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Survivor Discusses Attack at Istanbul Nightclub; New Doubts and Accusations from Donald Trump; Sibling Rescue Caught on Nanny Cam; Abuses of Rohingya Muslims. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired January 04, 2017 - 03:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:00] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Wounded and crawling for their lives. A survivor talks about the attack at an Istanbul nightclub, and the harrowing escape she made with her husband.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is going to every table and shoot the people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: New doubts and accusations. Donald Trump picks another fight with the U.S. intelligence community.

And sibling rescue. A pint-size hero springs into action after a dresser falls on his twin brother. We will have the happy ending.

Hello and welcome to our viewers all across the globe. I'm Rosemary Church, and this is CNN NEWSROOM.

Turkey's foreign minister says authorities have identified the shooter who killed 39 people at a popular nightclub in Istanbul. Officials say five ISIS members have been detained. The terror group has already claimed responsibility for the attack.

Authorities have also detained 16 other people, including the two foreign nationals shown in this video.

CNN's Ian Lee joins us now from Istanbul. So, Ian, what more are you learning about the identity of this attacker at the Turkey nightclub, and what do you know about the men who have been detained?

IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the foreign ministry was the one that released the information, saying that they know the identity of the attacker. They did not release the name or the nationality of that person. They're still keeping that under wraps.

We also know about these five ISIS members they say they've detained, it was in Izmir, which is Turkey's third largest city, it's in the west on the Aegean Coast. This brings the number of people who have been detained for questioning interrogation to 21. They're hoping that they can figure out through these people if they were able to help this attacker. Also if there was some sort of network, ISIS network, presumably so, helping him carry out this attack.

So these are things they're looking into, although four days after this attack has happened, they still have not been able to capture him. Hundreds of police officers scouring the country still coming up with nothing.

CHURCH: And Ian, that is the frustration here, isn't it? So how is this manhunt progressing behind the scenes? Do we know?

LEE: You know, the thing is, we hear about raids from time to time, but the police haven't given us any details about what really they're going after. They've been fairly tight-lipped on this investigation.

ISIS has been operating here in Turkey for quite some time. They've had -- they've carried out a number of attacks. They've been operating in the southern -- in the southeastern part. They've been known to have agents down there. So, this is going to take them probably some time, as ISIS does have some infrastructure in the country.

And also, if this attacker, as they claim, is part of the group, then there's a chance he might be trying to sneak to Syria. So, if he does get across that border, the chances of catching him are pretty nil.

CHURCH: Yes, so much they don't know at this point. Many thanks to CNN's Ian Lee with that live report from Istanbul in Turkey just after 11 o'clock in the morning.

A dinner date turned into a struggle to survive for a husband and wife, wounded in that attack.

CNN's Sara Sidner spoke exclusively with that couple about how they made it out alive. Here's their story.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The sound of rapid gunfire captured from afar, the moment of terror, as a gunman began massacring people inside Istanbul's Reina nightclub. Naif Saqarya Alwazan (Ph) and his wife were inside the Reina nightclub having dinner.

Their video shows the excitement before the New Year arrived. It was supposed to be the honeymoon they never had. Instead, they both ended up pierced with bullets. Naif too exhausted to recount the story. His wife too shy to show her swollen face, speaks for the both of them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When the sound say, OK, let's go, after OK, let's go, after this statement, I hear, like shooting.

SIDNER: She says her husband begged her to crawl toward an exit. But it was difficult. A young woman had grabbed onto her shoe.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was dying, and she was like asking me, cover me, don't go, cover me.

SIDNER: Naif knew they couldn't stop. He was watching the gunman's every move.

[03:05:02] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said to me, don't say anything. He is going to every table and shoot the people.

SIDNER: Then a gaping wound appeared on her knee. She had been shot and Naif knew then survival meant running. They tried, but the gunman responded. Just as he had done outside the club, he aimed to kill. Naif was hit, a bullet entering his shoulder and exiting his back. He couldn't run anymore.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said to me, sorry, I can't. And he was like, saying, if I die, just be with my son until he gets older and after that, live your life. I love you, you know how much I love you and he just give me his ring and -- and his ring were like filled with blood. And he just gave it for me. He said to me, keep it with you and remember me. If I hurt you someday, don't -- it's not me.

