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> Fri., Apr. 21, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Civil Groups Call to Reform the IMF
The People’s Commission on Immigration Kicks Off in
Canada
Deteriorating Relations between Muslims and Christians in
Egypt
Mixed Reaction on Accusation That Hamas Selected Targets in
Jordan
Worker Cooperatives Strategize in Argentina
Bush's Approval Rating Sinks to New Low
Worry Over Legislation Loosen Food Labeling Standards
FSRN Headlines
KING MAKES A CONCESSION IN NEPAL
In the 16th day of nationwide protests in Nepal, the country's
embattled king appears to be backing down. From Kathmandu,
Carey Biron has more.
(no transcript available)
STANDOFF INTENSIFIES IN ONTARIO
In southwestern Ontario, the occupation of a construction
site by native people continues after a failed police attempt
to break it up yesterday. From Toronto, Kristin Schwartz brings
us an update on the standoff.
Supporters, both native and non-native, have reinforced the
blockade after police attempted yesterday to take control
of a private construction site on disputed land. People of
the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory began the occupation
seven weeks ago to stop the building of a housing development
on land they say belongs to them. Roads to the site have been
blocked off with piles of gravel, vehicles, and burning tires.
Meanwhile, other communities have carried out solidarity actions.
Between Toronto and Montreal, a rail line running through
the Tyendinega Mohawk Territory is shut down today by large
bonfires, leaving freight trains backed up. Near Montreal
yesterday, people of the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory closed
a major commuter bridge for 30 minutes. Negotiations over
the future of the site are ongoing today. From CKLN in Toronto,
this is Kristin Schwartz for Free Speech Radio News.
CRACKDOWN ON STRIKING MINERS IN MEXICO
Mexican authorities are cracking down on a miners' strike
that has paralyzed the production of copper, zinc, silver,
and steel in various parts of the country. Vladimir Flores
reports.
Workers affiliated with the National Miners Union continue
their 3 week occupation of the Sicartsa steel factory in the
Mexican state of Michoacan. The factory is one of the largest
steel producers in Latin America. A violent attempt to dislodge
the workers from the occupied factory yesterday sparked a
five hour battle between hundreds of police and some 3000
workers. At the end of the failed attempt to eject the workers,
at least 2 were left dead, nearly 100 wounded, and a number
of people are missing. After the confrontation, over one thousand
women and family members of the strikers marched in support
of the workers. President Vicente Fox yesterday convened a
rare meeting of his National Security cabinet to discuss the
matter. The strikers are demanding that the government respect
their union's autonomy and recognize their elected leader,
who President Fox says is corrupt. The Mexican Army has been
deployed to guard the most strategic parts of the factory.
For FSRN, I'm Vladimir Flores.
AUSTRALIAN TROOPS SENT TO SOLOMON ISLANDS
An increased Australian peacekeeping force touched down in
the capital of the Solomon Islands today, after two days of
rioting erupted in response to the election of a controversial
Prime Minister. Erica Vowles has more.
Today the newly-elected leader Snyder Rini, appeared in public
to tell reporters that he would not resign. News of Mr Snyder's
election on Tuesday sparked rioting by Solomon Islanders,
who say the vote was fixed and that the PM-elect is controlled
by powerful Chinese elites on the island nation. Rioting saw
a large area of Honiara's Chinese business district burnt
to the ground. Today 110 Australian troops have arrived in
Honiara, joining a contingent of the same size sent in earlier
this week, with the aim of restoring order. There has been
an Australian troop and police presence in the country since
2003, following the collapse of the government then. While
the fresh contingent has been welcomed, there are reports
of growing resentment that little has been done to encourage
development in parts of the country that face high unemployment,
with some claiming the Australian presence has inadvertently
served to preserve a corrupt political elite. This is Erica
Vowles in Sydney, Australia reporting for Free Speech Radio
News.
LEGISLATIVE RUN-OFF ELECTIONS IN HAITI
Voters in Haiti once again head to the polls today. This time
to vote in legislative run-off elections. The winning party
or coalition will pick Haiti's Prime Minister. Reports from
the region indicate a low voter turnout, in contrast to February's
general elections. Results from today's election are expected
by the end of the month.
