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> Wed., Feb. 8, 2006
FSRN
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Today's lead stories:
Lobbying Reforms Hit Capitol Hill
Katrina Survivors March in Washington
Ashoura Festival: Test for Iraqi Security Forces
Paper Pulp Mill Scandal Threatening Uruguay-Argentina Diplomatic
Relations
People Power Brewing the Philippines
Local Activists in New York Call for Resolution on Darfur
Genocide
FSRN Headlines
ABESTOS LEGISLATION GOES TO DEBATE
Legislation to set up a $140 billion trust fund to pay those
made ill by asbestos cleared its first hurdle when Senate
Democratic Leader Harry Reid reversed course and removed his
objection to debating the measure. The bill would pay asbestos
victims from a privately supported trust fund in exchange
for halting all asbestos-related court cases. Supporters say
the proposal would speed relief to people sickened by exposure
to asbestos. Opponents say the trust fund would be drained
by claims and taxpayers would end up footing the bill. Senator
The debate is expected to take place over the next two weeks.
NEW DEHLI PROTESTS OF ANTI-MUSLIM CARTOONS
Indian riot police fired tear gas and water cannons yesterday
at hundreds of Indian students protesting the publication
of cartoons of Prophet Muhammad in European newspapers. From
New Delhi Vinod K. Jose reports.
India is home to more than 250 million Muslims, making it
the second most Muslim populated country after Indonesia.
News of Danish cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammad ignited
protests in Delhi beginning on Monday. Yesterday, Members
of the Muslim community came out in hundreds in Delhi and
protested in front of the Danish embassy. The protesters burned
Danish flags and chanted slogans. They also decried the US,
its occupation in Iraq, Israel and its war with Palestine.
The protest in Delhi was organized by the youth organizations
of the community. Police fired tear gas and arrested at least
12 student leaders. Tomorrow, Muslims are celebrating Muharam,
a celebration of the martyrdom of Syed Hussain who fought
a millennium ago against an imperialist ruler in Karbala in
today’s’ Iraq. The following day, Muslims in India
are Ccalling for a major rally in Delhi after the Friday prayers.
From Delhi, this is Vinod K. Jose for FSRN.
ARGENTINE STRIKES TURN VIOLENT
Striking oil workers stormed a police station, killing a police
officer and injuring 15 others to free a jailed union leader
in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The government sent
some 300 national guardsmen to disperse protestors in response
to the clash. Marie Trigona has more from Buenos Aires.
The clashes erupted in the Patagonian City of Las Heras,
as more than 200 oil workers tried to free a union leader
who had been detained on Monday. Witnesses say that protestors
surrounded the police station, trying to overrun the building
by throwing rocks. Security forces fought them back with tear
gas and rubber bullets. Authorities have yet to determine
whether the police officer died from a bullet wound or injuries
during the fighting. The violence erupted at the start of
the third week of a strike by workers seeking tax exemptions
for low-wage earners who work for the Spanish-owned Repsol-YPF
and Vintage Petroleum Inc., a small U.S. company. The workers
had blocked a key national highway throughout the Patagonian
province. Interior Minister Anibal Fernandez formed a Crisis
Committee made up of national border guards and federal police
to control protestors.
CHINESE EDITOR BEATEN BY POLICE DIES
A Chinese Press Editor who was beaten by police died. Dante
Toza has more.
Taizhou Evening News Deputy Editor Wu Xianghu has died from
injuries he sustained when over thirty police beat him four
months ago. The assault came the day after Wu’s newspaper
published an article charging traffic police were collecting
illegal fees. Taizhou Evening News reported that the head
of the city’s traffic police confronted Wu, demanded
an apology in print, then summoned over 30 police officers
on-duty and charged into WU'S office. While beating him, the
police officers allegedly threw Wu down five flights floors
of stairs. Wu's liver was reportedly injured. HE underwent
a liver transplant two weeks ago, and died last week. No one
has been charged with his assault. Reporters without Borders,
an international journalists’ organization, is demanding
that Wu's killers be brought to trial. For FSRN this is Dante
Toza from Hong Kong.
