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> Tue., Oct. 23, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Condoleeza Rice and Director of the International Nuclear
Watchdog talk about North Korea
Israeli Government Used Napalm-like White Phosphorus on Lebanon
Nurses Stripped of Right to Union Representation
Zapatista National Liberation Army Visits Tijuana
Mumia Abu-Jamal Commentary: Iraq Echoes of Vietnam
FSRN Headlines
STREET CLASHES IN BUDAPEST
Street clashes erupted in Budapest today when riot police
used water cannons and fired rubber bullets and tear gas to
break up a demonstration near Hungary's Parliament building.
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian uprising
against Soviet control. The anniversary has taken on other
anti-government tones this year. Protesters have been demanding
the resignation of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany for weeks
now. Demonstrations began in September after the broadcast
of A leaked tape in which Gyurcsany admitted to lying about
Hungary's economy to win re-election.
STAYING THE UNPOPULAR COURSE IN IRAQ
Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister was in London today to ask British
leaders to keep their troops in Iraq. The war has become increasingly
unpopular in both the US and the UK and polls consistently
show that a majority of Iraqis want the foreign military occupation
to end sooner than later. More than 80 US soldiers have died
in Iraq this month, making it the deadliest month for US forces
so far this year. British military officials have indicated
plans to reduce troop numbers by about half in 2007. In Washington
today, the Bush administration said that "milestones",
not dates will determine when US forces withdraw from Iraq.
A CALL FOR GUN CONTROL
International human rights groups are urging governments to
vote for a United Nations treaty that would establish new
ways to monitor the gun trade. Haider Rizvi reports from the
United Nations.
Delegates from many countries have said they will vote for
a resolution to establish a treaty to control small arms,
but the United States, Russia, China and other major exporters
of small weapons are against it. Human rights groups say in
the past three years more than one million people have died
as a result of small arms proliferation. A number of Noble
peace prize winners, including Desmond Tutu, Mohammed AlBradaie,
and Shirin Ebadi, have endorsed the call in favor of the proposed
treaty. Experts at the United Nations estimate that gun manufacturers
and traders make more than a trillion dollars in sales every
year. The vote on the proposed treaty is due to take place
this week.
PANAMA CANAL EXPANSION
Panamanian voters have decided overwhelmingly to expand the
Panama Canal. The plan will cost over $5 billion and is expected
to take 6 years to complete. Many of today's larger cargo
ships are too wide to pass through the canal. Yes votes at
yesterday's referendum outnumbered the No's by a 4-1 margin.
Revenue from the canal is Panama's largest source of income.
The country will have to ask for at least 2 billion dollars
in loans in order to complete the project. The Panama Canal
was administered as a US territory from its opening in 1914
until its handover to Panama in 1999.
SKILLING SENTENCING
Thousands of jobs and billions of dollars were lost when Texas
energy company, Enron, collapsed... Today one of the key players
was in the courtroom to hear his sentence for his role in
the scandal. Renee Feltz reports from Houston:
Former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling was convicted in May of 19
counts of fraud, conspiracy, insider training, and repeatedly
lying to auditors about the company's financial health. This
afternoon he was sentenced to 24 years and 4 months in prison
for his crimes. Before the judge handed down his decision,
about ten of the roughly 9000 employees who lost their jobs
and pensions made statements about how the scandal hurt them.
One who was employed 18 years with the company told the court
she went bankrupt when she lost over half a million dollars
in Enron stock... and won't be able to retire when she turns
65 next month. She asked the judge to send Skilling to prison
for the rest of his life. Today 52 year old Skilling told
the judge he had remorse over what happened to Enron, but
maintained his innocence. His sentence is the longest of all
the Enron defendants, most of whom admitted guilt in government
plea bargains. Skillings lawyers plan to appeal. It's unclear
when federal authorities will order him to report to prison,
but the judge said he won't remain free during an appeal.
For Free Speech Radio News, I'm Renee Feltz in Houston.
MUSEVENI TALKS WITH LRA REBELS
Uganda's president visited the Southern Sudanese city of Juba
this weekend for face-to-face peace talks with the Lords Resistance
Army (LRA) rebels. Emmanuel Okella reports from Kampala, Uganda.
President Museveni's visit came after reports of renewed
attacks threatened to dash hopes of a peace agreement between
Uganda's government and the Lord's Resistance Army rebels.
Over 30 civilians and a UPDF captain were reported killed
by the rebels last week. During the visit, President Museveni
met the LRA peace team and reassured them of blanket amnesty
for the rebels should they sign a comprehensive peace deal
with his government. He also told them to stop dragging the
talks warning that the military option was still open should
the talks fail by the end of this year. In an earlier meeting
with Southern Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, President Museveni
requested the authorities to stop sending food and other logistical
supplies to the LRA rebels outside the two designated assembly
points. The rebels deserted the locations, alleging attacks
by Ugandan forces. For Free Speech Radio News Emmanuel Okella
reporting from Kampala Uganda.
[top]
Condoleeza Rice and Director of the International
Nuclear Watchdog talk about North Korea (3:40)
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Director of the International
Nuclear Watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei meet in Washington today
where they discussed North Korea and Iran's nuclear programs.
The timing comes as The United Nations Security Council, at
the urging of the United States, is going to re-visit the
issue of Iran's nuclear program. FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell
reports.
[top]
Israeli Government Used Napalm-like White Phosphorus
on Lebanon (6:00)
The Israeli government has admitted it used controversial
phosphorous weapons in its attack on Lebanon this Summer.
The chemical causes is similar to napalm and causes horrific
burning when it comes into contact with human flesh.
[top]
Nurses Stripped of Right to Union Representation
(3:50)
Organized labor filed an international protest today after
a federal ruling that said some nurses are supervisors and
are therefore ineligible for union representation. The AFL-CIO
complains the ruling could potentially strip millions of workers
their rights to joining unions. Yanmei Xie reports from Washington.
[top]
Zapatista National Liberation Army Visits Tijuana
(3:45)
Last week a caravan of members of the Zapatista National
Liberation Army visited Tijuana, as a part of a nationwide
tour trying to bring together the voices of activists and
oppressed social groups. Zapatista supporters from Mexico
and United States shared their stories of struggle during
a two day meeting, revealing a vast array of social injustices
affecting people on both sides of the border. Alonso Rivera
reports from Tijuana.
[top]
Mumia Abu-Jamal Commentary: Iraq Echoes of Vietnam
(4:00)
[top]
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