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> Thu., Mar. 2, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Immigration Debate Heats Up in the Seante
Kashmiris Respond to Bush’s Suggestion to Resolving
Territorial Conflict
Authorities Continue Crack Down on Civil Liberties in the
Philippines
The Case of the Peace Tax Seven
Report Looks at Detainees Who Have Died in US Custody
The Dangers of Documenting Iraq
FSRN Headlines
PATRIOT ACT RE-AUTHORIZATION
The Senate has virtually assured the re-authorization of the
USA Patriot Act. The bill has been locked in Senate debate
since mid-December. Democratic Senator Russel Feingold from
Wisconsin opposed the measure to the final vote. While some
lawmakers agree the bill is not perfect, they say the new
version includes sufficient civil liberties guarantees to
pass both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The
new version will put a 4 year limit on controversial provisions
and exclude libraries from Patriot Act enforcement. Recipients
of National Security letters will be able to challenge their
case in court after one year. The House is expected to hold
a procedural vote next week.
U.S./INDIA NUKE DEAL SEALED
President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced
today that their nations have reached agreement on a landmark
nuclear deal. Our correspondent Vinod K. Jose reports from
New Delhi.
The ground-breaking nuclear deal between the United States
and India has passed its second hurdle today. Now, President
Bush will take the agreement to the US Congress and to the
Nuclear Suppliers Group. The deal will require the United
States to change a law that prohibits the sharing of nuclear
technology with any other country. But today President Bush
was confident that Congress will approve the deal. "Congress
has got to understand that it is in our economic interest
that India have civilian nuclear power industry to help take
the pressure off the global demand for energy." Under
the terms of the accord, the United States will share nuclear
fuel with India to help power its fast-growing economy, even
though India won't be made to sign the international non-proliferation
treaty. Bush's visit has been greeted by protests all over
India. More than 2 million people have hit the streets in
over one thousand protests throughout the country. Many of
these mobilizations were called by India's influential leftist
and Muslim organizations. From New Delhi in India, this is
Vinod K. Jose for FSRN.
BOMB EXPLODES OUTSIDE OF U.S. CONSULATE IN KARACHI
Ahead of President Bush's visit to Pakistan, an explosion
today outside of the US consulate in Karachi killed four including
an American diplomat. Masror Hussain has the story.
The explosion took place early Thursday morning in the parking
lot of a hotel. A government security expert told FSRN the
explosion was carried out by Islamists and was meant to stop
Bush from visiting Pakistan. So far, no group has claimed
responsibility for the blast. President Bush told Indian media
today that explosions would not deter him from visiting Pakistan.
He is expected in Islamabad Friday evening, where the government
has declared red alert. Masror Hussain, Free Speech Radio
News, Islamabad.
MEDIA RAIDS IN KENYA
In Kenya, armed police today staged simultaneous raids on
the offices of the Kenya Television Network and the Standard
newspaper. Both media outlets are part of the Standard group,
the country's second largest media house. Police reportedly
burned thousands of copies of today's edition of the Standard
during the pre-dawn raid. Two of the newspaper's editors and
a reporter were arrested on Tuesday after the publication
of an article about an alleged secret meeting between Kenya's
president and a political rival. The journalists have been
charged with publishing alarming statements. Kenya's Internal
Security Minister John Michuki admitted to the government's
involvement in today's raids, saying "When you rattle
a snake you must prepare to be bitten,".
DIPLOMATIC ROW OVER PAPER PULP MILL
Argentina's President Nestor Kirchner has urged Uruguay to
delay the construction of two controversial paper mills on
the Rio Uruguay border. Residents in Argentina's Entre Rios
Province, across the river from the proposed mill site, continue
to block roads between the two countries. Marie Trigona has
more from Buenos Aires.
Uruguay today formally rejected a plea by Argentine President
Nestor Kirchner to temporarily halt construction of two pulp
mills near the common border. In a speech made yesterday to
open the legislative year in Congress Kirchner asked Uruguayan
President Tabaré Vázquez for 90-days to allow
time for further studies on environmental risks. The planned
mills, to be built by Finland's Metsa-Botsia and Spain's Ence,
have sparked environmental concerns, protests, and a deep
diplomatic crisis between the neighbors. Uruguay has dismissed
charges that the installation of two major wood pulp plants
would pollute Argentina's river coast, a sensitive farming
and tourist area. Uruguayan officials have said protest actions,
blocking travel and trade has negatively effected Uruguay's
economy. Argentina has announced the possibility of taking
the case to the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
For Free Speech Radio News, I'm Marie Trigona from Buenos
Aires.
[top]
Immigration Debate Heats Up in the Seante
(4:04)
Immigration legislation has finally reached the Senate,
in what promises to be a highly contentious debate this year.
As Washington Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, the range
of views on how to implement immigration reform, span the
ideological spectrum.
[top]
Kashmiris Respond to Bush’s Suggestion to Resolving
Territorial Conflict (3:10)
President Bush today urged India and Pakistan to iron out
their differences and work towards settling the territorial
dispute on Kashmir. Bush’s comments were made after
he announced a historic nuclear agreement with India, and
his comment have already elicited reaction from the region’s
residents. FSRN’s Shahnawaz Kahn has the story.
[top]
Authorities Continue Crack Down on Civil Liberties
in the Philippines (3:51)
Authorities in the Philippines said today that threats against
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s government have
eased since she declared a state emergency to quash an alleged
coup plot. However, as Girlie Linao reports from Manila, officials
are stressing the need to continue to monitor government opponents,
including some media groups.
[top]
The Case of the Peace Tax Seven (2:06)
After years of lobbying and campaigning from human rights
organizations, Tony Blair finally told Parliament this week
he believes the military detention camp in Guantanamo Bay
should be shut down. Meanwhile, his government faces a legal
challenge over the use of British taxes for military expenditure.
Yesterday, a British court began hearing the case of the so-called
“Peace Tax Seven” - seven pacifists who are withholding
the 10% of their taxes which fund the Ministry of Defense.
Naomi Fowler reports from the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
[top]
Report Looks at Detainees Who Have Died in US Custody
(3:28)
Human Rights First has released its First Comprehensive
Report on Detainee Deaths in U.S. Custody in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The report, which provides the first comprehensive account
of the U.S. government’s handling of cases of detainees
who have died in U.S. custody since 2002, documents a lack
of accountability and command failure despite harsh detention
conditions, torture, and even homicide. Since August 2002,
nearly 100 detainees have died while in the hands of U.S.
officials in the global “war on terror.” According
to the U.S. military’s own classifications, 34 of these
cases are suspected or confirmed homicides. Danuta Szafraniec
reports from New York.
[top]
The Dangers of Documenting Iraq (3:31)
Researchers from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
have concluded that more than one in three US soldiers returning
from the war in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 requested mental health
treatment within a year of deployment. The finding, published
in the Journal of the American Medical Association, indicates
that soldiers in Iraq are more likely to have high rates of
post-traumatic stress disorders than those serving in Afghanistan.
US soldiers and those documenting the occupation are likely
to witness injuries and deaths, which in turn lead to mental
health problems. FSRN’s David Enders speaks to a pair
of filmmakers about the hazards of working in Iraq.
[top]
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