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Despite Reassurance, Coptic Christians Feel Unsafe; What Next for U.S. in Syria?; Chinese Company Bringing Jobs to U.S.; The Sounds of Mauritius. Aired 8-9a ET
Aired April 10, 2017 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:00:04] IVAN WATSON, HOST: I'm Ivan Watson in Hong Kong. Welcome to News Stream.
The U.S. secretary of State meets foreign ministers from the top industrialized nations and Syria and that's at the top of the agenda.
After last week's missile strikes by the U.S. on a Syrian air base.
Rex Tillerson is also dealing with another foreign policy challenge, North Korea, as the U.S. moves an aircraft carrier strike group closer to the
Korean Peninsula.
And how a Chinese company is bringing hope to an American town, opening a factory that's bringing jobs to the United States.
We begin this hour with the crucial meeting about to take place, and one big question: what happens next in Syria.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is to sit down with foreign ministers from the world's weathiest nations to try to find a united way forward.
And the U.S. allies are waiting to see whether the Trump administration, where it stands, after launching military strikes on a Syrian air base in
response to a chemical weapons attack widely blamed on Syrian forces.
And we're covering this as only CNN can. And we're going to - our correspondents on the ground. Nic Robertson is in Lucca, Italy where the
meeting is taking place. Ben Wedeman is in Antakia, Turkey. And Paula Newton is standing by in Moscow.
And, Ben, I want to start with you near the Syrian border. A question, what impact have the U.S. cruise missile strikes had now on the battle
space across the border that awful Syrian civil war that has now gone for some six years. Has there been any change in the carnage that you're
seeing across the border there?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not really. We understand from our sources in Idlib Province where Khan Sheikhoun is located, that
village where 89 people were killed in a chemical attack. We understand from people there that so far today there have been five airstrikes mostly
in the west and southern parts of the province. And the blood bath continues.
I'm just - if you make a rough calculation, only one quarter of one percent of the more than 400,000 people who have died in Syria's six year civil war
were probably killed by chemical weapons the vast majority by conventional weapons. And their use doesn't seem to move the world particularly in any
dramatic way.
Perhaps in the future, the Syrians might think twice after the missile strike on that airbase near Homs about launching a chemical attack, but by
and large, that airbase is back in action, we understand. And as I said, it is back to bloody business as usual, Ivan.
WATSON: Bloody business as usual. Let me go now to Nic Robertson at the site of the G7 meeting in Italy.
Nic, what do the partners of the U.S., what are they hoping to hear from Rex Tillerson? Because there has been some confusion about what the U.S.
strategy will be going forward when it comes to Syria.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, certainly I think that's going to be a key for these partners who are coming - these G7
partners who are coming here. You have Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada. They'll all have those lines. Rex Tillerson this afternoon
here and over the next hour or so will have bilateral meetings with both Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary; Jean-Marc Ayrault, the French
foreign minister.
What we understand behind the scenes here is that Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, has been working to sort of build a coalition
among the G7 so that they can really give Rex Tillerson a strong hand when he goes to Moscow later this week to put to the Russians that they want a
ceasefire in Syria, that they want a political transition in Syria and that Russia is key to that. That's what we're expecting here.
But this G7 has already grown in significance, added to the agenda here tomorrow, we now understand. And this is almost sort of exceptional in the
circumstances of G7 that there's been now a multilateral meeting added tomorrow that will involved Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab
Emirates, Qatar as well.
But first and foremost I think on the mind of Secretary Tillerson while he's been here, is the idea that war crimes are being committed in Syria,
that those must end. And to that end, he put - those were very important points on his agenda - to attend a memorial service today for a killing in
a small village here by (inaudible) in the Second World War. August 1944. 560 villagers rounded up and shot to deaht and killed in other manners in
the space of three hours, 130 of them children.
Listen to what Rex Tillerson says we can understand where he's aiming this message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REX TILLERSON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We remember the events of August 12, 1944 that occurred in Sant'Anna and we rededicate ourselves to holding
to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world. And this place will serve as an inspiration to us all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: So, all those meeting with Rex Tillerson here will certainly endorse those views. And that's what they wanted to carry forward to
Moscow, that strong support, not just the G7, but at least Gulf and Arab allies as well.
WATSON: All right, thanks, Nic.
