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> Wed., Dec. 21, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
FISA Judge Resigns
Sadaam Trial Continues
Political Trial In Swaziland
Gas Flaring In The Niger Delta
Another Chemical Spill In China
FSRN Headlines
Senate Busy Before Session Comes to Close
After a 25 year struggle by Republicans to open up the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, it appears that
Democrats will make it a 26 year struggle as they successfully
upheld a filibuster against a Pentagon spending bill that
contained the ANWR provision. Meanwhile, Vice President Dick
Cheney cancelled his trip to Saudi Arabia and Egypt to cast
a tie breaking vote in the Senate on a budget reconciliation
bill that cuts $40-billion from the budget, mostly to programs
for the poor. And finally, as the Senate attempts to end this
year's session, negotiators still appear to be far apart on
reauthorizing the Patriot Act. 16 of the Act's most controversial
measures expire in less than two weeks. Mitch Jeserich has
this wrap up from all of today's actions at the US Senate.
Iraqis Allege Rampant Fraud in Parliamentary Elections
Saddam Hussein’s trial resumed in Baghdad today, as
security restrictions in the country were eased following
last week's parliamentary elections. On Tuesday, Sunni leaders
alleged that rampant fraud marginalized their supporters as
election officials released preliminary tallies that indicate
religious Shiites will continue to dominate Iraq's government.
FSRN’s David Enders has more.
UK Knowingly Lied about Indonesian Atrocities
According to newly released de-classified documents, the British
Government knowingly lied about Indonesian atrocities in East
Timor back in the 1970s; it was also involved in a cover-up
about the murder of five journalists who were filming there,
two of them British citizens. Their film would have exposed
the Indonesian invasion in East Timor to the rest of the world.
From London, Naomi Fowler reports.
Argentines Weigh in on Decision to Pay Entire IMF Debt
Thousands of people marched to the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos
Aires to mark the fourth anniversary yesterday of the popular
uprising that swept away the government. Marchers remembered
the 33 people killed in that uprising on December 20, 2001,
and to continue to voice their demands for social change.
During the rally in front of the Presidential palace, unionists,
human rights organizations and unemployed worker movements
had heavy criticisms for President Nestor Kirchner's decision
to pay off its $10 billion debt to the International Monetary
Fund before the end of the year. FSRN’s Marie Trigona
reports from Buenos Aires.
Bolivian Social Movements Expect Change from Evo Morales
Evo Morales has received numerous calls from Latin American
leaders congratulating him on winning his Presidential bid
in Bolivia – but Mexican President Vicente Fox is not
one of them. And, Mexico’s Foreign Relations Secretary
says he does not support Morales’s plan of creating
a Latin American Trade bloc to counter the United States.
Meanwhile, in Bolivia, although it’s only been three
days since Morales was elected as the country’s first
indigenous president, Bolivian people are expecting their
new president will institute the changes he’s promised.
FSRN’s Diletta Varlese reports.
New Orleans Justice Taking a Big Hit
The infrastructure of New Orleans both natural and human-made,
has been stretched beyond the breaking point. This includes
the court system, which was physically displaced and now operates
with a workforce decimated by budget cuts. FSRN’s Melinda
Tuhus sat in on a recent morning session of municipal court,
where some say justice has taken a big hit.
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FISA JUDGE RESIGNS
A federal judge from the 11-member Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Court has resigned. This comes amid revelations
that the Bush administration authorized the National Security
Agency to carry out surveillance of Americans without warrants.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance court was set up to
regulate government surveillance of suspected foreign agents.
Although Judge James Robertson has not publicly commented
on the reasons behind his resignation, the Washington Post
today cited 2 sources close to the judge who say the resignation
was in protest of the Bush administration's domestic surveillance
program.
[top]
SADAAM TRIAL CONTINUES
After a two week hiatus for parliamentary elections, Saddam
Hussein was back in court today. Charles Levinson reports
from Baghdad.
