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> Tue., Sept. 12, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Bush Pushes Military Tribunals At Guantanamo
Canadians Protest Condaleeza Rice
Primary Elections In 9 States And DC
Regulatory Takings At Issue In November
Journalist Still In Contempt
Non-Aligned Summit Opens In Havana
FSRN Headlines
ATTACK ON U.S. EMBASSY IN DAMASCUS
Syrian security forces today blocked an attempt by four gunmen
to attack the US embassy in Damascus. One member of the Syrian
security forces died in the gun battle. Three of the four
attackers were also killed. No group has claimed responsibility
for the attack.
BETHLEHEM INVASION
An Israeli military court today ruled to release eighteen
Palestinian lawmakers. Meanwhile, the Israeli Army invaded
Bethlehem. Manar Jibrin reports.
The Israeli Army, backed by at least fifteen armored vehicles,
invaded the West Bank city of Bethlehem today, surrounding
several homes in two of its neighborhoods. Clashes erupted
between the residents and the soldiers who fired rounds of
live ammunition and tear gas bombs at the residents. A twelve
year old boy was killed near the Church of the Nativity and
at least six others have been injured. In a separate incident,
an Israeli military court today ordered the release of eighteen
Palestinian officials, including cabinet ministers and members
of the Legislative Council. Their release on $5700 bail each
is expected on Thursday.
1993 MUMBAI BOMBING VERDICTS
Courts in India are beginning to hand down verdicts in the
cases of Mumbai's 1993 bomb attacks. Binu Alex has the story.
Four members of the same family were pronounced guilty by
a court in Mumbai today for serial bomb blasts in 1993. The
blasts ripped through the city for more than two hours, targeting
mainly the financial hubs. The 1993 attacks killed 257 people
and injured more than 700. A total of 123 suspects have been
put on trial, but those whom the police suspect of being masterminds
are believed to have fled the country. The charges against
them include committing terrorist acts and waging war against
the country. (sound: Voice of Ujjwal Nikam) Public Prosecutor,
Ujjwal Nikam said the sentences would be announced after the
delivery of all of the verdicts. For Free Speech Radio News,
I am Binu Alex.
HUMAN RIGHTS IN KASHMIR
In Indian administered Kashmir, activists from the Jammu and
Kashmir Liberation Front went on a symbolic hunger strike
today to protest what they call a spurt of human rights abuses
by Indian troops in Kashmir. Shahnawaz Khan has the details.
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Yasin Malik led
the 1-day hunger strike as scores of JKLF activists were also
joined by people from different sectors of society. Around
a thousand people - including women, children, and intellectuals
- gathered in solidarity with the JKLF activists as they sat
on strike in Srinagar. Malik said they want to remind the
Indian Prime Minister of his promise of zero tolerance for
human rights abuses and cited recent instances of alleged
human rights violations by Indian troops. The US-based Human
Rights Watch today released a report on abuses in Indian-administered
Kashmir. The report criticized India for not prosecuting its
troops involved in human rights abuses. The report also lambasted
militants for abuses like attacks on civilians.
DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO EASE TENSION IN THE D.R.C.
South African President Thabo Mbeki is in the Democratic Republic
of Congo to hold talks with the two contenders for the country's
presidency. Joshua Kyalimpa reports from neighboring Uganda.
President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa met with candidate
Jean -Pierre Bemba today after speaking yesterday with Congolese
president, Joseph Kabila. Fighting erupted last month in Kinshasa
between supporters of the two candidates after the announcement
of the need for a run-off vote. At least 30 people were killed
in 3 days of street battles which threatened to derail Democratic
Republic of Congo's first free elections in more than 40 years.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is also
in Congo for talks, while Britain's International Development
Secretary Hilary Benn has also flown to DR Congo capital Kinshasha
to urge calm ahead of the Oct. 29 runoff. The talks with President
Kabila and Vice President Bemba will reportedly center on
what took place in Kinshasa last month, and what will happen
in the future. Kabila, who took office when his father was
assassinated in 2001, won 45 percent of the vote in the first
round of the July 30th election, while his former Vice President,
Pierre Bemba polled 20 percent. Joshua Kyalimpa, FSRN, Kampala,
Uganda.
