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> Tue., Mar. 7, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Republican Senators At Odds Over Low Income Energy Assistance
Controversial Nomination to Head US Agency for International
Development
Afghanistan 4 Years After the Invasion: FSRN Speaks with Malalai
Joya
Thousands Strike in France against Government Employment Policies
Non-Prescription Drugs Pose Controversy on Patriot Act Reauthorization
Bill
Chile's Neighbors Worry About New Military Might
FSRN Headlines
MULTIPLE BLASTS IN HINDU HOLY CITY
A series of explosions in the Indian holy city of Varanasi
is believed to have killed at least 15 people and injured
dozens more. Binu Alex reports.
The first blast came at around 6 PM local time as hundreds
of devotees were gathering outside a temple for their Tuesday
prayer. Two more explosions followed minutes later at a train
station - one in a moving train. Police have reportedly defused
another near the temple where the first blast occurred. Varanasi,
in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, is a major pilgrimage
destination for Hindus in India. Such incidents in the past
have triggered nationwide sectarian violence. The explosions
came days after Muslims and Hindus battled each other in the
nearby city of Lucknow, protesting the visit of the American
president in India. No one has claimed responsibility for
today's blasts. The government has appealed for calm and put
some important religious sites on high alert. From Ahmedabad
in India, I am Binu Alex for Free Speech Radio News.
FASTOW TESTIFIES AT ENRON TRIAL
Former Enron Chief Financial Officer Andy Fastow is on the
stand today in Houston in the ongoing trial of the company's
former CEO Jeff Skilling and ex-chairman Ken Lay. Lisa Cohen
reports from Houston.
In courtroom testimony today, Enron's ex-CFO, Andy Fastow,
described his role in setting up and controlling the off-balance
sheet LJM partnerships that removed losses from Enron's financial
records and helped the company fabricate quarterly earnings.
Fastow testified that Skilling told him "get me as much
of that juice as you can". Fastow has already forfeited
$24million and has agreed to a 10-year sentence if he is deemed
to have cooperated in testimony. Skilling and Lay could each
face life in prison. From the Enron Trial, I'm Lisa Cohen
for KPFT in Houston.
BOLIVIA TO REVISIT CONSTITUTION
Bolivian president Evo Morales has announced a call to elect
delegates for an assembly to re-write the country's constitution.
Diletta Varlese reports from La Paz.
The formation of a Constitutional Assembly has been a key
demand of Bolivia's social movements since massive protests
ousted former president, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada in October
2003. The assembly's aim is to draft a new constitution with
the participation of sectors that were excluded from having
a say in the current constitution. The assembly will be made
up of 225 delegates, elected on the 6th of July. The delegates
will begin work on the 6th of August in Sucre, the constitutional
capitol. President Morales today announced the start of a
voter registration campaign for citizens who lack papers.
Simultaneous elections will also be held for regional autonomy
For FSRN, Diletta Varlese, La Paz, Bolivia.
MINING REFORM NEGOTIATIONS BREAK DOWN IN GUATEMALA
Talks with the Guatemalan government over the country's mining
policy have been called off by the head of the civil society
negotiating team. Jill Replogle reports from Guatemala City.
Guatemalan Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini called off talks with
the government yesterday over a new mining bill presented
by the Guatemalan Ministry of Energy and Mines. Ramazzini,
who is the bishop of San Marcos province in northwestern Guatemala,
said the bill doesn't include key points agreed upon during
negotiations with the commission that he leads. The commission
was formed to negotiate a mining reform policy with the government
after violent protests against a Canadian-owned gold mine
in San Marcos led to one death in early January last year.
The commission includes representatives from the Catholic
Church, academic institutions, and environmental organizations.
Key demands of the commission include increased royalties
for Guatemala from mining operations in its territory and
recognition of local communities' right to decide whether
they want mining to take place on their land. The commission
also demands that the government place a temporary, legal
moratorium on all mining permits for metals. Ramazzini said
talks could be resumed if the government agrees to modify
the mining reform bill and send a separate moratorium bill
to Congress. If not, the commission will present a bill of
its own. Jill Replogle, FSRN, Guatemala.
EVICTION DEADLINE EXTENDED AT SOUTH CENTRAL FARM
Farmers at the nation's largest urban garden have received
an extension on their eviction notice. The South Central Farmers
in Los Angeles were facing eviction at midnight tonight. A
Superior Court judge has extended the pending eviction date
until after a scheduled hearing next Monday.
[top]
Republican Senators At Odds Over Low Income Energy
Assistance (4:20)
Low income energy assistance legislation is receiving overwhelming
support in the Senate – but it has also become a battle
between geographic regions. Several Republican Senators are
at odds over which states will receive a limited amount of
funding that will provide assistance for people to pay their
home heating or home air-conditioning bills. Leigh Ann Caldwell
has more from Capitol Hill.
[top]
Controversial Nomination to Head US Agency for International
Development (2:12)
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is holding hearings
today on the nomination of Randall Tobias to head the U.S.
Agency for International Development. Some women’s rights
and public health groups oppose his nomination because they’re
worried he’ll use humanitarian aid as a foreign policy
tool. Marcelle Hopkins reports.
[top]
Afghanistan 4 Years After the Invasion: FSRN Speaks
with Malalai Joya (Part 2) (4:28)
The United Nations is condemning the murder of an Afghan
development worker killed over the weekend in Afghanistan’s
Farah province. Mohammad Hashim worked rebuilding villages
as part of the UN Human Settlements Program. While basic needs
like food and water are still scarce in some parts of the
country, safety risks remain high, particularly outside the
capitol city of Kabul. We’re joined in studio by Malali
Joya, Member of the Afghan Parliament who represents the Farah
Province.
[top]
Thousands Strike in France against Government Employment
Policies (2:25)
French labor unions brought hundreds of thousands of demonstrators
onto the streets of more than 160 towns and cities today,
in a second day of protests against the government's employment
policy. The focus of their anger has been a new type of contract
for young workers, which deprives them of current legal employment
protection for two years. Tony Cross reports from Paris.
[top]
Non-Prescription Drugs Pose Controversy on Patriot
Act Reauthorization Bill (2:60)
Controversy remains high over the threat that the revised
Patriot Act poses to civil liberties. Last week, the Senate
voted 89 to 10, to renew expiring portions of the Act that
included new privacy protections. But aside from civil liberties,
the bill is also posing questions over parts that some say
have nothing to do with fighting terrorism - including a provision
to combat the use of methamphetamines by requiring drug stores
to sell certain nonprescription drugs behind the counter.
Selina Musuta has more from DC.
[top]
Chile's Neighbors Worry About New Military Might
(3:43)
The South American country of Chile is awash with new military
equipment – F-16s soar over Santiago’s skies,
while brand submarines patrol the neighboring seas. But with
new jet fights, a new surface fleet for the Navy, new army
tanks for the Army and new attack and transport helicopters
for all three branches of the Armed Forces, some neighboring
countries are worried that Chile may be in the midst of an
arms race, but the government argues that it is simply modernizing
every government service, including the Armed Forces. FSRN’s
Jorge Garreton reports from Chile, where outgoing President
Ricardo Lagos welcomed the first 2 of 10 fighter jets –
but maintains his neighbors have nothing to fear.
[top]
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