Now, Paula Newton in Moscow, you're hearing there about America's top diplomat basically trying to create a united front with U.S. allies. What
welcome is he likely to receive when he gets to Moscow with Russia, of course, being one of the Syrian regime's closest allies?
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, if you go by the Russian newspapers, not a very warm one. I think many people here, though,
are awaiting to see what kind of commonality, any type of common ground that Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister here, and Rex Tillerson, can get
to. A lot of that is going to depend on Vladimir Putin.
And, Ivan, he's been actually quite quiet. His response to the U.S. missile strikes have been really quite measured in every sense. We're
having a little bit of controversy now as to whether or not Rex Tillerson will actually meet with Vladimir Putin. The State Department had planned
on it. That doesn't mean it was in the schedule. Now the Kremlin saying, look, we don'g have it on the schedule right now. That doesn't mean it
won't happen.
Why is that key, Ivan? I mean, look, we've talked about this before. Rex Tillerson, Vladimir Putin, these are two people that know each other,
they're going to get beyond the pleasantries very quickly and get to the bottom line.
And I think many people here want to know what the bottom line is for the United States. And the White House wants to know what's the bottom line
for Putin.
The key name here is Assad. Will Russia continue to support Assad no matter what? Or are they prepared to help nudge him away even if the
regime that replaces him is pro-Russian, pro-Iranian? That's a different issue.
But are they prepared to come to the table through that process that has been so tortured for so many years now, and actually try and get some
momentum going for some type of peace deal.
WATSON: All right, I'm going to go back to Ben on the Syrian border. Among this kind of escalating geopolitical tension and the diplomatic - the
diplomacy back and forth, Ben, I think it's worth reminding our viewers about the human cost of this grinding conflict.
Six years now of killing taking place in Syria. How would you summarize the cost to that country and to the region at this point?
WEDEMAN: It's been absolutely massive. In addition to the horrific death toll, which I mentioned 400,000, but it does appear to be approaching
500,000 at this point. Millions of people made homeless.
Here, for instance, in Turkey this country hosts around 3 million Syrian refugees. Those still inside the country, many of them are desperately in
need of basic aid. The economy is in shambles. I mean, this is absolutely catastrophic conflict that does not seem to have an end in sight.
And as much as the new administration in Washington is talking about somehow changing the regime in Damascus, the problem is, is there an
alternative, is there another force that could take over?
But the problem is that the situation is that the country is so divided, you have large parts of Syria still under the control of ISIS. And that's
a whole different topic altogether. You have other areas, like Idlib Province where it's controlled by other rebel factions, some of them very
clearly in the jihadist camp. And then you have those areas controlled by the regime.
It's wildly complicated. And certainly we saw that the administration of Barack Obama had enough trouble trying to deal with it, or trying to avoid
it, depending on how you want to look at it.
And this conflict is really spilled over. Every country that neighbors of Syria has had to deal with refugees in one form or another, so its burdened
the entire region. And as much as we are talking about diplomatic efforts, meetings of foreign ministers, Tillerson going to Moscow, nobody seems to
have any idea of a clear practical solution for this country that has been utterly destroyed - Ivan.
[08:10:31] WATSON: A bloodied and murderous gordian knot. That's Ben Wedeman live on the Syrian border in Antakia, Turkey. Paula Newton live in
Moscow. And Nic Robertson at the site of the G7 meeting in Lucca, Italy. Thank you to all three of you for speaking with me.
Now, let's move on to the Korean Peninsula where Secretary Tillerson is also grappling with another major foreign policy challenge, and that's the
rising threat of North Korea and its weapons of mass destruction program.
He addressed growing tensions after Presidnet Trump met with his Chinese counterpart with Xi Jinpint. Tillerson says Beijing understands how
dangerous Pyongyang's nuclear program has become. And, he says, both sides agree that action must be taken to stop it.
This comes as the U.S. flexes its military muscle in the region. It's moving an aircraft carrier strike group off of the Korean Peninsula in
response to recent provocations by the north.
So, let's now take you live to the North Korean capital. That's where CNN's Will Ripley is the only American TV correspondent who is currently in
Pyongyang.
It's good to see you tonight, Will. Japan and South Korea have both welcomed the deployment of this U.S. aircraft carrier strike group to the
region. Seoul saying it's basically the result of the grave tensions in the region.
