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> Tue., Apr. 25, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Senate Debates Emergency Supplemental
Senate Judiciary Committee Considers Impact of Immigration
on US Economy
Supporters Hold Constant Vigil for Trade Worker's Union’s
Jailed President
Activists in Guajarat Continue Their Struggle for Justice
Maine’s Governor Sings Bill on State’s Purchasing
Policy
Youth Energy Summit Takes on Chernobyl
FSRN Headlines
KING REINSTATES PARLIAMENT IN NEPAL
Nepal´s King Gyanedra reinstated the country's parliament
last night, paving the way for the end of nearly 3 weeks of
strikes and protests. PC Dubey reports from Kathmandu.
The Seven Parties Alliance (SPA) leaders have hailed the
royal proclamation as the right move to usher genuine multiparty
democracy in the country and have called off their agitation
and strike. They have even agreed to form an all party government
under the premiership of 83 year old Girja Prasad Koirala,
president of the Nepali Congress. But Maoists have rejected
the royal move and accused the SPA leaders of the betrayal
of the people's movement that aims for a republic. The guerrillas
have also vowed to continue the strike and protests until
the unconditional election for a Constituent Assembly to replace
the 1990 constitution that enshrined autocratic monarchy.
Although the Maoists' rejection could put a damper on the
people's hope for peace, an atmosphere of jubilation is present
throughout Nepal today. Ramashankar Gupta, a candy vendor
is happy about the reconciliation. Ramashankar Gupta (in Hindi)
– 6 seconds. "Shops are opening on the 20th day.
We are feeling happy. Such peace and harmony should prevail
in Nepal. This is our sincere wish." From Kathmandu,
I am PC Dubey for Free Speech Radio News.
BUSH RESPONDS TO SOARING GAS PRICES
President Bush announced several measures today aimed to ease
skyrocketing gasoline prices. Matt Kaye reports from Washington
DC.
President Bush announced a summertime suspension of deposits
in the strategic petroleum reserve, waivers on certain fuel
additives, and a push to get Congress to repeal $2 billion
in oil tax breaks over 10 years. But a move to speed up refinery
permitting could also ease Clean Air rules. (Bush sound) "To
make this gasoline supply more affordable and more secure,
Congress needs to allow refiners to make modifications on
their refineries, without having to wait for years to get
their idea approved. I mean, if we want more supply, let's
reduce the paperwork and the regulations." Democrats,
generally opposed relaxing pollution rules, have seized on
record oil company profits as corporate "greed"
and propose a windfall profits tax that Bush opposes. For
FSRN, I'm Matt Kaye in Washington.
"OPERATION PHOENIX" IN FLORIDA
Immigration authorities in Florida have detained 183 undocumented
people in a statewide roundup named "Operation Phoenix".
Some 130 of those arrested in the sweep had failed to obey
deportation orders. Operation Phoenix is said to be part of
a larger Department of Homeland Security clampdown known as
the Secure Border Initiative.
DOMINICANS DROWN, CUBANS SEEKS ASYLUM
In other immigration news, at least five would-be migrants
from the Dominican Republic died yesterday when the ship in
which they were traveling capsized near Puerto Rico. Military.com
reports that nine survivors are in custody at a U.S. Customs
and Border Protection office in Puerto Rico and four others
have been hospitalized. Hours later, fifteen Cubans arrived
in Puerto Rico by boat from the Dominican Republic. Under
the terms of a 1966 law, Cubans can seek asylum in the US
or in US territories upon reaching dry land.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING INTO BRITAIN "ENDEMIC"
British police warned today that the illegal smuggling of
women and children into the UK for prostitution has reached
endemic levels. From London, Helen Kelly, has more.
