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> Wed., Dec. 7, 2005
FSRN
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Today's lead stories:
The Government’s Case Against Al-Arian A Test of Powers
New Ruling Could Be First Step for New Case for Mumia Abu
Jamal
Bush vs. Murtha: Round II
Association of Muslim Scholars Remains Neutral on Iraq's Political
Process
Climate Changes Affecting Indigenous Communities
Conservative Media’s Push for Jim Gilchrist’s
Candidacy
FSRN Headlines
ELECTIONS IN EGYPT
At least two men were killed today when violence erupted during
the final voting phase of Egypt's parliamentary elections.
Ursula Lindsey reports from Cairo.
Government troops shut down a number of polling stations
in Egypt today as voters attempted to cast their ballots.
This led to clashes between crowds of would-be voters and
the police - who fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the
crowds. Two men were shot dead in the northern town of Damietta.
There were also reports of hired thugs attacking voters with
clubs and knives at several polling stations. President Hosni
Mubarak's ruling party has thus far won about half of parliament's
444 parliament seats. The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist
group, has won 76 seats. Most of the violence and intimidation
today targeted Muslim Brotherhood supporters. At stake were
another 127 seats. The polls close tonight and results should
be announced tomorrow.
APPEAL FOR HOSTAGE RELEASE
A Muslim cleric jailed in Briton made an appeal today for
the release of four Christian peace activists currently held
hostage in Iraq. The cleric and suspected terrorist, Abu Qatada,
reportedly volunteered to make the videotaped plea. Qatada
joins the dozens of Muslim scholars and activists - calling
for the release of the four western peace activists. The Canadian
Islamic Congress sent a delegate to Iraq yesterday to try
to secure the release of the four hostages. The kidnappers
are threatening to kill the hostages on Thursday.
CHRISTIAN PEACE ACTIVISTS MARCH TOWARDS GUANTANAMO
25 Christian peace activists today began a march from the
eastern Cuban city of Santiago to the US Naval base at Guantánamo
Bay. Joseph Mutti reports from Havana.
Twenty-five Catholic peace activists from the U.S. have begun
a 50-mile march in protest of what they say is the practice
of torture, abuse, and illegal detention at the U.S. naval
base in Guantanamo Bay. The marchers - led by Jesuit Priest,
Steve Kelly, Catholic nun, Anne Montgomery, and Frida Berrigan,
the daughter of the late antiwar activist Phil Berrigan -
say their aim is to "defend human dignity" by trying
to visit inmates in the U.S. base who are on an extended hunger
strike. Two weeks ago United Nations human rights inspectors
rejected an offer to visit the base, as they would not be
allowed to interview detainees in private. A report from the
Center for Constitutional Rights reveals that the jailers
feed the hunger strikers by force, inserting tubes the width
of a finger through their nostrils and down into their stomachs
"without anaesthesia or sedatives". Tubes are re-inserted
without sterilization and "prisoners may see on them
the blood and bile of other prisoners". The 25 will request
entry into the naval base to interview detainees where the
United Nations has failed. If they are refused entry, they
will hold a solidarity fast and vigil in front of the gates
of the compound to demand an end to the torture they say continues
in the naval base. The group should be arriving at the gates
of the base on Saturday - International Human Rights Day.
For FSRN, I'm Joseph Mutti.
JILIN EX-OFFICIAL FOUND DEAD
A Chinese official who understated the devastation of the
toxic leak that has poisoned the Songhua river was found dead
in his home yesterday. As the vice mayor of Jilin, Wang Wei,
initially claimed that the Nov 13th chemical plant explosion
had caused no pollution. It was later revealed that 100 tons
of cancer-causing benzine had spilled into the river that
provides a significant amount of drinking water to the area's
residents. Although some reports indicate that Mr. Wei hanged
himself, the cause of death has not been officially confirmed.
EVICTION VIGIL
Sixty people are holding a 24-hour vigil inside of pitched
tents after their mass eviction from their apartments in Venice,
California. Ernesto Arce reports from KPFK.