Are you sensing any of that tension on the streets of Pyonyang, Will?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In some ways this is the most tense that I've personally experienced in, this is now my 11th trip to
the country over the past three years or so. Obviously there have been other incidents, there have been other times that tensions have been very
high and then things have diffused.
But what feels different about this time is that there's a new administration, the Trump administration, and North Korean government
officials are simply unsure of what the Trump administration is capable of.
They clearly feel, many do feel, that the missile strike on Syria was not only a message to China, but also a message to North Korea, that the United
States is willing to consider military action if they feel provoked or if they feel North Korea crosses a red line.
North Korea also believes that this carrier strike group moving back to the Korean peninsula, because you'll remember it was here a few weeks ago for
joint military exercises. They believe this is just another example of what they consider U.S. provocative behavior.
There's another side, though, to live here in Pyongyang that we observed over the weekend. People on the street do not seem tense. In fact, this
city is in a very festive mood as they prepare for their biggest holiday week of the whole year.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY (voice-over): The Pyongyang Marathon, one of the rare days that foreigners are free to run through the streets of North Korea without
constant government supervision.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is probably the best way to check out a country that's probably one of the least understood country in the world.
RIPLEY: They run alongside North Koreans, like this university student.
"It was great," he says. "I'm so happy so many foreigners came. We all ran together."
(CHEERING)
RIPLEY: A friendly competition in front curious crowds cheering for people from places they'll likely never see.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's completely shut out to the outside world.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel like I'll leave with so many questions. What's real, what's not real. It's a surreal experience.
RIPLEY: North Koreans are told they live in a Socialist oasis, safe from the turmoil of the outside world, a world they're kept far away from.
(on camera): You're here on your honeymoon?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
RIPLEY (voice-over): This newlywed from Chicago says she's surprised this closed society is giving visitors such a warm welcome.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's really down to the fact that we're all humans and the people in this city are very warm and they can be just like us.
RIPLEY (on camera): Of course, there's another race happening here in North Korea that's capturing the world's attention in a different way. It's the
race to develop nuclear weapons. And analysts say Pyongyang is moving closer to the finish line every day.
(voice-over): These women say they are not preoccupied with the nuclear arms race. They're more excited about North Korea's biggest holiday week of
the year, the celebrations honoring the nation's late supreme leaders.
(on camera): Do you ever think or worry about the rising tension between North Korea and the U.S.?
"I'm not worried at all," said this housewife. "We have a strong leader. We have Marshall Kim Jong-Un."
Their government tells them the U.S. is responsible for North Korea's economic hardship and isolation.
"I hope more foreigners will come here," says this student, "so they can learn about our Juche philosophy."
Runners pass the Juche Tower, a symbol of self-reliance and self- development.
North Korea intends to win its nuclear arms race, with or without the acceptance of the outside world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[08:15:36] RIPLEY: A short time ago, Reuters flashed that the nuclear envoys for South Korea and China announced that they are prepared to take
very strong measures against North Korea if their leader Kim Jong-un orders a sixth nuclear test. And we've been reporting for awhile now that U.S.
and South Korean officials after looking at satellite imagery, they believe that North Korea is ready to conduct that test at Any moment.
And given that tomorrow us a nahir political gathering here in North Korea, the Supreme People's Assembly, Saturday is their most important holiday of
the year, the Day of the Sun, of which five years ago, just a few days before the Day of the Sun, they attempted to launch a satellite into orbit.
There is speculation and concern that North Korea may try to do some sort of other dramatic show of force, especially given all of the international
pressure that they're under, Ivan, and essentially trying to show the world that they will continue to move forward in defiance of what other countries
are saying.
WATSON: Will, I'd like to ask you about China and that relationship with North Korea. Based on your conversations with North Korean officials, with
North Koreans who are allowed to speak with you on the streets, how do they view China, which is North Korea's most important trading partner, and of
course was an ally during the Korean War, do they see China as a power that will protect North Korea from the U.S. and its allies in the region?
RIPLEY: That is not the impression that I get when speaking with North Korean officials.
We know - North Koreans have admitted that China accounts for 70 percent percent of their trade, some estimates it's closer to 90 percent.
