December 04, 2006
Headlines (6:00)
DHS TO ASSESS TRAVELERS
A coalition of civil rights and privacy advocates are urging the US government to reject a new program slated to begin this week that could create secret, terrorist ratings on tens of millions of American citizens. Groups say the proposal looks suspiciously like part of the controversial “Total Information Awareness” program, which the government was forced to abandon. FSRN’s Catherine Komp reports.
The “Automated Tracking System” program was initially proposed for screening cargo. But last month, the Department of Homeland Security quietly issued a notice expanding the program to include travelers. The program would assign a “risk assessment” to millions of people seeking to enter or exit the U.S. Groups say it’s essentially a “terrorist risk rating,” that will determine whether people are searched, and even allowed to enter or exit the country. The ratings would be secret, and maintained by the government for 40 years. Lillie Coney of the Electronic Privacy Information Center: (sound). DHS calls the program “one of the most advanced” in the world. The agency said it will identify “suspicious or unusual behavior” using a set of “constantly evolving” rules. However, DHS itself admits there are privacy risks, including inaccurate information used against people who may not be aware that the government is compiling data on them. For FSRN, I’m Catherine Komp.
US MARINE FOUND GUILTY OF RAPE
A Philippine court today convicted a US Marine for raping a 23-year-old Filipino woman last year, and sentenced him to 40 years in prison. Three other co-accused were acquitted for lack of evidence. Girlie Linao reports.
Hundreds of people who gathered outside the courthouse in Manila’s financial city of Makati broke into cheers and applause when the verdict was announced. Inside, the complainant, identified only as Nicole, cried as soon as Judge Benjamin Pozon said he was convinced that Lance Corporal Daniel Smith took advantage of her alcohol intoxication to sexually abuse her on November 1, 2005. The decision marks the first time for an American soldier to be convicted of sexual abuse against Filipino women in the country. But the fight is not yet over for Nicole. Lawyers for Smith are invoking a security agreement between the Philippines and the United States in seeking that their client be turned over to the US Embassy while they appealed the court’s decision. For Free Speech Radio News, I’m Girlie Linao.
PINOCHET HAS HEART ATTACK
Chile’s former dictator Augusto Pinochet remains hospitalized after suffering a heart attack yesterday. Jorge Garretón reports from Santiago.
This morning the Military Hospital issued its first bulletin of the day saying Pinochet remains in critical condition and that the next 24 hours are critical. The Hospital said the 91 year-old dictator will remain hospitalized for at least 10 days. Outside the Hospital a throng of hard-core Pinochet supporters are holding a vigil, praying he recovers. The Government has refused to comment of the possibility of Pinochet’s death. Human rights lawyers and family members of the detained and disappeared initially questioned Pinochet’s heart attack, arguing the former dictator’s attorneys always use his health as a defense tactic. The heart attack came just days after a fresh round of indictments. For FSRN this is Jorge Garretón in Santiago.
BLAIR’S NUCLEAR LEGACY
Tony Blair announced today to the British Parliament that he plans to renew Trident, Britain’s nuclear weapons system. From London, Naomi Fowler reports:
Britain’s nuclear system Trident consists of 200 operational nuclear warheads based on four nuclear submarines. The lifespan of the current Trident system ends in 2024 and renewing it is estimated to cost around $50bn. The government claims an urgent decision is needed now. However, the leader of the Liberal Democrat party Sir Menzies Campbell says a decision could be delayed until 2014: (sound) “There’s no need to take the decision now. The lives of the existing boats and missile systems can be extended. We should fulfill our legal obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and if you’ll remember, by virtue of that treaty we are under obligation to seek to do everything under our power to try and achieve nuclear disarmament.’ In what’s being seen as a ‘softener’ for Members of Parliament opposing renewal of Trident, Tony Blair also proposed today to cut the operational nuclear warheads on Britain’s Trident submarines from 200 to 160. It remains to be seen whether Tony Blair will garner enough votes in Parliament to pass his proposals through in February. This is Naomi Fowler in London for Free Speech Radio News.
INDIAN MAOISTS REACT TO LAND EXPROPRIATION
In the East Indian state of Bengal, agitation over a planned automobile factory turned violent today when a Maoist organization ransacked a car showroom following a government expropriation of land from thousands of farmers. Vinod K. Jose reports.
