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> Thur., Mar. 23, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Afghan President Hamid Karzai Reshuffles Cabinet
Pro-Democracy Iranian Kurds Make Base in Northern Iraq
India and Pakistan’s Water Wars
Immigrant’s Rights Advocates on Hunger Strike in San
Francisco
Local Officials Attempt to Influence Federal Policy
Disability Rights Activists Block State Capital in Tennessee
FSRN Headlines
Hostages in Iraq are Free
Three members of the Christian Peacemaker Team who were kidnapped
in Iraq last November have been freed. Two Canadians, Harmeet
Singh Sooden and James Looney were sent to a hospitol while
British Norman Kember is considered to be in reasonable condition.
Deepa Fernandes, host of WBAI's Wake Up Call, spoke with Maxine
Nash, a member of the Christian Peacemaker Team in Baghdad.
The hostages were abducted by a previously unknown group called
the Swords of Truth Brigade. The fourth kidnapped member,
US citizen Tom Fox, was found dead two weeks ago. Though details
of the freeing of the three other members are not yet fully
known, British officials say that their troops were involved
in a rescue operation.
ETA Call for Peace Begins
The Basque separatist's group Eta'sd call for a cease fire
with the Spanish government will commence at midnight. Today
the group released its second statement in two days urging
the governments of both Spain and France to respond positively
to its declaration for a permanent peace. On Tuesday the group
announced the ceasefire and said it will use the Democratic
process to gain independence for the Basque region.
Gandhi Steps Down
India's majority party president Sonia Gandhi resigned from
its legislative assembly against the backdrop of a snowballing
controversy. Vinod K. Jose reports from New Delhi.
Democratic Leader Threatens Block on Immigration Bill
Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid says he'll use all the
possible procedural tools to block an anti-immigration bill
that Senate leader Bill Frist will likely bring to the Senate
floor next week. He says he'll use a filibuster if necessary.
Senator Frist, a Republican from Tennessee, says he would
bring his bill to the floor early next week if the Senate
Judiciary Committee doesn't pass out its own version first.
The House of Representatives have already passed an anti-immigration
bill that makes all immigration violations a criminal offense.
The measure also criminalizes those who give assistance to
undocumented immigrants. Senator Frist's measure will likely
resemble the version passed by the House.
NYC Has the Dirtiest Air
New York City has the dirtiest air in the country. This according
to new data released by the EPA. Rebecca Myles of WBAI reports.
[top]
Afghan President Hamid Karzai Reshuffles Cabinet
The Afghan Parliament will begin debating this week a reshuffling
of the cabinet by President Hamid Karzai. Foreign Minister
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, an advocate for the United States and
international presence in Afghanistan, was one of eight members
not re-appointed to their post. Washington Editor Leigh Ann
Caldwell reports.
[top]
Pro-Democracy Iranian Kurds Make Base in Northern
Iraq
Since the liberation of Iraqi Kurdistan in 1991, Kurds from
neighboring countries have fled to the region to escape repression.
One of the little-known groups that has sought safe haven
is the Party for Free Life in Kurdistan, a group of mostly
Iranian Kurdish guerillas who have dedicated themselves to
fighting for democracy and Kurdish rights in Iran. David Enders
files this report from Kandeel, in northern Iraq.
[top]
India and Pakistan’s Water Wars
The ongoing water dispute between India and Pakistan generally
takes the back seat to the 2 country’s territorial dispute
over Kashmir. But, as FSRN’s Shahnawaz Khan reports,
the major water disputes are also tied to Kashmir.
[top]
Immigrant’s Rights Advocates on Hunger Strike
in San Francisco
Immigrants’ rights advocates are in the middle of
a 7 day hunger strike in San Francisco to oppose HR4437, which
they call an anti-immigrant bill. The week of action was created
to demand California Senator Dianne Feinstein oppose the resolution
that is under consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Immigrant’s rights advocates are calling on Feinstein
to support immigration reform that allows legalization. FSRN's
Christina Aanestad reports.
[top]
Local Officials Attempt to Influence Federal Policy
A new organization of city and county officials aims to
influence federal policy on immigration. These leaders say
they’re on the front lines in the battle to control
undocumented immigration, but that the solutions must come
from the feds. But in Danbury, Connecticut, where the group
started, immigrants’ rights groups say a different approach
is needed. FSRN’s Melinda Tuhus reports.
[top]
Disability Rights Activists Block State Capital in
Tennessee
Disability rights activists left Nashville, Tennessee today,
after a week of nonviolent protest to call attention to policies
that force disabled people into nursing homes. Saying they
are writing another chapter in the civil rights movement,
the activists are pushing for state and national legislation
that would allow these 2.2 million people to receive care
in their own homes. Ingrid Drake has more.
[top]
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