So, China is essentially this country's sole patron. And without the economic relationship with China. It would be catastrophic economically
for North Korea. And yet when I asked officials if they're concerned if there were nuclear tests in China were to, for example to cut off trade,
they said, well, they've lived under very difficult circumstances before, referring to the North Korean famine back in the 1990s. They said life
would be difficult. But they insist the the last programs that they are willing to cut are the nuclear programs and the missile programs.
Kim Jong-un, the leader here, had it written into the constitution that North Korea is a nuclear state. They believe that these weapons of mass
destruction are the key to their survival as a nation, to their national sovereignty. That's the message that they tell people over and over again
in state controlled media. So, people on the street say they are not afraid. People say they trust their leadership, their leader Kim Jong-un
has absolute power in making these kinds of decisions. And so what direction he takes the country at this point certainly could change the
future in many different ways, but we just don't know what's going to happen yet. That's one of the reasons why we're here.
WATSON: All right. Will Ripley, live from Pyongyang, always good to talk to you, Will. Thank you.
Another country that's having a delicate relationship with the U.S. is China. U.S. President Donald Trump has accused it of stealing American
manufacturing jobs. But now a Chinese company is pouring millions of dollars into U.S. production. Matt Rivers takes us to one town that's
seen an economic recovery. And it's all thanks to China.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Moraine Ohio, just south of Dayton is an area that used to be - that used to be filled with factories
and manufacturing jobs. There used to be key breakfast specials across the streets but this is the rustbelt. So the restaurants closed, the jobs left,
and the factories rusted out.
What did it do to the town?
SHANE REFFERT, FUYAO EMPLOYEE: Really it just destroys it.
RIVERS: We met Shane Reffert a local in a place where Moraine has pinned its hopes. Fuyao Glass, a Chinese company opened this new $600 million
plant last October in the center of this small Ohio town. It supplies auto glass to a resurging industry in Detroit and elsewhere. More than 2, 000
people now work here with plans for hundreds more.
REFFERT: Makes you feel good as person and makes you real more complete. I mean your needed somewhere.
RIVERS: For decades, this plant was occupied by General Motors. They made Trucks and SUV's but it closed back in 2008 and laid off thousands.
This SUV right here is the last one that rolled off the line before G.M. shut its stores and that windshield is the first one that Fuyao made after
it took over.
Fuyao is a Chinese company that invested a billion dollars overall into U.S. operations. But if the whole made in America, thanks to China concept
feels ironic, it could be because of this.
[08:20:06] DONALD TRUMP, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: We can't continue to allow China to rape our country and that what they are doing.
RIVERS: The President campaign on anti-China rhetoric is using it as stealing millions of American jobs, jobs he said he'll bring back. His
tough talk resonated with people in this part of Ohio. The factory sits in Montgomery County which voted Obama in 2008 and 2012 but went narrowly for
Trump in 2016. It's one of the key county's that delivered him the Presidency. And yet here in Moraine, there's thousands of people relying on
a Chinese company for a paycheck. CNN met Fuyao's Chairman in Beijing
RIVERS: Why hasn't the President's rhetoric about China scared you off?
"I'm a Businessman," he says, "so is Trump. I think his threats are just campaign talk."
RIVERS: The Company has faced accusation of low pay and safety violations. There is a drive to unionize workers. Fuyao says it's addressing the
concerns and plans to be here permanently. We asked Shane Reffert what he'd be doing otherwise.
REFFERT: That's a tough question, trying to find another good job which is very hard here in Dayton.
RIVERS: The hopes is that Fuyao will bring back other local jobs to an area that was, until recently, all about what used to be, now focused on what
might be.
Matt Rivers, CNN, Moraine, Ohio.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WATSON: To Russia now where a permanent Kremlin critic, jailed over an anti-corruption protest, is now free. Now, Alexei Navalny spent 15 days
behind bars, and was also fined for organizing the mass demonstration across the country late last month.
The defiant opposition leader has repeatedly said he wants to run for president next year, but he's facing some major legal hurdles.
In February, he was convicted of embezzlement, and Russian law bans convicted criminals from running for office. Navalny is appealing that
verdict.
A day of celebration and prayer turns to terror for Egypt's Coptic Christians. Just ahead we'll hear from a survivor of a bombing that killed
dozens of people attending a Palm Sunday service.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WATSON: Welcome back to News Stream broadcasting live from Hong Kong. I'm Ivan Watson.
