Headlines for Friday, September 18, 2009

Court rules limits on non-profit political contributions unconstitutional
A US appeals court has ruled that it is unconstitutional to limit the ways non-profit groups spend and raise money to advance candidates and political agendas.   The court ruled part of the McCain-Feingold Campaign finance law violated free speech rights.  The abortion rights group EMILY’s List brought the case.  It now could be appealed to the Supreme Court.

DOJ urges court to throw out challenge to DOMA
The US Justice Department is trying to get a federal judge to throw out a case that challenges the Defense of Marriage Act.  Same-sex couples in Massachusetts have challenged the federal statute saying it’s unconstitutional to deny legally married same-sex couples the same federal rights as straight couples.  The DOJ acknowledges the law is discriminatory, but says it is “constitutionally permissible” and until it is repealed, it must be upheld.

New FCC members affirm support for low-power FM
Some good news today for community radio advocates.  The FCC now appears to be firmly on the side of empowering local communities to set up low power FM stations.  FSRN’s Shuhei Nakayama has more.

All commissioners on the Federal Communication Commission have approved the Local Community Radio Act, which will likely propel the expansion of Low Power FM stations.

Originally, Congress imposed restrictions on LPFM early in the decade because Full-Power radio station owners claimed the small stations would obstruct their signals.  But after a study showed LPFM does not disturb full power stations, the FCC began asking congress for the authority to regulate the stations.  The Local Community Radio Act is now headed for final debate in the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Technology and the Internet.  Shuhei Nakayama, Free Speech Radio News.

New plan to improve conditions at Tamms Supermax Prison in IL
In May FSRN reported on Michael Randle's appointment as the new head of the Illinois Department of Corrections.  Governor Pat Quinn charged Randle with implementing reform at the state's only supermax prison – a facility targeted by activists, who call it a "holding cell for the mentally ill."   FSRN’s Ellen Pierson has this update.

Illinois’ new head of corrections announced a 10-point plan to reform Tamms Supermax Prison, a solitary confinement facility located in the southern part of the state.  Proposed Changes include implementing transfer review hearings, informing prisoners of their estimated length of stay, and conducting ongoing mental health screenings of all inmates.

Laurie Jo Reynolds is an organizer from the group Tamms Year Ten.  She’s pleased with the plan, but remains concerned.

“What we're calling for, along with other human rights organizations is independent oversight of mental health diagnosis and treatment to prevent the kind of neglect and abuse of mentally ill prisoners that has already been well documented at Tamms.”

IDOC officials will also re-examine the prison population to determine who may be eligible for transfer.  A recent review resulted in 45 men being scheduled for transfer out of the supermax.  Ellen Pierson, FSRN.

Yemen calls for probe into deadly military air strike that hit refugee camp
The government of Yemen has opened an investigation into an air strike yesterday that missed its target and hit a refugee camp, killing more than 85 internally displaced civilians – most of them women and children, according to UNISEF.  The Yemeni government is locked in battle with Shiite insurgents in the northern part of the country.  Rights groups have raised concerns about the resulting toll on the civilian population.

Zelaya support organization defends itself against charges of militancy
In Honduras internal resistance and international pressure on the coup government has grown incredibly in the months since President Manuel Zelaya was kidnapped by the military and forcibly expelled from the country.  Now there are attempts to debilitate the massive nonviolent resistance movement known as the National Front Against the Coup.  Reporting for FSRN from Central America, Nan McCurdy has more.

After facing accusations of militancy within their organization, the National Front Against the Coup denied the existence of any armed groups under the command of President Manuel Zelaya.  In a statement to the press Thursday, the group said it only employs non-violent methods, and that those making claims to the contrary are trying to expose the group’s leadership to government repression.

In fact, an August report by Amnesty International denounced the quote - “increasingly disproportionate and excessive use of force by the police and military to repress legitimate and peaceful protests across the country.”

The large and creative resistance movement has supporters in all parts of Honduras.  The Front also says it will boycott the upcoming November elections if Zelaya is not reinstated as President by the end of September.  Nan McCurdy, FSRN

Thousands to march in Argentina to demand the return of disappeared human rights witness
Today Argentina is marking 3 years since the disappearance of a key human rights witness whose testimony led to the conviction of a former police chief for crimes committed during the nation’s military dictatorship.  FSRN’s Marie Trigona reports from Buenos Aires.

Jorge Julio Lopez, a torture survivor who testified in a historic human rights trial, went missing on September 18, 2006 after leaving his home in La Plata.  Lopez testified against Miguel Etchecolatz, and the police chief was sentenced to life in prison for committing crimes against humanity and genocide.

Human Rights groups suspect police and court authorities with ties to officials who participated in rights abuses have disrupted the investigation into the disappearance of Lopez.  Eduardo Nachman is with the human rights group HIJOS.

“Julio Lopez had the courage to identify Etchecolatz as a torturer.  His disappearance isn’t a coincidence.  He was disappeared to scare off and threaten many people who must testify.”

Marches are planned in Buenos Aires, La Plata and other cities on Friday afternoon to demand an end to the impunity and that Lopez reappear alive.  Marie Trigona, FSRN, Buenos Aires.