Home > Programs
> FSRN
> Fri., July. 14, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
Thanks to FSRN.org
for making the daily programs available to Pacifica.org
Today's lead stories:
Israel Bombs Hezbollah Headquarters in Lebanon, while Airstrikes
Continue in Northern Israel
Lebanon Pleas to the International Community
More Deaths in Israeli Airstrikes into Gaza
Narmada Dam Protest Continues in India
Border City Residents Address Undocumented Immigration
Hunger Fast Brings Protesters from Across US to the White
House
Movement for Food Policy Council in Oakland
FSRN Headlines
FIGHTING IN SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka's president today invited advisers to develop a
power-sharing plan to end the 2-decade ethnic bloodshed in
the island nation. Ponniah Manikavasagam has more.
Escalating violence in Sri Lanka killed 17 combatants today,
undermining a 2002 truce. The latest bloodshed comes a day
after 3 soldiers were killed in the northern district of Vavuniya.
Tamil Tiger rebels say twelve soldiers were among the dead
today. Government officials said at least 10 soldiers and
four Tamil Tiger rebels were killed. They said the rebels
killed a naval sailor in a separate incident. President Mahinda
Rajapakse has appointed a 15-member panel of experts to find
a formula to grant extensive devolution of power in a unitary
state to the minority Tamils. Addressing the first meeting
of the panel, President Mahinda Rajapakse invited the Tamil
Tigers to enter into negotiations with the government. The
rebels are fighting for an independent state. They had hinted
in earlier peace talks that a federal system could be considered.
For Free Speech Radio News, I am Ponniah Manikavasagam, from
Vavuniya, Sri Lanka.
UGANDAN PEACE TALKS
Peace talks aimed at ending the 20 year old war in northern
Uganda are set to begin today in southern Sudan. Joshua Kyalimpa
reports.
Direct peace talks between the Lord's Resistance Army rebels
and the Uganda Government start today, marking the beginning
of the much-awaited process mediated by the Government of
South Sudan. The talks have been delayed following the LRA'S
refusal to send top commanders, Joseph Kony and Vicent Otti.
Southern Sudan vice-president, Dr. Riek Machar has been camped
in a remote village near the DR Congo border since Saturday,
trying to convince the LRA to send one of the five indicted
commanders to the talks. Machar said the insistence of the
ICC to capture on sight and try the top LRA leaders for war
crimes and crimes against humanity was a hindrance to his
efforts. Southern Sudan's vice president has, however, secured
the addition of two members of the LRA high command to the
LRA team. Joshua Kyalimpa FSRN Kampala, Uganda.
VOTING RIGHTS ACT
The 40 year old Voting Rights Act won the support of an overwhelming
majority in the House yesterday, but may face another contentious
battle for renewal in the Senate . Opposition in both chambers
comes from Southern conservatives, who say the original text
penalizes Southern states for their history of racial discrimination.
The House voted to defeat all attempts to revise the legislation.
Senate leaders from both parties say they hope the Senate
will vote on the re-authorization before the August recess.
VOTER MOBILIZATIONS IN MEXICO
In Mexico, supporters of the center-left presidential candidate
are stepping up their campaign to demand a vote-by-vote re-count
of the ballots from the July 2nd election. Vladimir Flores
reports.
Hundreds of people have left dozens of points throughout
Mexico in caravans to Mexico City to participate in street
actions over the weekend in support of presidential candidate,
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The candidate is calling for
a ballot-by-ballot re-count after the Federal Electoral Commission
declared victory for the ruling party candidate, Felipe Calderon,
by a margin of just over one half of a percentage point. Lopez
Obrador's supporters are demanding that the Federal Electoral
Commission count the estimated 41 million ballots, saying
that the electoral process was plagued by irregularities,
including favoritism by electoral authorities towards the
PAN ruling party. The so-called "democracy marches"
will converge in Mexico City on Sunday for a rally which is
expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people. For FSRN,
I'm Vladimir Flores.
CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS LAUNCH ATTACKS IN SAO PAULO
The Brazilian state of São Paulo has witnessed a new
wave of attacks by the criminal organization the First Command
of the Capital - also known as the "PCC". Natalia
Viana reports.
This week, members of the PCC criminal organization have
launched approximately 106 attacks against police stations,
banks, gas stations, and public buildings in many cities throughout
São Paulo state. Over forty-five buses have been set
on fire, injuring at least 7 people. At least 6 people have
been shot by the criminals - including one policemen, 1 metropolitan
guard, 3 security guards and 1 civilian. Yesterday, the vast
majority of the bus lines did not run in the capital, the
traffic jam was intense, and many people did not go to work.