We're going to turn now to Egypt, which is in a state of shock, anger and mourning after deadly bombing struck two Coptic Churches on Palm Sunday.
One targeted a Church in Tants, the other in Alexandria. And these mourners, they were gathered in Tants for a funeral late Sunday.
A short time ago, the Egyptian government imposed a state of emergency, giving security forces more power. State media reports at least 49 lives
were lost in the attacks, 78 people were wounded.
ISIS has claimed responsibility. President el-Sisi is vowing to ramp up efforts to fight terrorism.
The attacks targeted one of Egypt's most vulnerable minorities on a day that is one of the holiest for Christians.
Earlier, Fawaz Gerges of the London School of Economics explained why the Copts have been targeted this time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAWAZ GERGES, AUTHOR, ISIS: A HISTORY: Why the Copts? I would argue that these particular attacks coming on Palm Sunday target the very foundation
of el-Sisi administration. These attacks against el-Sisi expose his inability to protect his people, particular the Coptic minority that fully
supports him, trigger sectarian tensions. There are some sectarian tensions in Egypt. And also a slap in the face for President el-Sisi on
Trump coming a few days after el-Sisi's visit to Washington.
All-in-all, these attacks tell me about the strategic mindset of both ISIS and the militants in Egypt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[08:26:10] WATSON: CNN's Ian Lee joins us now with more from Tanta, the scene of one of the church blasts.
Ian, this is not the first time Egyt's Coptic Christian minority has been targeted by terrorists. Is the state of emergency there going to pose any
consolation to that stricken community?
IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ivan, talking to the people here, frankly, no. They tell us that they don't believe that the
government can provide security. They're saying that why haven't they provided security already?
I spoke with the new police chief here. The old one was sacked after yesterday's attacks. And he said that Christians are safe to go to their
churches. They're safe to worship, that really there wasn't much of a problem.
And then you talk to Christians, and they say, yes, there is a problem. Attacks happened yesterday. They don't feel that it's safe to go to their
churches.
And last night when I was here after those deadly attacks, talking to people who had just been in there, in the church, a lot of them were in
shock just describing the carnage that they saw. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tried to save whoever I can. I tried to save everyone, but I didn't. So, I helping moving them to the ambulance to just
in front of the church.
LEE: And you were wearing this at the time?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was wearing this. And that our friends (inaudible) blood on that.
LEE: This is your friend's blood.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEE: Ivan, the state of emergency will give the police an army extra powers to conduct searches, make arrests and hold people indefinitely
despite the fact that human rights groups have expressed concern that these powers will be abused like they have been in the past.
But there is a sense here, especially as holy week kicks off that that more attacks like this could happen, especially when ISIS says that that's their
plan.
WATSON: Ian Lee live from Tanta, Egypt. And I know you'll be watching closely during what is supposed to be a holy week there in Egypt. Thank
you, Ian.
You're watching CNN News Stream. Coming up, mixed messages from the Trump administration on what the U.S. will do next about the war in Syria. Stay
with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:32:33] WATSON: The world is waiting to see what happens at the G7 meeting, to find out what U.S. President Donald Trump plans to do next
about Syria.
This follows last week's cruise missile strikes, but so far messages from the Trump administration have been rather mixed. Our Joe Johns is in
Washington. It's Monday morning there, Joe. To the best of your knowledge, is the Trump administration calling for regime change in Syria?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ivan, they're not calling for regime change, but the ambassador to the United States, the United Nations has suggested
that it is inevitable. And the Secretary of State, on the other hand, has suggested that for his part, any regime change would be brought about
politically by the will of the people in Syria.
So, as you can see, that's a bit of mixed messages there. On the one hand, sort of the administration saying one thing and taking something else away
even after that bombing strike over the weekend that sent one clear message that this president is prepared to use force.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REX TILLERSON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Every time one of these horrific attacks occurs, it draws Russia closer in to some level of responsibility.
JOHNS (voice-over): Secretary of State Rex Tillerson talking tough about Russia's role in last week's Syrian chemical attack on the eve of his first
diplomatic trip to Moscow.
