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Headlines for Thursday, June 10, 2010
Thu, 06/10/2010 - 14:16
- Length: 5:48 minutes (5.31 MB)
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US makes it easier for people to change gender designation on passports
New rules go into effect today, making it easier for people to officially change their listed sex on US passports. The State Department will no longer require sexual reassignment surgery as a prerequisite changing the document. Now the applicant must only have documentation from a physician that he or she has “undergone appropriate clinical treatment for a gender transition.”
New report documents life for civilians living in Pakistan’s tribal regions
“Nearly four million people are effectively living under the Taliban in North-West Pakistan without rule of law and effectively abandoned by the Pakistani government.” That, according to a new Amnesty International report, which gives a glimpse at life in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the Northwest Frontier Province. FSRN’s Gabe Matthews has more from Islamabad.
For their report “As if Hell Fell on Me: The Human Rights Crisis in Northwest Pakistan,” Amnesty International interviewed about 300 people who generally have no access to the mainstream media or the international community.
The human rights group found that the Taliban kills people who challenge their authority and imposes their rule by torturing elders, teachers, aid workers and political activists. The Taliban also targets women, schools and health clinics and uses civilians as human shields. The report suggests the Taliban killed 1300 people in 2009.
It also indicates the Pakistan Army does not have strategy to differentiate between civilians and militants. But the military rejects the report, saying its based on false information. US drone attacks are an issue as well, says Aia-Pacific Director Sam Zarifi:
“The US use of drones in Pakistan is under a very unclear legal framework. It’s essential for US to announce under what law it’s operating these drones, what the chain of command is, what the rules of engagement are, and how people will be held accountable if they violate the laws of war.”
The group is calling on the Taliban to stop torturing people, especially women. In addition, it says Pakistan must stop violating international laws and care of displaced people. Gabe Mathews, FSRN, Islamabad.
UK rejects OAS call for Falklands-Malvinas sovereignty negotiations
Despite the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, internationally, prospects of offshore oil exploration and drilling have re-ignited the row between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland Islands, or Malvinas. International pressure has been building on England to sit down to diplomatic talks on the issue, but as Marcos Federman reports from Argentina, without much success.
Earlier this week, all 33 countries of the Organization of American States (OAS) supported Argentina’s desire to initiate negotiations with England over Falkland-Malvina sovereignty. But Wednesday, Great Britain rejected the calls to open talks. The two countries fought a brief war over the territory in the early 1980s, with the UK maintaining control.
Recently, Argentina hardened its position after British companies began offshore oil exploration. Argentina says the exploration is illegal because it takes place in Argentine waters. Argentine Foreign Minister, Jorge Taiana, declared that Great Britain’s claim to the island almost 5 thousand miles away from British national territory is due to a “spirit of colonialism” that represents a menace in the region.
The British government announced their policy has not changed with the arrival of new Prime Minister David Cameron. The government says it will not initiate talks unless the people of the Falklands ask for them. Marcos Federman, FSRN, Buenos Aries.
More than 100 unionists killed internationally in 2009, most in Colombia
Colombia is the most dangerous place in the world to be a union member, according to a new study by the International Trade Union Confederation. That country saw the deaths of the nearly half the 101 unionists killed world wide in 2009. Manuel Rueda has more from Bogota.
The International Trade Union Confederation says 48 union members were assassinated in Colombia country in 2009, including 27 union leaders and five women. Unions here claim their members face constant harassment from paramilitary squads and armed groups hired by company managers.
The Colombian government, however, rejects the Confederation’s report. The government says its security policies have helped reduced violence against trade union members, decreasing violence by more than 80% since 2002. Interior Minister Fabio Valencia explained.
“Ahí incluyen lideres sociales que no son lideres afiliados. Los afiliados los registrados en distintos sindicatos son 28 personas y tenemos el nombre la cedula el sitio absolutamente todo.
“In that list, they include social leaders who are not affiliated to unions. There were 28 union affiliates killed last year; we have their names and document numbers.”
The ITUC report says worldwide, union member killings went up by 30% in 2009.
Aside from Colombia, the most dangerous place to belong to a trade union is Guatemala, where 16 murders were reported last year. Honduras, Mexico, Bangladesh and Brazil also saw numerous trade union members killed. Manuel Rueda, FSRN, Bogota.
Oscar Grant trial begins in Los Angeles
And finally today the trial of former-BART security officer Johannes Mehserle began in Los Angeles. Mehserle shot and killed an unarmed, prostrate Oscar Grant at an Oakland subway station in 2009. Community outrage followed and continues. Mehserle’s defense argues he intended to use a stun gun, but mistakenly grabbed his gun instead.
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