Headlines for Wednesday, August 26, 2009

OAS mission to Honduras fails; Micheletti refuses to give way
The Organization of American States is meeting today in Washington to discuss its failed mission to Honduras and new diplomatic measures that can be taken to step up pressure on Honduras’ de facto government. The United States Embassy in Tegucigalpa said it will halt the issuance of all non-emergency and nonimmigrant visas to Hondurans in a first step towards increased pressure. Tim Russo brings us more from Tegucigalpa.

Tuesday, the OAS held an unscheduled and last minute meeting with de facto President Roberto Michelleti in Honduras. Following the meeting, the Organization of American States announced that the de facto government failed to sign onto the San Jose Accord – an agreement that would allow the return of ousted President Manuel Zelaya.  Micheletti told the OAS delegation that he does not fear an economic embargo, nor does he need the support of the OAS.

Andres Pavon of the Honduran Committee on Human Rights says he fears an inevitable increase in human rights violations now that the OAS and Inter-American Human Rights Commission have left Honduras.

“We believe that there is going to be a new stage of repression and that the government is going to begin selective repression. It is likely that they will increase terrorist actions in order to continue building the sense of fear that they have been constructing in Honduras.”

Focus is now shifting towards the official launching of Presidential Campaigns on September 1st.  Tim Russo, FSRN, Tegucigalpa

French security officer escapes Somali captors
One of two French security advisors abducted last month from a Mogadishu hotel by Somali militants is now free, according to a Somali government minister.  Minister Sheik Dahir Mahmoud Guelleh said in a press conference that the Somali government is happy with the development.  He did not disclose how Marc Aubriere [OH-bree-air] managed to escape from his abductors, only confirmed that the French man is in good health.

“The only thing I can tell you is that one of the two French men held captivity in Somalia is now in the hands of the Somali government, he has regained his liberty and he is in a good health.”

Somalia has been steeped in internal conflict for more than a year now.  In that time, 18,000 people have died and over a million have been displaced from their homes.  The UN says Somalia is facing its worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 20 years, as drought and rising food prices distress the already conflict-torn country.

This report was prepared with the assistance of FSRN reporter Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar in Mogadishu.

Ciudad Juarez says no to gunshot victims for fear of violence in hospital
Moving to Mexico, shooting victims have inadvertently caused an internal conflict at the primary public hospital in Ciudad Juarez. Shannon Young has the details.

Citing security concerns, departmental heads at Ciudad Juarez General Hospital were unanimous in requesting a new policy to no longer accept shooting victims, according to Mexican media sources. Assassins have repeatedly entered the hospital to kill survivors of armed assaults.

Ciudad Juarez continues to have the highest murder rate in all of Mexico, despite a massive military deployment to break up the ongoing cartel turf war. One emergency room surgeon from the General Hospital has formed a group to encourage citizens to create so-called self-defense networks.   And an official from the state's human rights commission has urged the government to loosen restrictions on firearms ownership.

As for rejecting patients with bullet wounds, the director of Chihuahua’s public health institute says the General Hospital cannot create a policy to turn away shooting victims because it has a legal obligation to provide treatment in all emergency cases. Shannon Young, FSRN, Mexico.

North and South Korea restart family unification talks
Delegations from South and North Korea are meeting today to discuss the resumption of cross-border family reunions. Thousands of families remain separated by the political division of the Korean peninsula – and because of recent strife, no reunions have happened since 2007.   Reporter Jason Strother has more from Seoul.

South Korea dispatched a delegation Wednesday morning to the Mount Kumgang resort in North Korea. There they are meeting with representatives from Pyongyang to discuss the resumption of family reunions, overseen by the Korean Red Cross.

Kim Young-chol is the head of Seoul’s delegation.

“We will try to ensure that during the next round of reunions that as many elderly South Koreans as possible will have the opportunity to meet with their separated relatives.”

Since fighting in the Korean War ended in 1953, there have been no telephone or postal links between separated families.  But in the past 9 years, the Korean Red Cross has conducted 16 face-to-face family reunions and several via video conference. They estimate that 600 thousand South Koreans have relatives in North Korea.  Many of those separated are elderly and these reunions may be the only chance for them to see long-lost relatives.

Tentatively, the two countries hope to hold a reunion in the beginning of October, when Koreans celebrate the thanksgiving holiday of Chuseok.  Jason Strother, FSRN, Seoul.

WV tree sit in stops mountain top mining operation
For the second day, two West Virginia activists have maintained their vigil on treetop platforms at Edwight mine, protesting the mountaintop removal mining operation of Massey Energy in the Southern part of the state.  The coal company’s daily blasts have been halted because Nick Stock and Laura Steepleton are perched within 300 feet of the blasting area.  Mike Roselle with the Environmental group Climate Ground Zero says Massey has been blasting their way around the ridge, putting the communities in the valley below in danger.

“What our hope is that we can get into court and get some king of injunction against this blasting.  The people who live down in Peachtree Bottom are very, very upset about it. They’re very supportive of the tree sit right now.  We’ve argued all along that these permits are not legally issued and they’re not regulated according to the law.”

Roselle says the tree sitters have enough provisions for 10 days, but doesn’t know yet if a support crew will be able restock the protesters.   He says there has not been any security in the direct vicinity.