TILLERSON: Regardless of whether Russia was complicit here or whether they were simply incompetent, or whether they got outwitted by the Bashar al-
Assad regime, clearly, they have failed in their commitment to the international community.
JOHNS: Slamming the Kremlin for allowing Syria to house chemical weapons, despite a past agreement to ensure that Assad's stockpile was destroyed.
NIKKI HALEY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: How can they, with a straight face, cover for Assad? There's a lot of answers that need to come from Russia.
JOHNS: U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and national security advisor H.R. McMaster echoing Tillerson's criticism and keeping the door open for
imposing additional sanctions on both Russia and Iran due to their support for Assad.
HALEY: I don't think anything is off the table at this point.
JOHNS: But the administration's top officials sending conflicting messages about the future of the Syrian dictator. Tillerson emphasizing that
America's first priority is the fight against ISIS, not toppling Assad.
TILLERSON: It is through that political process that we believe the Syrian people will ultimately be able to decide the fate of Bashar al- Assad.
[08:35:08] JOHNS: As Ambassador Haley insists that regime change is a primary concern.
HALEY: There is not any sort of option where a political solution is going to happen with Assad at the head of the regime.
JOHNS: An extraordinary reversal from positions articulated just last week, and a discrepancy that has not gone unnoticed by Tillerson's critics.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA: I think that the strategy he seems to be outlining is based on assumptions that aren't going to work. There is no
such thing as Assad, yes, but ISIS, no.
JOHNS: This as the president also sends an aggressive message to North Korea just days after Kim Jong-un tested another ballistic missile. Sending
a U.S.-aircraft-carrier-led strike group toward the Korean Peninsula.
LT. GEN. H.R. MCMASTER, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: Well, it's prudent to do it, isn't it? I mean, North Korea has been engaged with -- in a pattern of
provocative behavior. This is a -- this is a rogue regime that is now a nuclear-capable regime. And President Xi and President Trump agreed that
that is unacceptable.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: And North Korea is using the missile strike in Syria as justification for its arms build up. In a statement saying the attack on
Syria was an unforgivable act of aggression and saying it proves the countries decision to strengthen its military was right a million times
over - Ivan.
WATSON: All right. That's Joe Johns live from the White House. Thanks very much.
Now, for a very different story, the people of Dallas, Texas received an extremely loud and startling wakeup call Friday night.
OK, that was the sound of the city's 156 emergency sirens all wailing at the same time right before midnight. Naturally, residents were scared and
flooded emergency lines with thousands of calls. It took almost an hour- and-a-half to turn them off.
The city says a hacker set off all the sirens, and the mayor promised there will be a full investigation.
You're watching CNN News Stream. Coming up, we'll bring you a taste of music that was created by slaves, but has now become a soundtrack of life
on Mauritius. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WATSON: Welcome back to News Stream.
All this week, we're taking a closer look at the island of Mauritius. The island's beautiful beaches make it an idyllic holiday destination. And it
moves to a unique beat that was originally created by slaves. In this report, we'll introduce you to the musical style called Sega.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIIFED FEMALE: Sega is our traditional music. And the story of it, it's the beautify of it, actually. When you go back to history, it's the
way of expression from the slaves. So, the way of music, the way they played it, the way they sang it, the way they dance it, and it's a way of
freedom. To free their mind and spirit, that's basically what Sega is for me.
(SINGING)
[08:40:18] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The first place where Sega was ever heard in Mauritius was down to the (inaudible). The slaves, yeah, they ran away
from the masters and they find a place to hide, to live.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were living up there, the slaves, and then when it was announced that they finally was free, but they went there dressed
officially with the guns to announce them freedom, hello. And they'd rather jump from this mountain, kill themselves, because they thought they
were going back to slavery, back to torture, back to where they had before.
Yeah. But they jumped.
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mauritius is not only about beautiful hotels, it's not only about lagoons or beaches or the sun, Mauritius first of all is
about the people, it's about the melting pot. It's about the beauty, how different people can connect together. We blessed people. Everywhere you
go, you'll see a smile on your face in a heartbeat. Our soul (inaudible) music.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WATSON: A sound of sega from Mauritius.
And that is News Stream. I'm Ivan Watson. But don't go anywhere. Much more on Sergio Garcia's win at the Masters is just ahead on World Sport.
END