SIDNER: Her husband had surprised here with way trip to Turkey. They left Saudi Arabia with excitement. It was their first trip away from their young son. But their New Year's Eve was interrupted just one terrible thought inside that club, they may never see their son again.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were like seeing people, bodies and, thank God, thank God, that's where like a dream, dream, that I was like saying to him, can you just catch my hand and told me if we are in a dream and we were going to open our eyes again, are we alive?

SIDNER: She began dragging her blood-soaked husband. They made it just outside the club. Finally, relief. A taxi driver arrived and helped hoist them to safety.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If he hear me now, that taxi guy, if he hear me, I say to you, thank you so much. I really appreciated everything you do -- you did for us. You saved my -- my life, me and my husband.

SIDNER: Sara Sidner, CNN, Istanbul.

CHURCH: A truly harrowing story there of survival. Want to head back to the United States now. Donald Trump is mixing it up once again with the U.S. intelligence community.

The president-elect was supposed to reveal this week what he knows that other people don't know about Russia's alleged cyber-attacks during the presidential election.

Now Trump says, and I'm quoting here, "The intelligence briefing on so-called Russian hacking was delayed until Friday. Perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange."

Well, U.S. Intelligence officials are firing back, saying there's no delay. They say Trump hasn't been able to fit a meeting with agency leaders into his schedule.

CNN's Pamela Brown has more.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Tonight, CNN has learned President-elect Trump will soon be briefed by leaders of the U.S. intelligence community, including chief spy James Clapper and CIA Director John Brennan on the unprecedented interference of the U.S. election system.

The high profile briefing will come after months of Trump publicly challenging the intelligence community's assessment Russia is to blame.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: It could be somebody else. And I also know things that other people don't know. And so they cannot be sure.

It could be Russia, but it could also be China. It could be lots of other people. It could also be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds. OK?

Maybe there is no hacking, but they always blame Russia, and the reason they blame Russia, because they think they're trying to tarnish me with Russia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: President Obama ordered the full review last month to look at the cyber intrusions impacting U.S. elections going back to 2008. And specifically, the hack against the Democratic Party during the 2016 election.

Expected in the public version of the report, newly declassified information laying out the evidence supporting the intelligence community's assessment that the Russian government is the perpetrator.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KIRBY, UNITED STATES STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: President Obama and this administration is 100 percent certain in the role that Russia played in trying to sew doubt and confusion and getting involved through the cyber domain into our electoral process. The information is there and it's rock solid.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Tonight, U.S. officials tell CNN companies across the country had detected I.P. addresses and malware that could be connected to Russian hackers. Though, it's unclear if they penetrated the networks. The discovery comes after the FBI and DHS put out this report last week, naming the Russian hacking operation grisly step, and warning companies what to be on the lookout for.

The intelligence community has also traced the hack back to specific keyboards with a text with a Cyrillic text, an alphabet used by Russians. Adding to U.S. intelligence officials' confidence Russia carried out the hack.

[03:10:01] Today, Russia dismissed that evidence, a Kremlin spokesman saying Cyrillic characters can be used everywhere. Once again, I reject any possibility that official Russia can be involved in any way. CHURCH: Pamela Brown reporting there. And CIA Director John Brennan

is rejecting Trump's assertion that U.S. intelligence on the Russian cyber-attack is wrong. He says things have changed dramatically since flawed Intel suggested Iraq had weapons of mass destruction back in early 2003.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BRENNAN, UNITED STATES CIA DIRECTOR: There is no intelligence community worldwide that has the capabilities, the expertise, the analytic capability as the U.S. intelligence community. And so, I would suggest to individuals who have not yet seen the report, who have not yet been briefed on it, that they wait and see what it is that the intelligence community is putting forward before they make those judgments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Now, most of the hacked information on Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election came from WikiLeaks. Now the group's founder, Julian Assange is denying that Russia was behind the cyber-attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIAN ASSANGE, WIKILEAKS FOUNDER: We can say and we have said repeatedly over the last two months, that our source is not the Russian government, and it is not state party.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Well, CNN's Fred Pleitgen joins us from Moscow with more on this. And Fred, Russia denies it played any role in the U.S. election cyber-attacks.

And in the meantime, analysts are trying to figure out the very complex relationship between President-elect Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin. What more are you learning about it? And the two leaders' efforts to restore U.S.-Russian relations?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, exactly. That's going to be the thing. How well it will impact the personal relationship between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. And also their characters impact the future of U.S.-Russian relations with many people here in Moscow, and certainly many in the U.S. as well, believed have said, one low point after the next.

