• Iraq War Vets Give Chilling Testimony at Winter Soldier Hearings
• Secret Session Yields New Electronic Surveillance Legislation
• At Least Two Dead after Pro-Tibet Demonstrations Turn Violent
• Burma's Child Soldiers
• Chad and Sudan Re-Pledge Peace at Islamic Summit in Dakar

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Iraq War Vets Give Chilling Testimony at Winter Soldier Hearings

This weekend hundreds of veterans and active duty service members from across the country are gathering in Maryland to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the war enters its sixth year, Winter Soldier, aims to make their experiences public. Kat Shiffler reports.

Secret Session Yields New Electronic Surveillance Legislation

After an unprecedented secret session of the House of Representatives, lawmakers narrowly passed a new version of electronic surveillance legislation. Most Republicans opposed the measure partly because it does not include immunity for telecommunication companies. Washington Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

At Least Two Dead after Pro-Tibet Demonstrations Turn Violent

At least two people are dead in the Tibetan city of Lhasa, where the conflict between Tibet pro-independence supporters and Chinese authorities has grown brutally violent. Peaceful protests began Monday, marking the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan rebellion against Chinese rule. Hundreds of monks marched in various cities – and dozens of beaten and arrested. By Thursday, thousands of supporters had joined the peaceful actions – and at least 500 students from Tibet University were arrested.

The northern Indian City of Dharmsala has been the headquarters for the Tibetan government-in-exile for decades. But Thursday, Indian police arrested some 100 protestors attempting to march to the Chinese border. Friday evening, another 70 demonstrators were taken away by police for holding a candlelight vigil before the Chinese embassy in New Delhi. FSRN Producer Monica Lopez spoke with Suhash Chakma, Director of the Asian Center for Human Rights in New Delhi.

Burma's Child Soldiers

The UN's human rights expert on Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro says that the military government's assertion that it is committed to democracy is as believable as "gnomes, trolls and elves". Pinheiro was granted a visit to Burma in November, but has not been allowed back since. He has asked the Human Rights Council to take action in investigating the government's detention of nearly 2,000 political prisoners.

In January, the UN secretary general called on the Burmese military and various ethnic rebel forces to stop recruiting child soldiers. One of the groups Ban Ki Moon condemned was the Karen National Liberation Army, or KNLA. But the rebel group says they banned the presence of soldiers under the age of 18 in their armed forces. In 2004, the Burmese government created a high-level committee to stop the recruitment of underage soldiers in their ranks. Human Rights Watch's most recent report finds there are still problems on both sides. Zack Baddorf reports.

Chad and Sudan Re-Pledge Peace at Islamic Summit in Dakar

The presidents of Chad and Sudan have signed a non-aggression agreement to end rebel attacks between the two countries. It's the sixth deal in five years, with the aim of restoring peace and stability. From The 11th Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in Dakar, Ndiaga Seck reports on the New Deal, and the summit's other goals.