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> Wed., May. 3, 2006
FSRN
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Today's lead stories:
Federalism in Iraq?
Emergency Supplemental Bill Debated in Washington
World Press Freedom Day
Sectarian Violence in India
Texas Oil Company Plans to Use Tax Dollars in Peru
"Cover the Uninsured Week"
FSRN Headlines
NEPALI PARLIAMENT EXTENDS OLIVE BRANCH
Nepal's newly-seated parliament approved a measure today to
reciprocate a cease-fire offered by the country's Maoist rebels.
The government also dropped terrorism charges that were pending
against the rebels and extended an invitation to join peace
talks.
KASHMIRI PEACE TALKS AMID SPIKE IN VIOLENCE
A new round of Kashmiri peace talks opens today in the Indian
capital. This comes amidst some of the worst violence in years
in Kashmir. Shahnawaz Khan reports.
The moderate faction of Kashmir's main separatist alliance,
the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, is meeting Indian prime
minister Manmohan Singh for a second round of talks in New
Delhi today. The first round of talks between the two were
held in September last year. This round of talks has been
overshadowed by a recent brutal massacre in Kashmir. Suspected
guerrillas killed 35 Hindus in the Doda and Udhampur districts
of Indian-administered Kashmir Monday. A strike was observed
in the Doa region of Indian-administered Kashmir today to
protest the killings. Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar said
before the talks that the Hurriyat will focus on political
resolution of Kashmir, rather than presenting a list of demands.
Meanwhile, newspapers reported that India has sent hundreds
more troops to the region to hunt for the killers responsible
for Monday's massacre. Indian-administered Kashmir is one
of the most heavily militarized regions in world.
EUROPEAN UNION SUSPENDS NEGOTIATIONS WITH SERBIA
The European Union today suspended its negotiations with Serbia
and Montenegro, saying the EU member hopeful has failed to
capture and deliver accused war criminal Ratko Mladic to the
UN tribunal in the Hague. Mladic is wanted for his suspected
role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and for the siege of
Sarajevo. Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister resigned today shortly
after the EU called off the membership talks.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN CHAD
Voters in Chad went to the polls today for presidential elections.
President Idriss Deby is seeking a third term in office. Deby
has ruled Chad since coming to power in a 1990 coup d'etat.
Today's elections come just three weeks after the Chadian
security forces put down an attempt by armed rebels to lay
siege to the capital. Opposition leaders called for a boycott
of today's vote and reports from the region tell of a very
low voter turn out.
PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS LEGALITY OF EMERGENCY RULE
The Supreme Court of the Philippines today ruled to uphold
the overall legality of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's
declaration of emergency powers last February. However, some
police and military actions during the emergency rule, including
a raid on a newspaper and arbitrary detentions of Arroyo's
critics, were declared illegal. The court also ruled against
a decree to restrict press freedom. Arroyo declared emergency
rule in late February, saying a conspiracy was underway to
topple her administration.
MAPUCHE PRISONERS INTENSIFY HUNGER STRIKE
In Chile's southern city of Temuco, four jailed Mapuche Indians
have hardened their more than 50-day hunger strike by refusing
to take any fluids at all. From Santiago, FSRN's Jorge Garretón
has the story.
The four were sentenced to 10 years in jail and ordered to
pay a fine of nearly 900 thousand dollars for setting fires
to property belonging to Chilean forestry giant, Mininco,
in 2001. The Mapuches were tried under Chile's tough anti-terrorism
act for the forest fires set in lands the Mapuches claim as
their own. The trial that convicted the four last year was
the second trial after a Supreme Court decision ordered a
re-trial after ruling that the first trial had fundamental
errors. In the second trial, the prosecution introduced hooded
witnesses who testified that the four were responsible for
the arson campaign. The Mapuche region of southern Chile has
many land disputes. Communities say their lands were confiscated
during the military dictatorship and given to the forestry
industry. Chile is one of the largest world producers of wood
products, pulp and paper. During a May Day demonstration in
Santiago, groups supporting the Mapuches fought riot police
amidst a growing movement of mostly university students demanding
the release of the Mapuches. For FSRN, this is Jorge Garretón
in Santiago.
LOBBYING REFORM BILL
The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on a lobbying
reform bill this evening. The watered down bill offers few
major reforms. Many Democrats and some Republicans are likely
to oppose the bill, saying it will be ineffective in breaking
the close business and political ties between Washington lawmakers
and lobbyists. The major provisions will temporarily suspend
privately funded travel for lawmakers and force lobbyists
to disclose any meetings and money spent on legislators. An
amendment that could be added would suspend the pensions of
any Congressional members convicted of a felony.
[top]
Federalism in Iraq? (3:46)
A suicide bomber in western Iraq killed fifteen Iraqi police
recruits today amidst violence that claimed at least 34 lives
across the country. In Baghdad, negotiations continued over
posts in the new government nearly five months after it was
elected. David Enders files this report from Baghdad .
[top]
Emergency Supplemental Bill Debated in Washington
(4:06)
The Senate is poised to pass a 107 billion dollar emergency
supplemental request. The majority of funding will go toward
the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, while a lesser amount will
go towards the gulf coast region. In addition, billions will
also fund pet projects that fiscal conservatives say do not
belong in an emergency spending bill and some critics say
there should not be an emergency supplemental at all. FSRN's
Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.
[top]
World Press Freedom Day (3:05)
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan proclaimed his support
for "the universal right to freedom of expression"
today in marking World Press Freedom Day. The United Nation
proclaimed May 3rd as World Press Freedom Day in 1993 and
it has been observed ever since. It's a difficult time for
journalists as we mark the day. This last year and a half
has been the deadliest for reporters in over a decade. In
Iraq more than 70 journalists have been killed in the last
three years alone. Today the group Reporters Without Borders
released its annual survey.
[top]
Sectarian Violence in India (3:11)
Renewed sectarian violence in the western Indian state of
Gujarat has left six people dead and tensions continue to
smoulder. FSRN Correspondent Binu Alex has more.
[top]
Texas Oil Company Plans to Use Tax Dollars in Peru
(3:54)
Two leftist candidates will face off in Peru 's run-off
presidential election on June 4, highlighting the backlash
against free market policies and foreign investors in an unstable
Andean region. Peru's National Election Board announced on
Wednesday center-left former President Alan Garcia would face
nationalist Ollanta Humala, a former army lieutenant colonel.
Meanwhile, a Texas company operating in Peru with close ties
to the Bush administration is looking to further develop its
exportation of natural gas by having US taxpayers underwrite.
But as Chip Mitchell reports from Lima , its not US tax payers
fighting the deal, but Peruvian indigenous groups.
[top]
"Cover the Uninsured Week" (2:48)
This week is "cover the uninsured week." Now in
its 4th year, "cover the uninsured week" attempts
to raise awareness of the millions of citizens who are without
health insurance. And as Maeve Conran reports from Colorado
, the problem of having no health insurance is forcing people
to rely on free clinics and health fairs for primary health
care.
[top]
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