Organized criminal gangs are getting away with trafficking
thousands of women and children into the UK for sexual exploitation
each year, a senior Scotland Yard officer told the BBC this
morning. Police warn they are losing the battle against these
gangs - which have set up fake passport 'franchises' with
which to smuggle people into the country. The gangs are also
known to engage in other crimes from serious fraud to drug
trafficking. Detective Chief Inspector Bob Murrill of Scotland
Yard described the problem as a 21st century slave trade and
said the scale of these crimes was daunting. Since 2000 there
have been several anti-trafficking initiatives launched in
the UK, including longer jail sentences and increased international
co-operation. In 2005, three men received a total of 40 years
in jail for smuggling women into Britain. They had lured a
15-year-old from Eastern Europe to the UK with the promise
of a summer job selling ice cream. On arrival, she was sold
for £4,000 to work in a brothel. However despite this
success, Operation Maxim, set up by Scotland Yard to combat
immigration crime, is overwhelmed. Police admit they only
deal with a small percentage of cases, with the majority of
offenses remaining undetected. Helen Kelly, reporting from
London for FSRN.
BUYING THE SOUTH CENTRAL FARM
The South Central Farm in Los Angeles has until May 22nd to
raise a million dollars to satisfy the purchase price demanded
by land developer Ralph Horowitz. KFPK's Kelly Barnes reports.
Negotiations brokered by the Trust for Public Land, between
the farmers, the City and Horowitz, have opened a hopeful
window of opportunity in a tentative purchase agreement that
may allow the community to buy the land outright. Farmers
at the nation's largest urban garden have just under 4 weeks
to raise an additional $1 million, on top of at least $10
million they've already raised. The Trust for Public Land
vowed to make up any difference at the conclusion of community
fundraising. The final price agreed to by the negotiators
is not known, but Horowitz had previously demanded a sum of
$16 million, which the developer claimed was below market
value. Horowitz paid $5 million for the property 3 years ago.
The garden has been locked in a three-year battle, whereby
Horowitz aimed to evict the farmers in order to build another
warehouse in the industrial district. Organizers say "Our
voices have been heard, the vibrations from our marching feet
have been felt, and the power of the community has been acknowledged."
For FSRN, this is Kelly Barnes in LA.
[top]
Senate Debates Emergency Supplemental (4:22)
The Senate is debating the emergency supplemental that the
President requested for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and
for Hurricane Katrina recovery. As FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell
reports, this is an opportunity for lawmakers to include a
variety of agenda items they deem important.
[top]
Senate Judiciary Committee Considers Impact of Immigration
on US Economy (3:07)
President Bush met with a group of 12 bipartisan senators
to negotiate an immigration bill that would include a guest
worker plan and border security measures. Meanwhile, the Senate
Judiciary Committee took on the task of holding hearings concerning
the immigration bill, starting with the impact of immigration
on the U.S. economy. Selina Musuta reports on that hearing
from the Senate.
[top]
Supporters Hold Constant Vigil for Trade Worker's
Union’s Jailed President (2:56)
New York’s Transit Worker’s Union members are
holding a constant, round-the-clock vigil outside the jail
where their president, Roger Toussaint, is serving a 10-day
sentence for December’s strike. FSRN’s Rebecca
Myles reports from new York City.
[top]
Activists in Guajarat Continue Their Struggle for
Justice (4:28)
Human rights activists have joined survivors of Gujarat,
India’s 2002 sectarian violence, who are fighting for
justice in courts against the alleged government supported
rioters. Victim’s families have dug up some of their
loved one’s remains and now say that the state is trying
to harass and intimidate them. FSRN’s Binu Alex has
more from Ahmedabad.
[top]
Maine’s Governor Sings Bill on State’s
Purchasing Policy (2:44)
Maine’s governor has signed a bill strengthening policy
on labor and human rights tied to the state's purchase of
apparel. The governor is also reaching out to other governors
to join in an independent monitoring coalition. Meredith DeFrancesco
from WERU in Blue Hill, Maine reports.
[top]
Youth Energy Summit Takes on Chernobyl (2:36)
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear
disaster – which sent a radioactive cloud from Belarus
through Europe, bringing with it death, cancer and genetic
abnormalities. As the current global political climate of
tense discussions about nuclear power and weapons persists,
the people of Belarus are still living and dying with the
consequences of the disaster. Over the weekend, over 150 young
people from 20 different countries gathered in Berlin for
the Youth Energy Summit –among them were 10 young delegates
from Belarus. They came to talk about their experiences living
day-to-day in a nuclear fallout zone. FSRN’s Cinnamon
Nippard reports from Berlin.
[top]
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