The PCC is demanding better conditions in two prisons in the
cities of Ararquara and Itirapina. The Secretary of Public
Security of São Paulo state says the government will
not negotiate with criminals...but the PCC says attacks on
the streets will continue if the situation does not change.
In São Paulo, Natalia Viana for FSRN.
[top]
Israel Bombs Hezbollah Headquarters in Lebanon,
while Airstrikes Continue in Northern Israel (4:25)
First we go to Lebanon, where Hezbollah’s leader released
a video tape where he declares he’s ready for war. Lebanon
is staging missile attacks into Israel. Israel continues to
pound targets in Southern Lebanon with missile and artillery
rounds, striking the suburbs of Beirut, bridges, and key infrastructure,
including the Lebanese airport for a second time. Official
sources put the number of Lebanese dead from the Israeli attacks
at more than 60 people – only one has been confirmed
as a member of Hezbollah. Israel reports that in the past
two days, several hundred Katyusha rockets have been fired
into northern Israeli towns from Hezbollah positions in the
south - killing 2 people and injuring 100 others. As Israel
continues to widen its offensive, Lebanon is settling in for
a long summer, as Jackson Allers reports from Lebanon's capital
of Beirut.
[top]
Lebanon Pleas to the International Community
(1:42)
The United Nations has offered minimal involvement in the
escalating conflict in the Middle East. Secretary General
Kofi Annan sent a delegation of three diplomats to the region.
In an emergency Security Council session, Lebanon offered
its plea. Lebanese foreign official, Nahoud Mahmoud, pled
for international help to dissolve the crisis. Mahmoud called
the Israeli attacks barbaric aggression.
“My government denounces and condemns this Israeli
aggression which is a flagrant violation of all international
resolutions, norms and conventions. I need not explain to
you here who the victim is and who the aggressor is.”
Israel's Ambassador, Dan Gillman, blames the Lebanese government.
Gillman said Israel will not suspend the attack until the
Lebanese government enacts UN Resolution 1559, which calls
that Lebanon declares full sovereignty of its territory and
disempowers Hezbollah. Backed by the United States, Israel
blamed Syria and Iran for fueling the attacks.
“It is very important to understand that while Hezbollah
executes this terrorism, it is merely the finger on the bloodstained
long reaching arms of Syria and Iran. Hezbollah, together
with Syria and Iran and Hamas, comprise the worlds new and
ominous acts of terror.”
Israel said Iran provided the rockets launched into Israel.
The United States rejected a resolution yesterday offered
by Arab nations that asked Israel to end the conflict.
[top]
More Deaths in Israeli Airstrikes into Gaza
(3:27)
Now we go to Palestine, the other front in Israel's war.
The Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, in the south, have
not diminished. For the 20th straight day, Israeli military
forces have maintained a military invasion there, a territory
they had 'disengaged' from last August. Israeli attacks in
southern Gaza Friday have killed two Palestinians - making
56 killed this week, with no Israeli casualties. Saed Bannoura
reports from Palestine.
[top]
Narmada Dam Protest Continues in India (3:19)
For the last week, indigenous people displaced by a large
dam in western India are standing their ground in resisting
another forcible eviction by the government to develop tourist
spots near the dam. This comes in the midst of a court ruling
and the federal government's decision to go ahead with the
controversial issue of the Narmada Dam's height without what
anti-dam activists claim as improper rehabilitation. FSRN
Correspondent Binu Alex reports from Kevadia.
[top]
Border City Residents Address Undocumented Immigration
(2:58)
As the immigration debate continues in Washington and the
controversy over Mexico's presidential election unfolds in
Mexico City, representatives and activists from border cities
are looking for effective and humane ways to reduce undocumented
immigration. Alonso Rivera files this report from San Diego.
[top]
Hunger Fast Brings Protesters from Across US to the
White House (2:01)
Outside the White House, anti-war protesters are on their
tenth day of a hunger strike to bring US troops home. Among
the fasters, a fourth generation shrimper from Seadrift, Texas,
is putting her life on the line for the effort. From KPFT
in Houston, Katie Heim reports.
[top]
Movement for Food Policy Council in Oakland
(2:05)
This week in Oakland, community garden advocates urged city
council members to establish a Food Policy Council to help
local organizers set up community gardens and farmer’s
markets. Not only do the gardens strengthen community bonds,
they say, but they protect local food security in the face
of big agribusiness driven by petroleum and run purely for
profit. FSRN'S Ed Rippy reports.
[top]
|
Listen
to the show 
Help
stream
download
