Headlines - October 5, 2007

UN SPECIAL ENVOY TO BURMA REPORTS TO SECURITY COUNCIL
An Associated Press review of reports filed with the Center for Disease
Control reveals that the number of mishaps at US biolabs is significant
and increasing. Kellia Ramares has more.

The reports revealed more than 100 accidents and missing shipments
involving anthrax, bird flu, monkeypox and plague at 44 labs in 24
states since 2003. Nobody died and regulators claimed that the public
was never in danger. But Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan has said that a
public health incident with potentially catastrophic results "may be
only a matter of time". The AP also reported that the number of
incidents is increasing steadily as more labs are approved to handle
the world's deadliest organisms. Marylia Kelley is the executive
director of TriValley CAREs, an organization fighting a proposed biolab
in the San Francisco Bay Area. (clip) "What is needed is an overarching
national assessment of our biodefense capabilities. Everything that
we've researched has told us that in fact the United States has an
excess of biodefense capability. We probably don't need to build
anything new." The number of labs has nearly doubled since 2004. Biolab
safety is the subject of an ongoing Congressional investigation. For
FSRN, I'm Kellia Ramares.

PAKISTAN ON THE EVE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
A UN envoy has warned Burma's military junta of serious repercussions
if it does not stop the ongoing crackdown on the country's political
opposition. Haider Rizvi reports from the United Nations.

After meeting with the members of the Security Council, UN envoy
Ibrahim Gambari said abuses continue in Burma, but expressed optimism
about a possible dialogue between the government and opposition. UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent Gambari to Burma to talk with the
leaders of the military regime and to investigate reports of widespread
abuses during the crackdown against pro-democracy protestors. During
his four-day visit to Burma, Gambari held a series of meetings with
senior generals and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Ban Ki-moon has
described the use of force on peaceful protesters as unacceptable while
the United States and the United Kingdom are calling for strict
sanctions against the country's military regime. Security Council
permanent members, China and Russia, oppose sanctions. China is Burma's
largest trading partner. Gambari is due to return to Burma next month
for further talks with the military government. For FSRN, I'm Haider
Rizvi at the United Nations.

FAILED ASYLUM SEEKERS REPORT ABUSE AT HANDS OF PRIVATE ESCORTS
Pakistan is one day away from a highly contentious presidential
election. A Supreme Court announcement today is the latest in a series
of political twists in the run-up to the vote. Pakistan's parliament
and four regional assemblies will decide who will rule the country for
the next presidential term...but the high court says that the winner
cannot declare victory until the justices rule on last minute
challenges to candidacy of President General Pervez Musharraf. The
Supreme Court will begin hearing the cases on October 17th.

COUNTY MAY TERMINATE HUTTO CONTRACT
A report released in Britain details claims by rejected asylum seekers
who say they were beaten and abused during deportation. From London,
Naomi Fowler reports.

A team of lawyers, immigration centre visitors and campaign groups
today released a dossier of 200 cases compiled over the past two years,
detailing claims of abuse by rejected asylum seekers. Medical
examinations performed by doctors corroborate the claims included in
the report. Nearly all of the allegations implicate private security
contractors employed by the Government to carry out forced repatriation
of failed asylum-seekers. Operation procedures allow the contractors to
use "reasonable force" when transporting deportees from "removal"
centres to waiting planes. Individuals tell of receiving beatings by
more than one escort at a time or of violence accompanied by racist
comments. One man who was imprisoned and tortured in the Republic of
Congo suffered a fracture when escorts forced his hands backwards after
he refused to sign a document. Another man from Cameroon has brought a
civil claim for assault against the security company after an injury
prevented his deportation. The private security firms involved in
deportations refused to comment today. This is Naomi Fowler in London
for Free Speech Radio News.

MORE BIOLAB MISHAPS
The Texas County that administers a private prison contract for a
controversial immigration detention center may soon pull out of the
deal. Ansel Herz reports from Austin.

Williamson County commissioners voted this week to look into the
possibility of terminating the county's contract with the Corrections
Corporation of America. CCA is the private prison contractor that
operates the T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Hutto is one of just 2
private immigrant detention facilities in the country that holds
children. It primarily holds asylum seekers awaiting a final decision
on their claims. Hutto has been the focus of a number of lawsuits in
the past year. As the contract administrator, the county shares in the
legal liability. Williamson County commissioners said that liability
was the reason for their decision to look at terminating the contract
one year early. The Williamson County Commissioners will vote on
Tuesday to approve the draft letter terminating the contract. If they
do so, Immigration and Customs Enforcement will likely have to find
another county willing to share the liability for the controversial
detention center. For FSRN, this is Ansel Herz in Austin.