And certainly, now with these hacking allegations, the expelling of those Russian diplomats from the U.S. it certainly hasn't gotten (TECHNICAL PROBLEM).

[03:15:00] (TECHNICAL PROBLEM)

PLEITGEN: ... politicians, two men who apparently have a lot of character traits that seem very similar. Two men who clearly appreciate each other's styles. But again, the view here in Moscow is one waiting and seeing whether

or not Trump will then actually follow through with that positive attitude once he takes office. Because in the end, of course, each individual is going to represent his country's interests, is going to do what's best for his country, what he believes is best for his country and then in the end, try to align those policies with one another. Certainly going to be an interesting time once Donald Trump takes office.

CHURCH: Yes, it will certainly be intriguing to see if that relationship does indeed change after January 20th. Fred Pleitgen, always a pleasure to get your live reports. Many thanks to you, joining us from Moscow, 11.15 in the morning.

Joining me now to talk more about all of this, is CNN military analyst, Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton. Thanks so much, sir, for talking with us.

CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: It's my pleasure, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Now despite U.S. intelligence officials telling us the digital fingerprints indicate Russia was behind U.S. election cyber- attacks, Donald Trump remains skeptical. And this is raising questions about Mr. Trump's ties to Russia. So much so that many are suggesting he's being played by Russia. Is he?

LEIGHTON: Well, I think it's certainly a possibility. I mean, when you look at the vehement denials from Mr. Trump and Mr. Trump's surrogates, concerning the possible Russian involvement and then the more definitive statements that have been made by the U.S. government, basically saying that the Russian involvement is pretty much proven, it becomes very interesting, you know, not only from a political standpoint, but also from an intelligent standpoint.

I think that Mr. Trump and his campaign have to be very, very careful not only to listen to the evidence that the intelligence community has, and then they also have to be very careful when it comes to showing too much favoritism toward Russia. And I'm afraid they're going into the -- in the direction that would actually indicate that they are favoring Russia to a very great extent.

CHURCH: And we've never seen this before, have we, a president-elect criticizing his own intelligence officials, and now Trump claims they delayed the intelligence briefing to Friday. When it appears it was always scheduled for that day.

What's going on here, and why is Trump now backing away from revealing what he said he knew about the hacking, things he claimed other people don't know?

LEIGHTON: Well, I always treated that from the minute I heard it, with a great deal of skepticism. Because you know, quite frankly, as some of the best experts in cyber security work for the U.S. government, I think that, you know, in terms of the delay, purported delay of the intelligence briefing, I think it's politics. I think they're basically saying that they want to control the agenda

and the inconvenient truths that may come out of this particular briefing, are ones that Mr. Trump will have to deal with, because they, in essence, contradict a world view that he's espoused for quite some time.

CHURCH: And WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he is certain that hacked e-mails did not come from Russia. What do you make of that?

LEIGHTON: Well, I treat that also with a great deal of skepticism. I think that Mr. Assange's assertions, first of all, are not proven. Secondly, I think what you're dealing with here is the possibility that while Mr. Assange may have been telling the truth from his standpoint, I don't think he necessarily knows whether or not his source was directed by Russia.

And I think that really would be the main question in this case. It's very possible that WikiLeaks got these materials through somebody who was indirectly working for Russia, or somebody who served as a cut-out for the Russians.

CHURCH: Interesting. And why do you think Mr. Trump is so skeptical of U.S. intelligence? Is it because of the flawed weapons of mass destruction Intel in Iraq that he insists it is? Or is it something more, do you think?

LEIGHTON: Well, I think it may be two factors. Certainly publicly he's stated that the weapons of mass destruction issue is his main reason for skepticism of the intelligence community. I also think that he believes that the intelligence community has been overly politicized.

He believes that it's been, in essence, made an instrument of the current administration. That is definitely not the case. Although there are obviously people in the intelligence community who support President Obama. There are others who are political opponents of President Obama.

[03:20:00] But their main job is to be intelligence professionals and I hope that Mr. Trump finds that out, as he deals with the people in the intelligence community on a daily basis, hopefully a daily basis as he becomes president.

CHURCH: Colonel Cedric Leighton, a pleasure to speak with you. Thank you, sir.

LEIGHTON: You bet, Rosemary. It's always a pleasure.

