Archive - Jan 11, 2010

• Union leaders protest health insurance tax in reform plan
• Federal court takes up California ban on same sex marriage
• Activists demand closure of Guantanamo detention facility
• Half of Guantanamo detainees remain imprisoned even after being cleared for release
• Investigation finds possible human rights violations in Sri Lanka

• Dr. Tiller Killer jury selection delayed
• Multinationals in court over aiding Apartheid
• UK investigates allegations that soldiers tortured and killed woman in Iraq
• Israel to build barrier along border with Egypt
• Immigrants evacuate Italian town after racial unrest
• British journalist killed in Afghanistan

Union leaders are meeting with President Obama today to discuss health care.  The Unions are protesting a proposal in health care reform to tax high cost insurance plans, also known as “Cadillac” plans. Joining us to talk about this meeting and the latest developments is FSRN’s DC Editor, Leigh Ann Caldwell.

The trial on California's Proposition 8 ban on same sex marriage gets underway today in a federal district court in San Francisco. The trial will determine whether or not the ban violates the federal constitution. The case is the first in the nation to examine whether the US Constitution prohibits states from outlawing same sex marriage. Kellia Ramares has the story.

It was eight years ago today that prisoners were first brought to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. At that time, the US military had recently invaded Afghanistan and people who the government called  "unlawful enemy combatants" were taken to the facility for what is now widely regarded as torture and indefinite detention. Multiple legal battles followed, including several decisions by the US Supreme court that found that detainees were being denied their right to habeas corpus and could challenge their detention. Shortly after taking office President Obama signed an executive order that pledged to close the base within a year, but that date - January 22nd - is fast approaching and closure of the facility will now likely be postponed, possibly to 2011.

Every year since the US military opened Guantanamo, opponents and critics have marked the anniversary with demonstrations. This year was no different. While the protests are smaller than in years past, the demands remain the same. FSRN's Karen Miller has more.

And now, we'll take a closer look at why the Administration hasn't yet closed Guantanamo as well as what may lie ahead. We're joined by Devon Chaffee. She's an attorney with Human Rights First, a non-partisan human rights organization based in New York.

Human rights investigators have released the results of an independent investigation into alleged killings in Sri Lanka and have confirmed the authenticity of a video depicting the execution of Tamil Tiger rebels in the final stages of the conflict last May. Bissera Kostova reports.