Newscast for Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Human rights groups call on Senators to release 6,000 page report on CIA torture

The Senate Intelligence Committee convened today to discuss a more than 6-thousand page report on torture committed by the CIA during the George W. Bush Administration. But the report’s findings may not be released to the US public for a long time to come. Human rights groups want access to the report to bolster their efforts to hold the US government accountable, including for the detention and torture of US citizen Jose Padilla. On Capitol Hill, FSRN’s Alice Ollstein reports.

Mali enters another political crisis as troops arrest the Prime Minister

In Mali earlier today, the Prime Minister, Cheick Modibo Diarra, made this announcement on state television: “At this time of crisis, men and women concerned about the future of our nation want a calmed situation. It is why, I, Cheick Modibo Diarra, resign with all my government today, Tuesday 2012.” On Monday Diarra was arrested by soldiers at his home and analysts say this statement was likely made under duress. Diarra was installed as Prime Minister following a military coup in March. Unrest in the country is growing as rebels and Islamic extremists in the north continue to make gains. For analysis we spoke with Dr Robin-Edward Poulton, Mali expert at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of World Studies.

United Nations tours Myanmar camps, finds 'dire' conditions for displaced Rohingya

In Myanmar's Rakhine State, tens of thousands remain displaced.  The United Nations is calling on Myanmar, also known as Burma, to prioritize reconciliation efforts and provide citizenship to the stateless Muslim Rohingya, displaced after violence between Buddhists and Muslims earlier this year. Many are living in overcrowded and unsanitary camps. FSRN's Ron Corben has more.

Residents of the Pacific Northwest fight proposal to build the country’s largest coal export terminal

The Seattle-based company SSA Marine is proposing to build North America’s largest coal export terminal in Washington State. If approved, more than 150 million tons of coal would be shipped from Wyoming’s Powder River Basin through Washington and Oregon to destinations in Asia. Government officials are holding public hearings, including two in Seattle and Vancouver this week. At a recent meeting in Bellingham, opponents of the project voiced their concerns about pollution and coal’s contribution to global warming. FSRN’s Martha Baskin reports.