CHURCH: And let's take a very short break. But still to come, the new U.S. Congress is off to a controversial start as republicans reverse course right out of the gate.

How Donald Trump figured in their decision, that's next.

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(TECHNICAL PROBLEM)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: ... Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze, the U.S. car dealers are tax-free across border, make in USA or pay big border tax.

(BEGIN VOICE CLIP)

SEAN SPICER, INCOMING WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: He doesn't want companies in the United States to be able to go leave this country and then sell back to the U.S., leaving the American worker behind.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Problem is, GM says Trump is wrong, adding in a statement, all Chevrolet Cruze sedans sold in the U.S. are built in GM's assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio. GM builds the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback for global marks in Mexico with a small number sold in the U.S.

[03:25:01] But aides argue they're getting results, pointing to Ford's decision to scrap plans to build a new plant in Mexico after candidate Trump warned of consequences.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We'll be calling the executives at Ford or whatever company is, and we'll tell them very nicely that if they want to move their factory or their plant to another country, they will have to pay a 35 percent tax when they sell their cars or their product back into the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Still, Trump and the GOP are on the same page when it comes to opposing President Obama's plans to pare down the number of detainees at Guantanamo, with the president-elect tweeting, "There should be no further releases from Gitmo, these are extremely dangerous people and should not be allowed back on to the battlefield."

The White House snapped back Trump's tweet will have no impact on the current administration's plans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: No, it will not. He'll have an opportunity to implement the policy that he believes is most effective when he takes office on January 20th.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: A trump transition official tells CNN Donald Trump is not expected to make any formal remarks on the Russian hacking in the 2016 election on Wednesday, that despite the fact that over the weekend Trump told reporters he would have more to say about Russian hacking on, quote, "Tuesday or Wednesday."

Jim Acosta, CNN, New York.

CHURCH: And for more on all this, let's bring in Scott Lucas, he's a professor of international politics at the University of Birmingham in England. He's also the founder and editor of EA World View. Thank you, sir, for being with us.

SCOTT LUCAS, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM SHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS PROFESSOR: Thank you.

CHURCH: So, let's start with U.S. House republicans dumping their plan to gut an independent ethics panel after President-elect Donald Trump questioned their sense of priorities. What were they thinking by attempting to do this in the first place? The optics just don't look very good, do they?

LUCAS: Well, you'd have to put that question, what were they thinking, to the rank and file republicans who proposed this against, reportedly opposition from Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and from Kevin McCarthy, the majority leader.

I'm interested more in the fact that they miscalculated so badly that they had to pull it within a few hours. Not just because of Trump's tweets, although that makes a good headline. But reportedly, they got a lot of backlash from constituents who just said, honestly, if you really honestly believe in ethical government, you don't police yourself. You hand this over to an independent body.

Because let's remember in 2008, this body was set up because three congressmen went to prison on corruption charges.

CHURCH: And what did you make of Donald Trump's role in all of this? It's not that he supports this ethics panel, he doesn't, but he criticized the House republicans making this their first priority. All the same, what does this tell us about his leadership style, do you think?

LUCAS: Well, I think there's two things. One is that this was quite an impressive calculation by Trump very quickly. Because he has very little skin in the game. By that, I mean, this was not an office to investigate ethics of the executive, including Trump's presidency.

And we know we have conflict of interest questions that may arise. This was simply investigating Congress. So he could say, look, this isn't a priority, because it isn't a matter that affects him. And because he could look good publicly by doing it.

I think secondly, and more widely, let's treat now in Trump now as a gun slinger who fires from the hip. If he has a thought on, and you heard it in your correspondent's round-up, on Guantanamo Bay, on Ford, on GM, on trade, he just hits the keyboard.

Now, whether or not you think those are good tweets, it's a different way of being a president. Even as he's president-elect, because you are affecting the decisions of businesses, and you're affecting politics on the Hill with whatever you say in just a few seconds at your keyboard. CHURCH: Yes. And I want to talk more about that, because, of course,

in recent days, Trump has tweeted on foreign policy issues, North Korea, China, his enemies. And then at home, republicans, among other things.

How concerned should we all be about a future U.S. president who tweets? What might the ramifications be? Because all indications are that he will continue to tweet after January 20.

LUCAS: Well, at least I'm very concerned about it. Because whatever you think about the right or wrong of a specific tweet, quite often he's commenting on issues that have taken years of diplomacy to try to bring down tensions.

