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> Thur., June. 29, 2006
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FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Supreme Court Rejects Military Tribunals for Guantánamo
Detainees
Israeli Army Continues Offensive in Gaza
US Congress Moves Closer to Approving India-US Nuclear Deal
New Telecom Bill Weak in Protecting Net Neutrality
Close Presidential Election in Mexico
FSRN Headlines
IRAQ
A series of attacks has left at least 12 people dead in Iraq
today. This just one day after the Associated Press reported
that 11 Sunni insurgent groups announced they are prepared
to enact an immediate ceasefire if the U.S. agrees to withdraw
from Iraq within two years.
POSSIBLE PEACE TALKS WITH L.R.A. REBELS
Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, has decided to send a
delegation to the Southern Sudanese city of Juba, for possible
peace talks with LRA rebels. Emmanuel Okella reports from
Kampala, Uganda.
President Museveni has appointed a team of negotiators to
meet with Southern Sudanese President, Salva Kirr, to explore
the possibilities of talking to LRA rebel leader Joseph Kony.
Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, who will lead
the negotiating team, told Free Speech Radio News that the
delegation will hold preliminary talks with President Salva
Kiir - and any prospects of talking directly to the LRA delegation
will depend on the results of these consultations. [Rugunda
clip] "Many people, including myself, are skeptical,
but whenever there is an opportunity, a chance for a peaceful
solution, in spite of skepticism, we should always grab it,
so Uganda government has always kept its doors open for a
possible peaceful solution to the conflict and the suffering
of the people in Northern Uganda." The preliminary consultations
will include the issue of the composition of the LRA delegation
and the Southern Sudanese government's conditions for mediating
the talks. For FSRN, Emmanuel Okella, Kampala, Uganda.
DEBATE OVER CHANGES TO CHILE'S ANTI-TERROR LEGISLATION
The Chilean government has introduced changes to the country's
anti terrorism law. The law, which passed during the Augusto
Pinochet dictatorship, has been used in the past few years
against Mapuche Indians who are fighting to reclaim their
lands. In Santiago, FSRN's Jorge Garretón has more.
The government introduced reforms to the anti-terrorist legislation
that looks at changing what is considered a terrorist act
and what is not and to alter the penalties accordingly. The
legislation seeks to strike from the books certain actions,
like arson, and keep only those that threaten life, physical
well-being, freedom and public health. Mapuches Indians in
southern Chile have staged different actions in efforts to
recuperate lands taken over by the forestry industry. Mapuches
have been convicted of setting fire logging camps, farm houses,
and wood stands. Four Mapuche Indians began serving in 2004,
a 10 years in jail sentence, convicted of arson under the
anti-terrorist act. The four staged a lengthy hunger strike
demanding their release. Two senators introduced legislation
in April that would free the Mapuches, but the legislation
has been bogged down because it is tailored to meet to meet
the demands of the four Mapuches. In response, the government
tabled reforms to the anti-terrorism act. Included in the
reforms is striking arson from the law. Opposition senators
say they will oppose any change that eliminates arson from
the anti-terrorist act. But pro-government senators say the
changes are needed. If the government changes are approved
the Mapuches would be free in a short period of time, because
arson is a criminal offense carries a three maximum sentence.
Meanwhile an international human rights organization is investigating
the well-being of the four Mapuches and monitoring changes
to the anti terrorist act. For FSRN this is Jorge Garretón
in Santiago.
MOBILIZATIONS AGAINST OAXACA'S GOVERNOR
A citizens' movement to remove the governor of the Mexican
state of Oaxaca continues to gain momentum ahead of the presidential
elections. Vladimir Flores reports from Oaxaca City.
[protest sound] Last night, more than half a million people
marched over seven miles through Oaxaca City calling for the
resignation of the governor and his cabinet. Earlier this
week, a delegation of public school teachers from Oaxaca traveled
to Mexico City to deliver a petition containing what they
say was close to one million signatures to the nation's Congress.
The petition called on Congress to dissolve the government
in Oaxaca and clear the path for an interim state government.
The Senate has the power to declare a state government illegitimate
in extreme cases of political instability. Meanwhile, organizations
and citizens opposed to the state government have formed their
own decision-making body, called the Popular Assembly of the
People of Oaxaca, known as APPO by its initials in Spanish.
As presidential elections near, many of the most influential
organizations involved in the Oaxacan mobilizations are calling
for the electorate to vote against the PRI party - which has
ruled the state without interruption for over 75 years.
FLOODS IN THE NORTHEASTERN U.S.
More than 200,000 people have had to evacuate parts of Pennsylvania,
New York, New Jersey, and Maryland due to severe flooding.
At least 10 people have died from the rains and flooding in
the Northeast. At airtime, residents of Pennsylvania's Wilkes-Barre
area were receiving notice that it is now safe to return home.
A severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect for parts
of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
[top]
Supreme Court Rejects Military Tribunals for Guantánamo
Detainees (3:39)
In a blow to the Bush Administration, the Supreme Court
rejected the use of military tribunals to try Guantánamo
Bay detainee Salim Ahmed Hamdan. The victors in the case say
the decision is an essential use of checks and balances, while
the dissenters say the court is overstepping the President’s
war powers. Washington Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.
[top]
Israeli Army Continues Offensive in Gaza
(3:57)
The Israeli army carried out a number of large-scale invasions
and arrests throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem last
night. At least eighty-seven Palestinians were arrested, most
of them Hamas-affiliated legislators and government officials.
The Palestinian government declared the arrests an open act
of war, and an Israeli settler abducted Monday was found dead
in Ramallah this morning. Saed Bannoura reports from Beit
Sahour, Palestine:
[top]
US Congress Moves Closer to Approving India-US Nuclear
Deal (3:43)
The U.S. Congress has taken its first stride towards endorsing
the India-US nuclear deal. In what is seen as a prelude to
a Congressional "yes" for the landmark nuclear agreement,
the House of Representatives International Relations Committee
squashed half a dozen amendments that were designed to be
"deal-breakers", and the legislation is now slated
for the full House. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee
completed its version of the deal today. The historic deal
helps India end its international nuclear isolation and helps
US commercial interests find a huge market in India. Vinod
K Jose reports from New Delhi.
[top]
New Telecom Bill Weak in Protecting Net Neutrality
(3:06)
The Senate Commerce Science and Transportation Committee
voted 15-7 to approve the Republican legislation on telecommunications
today. Public interest groups claim that the language of the
legislation is "too week" to prevent phone operators
from favoring their internet traffic and discriminating against
others'. Anastasia Gnezditskaia reports from Washington, DC.
[top]
Close Presidential Election in Mexico (4:42)
Mexican voters head to the polls this Sunday, for what may
well be the closest presidential election in that country
in nearly 200 years. With the two leading candidates only
a few percentage points apart, and fears of potential fraud,
the stakes are high in this weekend's vote. FSRN's Norman
Stockwell reports from Mexico City.
[top]
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