National Radio Midday Bulletin
Pinochet – Kofi Annan – Drugs Billionaire – GMOs – Dairy Merger –AVGAS – WWI Pardon – Pilon Sabotage - German Scandal –
Dhaka Terrorism – Rodney Council
PINOCHET: The British Government says the detained former Chilean dictator General Augosto Pinochet is unfit to stand
trial on Spain on torture charges and should be released. British Home secretary Jack Straw says the government made its
decision after three independent doctors reported that the 84-year-old general was too ill to stand trial. Mr Straw says
he will halt proceedings to extradite Pinochet to Spain. Human rights groups have been given seven days to respond to
the ruling.
PINOCHET: Meanwhile a Chilean exile living in New Zealand says Pinochet’s release is no surprise. He says a historic
opportunity to bring a tyrant to justice has been missed.
KOFI ANNAN: United Nations Secretary General UN Koffi Annan will visit NZ next month as part of a regional visit which
will also include East Timor Indonesia Thailand and Australia. He will meet with Prime minster Helen Clark and Foreign
Minister Phil Goff to discuss peace keeping activities and disarmament issues.
DRUGS BILLIONAIRE: The NZ Herald newspaper says it will appeal the name suppression for the billionaire who admitted
importing drugs into New Zealand. It says it is prepared to take the matter to the high court.
DRUGS BILLIONAIRE: A French student who was fined $530 for sending hahish to girlfriend says the billionaire’s release
without conviction represents a double standard in system.
GMOs: The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) says it will face a logistical challenge to hear over 1500
submission’s about field trials for genetically modified wheat
DAIRY MERGER: The Dairy Board is working toward de-regulation despite government assurances that there is no pressure to
do so. The Dairy Board says it will continue to work towards creating a single mega-dairy company which will replace its
own marketing arm.
AVGAS :The Australian government is to investigate the role of the it’s aviation authority CASA and the oil company
Mobil after contaminated fuel grounded light planes there. NZ Petrol Companies say while the suspect fuel has been
distributed to 10 airport refuelling sites, no problems have been reported.
WWI PARDON: Labour MP Mark Peck says he expects to have enough sufficient support in parliament to formally pardon five
New Zealand soldiers executed by the military WWI. An inquiry last year found insufficient evidence to warrant a pardon.
PILON SABOTAGE: A bail application by South Island farmer accused of sabotaging power cables and pole has been rejected
after he previously failed to appear in court and spent six weeks in hiding.
GERMAN SCANDAL: Germany’s main opposition party leader he won’t resign after being admitting he did not receive cash
from a Canadian arms dealer for elections
DHAKA TERRORISM: The DHAKA motor rally has been cancelled because of an explicit terrorist threat in Niger was received
by the French Government
RODNEY COUNCIL: The minister of local government will launch an inquiry in to the Rodney council after heated arguments
between members prevented it making any progress.