So let's say, for example, his tweets about China, which are stoking up possible confrontation with Beijing. That will undo decades of work, starting with Richard Nixon to try to put U.S.-China relations on a better course. Or let's say that he's honestly, honestly he believes we should have a nuclear arms race. What does that say about relations with Russia? Even if he adores Vladimir Putin? What does it say about the rest of us around the world?

[03:29:57] So, no, I think that at some point, the American system, the State Department, the military, the intelligence services, who Trump is antagonizing right now, I think they're going to have to try to bring him to heel and say, this isn't the way you do it. The question is, will he listen?

CHURCH: All right, and many questions in addition to that. Scott Lucas, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate your perspective and your analysis on this.

And we'll take a very short break here on CNN NEWSROOM. We're back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: A warm welcome back to our viewers all across the globe. I'm Rosemary Church. And I want to update you now on the main stories we've been following this hour.

Turkey's foreign minister says authorities have identified the shooter who killed 39 people at a nightclub in Istanbul. They did not give any more details. Turkey also says it has arrested five ISIS members in connection with the attack. Sixteen other people have been detained for questioning, including two foreign nationals shown in this video.

The hunt is on for dozens of inmates who escaped a jail in the southern Philippines. Armed men stormed the compound early Wednesday morning and 158 prisoners broke out during a gunfight. Six have been killed and at least eight others are back in custody.

Donald Trump casts doubt again on the U.S. intelligence community. He says a briefing on so-called Russian hacking has been delayed until Friday. Suggesting the agencies need more time to build a case. U.S. intelligence officials deny there's any delay.

[03:35:01] Well, China is pushing back against U.S. President-elect's Donald Trump's suggestion that it's not doing enough to keep North Korea in check. Trump called the country out for an action in the face of Pyongyang's mounting nuclear efforts, but China says it's making a concerted effort that Trump is not acknowledging.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GENG SHUANG, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN (through translator): China has been making great efforts in maintaining regional peace and stability, as well as promoting their peaceful and effective resolution on the North Korean nuclear issue. Our efforts have been obvious to all and widely recognized.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Meantime, South Korea is condemning North Korea's claim that it's close to testing an intercontinental ballistic missile. The U.S. is already taking steps to ensure the safety of its soldiers.

But in a CNN exclusive, our Alexandra Field rode along with a military evacuation drill involving the troops' families.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You just from the back.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're like a fish in a fish tank, Brianna.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For Brianna Martinez, home is a place that's still technically at war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, this will protect your child from a chemical or biological agent. You have 12 hours without...

FIELD: The Martinez are in an American military family currently based in South Korea where U.S. forces could one day be called to respond to threats from North Korea. A looming possibility that could leave American civilians on the Peninsula looking for safety.

Do the girls understand what kind of emergency they're practicing for?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We told the girls that Korea was at war at one point. So we come over here to defend what we fought for.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Soon as you're set, let me know.

FIELD: The South Korean and the U.S. military regularly run joint drills to maintain their readiness. But this drill is for American military families. It shows them how their soldiers could help them evacuate if tensions between the North and the South turn into conflict.

Nicole Martinez and her family volunteered for the practice run that also helps the army prepare. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trek 06 operated by the Alaska National Guard.

FIELD: Families learn where to assemble in case of emergency, man- made or otherwise. They're shown what they're allowed to pack and how the military will keep track of them. The drill sends them south, they spend two days hop scotching by bus and by helicopter between U.S. installations before reaching a South Korean airfield and flying out.

In the event of a real threat, the U.S. State Department would decide how many Americans and their families would need to evacuate, in order to get people off the Peninsula quickly, the army said it would send families to safe havens right here in the region, places like Okinawa, Japan, this is somewhere families could take shelter before planning that much longer trip back to the states.

Real-world lessons for American children seeing a different part of the world.

Do your kids know the name Kim Jong-un?

NICOLE MARTINEZ, U.S. MILITARY VOLUNTEER: They don't. We haven't touched on that, but our military kids are -- this is what they learn in school. They know what's going on. They know they have to keep up with current events that are going around the world.

FIELD: Raising a family in South Korea, Martinez, who is a veteran, says she feels safe. She doesn't worry about a threat. She knows it's possible. She wants her children to learn how to prepare.

Alexandra Field, CNN, Seoul, South Korea.

