Headlines Package - October 18, 2007

Bhutto Returns to Pakistan
Benazir Bhutto has returned to Pakistan after 8 years of self-imposed exile. The former prime minister's return comes amid uncertainty regarding the status of corruption charges against her in Pakistan and money laundering cases abroad. Devin Theriot-Orr reports:

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto landed in Karachi this afternoon, greeted by over 200,000 supporters from her Pakistan People's Party. Ms. Bhutto left Pakistan in 1999 to avoid pending corruption charges stemming from alleged kickbacks she received while in office. Bhutto stands accused of receiving $12 million in exchange for awarding a customs contract to two Swiss companies. The Swiss investigating judge said today that there was "no doubt" that Bhutto's behavior was "criminally reprehensible", but stated that Switzerland may be unable to proceed with the case due to the amnesty granted to Bhutto by the National Reconciliation Ordinance signed into law by President-General Pervez Musharraf two weeks ago. The NRO, passed by Musharraf just one day before his crucial re-election bid, came on the heels of U.S.-backed talks to negotiate a power-sharing agreement. However, Bhutto faces several obstacles in her bid to lead the PPP to victory in upcoming parliamentary elections. She is ineligible to become Prime Minister a third time, and the constitutionality of NRO, as well as Musharraf's re-election bid, are facing challenges in Pakistan's high court. For FSRN, this is Devin Theriot-Orr in Lahore, reporting.

Dueling Visions on FISA Legislation
The Senate Intelligence committee is finalizing its version of FISA legislation. Senate Democrats have conceded to a Bush Administration request for a measure to grant retroactive immunity from prosecution to telecommunication companies that handed over private customer data without a warrant. The House of Representatives postponed a vote on its version of the surveillance bill when moderate and progressive Democrats withdrew their support last night. It seems unlikely at this point that the House would pass the Senate bill with the telecom immunity provision.

Two Priests Begin Prison Sentences For Anti-Torture Action
Two Catholic priests have begun serving prison sentences for protesting against torture at an Arizona military base. Amanda Shauger reports from Tucson.

Fathers Steve Kelly and Louis Vitale each began serving a five month sentence yesterday for charges incurred in their November 2006 attempt to deliver a letter denouncing torture to Major General Barbara Fast, then commander at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. Fast was the Senior U.S. Army Intelligence officer in Iraq at the time of the Abu Ghraib scandal. Fort Huachuca is home to the US Army Intelligence Center and School. The two priests pleaded "no contest" to trespassing charges and of failure to obey an officer after the presiding judge threw out the possibility of a jury trial or the use of official documents from the Abu Graib scandal in their legal defense. Father Kelly, speaking before the start of his incarceration: (clip) "We will keep trying to stop the teaching and practice of torture whether we are sent to jail or not. We have done our part for now. Now it is up to every woman and man of conscience to do our part to stop the injustice of torture." Father Kelly and Father Vitale refused to negotiate for a supervised release as it came with conditions that would have barred their association with any members of groups that risk arrest as part of non-violent direct action campaigns. For FSRN, I'm Amanda Shauger in Tucson, Arizona.

ESMA "Mega Trial" Opens in Argentina
Court proceedings opened today in the so-called mega-trial of military personnel who worked in the ESMA Navy Mechanics School; Argentina's most notorious clandestine detention center. FSRN's Marie Trigona files this report.

Former naval officer Hector Febres stands accused of four cases of kidnapping and torture during his service at the ESMA Navy Mechanics School in Buenos Aires. This is the first trial held for human rights crimes committed at the ESMA, where an estimated 5,000 people are thought to have been tortured and killed in the late 70s and early 80s. Osvaldo Barros survived the terror inside the ESMA. (Audio clip) "That the trial begins is good and important. But at the same time is a bitter feeling because after so many years and so many officials identified and charged for repressive acts, the court is going to try only one for torturing four survivors." The plaintiffs in the case accuse the naval officer of directing torture sessions in the ESMA's basement. The trial that opened today is the first of at least 200 pending cases against former military officers for crimes linked to the ESMA Navy Mechanics School. For Free Speech Radio News, I'm Marie Trigona in Buenos Aires.