One of the evictees, Erin Grayson says that Denver-based
AIMCO, one of the nation's largest real estate developers,
broke their promise to relocate residents after securing a
deal with city managers to build luxury condominiums. She
says that residents were locked out of their apartments yesterday
with no way to get to their pets and in some cases - prescription
medicine.
(:15 audio)GRAYSON describing yesterday's eviction
David Busch, a homeless advocate from nearby Santa Monica,
says that yesterday's evictions, and those planned for later
on this week, constitute the largest mass eviction in Los
Angeles history. Grayson says that pitching the tents was
done both in protest and necessity. She says the tenants are
planning to file city claims asking for 1 million dollars
in compensation each. The remainder of the 180 households
are due to be evacuated this week.
[top]
The Government’s Case Against Al-Arian A Test
of Powers (3:08)
Sami Al-Arian was found innocent in 8 of the 17 counts in
his federal terrorism case yesterday afternoon in a Florida
Courtroom - but will return back to jail until prosecutors
decide whether to retry him on the 9 deadlocked counts. 2
of his co-defendants, Sameeh Hammouded and Ghassan Zayed Balut,
were acquitted of all charges against them. Another, Hatem
Naji Fariz, was found not guilty of 24 counts, with jurors
deadlocked on the remaining 8. The 4 men were arrested nearly
3 years ago as part of a 51 count and 121 page indictment,
charging them with conspiracy to help fund the group known
as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which was declared a terrorist
group by the US government in the mid 1990's. The 4 were accused
of raising money that went toward suicide attacks that have
killed hundreds of people in the Middle East. The case was
seen as one of the biggest courtroom tests so far for the
government’s expanded search-and-surveillance powers
under the Patriot Act. FSRN'S Lance Robson files this report
from WMNF in Tampa.
[top]
New Ruling Could Be First Step for New Case for Mumia
Abu Jamal (3:57)
In breaking news in the legal case of FSRN commentator and
death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal in Philadelphia, The Third
Circuit Court of Appeals has expanded the basis of Mumia’s
pending federal habeas corpus petition, agreeing to hear three
claims, including the claim regarding the original judge’s
racial bias. Mumia’s attorney, Robert Brian, says that
the move is a critical first step in gaining a new trial for
his client. We’re joined on the line by Lynn Washington,
columnist for the Philadelphia Tribune.
[top]
Bush vs. Murtha: Round II (2:30)
In the White House's PR effort to ebb the growing discontent
of the war in Iraq, President Bush gave his second of 4 planned
speeches. But another political Washington heavyweight, John
Murtha, was ready to counter attack Bush's upbeat speech on
Iraq's economy. Mitch Jeserich reports from Washington.
[top]
Association of Muslim Scholars Remains Neutral on
Iraq's Political Process (3:00)
Saddam Hussein’s trial in Baghdad continues despite
the former president’s refusal to attend. Hussein has
described the trial as unfair, and although his boycott caused
a long delay, the hearing is continuing without him. Meanwhile,
Iraq's leading Sunni organization announced Tuesday that they
would not encourage or discourage participation in the political
process. David Enders files this report from Amman.
[top]
Climate Changes Affecting Indigenous Communities
(3:53)
International environmental ministers attending the UN conference
on Climate Change in Montreal are deadlocked over implementing
policy. Some countries say they will not continue to limit
their greenhouse gas emissions after 2012, when the Kyoto
Protocol expires, while attendees want the US to join in negotiations.
Meanwhile, grassroots indigenous activists are demanding a
voice in negotiations as they are people who are amongst the
most directly affected by climate change. From Montreal, Kasim
Tirmizey has more.
[top]
Conservative Media’s Push for Jim Gilchrist’s
Candidacy (3:14)
Republican John Campbell won Orange County’s 48th
Congressional District race yesterday as expected, to fill
the seat vacated when Christopher Cox was appointed to chair
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Minutemen founder
and first-time candidate Jim Gilchrist ran on a single-issue
platform of ending undocumented immigration, and some say
that conservative talk radio was the strong factor that elevated
the visibility of this third party candidate. Kelly Barnes
reports.
[top]
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