CHURCH: Well, Bill and Hillary Clinton will honor tradition and attend the presidential inauguration. It's customary for former presidents and campaign rivals to attend the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.

Former commander-in-chief Jimmy Carter will also be there, along with George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush. Bush's father, George H.W. Bush will not attend because of his health issues.

A galvanizing image of the deadly risk refugees face in Myanmar. Ahead, one family's tragic story.

[03:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Myanmar's government is denying allegations of genocide against Rohingya Muslims. A government commission investigated violent incidents that happened late last year, and concluded terrorists with foreign connections were to blame.

The report suggested fake news was responsible for the genocide accusations. Meantime, the government is investigating accusations of police brutality. The images you're about to see are disturbing. A selfie-style video appears to show police beating Rohingya civilians. It quickly went viral. And once again, a heartbreaking image is underscoring the desperate

plight of refugees trying to escape violence in their homeland. This time it's a 1-year-old baby boy, a Rohingya refugee whose family was fleeing Myanmar. And we must warn you the images are disturbing.

Saima Mohsin has the family story.

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's an image no father wants to receive. A child, just a year of life lived before attended.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): When I think about it, I feel like I'm suffocating, I can't breathe properly. When I see these photos, I feel like I would rather die, there's no point in me living in this world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOHSIN: His name was Mohammed Shahayet (Ph), a Rohingya boy who drowned along with his 3-year-old brother, Shafayet (Ph) and their mother, too young to understand the persecution they were escaping, or why their desperate parents risked such a treacherous journey.

This is not the first young child face down who has succumbed to the sea. We all remember Syrian refugee Aylan Kurdi who drowned in Turkey last year, but this young boy belongs to an almost forgotten refugee crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): My son was very affectionate. In our village everyone loved him. It's very difficult for me to talk about my son.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOHSIN: Now all he has is photos of their corpses, staring at them speechless. A family life that was torn apart, he says, when the Myanmar military rampaged through his village.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): My house was burnt. My grandfather and my grandmother was burnt to death. Our whole village was burnt by the military.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOHSIN: He said he fled his home and walked for six days and nights, going without food for four days. His priority, he says, was to keep his family alive. He made it to the Bangladesh border and arranged for a boat to bring his family across the Naaf River to safety. Instead it brought instead it brought them to their death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): When police got a sense that people were preparing to cross the river, they opened fire. People rushed on board to escape. The boat was overloaded. The military kept shooting at the boat, then it sank.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:45:08] MOHSIN: In response, Myanmar's testimony tells CNN Zafa's (Ph) testimony is propaganda and false. The government's repeatedly denied reports of human rights abuses, saying they were only carrying out clearance operations to target violent attackers who killed nine border guards on October 9th.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): When we are getting killed, Aung San Suu Kyi is turning a blind eye, she is denying the atrocities committed by the military. The Burmese government should not be given any more time. If you take time to take action, they will kill all Rohingyas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOHSIN: Twenty-seven-year-old Zafa (Ph) says he's alone in this world after his family were wiped out. This is where he calls home now, surrounded by the children that did survive.

Saima Mohsin, CNN.

CHURCH: And for more on this, we are joined by Matthew Smith, he is the co-founder and CEO of Fortify Rights. He also worked with human rights watch and wrote several reports on issues in Myanmar.

Thank you so much for being with us. Now the images in Saima Mohsin's story are horrifying, they're disturbing, as are the accusations against the government. It denies those accusations of human rights abuses against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state. And the government calls Zafa's (Ph) testimony propaganda and false. What are the facts here?

MATTHEW SMITH, FORTIFY RIGHTS CO-FOUNDER & CEO: Well, unfortunately, the facts are that the authorities in Myanmar have been waging essentially a targeted campaign against Rohingya civilians in Rakhine state.

Since October, we've been documenting rape, killings, torture, entire villages have been burned to the ground by the Myanmar army. So the abuses are very serious. But it's important also to acknowledge that these are human rights violations and others that have been perpetrated for many, many years. And so the facts right now are quite grim.

CHURCH: Yes. And he saw the video apparently shot by Myanmar policemen, showing security forces beating two men. And in Saima Mohsin's report, Zafa (Ph) says the Myanmar military rampaged his village, killing family members. How often does this happen? What sort of numbers are we talking about here?