Haitian Elections
UN troops mobilized helicopters, trucks and even mules today
to recover ballots from remote areas as Haitians await results
of long-delayed presidential and legislative elections. Following
yesterday’s vote, election workers counted ballots by
candlelight late into the evening. Delays crippled polling
stations and enraged voters. At least four deaths were reported,
but authorities say the balloting was largely free of violence.
An international observer says turnout was high, although
no official figures were available. While early results are
trickling in, the final outcome may not be known for days.
Front-runner Rene Preval is closely rivaled by businessman
Charles Henri Baker and Leslie Manigat, who was president
for five months in 1988 until the army ousted him. If no candidate
wins a majority in the first round, the top two finishers
will compete in a March 19 runoff.
[top]
Lobbying Reforms Hit Capitol Hill (3:38)
Both Senate Democrats and Republicans are pushing slightly
different lobbying reform packages to an oversight committee.
Democrats unwilling to work with Republicans on a compromise
version are uniting behind a proposal that focuses on enforcement
of lobbying guidelines. Leigh Ann Caldwell has more from Capitol
Hill.
[top]
Katrina Survivors March in Washington (2:28)
As thousands of their fellow Hurricane Katrina survivors
are being put of hotels today as FEMA subsidies expire, over
500 former New Orleans residents rallied on Capitol Hill.
The march and rally are set to culminate with hearings by
Democratic members of the House this afternoon - and tomorrow
more actions are planned. Darby Hickey reports from our DC
Bureau.
[top]
Ashoura Festival: Test for Iraqi Security Forces
(2:33)
Iraq's higher education minister escaped unharmed Wednesday
from a car bomb attack on his convoy that slightly wounded
three of his bodyguards, according to a ministry spokesman.
Security has been heightened across Iraq for the Shiite festival
Ashoura, which ends Thursday. The celebrations, which mark
the seventh century death of revered Shiite saint Imam Hussein,
have been targeted in the past two years by Sunni Arab bombers
who have killed more than 230 people. This year's celebrations
will be a further test for Iraqi security forces, as US troops
have turned over the security of Najaf and Karbala, the two
holiest cities in Shiite Islam, to Iraqi troops. David Enders
files this report with Salam Talib.
[top]
Paper Pulp Mill Scandal Threatening Uruguay-Argentina
Diplomatic Relations (4:07)
It has been almost a year since the new Uruguayan government,
led by Tabare Vazquez from the left-wing Frente Amplio party,
assumed power. Many Uruguayans, hopeful that the Part represents
the country’s majority, are celebrate their new government
– but many are disturbed with the turns the administration
has taken. Since July of last year, a considerable controversy
has sparked over the installation of pulp mills in Uruguayan
city of Fray Bentos – a move that residents in both
Uruguay and neighboring Argentina, have protested, citing
serious environmental concerns. Although the two countries
are attempting to resolve the matter diplomatically, it is
now likely that the subject will reach the International Court
of Justice in the Hague to be resolved. Asli Pelti has more.
[top]
People Power Brewing the Philippines (3:58)
As President Bush reaffirms his commitment to the war on
terror, the impacts of this war are rippling from Afghanistan,
to Iraq, to the Philippines. In July 2002, the Philippines
became the second front of the war on terror as 4,000 U.S.
troops fought suspected Al-Queda cells and trained the Philippines
Armed Forces in counter-terrorism offensives. Five years later,
the Philippines Armed Forces are now using these tactics against
ordinary citizens. A recent report by a Filipino human rights
alliance states that 10,000 civilians suffered from harassment,
displacement, torture or murder in 2005 alone. Some Filipinos
believe they are living in a state of undeclared martial law
under current President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. As FSRN’s
Jen Soriano reports, another popular uprising might just be
brewing.
[top]
Local Activists in New York Call for Resolution on
Darfur Genocide (2:35)
High school students and local activists in New York stood
outside the US mission to the United Nations today and demanded
a resolution to stop the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Rebecca
Myles files this report.
[top]
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