DETROIT TEACHERS STRIKE
Teachers on strike in Detroit have reached a tentative agreement
with the city's school district. The teachers have been on
strike for over 2 weeks. On Monday, most of the teachers defied
a judge's back to work order that was issued on Friday. Classes
could start by the end of the week if the membership of the
Detroit Federation of Teachers agrees to the deal.
BIG BOXING IN CHICAGO
The mayor of Chicago has vetoed a city ordinance that would
have raised the minimum wage for workers at big-box retailers
like Wal-Mart and Target. Under the terms of the ordinance,
retail stores with more than 90,000 square feet would have
to pay a base hourly wage of $9.25 plus benefits. This is
the first time that Mayor Richard Daley has used a veto. The
ordinance passed Chicago's City council in July by a 2/3rds
margin.
[top]
Bush Pushes Military Tribunals At Guantanamo
(3:40)
Congressional Democrats attacked George Bush today saying
the President should not have used the memory of the Sept.
11th attacks to defend the Iraq war. "The American people
deserved better," Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid
told reporters. Reid said the president could have used the
fifth anniversary of the terror attacks to reclaim what Reid
called a "sense of unity, purpose and patriotism"
that came in 2001. The Bush Administration continues to push
its agenda on Capital Hill. As Leigh Ann Caldwell reports
from Washington, Congress is moving closer to a deal on legislation
to try detainees at Guantanamo Bay detention center. Vice
President Dick Cheney met with Republicans in the Senate to
hammer out differences.
[top]
Canadians Protest Condaleeza Rice (3:20)
While George Bush spoke to the nation last night, Secretary
of State Condoleeza Rice marked the 5 years anniversary of
9/11 north of the border in Halifax, Canada illustrating the
growing political relationship between the Canada's Conservative
government & the Bush Administration. Questions regarding
Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan were brought to the
streets by hundreds of protesters in Halifax who called for
a withdrawal of Canadian forces from participation from the
"War on Terror". Stefan Christoff reports from Montreal.
[top]
Primary Elections In 9 States And DC (2:20)
Voters go to the polls today in 9 states and the District
of Columbia. In Rhode Island, Moderate Republican Senator
Lincoln Chafee is facing a challenge from far-right Cranston
Mayor Steve Laffey. The race is the most closely watched nationally,
because a win by Laffey could open the door to a Democratic
win in November. Democrats are expected to big gains in both
the House and Senate this November, but its unclear whether
they'll win enough seats to wrest either house of Congress
from the Republican Party. … From Washington, Selina
Musuta provides an overview:
[top]
Regulatory Takings At Issue In November (4:30)
In six western states, voters will go to the polls this
November to address the issue of "regulatory takings."
Critics say the measures will effectively mean the end of
zoning and land use planning in those states because they
would require local governments to pay land-owners for potential
profits lost due to government regulation. Backers are using
widespread opposition to a Supreme Court decision last year,
which allowed a local government in Connecticut to seize private
property and turn it over to the developer -- under the theory
that economic development is a "public use." Leigh
Robartes has more.
[top]
Journalist Still In Contempt (3:20)
A Federal Appeals Court has ruled that journalist and blogger,
Joshua Wolf remains in contempt of court. Joshua Wolf spent
a month in state prison after he refused to hand over video
footage to federal investigators. Now free on his own recognizance,
Wolf continues to deny a federal grand Jury subpoena, refusing
to release videotape he shot during a G-8 summit protest of
05. Joshua Smith reports.
[top]
Non-Aligned Summit Opens In Havana (2:30)
A major world summit is underway in Havana this week. More
than 110 countries are participating in the 14th Non-Aligned
Movement Summit. The alliance, which was founded by countries
who refused to take sides in the Cold War between the United
States and the Soviet Union is searching for new direction
in this new era of the World Trade Organization, George Bush
and the war on terror. J Jacobson reports from Havana.
[top]
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