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> Tue., Nov. 14, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
International Attorneys Charge Rumsfeld with War Crimes; Bush
Interprets Military Commissions Act
Democrats Choose Senator Harry Reid as Majority Leader
Critics Say New Anti-Terrorism Act Will Target Free Speech
U.S. Voters Move on Anti-Immigrant and Anti-Affirmative Action
Initiatives
French Airport Purges Muslim Workers
Immigrant Hotel Workers Say they Face Retaliation for Organizing
FSRN Headlines
MASS ABDUCTION IN BAGHDAD
Uniformed gunmen kidnapped dozens of people today at a Baghdadresearch
facility run by the country's Ministry of Education. Figuresvary
on theexact total of people seized - with numbers ranging
from 45 to 150.The uniforms used by the gunmen in this morning's
operation are thesame asthose used by a special forces unit
of Iraq's Interior Ministry. Thecountry's Education Minster
initially responded to the mass abductionby ordering the closure
of all institutions of higher learning.
MASSACRE IN MONTES AZULES
Eleven people are reportedly dead after suspected paramilitariesattacked
a local community in the Montes Azules region of Chiapas,Mexico.
LuzRuiz reports.
Social and non-governmental organizations are calling yesterday'sattack
a massacre. Supposed paramilitaries killed a total of 11people,
among them an 8-year old boy and a newborn baby, according
toa hand-written report distributed by a Zapatista community
in theregion. An official report from the State Prosecutor's
office hasrecognized only two deaths and two injuries. The
attack comes afterseveral incidents that had been escalating
in intensity andaggression, resulting from land disputes between
communities in thearea. Conflicts over land in the Lacandon
jungle, which in 1972 wasofficially declared a "bio-reserve",
have been taking place fordecades, as the Lacandon people
were given control over this naturalpreserve, and all other
indigenous groups were pushed to resettle toother areas. Reports
by non-governmental and human rightsorganizations working
in the Montes Azules rainforest, had beenwarning state and
federal authorities about possible violentevictions, harassment
and aggressions to indigenous communities in thearea. Authorities
failed to act on the warnings. The area is also abattleground
for economic interests in wood exploitation, water, andother
natural resources.
THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON BIRD SPECIES (cut for time)
Global warming is leading to a major trend of extinction among
birdspecies around the world - according to report by the
World WildlifeFund. The report - presented today at an ongoing
international summiton climate change in Nairobi, Kenya -
concludes that birds that dependon specific habitats for survival
will be the hardest hit as risingtemperatures alter key characteristics
of ecosystems. According to theWWF,scientists have found declines
of up to 90 per cent in some birdpopulations, as well as total
and unprecedented reproductive failurein others. Mostscientists
agree that human-produced emissions are the number onecause
of global warming.
EXXON-MOBIL CHARGED IN NIGERIA
Oil giant Exxon-Mobil and some members of its Board of Directors
havebeen charged with tax evasion in Nigeria. Sam Olukoya
reports fromLagos.
Exxon-Mobil and 5 of its directors are facing a three count
charge ofevading $31 million dollars in taxes in Akwa Ibom
State in Nigeria'sNiger delta region. Exxon-Mobil, which has
the second-largest oiloperations in Nigeria, does most of
its business in the state. Thestate government said the huge
tax evasion was uncovered in apainstaking investigation by
the state Internal Revenue Service.Although Exxon-Mobil denied
the charges, an official of the revenueservice said in an
effort to evade tax, the company has for severalyears been
concealing most of the taxable allowances being paid to itslocal
and expatriate employees, by not reflecting them in its payroll.This
is the latest accusation of tax evasion against a Western
oilcompany in Nigeria. In August, Nigeria's lower house of
Congressreleased a report that showed that the American company,
Chevronoverstated the cost of its operations in order to evade
taxes. ForFree Speech Radio News, this is Sam Olukoya in Lagos.
INDO-PAK PEACE TALKS
India and Pakistan resumed peace talks today for the first
time sincethe July 11th serial bombing of Mumbai's train network.
Binu Alex hasmore.