The deposed Iraqi president today accused his American guards
of beating and torturing him while in custody, saying he had
marks all over his body to prove it. The rambling outburst
came after witnesses detailed the torture they endured in
a provincial intelligence headquarters during Saddam's rule.
Along with seven co-defendants, Saddam stands accused of murdering
150 Shiites from the village of Djail in 1982. The alleged
mass murder came after an assassination attempt on Saddam's
life. One witness, who was 14 at the time, testified that
intelligence agents poured molten plastic onto his skin. Ali
al-Haydari said he watched as his two brothers were beaten
with sticks until their bones were exposed. In past court
proceedings Hussein has repeatedly interrupted witnesses.
He told the judge to "Go to hell" and refused to
appear in court two weeks ago. Through much of today's testimony
Hussein sat quietly, wearing a dark suit, a white shirt and
no tie. He took notes and seemed to be listening intently.
After tomorrow's proceeding, the trial is scheduled to resume
in mid-January. For FSRN, I'm Charles Levinson in Baghdad.
[top]
POLITICAL TRIAL IN SWAZILAND
Members of a banned pro-democracy group are on trial in
Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy. Na'eem Jeenah has
the story.
Nine members of the banned Swaziland opposition group, the
People's United Democratic Movement or "Pudemo"
were yesterday remanded in custody after a court appearance
related to a spate of bombings. The tiny country, surrounded
by South Africa and Mozambique, is Africa's last absolute
monarchy. Arrested over the weekend, the activists are accused
of bombing courthouses and the houses of three policemen and
two government officials. Charges include attempted murder.
There is growing frustration in the impoverished country.
In 1973, Swazi King Sobhuza II banned political parties and
the AIDS-ridden country has been ruled by royal decree since.
A new constitution is due to come into effect next month.
It strengthens human rights but entrenches the power of King
Mswati III. Pudemo has denied any involvement in the bombings
but warns there will be more explosions. The opposition group
is calling for multiparty democracy and insists the new constitution
be subjected to a referendum. For Free Speech Radio News,
this is Na'eem Jeenah in Johannesburg.
[top]
GAS FLARING IN THE NIGER DELTA
Environmentalists and some local communities in Nigeria's
Niger Delta region have initiated contempt proceedings against
the Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell Petroleum. The company has
continued to flare gas in the region despite a court judgment
barring it from doing so. Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.
The contempt-of-court proceeding was filed this week by some
communities in the Niger Delta with the support of Environmental
Rights Action of Nigeria and the Climate Justice Programme
of the United Kingdom. Last month, a Nigerian court ruled,
in a case brought against Shell, that gas flaring violates
the fundamental rights to life and dignity. The environmentalists
and communities say Shell has continued to flare gas in violation
of the court ruling. Even though Shell filed a notice of appeal,
the environmentalists and communities argue that the company
ought to have stopped gas flaring because the judgment to
stop gas flaring took effect immediately. Nigeria flares the
highest quantity of gas in the world. The poisonous gas from
the flares cause environmental problems for local communities.
The flares contain large quantities of greenhouse gases, a
major source of climate change. Shell Petroleum has in the
meantime shut down some of its operations in the Niger Delta
following three different attacks on its facilities by gunmen
on Monday. For Free Speech Radio News, this is Sam Olukoya
in Lagos.
[top]
ANOTHER CHEMICAL SPILL IN CHINA
Another major toxic spill has poisoned a Chinese river used
as a source of drinking water. Levels of cadmium in the waters
of the Beijiang River are ten times the level of what is considered
to be safe. The most recent spill was reportedly caused by
a leak at a zinc smelting factory. The cadmium pollution has
already caused cuts in water service in some areas along the
river and is predicted to reach the city of Yingde sometime
tomorrow. This is the second instance of a massive chemical
spill in China in the past 5 weeks. A chemical plant explosion
last month sent 100 tons of benzine into the Songhua River.
Both cadmium and benzine are known carcinogens.
[top]
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