This morning the Military Hospital issued its first bulletin of the day saying Pinochet remains in critical condition and that the next 24 hours are critical. The Hospital said the 91 year-old dictator will remain hospitalized for at least 10 days. Outside the Hospital a throng of hard-core Pinochet supporters are holding a vigil, praying he recovers. The Government has refused to comment of the possibility of Pinochet’s death. Human rights lawyers and family members of the detained and disappeared initially questioned Pinochet’s heart attack, arguing the former dictator’s attorneys always use his health as a defense tactic. The heart attack came just days after a fresh round of indictments. For FSRN this is Jorge Garretón in Santiago.
Features (1:35)
John Bolton Resigns as US Ambassador to the United Nations
At the end of this month, the Bush-appointed UN Ambassador John Bolton will clean out his desk at UN headquarters in New York. The White House is saying that Bolton did not resign, but submitted a letter to President Bush that he is no longer interested in pursuing the position. Bolton, who once said there was no such thing as the United Nations, has served in the post since August of 2005 as a recess appointment, which expires at the end of this month. Bolton’s nomination had not been confirmed by the US Congress, where many Democratic Senators, and some Republicans, expressed concern that Bolton was a “bully.” China’s UN Ambassador Wang Guang-ya referred to Bolton’s aggressive style in a report from the UN Radio News Service.
(sound) Guang-ya: I think he’s serious about the American objective. He pushed hard. But of course in order to achieve the objective you have to work with others.
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said today he does not know when President Bush will nominate a new ambassador, but the vote could happen in January when Democrats take over control of Congress.
(sound) SNOW: The president will continue to look for people of quality. But I’ll tell you what: John had an extraordinarily successful tenure, and this will disturb our diplomacy at the UN to a certain extent, until we find somebody in his stead, we hope the democrats and republicans, will join together to allow the President to put forward somebody who will represent American interests.
Until a replacement is confirmed, Alejandro Wolff, the deputy U.S. representative to the United Nations, is expected to be acting U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
US Supreme Court Will Define Future of School Racial Integration Laws (3:30)
The Supreme Court hears two major cases dealing with school integration in elementary and secondary education. One case deals with the Seattle school system, the other, Louisville Kentucky. In both cases, white students were denied their school of choice because of mandatory integration policies. As FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, hundreds of students rallied outside the court chanting in favor of school integration policies.
Concerns Rise about Bush’s Pick for Defense Secretary (3:30)
Confirmation hearings on Robert Gates, President Bush’s nomination for Defense Secretary, begin tomorrow in the Senate Armed Services Committee. Today Advocacy and humanitarian organizations delivered a strong letter of opposition to Gates citing his history in regard to Central America and the Middle East. Nan McCurdy has more from Capitol Hill.
Venezuelan Election Results Good for Chavez (3:40)
Oil-rich Venezuela has re-elected Bush opponent, President Hugo Chavez to another 6-year term. With 80% of the votes counted, the Venezuelan National Electoral Council announced Chavez’ victory last night after a relatively calm, but impressive turn out at the polls. Mike Fox has more from Caracas.
Haitian Senate Hopeful Faces Charges (4:30)
In Haiti, a prominent member of the tiny elite is on the verge of clinching a seat in the senate. Rudolph Boulos has gone from hobnobbing with US policymakers in Washington, DC, to slapping peasants on the back in dusty villages of northeastern Haiti. But he faces charges of involuntary homicide and his opponents accuse him of lying about his citizenship. Reed Lindsay as more from Ouanaminthe, Haiti.
Resistance to Gentrification in South Africa (3:20)
The streets of South Africa’s cities are crowded with life – flower vendors and car guards, sex workers and traditional healers, street barbershops and cellphone repairs. But city governments see this life as a problem, an obstacle to creating “World Class Cities” with smooth traffic flows and no signs of any social problems. Along with street children and beggars, street traders are often the first targets of municipal efforts to “clean up” and “make safe,” to privatize and enclose public space. These processes are accelerated when a city prepares to host a major international event. In 2010, South Africa will host the soccer World Cup. Terna Gyuse reports on the growing resistance of street traders to efforts to clear them from the streets.