A joint terrorism panel is on top of the agenda in the resumed
peaceprocess between India and Pakistan. In the never ending
blame gameswith deep mistrust on both sides, India claims
Pakistan has not doneenough to restrain anti-India militants
based in Pakistan. India haseven accused its neighbor of having
a role in the Mumbai trainbombings that killed 207 people
in July. Meanwhile Islamabad saysseparatist violence can only
end once India resolves the dispute overKashmir. International
pressure, especially from the United States, issaid to be
the main reason for the two-day talks between IndianForeign
Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and his Pakistani counterpartRiaz
Mohammad Khan. This is the first time the two sides have metsince
the dialogues were called off by New Delhi after the Mumbaibombings.
For Free Speech Radio News, I am Binu Alex.
FLORIDA RE-COUNT
Throughout Florida's 13th Congressional District, a recount
continuesto determine the winner in the race to replace Katherine
Harris inCongress.Mitch Perry reports.
Election officials say the complete recount between Republican
VernBuchanan and Democrat Christine Jennings won't be complete
until theend of this week. As of late yesterday afternoon,
the RepublicanBuchanan had a 377 vote lead over Democrat Jennings,
a margin of lessthan 0.2 percent. Provisional ballots in Sarasota
County were to becounted today, which could aid Jennings.
However the controversy inthis election stems from the 18,382
ballots cast in Sarasota County -13 percent of the total -
that bore no votes in the Congressionalrace. Election rights
activists and the Jennings campaign say theyhave received
hundreds of calls and e-mails from voters claimingeither the
race did not appear on their ballot or the summary screenon
the electronic voting machines they used showed their vote
forJennings did not register correctly. On Monday night, the
Jenningscamp filed a lawsuit to protect the county's election
material fromtampering or destruction. Mitch Perry, FSRN,
Tampa.
[top]
International Attorneys Charge Rumsfeld with War
Crimes; Bush Interprets Military Commissions Act
(4:06)
A team of international attorneys filed papers in Germany
today alleging that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, along
with 13 other US officials, have committed War Crimes. And
in two other court cases, the Bush Administration is providing
a broad interpretation of the Military Commissions Act, the
law dealing with the detention of so-called enemy combatants.
Washington Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell follows both of these
stories.
[top]
Democrats Choose Senator Harry Reid as Majority Leader
(1:43)
Senate Democrats have confirmed who will lead them in the
next Congress as they take the reigns as the majority party
in charge. Senator Harry Reid from Nevada will inherit the
title of Senate Majority Leader. Senator Reid, from Searchlight,
a poor, rural town in Southern Nevada, started his career
in Washington as a Capitol Hill police officer at night while
he attended law school by day. After receiving his law degree,
he moved back to Nevada where he practiced law and held several
elected positions. He was elected to Congress in 1982 and
then to the Senate in 1986 where he eventually reached the
ranks of leadership as Democratic Whip.
[top]
Critics Say New Anti-Terrorism Act Will Target Free
Speech (2:40)
President Bush will likely sign into law legislation the
House passed last night that increases penalties against people
who interfere with animal enterprises, such as circuses, rodeos,
and animal testing labs. Opponents are concerned the Animal
Enterprise Terrorism Act could criminalize free speech activities.
Ingrid Drake reports from Washington, DC.
[top]
U.S. Voters Move on Anti-Immigrant and Anti-Affirmative
Action Initiatives (4:00)
Voters in Michigan approved a ballot measure to amend the
state’s constitution to ban affirmative action in the
public sector last week – it was just one in a series
of a measures voters approved nationwide that critics see
as a set-back to racial justice. FSRN’s Aaron Glantz
reports.
[top]
French Airport Purges Muslim Workers (4:40)
Seven French airport-workers are appealing a decision that
upheld the withdrawal of the security clearance that allows
them to work at Paris’ main airport. They are among
72 Roissy Airport workers who have lost security clearance.
The workers claim they’re the victims of an anti-Muslim
witch-hunt and hysteria about supposed terrorist threats.
Tony Cross has the story from Paris.
[top]
Immigrant Hotel Workers Say they Face Retaliation
for Organizing (3:30)
30 Woodfin Suites Hotel workers in Emeryville, California
face termination from their jobs. Most workers are immigrant
women of color who say the threat is retaliation to their
organizing efforts. FSRN's Christina Aanestad reports.
[top]
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