• Pakistan Prepares to Shoot US Drones
• Argentina Nationalizes Pensions
• UN Tells India to Go After Somali Pirates
• Nepalese PM Offers to Resign Amid Controversy over Murdered Youth
• Public Workers in Chile End Strike
• Algonquin Chief Denied Bail in Canada
• Pakistan Prepares to Shoot US Drones

In talks with the US Ambassador yesterday, Pakistani officials once again stressed their concerns about unmanned air strikes within their borders.  And today, to show they mean business, they've taken their strategy a step further.  Afridai Afridi has the story.

Today the Pakistani Army began exercises to shoot-down unmanned US drones, which have killed dozens of civilians.  Government officials have also began international diplomatic initiatives with the European Union, China, and Arab countries to pressure the United States not to violate their sovereignty.  They conveyed the same message to NATO forces in Afghanistan. But critics believe this is all a show by the government to appease residents and to protect Army and government officials from Taliban suicide attacks.  And at a tea stall where people gather and discuss politics, many, like Luqman Khan, agree. 

"Every time we the lay man are deceived and this time it is a new technique of the new government."

Many say the government only wants to keep people from coming out of their houses and protesting the US attacks. For FSRN, this is Afridai Afridi.

 
 
Argentina Nationalizes Pensions

In an effort to protect the nation's retirement savings from the world economic meltdown, the Argentine senate passed a law last night to nationalize the country's pension system.  In January 2009, 9.5 million pensioners will be switched over from the private sector.  Pablo Caruso and María Inés Aiuto have more from Buenos Aires.

After twelve hours of debate, the Senate overwhelmingly voted to eliminate the private retirement system. The government says the nationalization of the fund will provide higher returns to the public.   The law also forbids pension resources from being invested in other countries.  Since 1994, Argentina has had a mixed retirement system, but most people chose private investments because of a lack of confidence in the government.  But according to the Argentine Workers' Center, a trade union federation, private companies are keeping more than 30 percent of the pension funds.  In addition, those companies have been hit hard by the current global economic crisis.  For FSRN in Buenos Aires, I'm Pablo Caruso reading for Maria Inés Aiuto.

 

UN Tells India to Go After Somali Pirates

The United Nations has given India the official go-ahead to actively pursue Somali pirate vessels along the Horn of Africa.  Earlier this week the Indian Navy fired on a pirate vessel, leaving it to burn and sink.  No word on how many people were on board.  India could send another warship to the area to help protect shipping vessels from falling into pirate hands.  This year the pirates have taken and held more than 90 international ships for ransom.  
 

 
Nepalese PM Offers to Resign Amid Controversy over Murdered Youth

Following mass protests in Katmandu this week over the murders of two young men by the Youth Communist League, the Nepalese government is finally responding.  FSRN's PC Dubey reports.

Today Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda bowed to media pressure and the continuing shutdown of Kathmandu by protesters.  He invited community leaders for talks to resolve the crisis.  The two groups hammered out a formal agreement, which stipulates a judicial probe into the murder and a compensation package for the families of the deceased.  Each family will receive the equivalent of about 15-thousand US dollars and a government job.

Negotiating leader for the protesters, Ishwar Bidari, said that the Maoist premier admitted the Youth Communist League's activities were alienating him and his party from civil society.  He even offered to quit the premiership if that would solve the country's problems.  From Birganj in Nepal, I am PC Dubey.


 
Public Workers in Chile End Strike

Chile's public workers have ended their weeklong strike after reaching an agreement with the Government. FSRN's Jorge Garretón has more from Santiago.

The Public Workers' Union agreed to a 10 percent wage increase and to work with Senators on the country's 2009 budget. They say the extra wages are needed to offset this year's heightened inflation rate.  The strike created chaos at border crossings where trucks loaded with goods could not pass through customs and sanitary controls. Hospitals and neighborhood clinics were operating with skeleton staffs. The coroners' office did not pick up dead bodies, and garbage piled up on city streets.  Although public workers by law are forbidden to strike, the Government never enacted back to work provisions.  This morning public services began returning to normal, but it could take a few days before the country is operating smoothly again.  For FSRN this is Jorge Garretón in Santiago.

 
 
Algonquin Chief Denied Bail in Canada

Canadian police have removed a series of blockades erected Wednesday by members of the Algonquin Tribe, arresting 6, including 3 community leaders.  Community members set up the blockades to call on the Canadian government to uphold a 1991 resource management agreement.  Today the protesters wait to hear when their chief will be tried.  FSRN's Amy Miller reports from Maniwaki, Quebec.

Yesterday sadness filled the courthouse in Maniwaki, a small town two hours north of Ottawa.  Members of the reserve had traveled to hear the fate of community leaders arrested to blockading a highway for 7 hours. Acting Algonquin Chief Benjamin Nottaway was denied bail and will remain in detention until his yet to be determined trial date.  Marylynn Poucachiche, a spokesperson for the Algonquins, was released on bail with conditions. She spoke with FSRN minutes before her arrest.

"Well we want the governments to appoint a negotiator and an observer when it comes to our leadership reselection because once again, in 12 years, Indian Affairs has illegally interfered in our internal affairs by recognizing a minority group as our council and ousting our customary chief and council."

Despites the arrests, tribe members still want the Canadian government to resolve their political issues through negotiations. For FSRN this is Amy Miller.