PROTESTS CONTINUE IN FLORIDA
The head of Florida's Department of Law Enforcement has resigned
as protests continue surrounding the death of a 14-year old
who died after a beating in a state juvenile boot camp. From
WMNF in Tampa, Andrew Stelzer reports.
(chanting sound) Hundreds of students and community members
marched on the state capital today, calling for reform of
Florida's juvenile justice system. A two-day long sit in by
more than 30 college students in governor Bush's office ended
last night, after the governor met with the parents of Martin
Lee Anderson, promising them that there will be accountability
after the release of the results of the ongoing state investigation
into their son's death. The students had called for an apology
from Florida Department of Law Enforcement commissioner, Guy
Tunnel, who resigned last night without giving a reason. Tunnell
had verbally attacked critics of the boot camp system and
the Miami Herald reported that he had also disparaged Black
leaders who came to Florida to this week to speak out in the
issue; calling Jesse Jackson "Jesse James" and likening
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama to terrorist Osama bin Laden. For FSRN
, From WMNF in Tampa, I'm Andrew Stelzer.
[top]
Civil Groups Call to Reform the IMF (3:55)
The International Monetary Fund plans to give more voting
rights to rapidly growing countries, with smaller European
nations potentially losing some of their decision making power.
As the joint IMF and World Bank Development Committee meets
in Washington, DC this weekend to discuss clean energy, debt
relief and a new campaign against corruption, some civil society
groups are calling for more reform from international financial
institutions. Ingrid Drake has more from DC.
[top]
The People’s Commission on Immigration Kicks
Off in Canada (4:00)
The immigration debate is heating up in Canada as the People’s
Commission on Immigration Security Measures gets underway
this weekend in Montreal, which features a series of public
hearings where immigrants, indigenous people, activists, scholars,
and community leaders will testify on the impacts of Canada’s
national security policies. FSRN’s Aaron Lakoff has
more from Montreal.
[top]
Deteriorating Relations between Muslims and Christians
in Egypt (3:45)
There are fresh concerns in Egypt over deteriorating relations
between the country’s Muslim majority and Coptic Christian
minority. A week ago, a Muslim man attacked Copts at several
churches in the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria. He killed
one man and injured up to 16. Following the attacks, there
were two days of sectarian clashes in the city. FSRN’s
Ursula Lindsey reports from Alexandria and Cairo.
[top]
Mixed Reaction on Accusation That Hamas Selected
Targets in Jordan (2:12)
Jordan's decision to cancel a visit by Palestinian Foreign
Minister Mahmoud Zahhar, along with accusations that Hamas
was smuggling arms to Jordan and selecting targets, has prompted
a mixed reaction. FSRN’s Oula Farawati has more.
[top]
Worker Cooperatives Strategize in Argentina
(2:28)
Employees from worker-run factories organized and are participating
in the first ever Recuperated Enterprise Fair in Argentina,
to strategize on how cooperatives can successfully compete
in the country’s economy. The phenomenon of workers
taking over businesses that had been abandoned or closed down
by owners took hold in the midst of Argentina’s financial
meltdown in 2001, as a way for workers to safeguard their
livelihood – and over 60 recuperated enterprises and
cooperatives are gathering through the weekend to discuss
their future. FSRN's Marie Trigona has more from Buenos Aires.
[top]
Bush's Approval Rating Sinks to New Low
President Bush's approval rating has sunk to a new low this
week. A poll carried out by FOX News has found that only 33
percent of those polled approve of the president's job performance.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld fared only slightly better,
with a 35% approval rating.
[top]
Worry Over Legislation Loosen Food Labeling Standards
(2:00)
Meanwhile, California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara
Boxer have announced their opposition to federal legislation
that would roll back state consumer health protections. Both
Senators say that if it’s passed, HR4617 would preempt
state-approved laws that require labeling foods that contain
cancer-causing chemicals like lead and mercury. From KPFA
in Berkeley, Christina Aanestad reports.
[top]
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