SMITH: Well, you know, going back to 2012, there have been about 140,000 Rohingya who have been essentially confined to internment camps. Apart from that we've seen more than 200,000 flee the country. And just in the last few weeks, 50,000 have fled over into Bangladesh.

In terms of casualty reporting, it's very difficult for us as a human rights organization, to arrive at a firm number of people who have been killed by the Myanmar army, and that's principally because the authorities have essentially sealed off an entire area.

So, the authorities unfortunately have an interest in inhibiting casualty recording in this situation. But we do know there has been a very significant loss of life. We know that the abuses being committed amount to some of the most serious international crimes, and action needs to be taken urgently.

CHURCH: And Zafa (Ph) singled out Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi for criticism, saying she denies these atrocities by the military. For so many people across the world, Suu Kyi represents a leader who sacrificed so much of her life to protect her people. For many, it's hard to accept that she would condone any action that suppresses minority groups. What has she said about this issue and is she able to do anything about it?

SMITH: Well, for a long period of time, she was -- Aung San Suu Kyi was silent on human rights violations being perpetrated, not only against the Rohingya but also against the Kachin and the Shan and other ethnic nationalities.

But what we've seen over the last several weeks is a different approach. She has in some ways broken that silence. And essentially sits at the helm of a very vocal propaganda campaign that is trying to deny any human rights violations are taking place in these situations.

So right now, it's important to acknowledge the military is essentially perpetrating and state security forces perpetrating these violations. Aung San Suu Kyi does not control those institutions. However, there is a lot that she could do.

Nobody could sway public opinion in Myanmar more than Aung San Suu Kyi. But unfortunately, what we're seeing is her offices operating in lock step with the military, denying human rights violations are taking place, and this is from a woman who for many years was regarded as a pre-eminent human rights defender.

[03:50:02] And right now Rohingya women and Rohingya girls are suffering from rape and sexual violence and other abuses in Rakhine state. And there is an expectation that Aung San Suu Kyi will do more and say more.

CHURCH: Yet at this moment, a lot of disappointment with Suu Kyi's response so far. Matthew Smith, thank you so much for joining us and bringing us up to date on what is happening there in Myanmar. We appreciate that.

SMITH: Thank you, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Well, still ahead, a toddler is pinned under a dresser. The horrifying incident is caught on camera. Along with his twin brother's heroic actions. We're back with that in just a moment.

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CHURCH: A toddler in Utah has something to hold over his twin forever. He saved his brother's life. Their dresser fell over and trapped the child, but this mini superman got him out.

Here's Jeanne Moos.

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When Kayli Shoff reviewed the video of a chest falling on her twin sons, she felt it in her chest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAYLI SHOFF, MOTHER OF TWINS: My heart sank. I don't know what to do. I felt like the worst mom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: But the worst did not happen. Two and a half year-old Bowdy got right up while his twin brother Brock remained pinned.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[03:55:02] SHOFF: This one is Bowdy, and this is one Brock and their super round (Inaudible).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: It was around 8.30 in the morning, the boys and their parents were in separate bedrooms in their Orem, Utah home.

SHOFF: I usually hear everything. We didn't hear a cry, we didn't hear a big thud.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: For two minutes Bowdy tried to free his twin, first by pushing then trying to move the dresser from the other side. Then trying to lift it in vain. But finally Bowdy managed to push the chest enough for brock to squirk him out from under it. Both boys were fine.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No bumps or bruises.

MOOS: Online commenters asked, and the parents were where? Mom, dad, hello? But the Shoffs heard nothing, and only saw on the security monitor that the dresser had fallen after the kids were both safe.

They risk online criticism posting the video to demonstrate the dangers of unfastened furniture. The chest of drawers is now bolted to the wall. Of course, we in the media are falling all over Bowdy, how could we not. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tiny hero.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Giving a whole new meaning to the term brotherly love.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Many are now calling him a real life many super kids.

MOOS: Bowdy did take time off from saving from his brother to play with an electric bottle warmer and even follow the cord. Wrote one commenter, "Loved the way he first clambers over the chest of drawers, further crushing his brother." But someday Bowdy will puff up his chest crawling about the chest he lifted to rescue his twin bro.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

CHURCH: Great little mini hero there.

And I'm Rosemary Church. Remember to connect with me any time on Twitter @rosemarycnn, love to hear from you. And there's more news after the break with Max Foster in London. Have yourself a great day.

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