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> Wed., Oct. 11, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Bush Touts Diplomacy but Leaves All options Open for North
Korea
China’s Response to North Korea’s Nuclear Missile
Test
Bush to Push Congress to Make Tax Cuts Permanent
UK Deportations May Violate International Law
At Least Half A Dozen Killed In Southern Philippines Bombings
India Bans Child Labor
FSRN Headlines
LANCET STUDY ON IRAQI DEATH RATES
A study published by the British medical journal, The Lancet
estimates that around 655,000 Iraqis have died since the start
of the US-led occupation. This new figure is far higher than
previous estimates and represents a death rate twice as high
as that prior to the March 2003 invasion. The study has already
received criticism from President George W. Bush: (sound)
The team of researchers, led by doctors from Johns Hopkins
University, used the same methodology used to calculate death
rates in the conflict zones of Kosovo, Sudan, and the Democratic
Republic of Congo. Rather than relying on body count reports
in the media, researchers went door-to-door in randomly selected
areas to collect data about births, deaths, and migrations
and to view material evidence, such as death certificates.
US TO CRACK DOWN ON VIOLATIONS OF CUBAN EMBARGO
The Bush administration has announced the formation of a new
law enforcement task force that will aggressively pursue violations
of trade and travel sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Cuba.
Mitch Perry reports from Tampa.
The Cuban Sanctions Enforcement Task Force includes the FBI
and security or law enforcement units of the Treasury, Homeland
Security and Commerce departments. Its creation is the latest
move by the Bush Administration to crack down on the communist
nation. Two years ago, the President limited family travel
to Cuba to once every 3 years (instead of annually) and enacted
new limits on the sending money to the country. Sylvia Wilhelm
is Executive Director of the Cuban American Commission for
Family Rights, a Miami-based group which favors the easing
of the embargo. She says it's all about the mid-term elections
(sound) As to the question "why now?", U.S. Attorney
Alex Acosta denied that it had anything to do with next month's
elections or the recent illness of Fidel Castro (sound). Mitch
Perry, FSRN, Tampa.
MEXICAN SENATE SENDS DELEGATION TO OAXACA
Mexico's Senate has sent a delegation to Oaxaca City to gather
information on the political crisis in the state. Vladimir
Flores reports.
A subcommittee composed of three Senators will spend three
days in Oaxaca City to see for themselves the situation on
the ground in the protest-wracked state capital. This comes
just two days after thousands of Oaxacan teachers and members
of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca set up a tent
city protest camp outside of the Senate building in Mexico
City. The Senate subcommittee, composed of one Senator from
each major political party, will meet with union leaders,
non-governmental organizations, and state government officials
in order to compile a report on the ability of the state government
to exercise power in Oaxaca. The inability to govern is an
element of the legal criteria that would allow the Senate
to annul the mandate of the governor. Meanwhile, the teachers'
union will today begin a consultation with their rank-and-file
to decide whether or not to return to the classrooms on Monday.
Oaxaca City, Vladimir Flores, Free Speech Radio News.
PLUSPETROL SUSPENDS OPERATIONS IN PERUVIAN AMAZON
Argentine energy company, Pluspetrol has announced the temporary
suspension of its activities in the Amazon region of Peru
due to protests by local indigenous communities. Pamela Cueva
reports from Lima.
Pluspetrol indicated that the suspension of activities is
aimed at avoiding possible clashes with native people opposed
to oil exploration in the Corrientes River basin. Since September,
members of the Confederation of Native Communities of Corrientes
have been mobilizing against Pluspetrol to demand the company
do something to clean up its pollution. The protesters say
66 percent of the children that live along the banks of the
Corrientes River have high levels of lead in their blood.
Peru's Ministry of Health has found cadmium present in the
blood of almost all of the local population. Unconfirmed reports
from the area indicate the locals took over Pluspetrol oil
wells last night and are holding four police officers hostage.
