Headlines for Tuesday, March 16, 2010

State of emergency in Fiji after Category 4 storm
The Pacific Island nation of Fiji is under a state of emergence today after a Category 4 cyclone forced thousands to evacuate and cut power and communications. One death has been attributed to the storm and widespread crop damage was reported. Troops have started to distribute relief rations and supplies. Cyclone Tomas is beginning to weaken today – but just how extensive the damage is remains unclear because communication has yet to be restored to the outer islands.

Former Sri Lankan presidential candidate faces court martial
Sri Lanka’s former army chief faced a military court today on controversial charges – he faces up to five years in jail. He is considered a political enemy of the current president after challenging him in the last election. FSRN’s Ponniah Manikavasagam reports.

The military trial is being held under tight security.  The media is barred from the proceedings. Forces arrested former army commander Sarath Fonseka last month, declaring he was planning a military coup and had conspired to assassinate the President. But he was   charged on the basis of those allegations.  Rather, Fonseka faced a three member panel today on the charge of illegally engaging in politics while serving in the military.  Today’s proceedings lasted three hours and will continue on April 6. He also faces a parallel charge of making irregular military procurements. A hearing on that charge is to be held tomorrow. Fosneka and President Mahinda Rajapakse were allies and heroes of last year’s battle against the Tamil Tiger rebels, but they drifted apart. Fonseka’s wife and supporters say the former general was seen as a threat to the government and was arrested to prevent his participation in next month’s parliamentary elections. Ponniah Manikavasagam, FSRN, Sri Lanka.

Hate fueled websites increase 20 percent
A report released today by the Simon Wiesenthal Center finds that hate groups and so-called militant organizations have increased their use of social media sites by nearly 20 percent over the last year. The data was collected using both staff research and tips received from the public. This year they documented 11,500 websites, forums and social networks that they categorized as violent, anti-Semitic, homophobic or related to terrorism. The report also includes online games, some of which feature themes like bombing Haitian earthquake survivors or shooting undocumented immigrants.

China says dissident lawyer missing for a year in prison
China’s Foreign Minister finally confirmed that a prominent human rights lawyer who disappeared more than a year ago is in prison -- but his exact whereabouts remain unknown.  From Beijing Shuk-Wah Chung has more.

Gao Zhisheng was taken from his home by the authorities more than a year ago and hasn’t been seen since.  China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said today that Mr. Gao was sentenced to prison for subversion, though said nothing about where the lawyer is being held. It remains unclear if Gao was returned to jail on an earlier charge -- or imprisoned anew. He was previously detained in 2006 and was allowed to return home after issuing a confession. He later claimed that he was coerced by state security personnel who had threatened his two children. They have since fled to the United States. Gao was recognized by China’s Ministry of Justice in 2001 as one of the country’s 10 best lawyers for his work defending victims of medical malpractice and farmers whose land had been seized for redevelopment. But once he began challenging the government he was arrested and subsequently disappeared. The United States Embassy in Beijing has called for Mr. Gao’s release. In the meantime the Foreign Ministry has simply said he is “where he should be.” Shuk-Wah Chung, Beijing, FSRN.

Honda recalls more than 400,000 cars
Another Japanese automaker is recalling 412, 000 cars today – this time over squishy brakes. Honda Motor Company says today that its Odyssey’s and Elements made between 2007 and 2008 have a brake system flaw that may have caused at least three accidents. According to Honda, not all of the cars affected by the recall have the brake problem – but all will be repaired as a precaution. Notifications will be nailed to owners beginning the end of next month.

International wildlife trade group fails to enact protection for sharks
Russia, Japan and China joined forces today to derail an effort to increase international protection for sharks. The measure under consideration at a UN sponsored international wildlife trade meeting in Qatar called for more overview of the shark trade and more research into illegal shark fishing. Supported by the both the US and the European Union, the measure was expected to easily pass – but critics warned that it could hurt developing nations and would be better handled by regional authorities. The Convention on International Trade in Endagered Species meetings continue until the end of next week.