protest a joint
US-India air force exercise as part of a 10-year agreement
to strengthen defence ties and facilitate joint weapons production.
Binu Alex has more from Ahmedabad.
A joint air force exercise in West Bengal was greeted by
thousands of protesters on Monday who said the exercise and
the growing military co-operation between India and US undermines
India's sovereignty. The street demonstration was led by Left
wing parties critical of an agreement that permits the US
as a joint partner in such exercises on domestic military
bases. India's Congress-led coalition government and the US
have recently partnered in various military ventures opposed
by the left, a coalition partner. The current joint air force
exercises are scheduled to last till 17th of this month. From
Ahmedabad in India, I am Binu Alex for Free Speech Radio News
AN OPENING IN THE LINE OF CONTROL
India and Pakistan opened the first crossing point on the
line of control in Kashmir today. Shahnawaz Khan has more.
India and Pakistan opened the first of five crossing points
today in Chakan Da Bagh on the line of control in Kashmir.
Twenty-five trucks of quake relief material passed from the
Indian side to Pakistan administered Kashmir. Hundreds of
people who had gathered to watch the event on the Pakistani
side tried to cross over shouting slogans for freedom and
unity of Kashmir. Pakistani Police responded with tear gas
shells and shots fired into the air. India and Pakistan had
earlier agreed to open 5 crossing points to help with the
exchange of relief material and to let people travel to see
their relatives. Logistical problems were cited as the reason
why only one crossing point was opened today. Two more are
expected to open later in the week. Those wishing to cross
the heavily militarized line dividing Kashmir must obtain
special permits requiring clearance from both sides. So far,
no permits have been issued. For Free Speech Radio News I'm
Shahnawaz Khan.
[top]
Indian Foreign Minister Removed Over Oil-for-Food
Program Allegations (2:54)
Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh is the first political
casualty of a UN inquiry committee report released two weeks
ago that revealed global corruption in the humanitarian program
that was meant to help sanctions-hit Iraq in the aftermath
of the first Gulf war in 1991. The inquiry committee was led
by the former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, Paul Volcker.
Volcker has accused more than 2200 companies and prominent
politicians worldwide of colluding with Saddam Hussein's government
to milk the oil-for-food program of $1.8 billion in kickbacks
and illicit surcharges. The report also accused India’s
ruling Congress party, its leader and the current Foreign
Minister, Natwar Singh in the food-for-oil scandal. Vinod
K. Jose has the details from New Delhi.
[top]
Bush’s Latin American Tour Marked by Protests
and Stymied Negotiations (3:11)
President Bush is in Panama today on his last stop of a
Latin American tour, meeting with his counterpart President
Martin Torrijos. Bush has lauded free trade throughout his
visit. [ BUSH AUDIO ] The President went on to acknowledge
that the Central American Free Trade Agreement has been a
tough sell in Congress. Bush also met with President Lula
da Silva in Brazil on Sunday, where he was greeted with mass
protests. President Lula is pressing for the United States
to halt farm subsidies, which Brazil says is harming international
trade. [ SILVA AUDIO ] Bush’s Latin American tour began
on last week, when he headed to Mar del Plata, Argentina,
for the Summit of the Americas. Americans heads of state attending
the Summit were unable to reach a consensus during talks about
the creation of a hemisphere wide trade agreement. Negotiations
reached a stalemate when Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay,
and Venezuela said they would not discuss a free trade agreement
under the current conditions. And, as FSRN’s Kasim Tirmizey
reports, the Summit was marked by both peaceful and violent
anti-Bush demonstrations on the streets of Mar del Plata.
[top]
Montreal Demonstrates Against the Free Trade Areas
of the Americas (2:30)
As the Summit of the Americas came to an end in Argentina
this weekend, negotiations on the proposed Free Trade Area
of the Americas (FTAA), the hemispheric free-trade accord
collapsed amid massive demonstrations. Demonstrators took
the streets not only of Mar del Plata and neighboring cities,
but throughout the Hemisphere over the weekend, rejecting
the proposed FTAA accord. As FSRN’s Stefan Christoff
reports, upwards of 400 people took the streets on Friday
evening in Montreal, in solidarity with protestors in Argentina.
[top]
Texan Voters Head to the Polls over Same Sex Marriage
(3:29)
Supporters and opponents of a constitutional ban on same
sex marriage converged in Austin, Texas this weekend. Texan
voters head to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballot on
Proposition 2, a state constitutional amendment that says
marriage can only occur between a man and a woman, which is
already the law in Texas. Pam Thompson has more from Austin.
[top]
The Battle Over California’s Proposition 75
(3:07)
Proposition 75, the so-called pay check protection act,
is perhaps the most contentious initiative on California's
November 8 ballot. Prop. 75 would require public sector labor
unions to get the permission of their members before they
use their money for political campaigns. Prop. 75 supporters
say it would help ensure that union dues go to union functions
like collective bargaining and organizing, while opponents
say 75 stifles working people's political voice. Max Pringle
reports.
[top]
Activists Denounce US Government HIV Policies (2:38)
Direct action began the work week at the Family Research
Council when a dozen activists chained themselves to a statue
at the organization. The arrests mark the first of a day of
protest that culminate weeks of the Campaign to End AIDS organizing,
which is calling on the US government to change HIV policies.
Darby Hickey reports.
[top]
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