Citing their right to defend what remains healthy of the territory
and resources, the Corrientes River communities have been
able to successfully prevent the companies Burlington Resources
Peru Limited and Petroleum of Peru from operating in their
region. For FSRN, I'm Pamela Cueva with Alfredo Cuadros in
Lima, Peru.
PAPER PULP MILL ROW CONTINUES IN URUGUAY
A preliminary report issued by World Bank consultants has
concluded in favor of the construction of two paper pulp mills
in Uruguay that have been at the heart of a diplomatic dispute
with neighboring Argentina. Asli Pelit reports from Montevideo.
The construction of two pulp mills on Uruguayan soil along
the border with Argentina has created a serious dispute between
the two Mercosur countries. Argentina argues the mills will
harm the environment. Uruguay counters that their impact would
be manageable. A World Bank-sponsored report due out tomorrow
states there will be "no risk from the air for human
health, although on occasions some strong odors could be detected
on the Uruguayan side in the Fray Bentos area". But this
is unlikely to sway Argentine opposition to the paper pulp
mills. In response to the preliminary report, Argentine environmentalists
have decided to block the main road connecting Gualeguaychú
in Argentina to Fray Bentos in Uruguay. The road block will
start on Friday and last until Sunday. Environmentalists from
Gualeguaychú, the Argentine town closest to the mills,
also launched a national awareness campaign calling on Argentines
not to spend their summer vacations in Uruguay. The Spanish
company Ence has recently announced plans to move the proposed
plant to another location in Uruguay due to the environmental
row with Argentina. For FSRN, I'm Asli Pelit in Montevideo,
Uruguay.
[top]
Bush Touts Diplomacy but Leaves All options Open
for North Korea (4:20)
President Bush said he has “no intention of attacking
North Korea” – adding that the U.S. is working
through diplomatic means but reserves all options when dealing
with North Korea. Washington Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell takes
a look at some of the political developments three days after
North Korea claimed to have tested a nuclear devise.
[top]
China’s Response to North Korea’s Nuclear
Missile Test (3:37)
China was the first country to officially express its opposition
to North Korea’s first nuclear weapons test this week.
The Beijing government, considered North Korea’s only
ally, is now facing its own diplomatic and strategic issues.
FSRN’s Severine Bardon has more from Beijing.
[top]
Bush to Push Congress to Make Tax Cuts Permanent
(3:20)
President Bush announced today that his administration’s
policies have resulted in cutting the federal deficit in half
- three years ahead of schedule; and that he’ll continue
to push Congress to keep tax cuts permanent. Nan McCurdy has
more from Washington D.C.
[top]
UK Deportations May Violate International Law
(3:00)
In Britain last year, twelve ordinary men and women were
called up for jury duty in a notorious terrorism trial. The
case against all but one of the five men collapsed, and the
jury confidently acquitted the rest of all charges. As FSRN’s
Naomi Fowler reports, some of the jurors are speaking out
now that the British government wants to deport the innocent
men to Algeria because it still maintains they are a threat
to national security.
[top]
At Least Half A Dozen Killed In Southern Philippines
Bombings (2:40)
A series of bombings in the southern Philippines has claimed
at least six lives and left more than 30 wounded. The bombings
are being blamed on rogue elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front, the separatist Muslim group that is currently in peace
talks with the government. FSRN’s Girlie Linao reports
from Manila.
[top]
India Bans Child Labor (2:50)
The Indian government has banned child labor in households,
roadside eateries, restaurants, hotels, and more. The ban
has the potential to liberate some 12 million children under
the age of 14 from the tentacles of child labor in the country.
Violating the new law could mean a fine and imprisonment for
up to two years. Proponents of the ban say that child laborers
face a myriad of physical, psychological and sexual vulnerabilities:
they all hail from extremely impoverished families whose annual
per capita income remains below $100 US per family. PC Dubey
has more from India.
[top]
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