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Prosecutors Say A Former British Soldier Will Stand Trial Over Bloody Sunday; Parliament Will Vote On A Motion To Delay The U.K. Exit From The European Union; CNN Is Marking My Freedom Day Around The World. Aired: 8-9a ET

Aired March 14, 2019 - 08:00   ET

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

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST, "NEWS STREAM": Welcome to a special edition of "News Stream." I'm Kristi Lu Stout in Hong Kong.

JULIA CHATTERLEY, ANCHOR, CNN: And I'm Julia Chatterley outside the U.K. Houses of Parliament in London. A critical decision will soon be made

behind me over whether to delay Brexit beyond March 29th. We will have much more on that in a few moments' time.

But first, we want to bring you the breaking news out of Northern Ireland. Prosecutors say a former British soldier will stand trial over Bloody

Sunday, one of the darkest day in the country's three decades of unrest.

On January 30th, 1972, British soldiers opened fire at a Civil Rights march in Londonderry, also known as Derry. Thirteen civilians were killed that

day. One dying later. The soldiers charged have not been identified.

CNN's Nic Robertson joins us live from Londonderry, Northern Ireland now. Nic, a bittersweet day we can call it for the families involved here. The

prospect of justice as they see it for two of the families here, but many others where there was insufficient evidence. Talk us through reaction

there.

NIC ROBERTSON, INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Sure, yes. Soldier F because these soldiers are not being identified -- Soldier F being charged

or will be charged with two counts of murder and four attempted murder. This is not going as far as what the families had hoped for. Thirteen

people died that day. As you say, one dying within a few months of his injuries which was sustained that day.

The families seem to be taking a sort of a moral high ground position if you will. At the moment, it is clear that there is frustration. It is

clear that there is an element of anger. They say, justice for one family is justice for all that those who -- the families who have been named of

the people that Soldier F will be charged with murder and attempted murder. They will stand together with the other families, as well.

But we have also heard here the depth of frustration that they believe that these soldiers should not have anonymity -- that Soldier F and others

should be named, and we heard from the brother, John Kelly, one of those killed, Michael Kelly who was 17 years old that day on Bloody Sunday.

John Kelly believes that his brother, Michael was actually shot dead by Soldier F as well. Obviously, the public prosecution service hasn't deemed

that there is a case to bring in terms of Michael Kelly's death.

But what we heard from John Kelly was very clear saying that the prosecution service needs to move with haste, needs to move with speed,

that they believe that there have been unnecessary delays, that the delays have been, you know, stalling tactics by the government.

Indeed, it has taken 47 years to get to this day and I think that's the main point that emerges from the families here, that they have been able to

bring somebody at least to trial is vindication of what they've been saying all along, that their families were not armed, that they were not carrying

petrol or nail bombs that day, that they were there protesting as civilians on a Civil Rights march and that there was nothing to link them with any

kinds of paramilitaries and they've been long trying to get that sort of justification explained publicly, that vindication of their loved ones and

what they see expressed today by the public prosecution service is a step in that direction. More steps there are required.

CHATTERLEY: And Nic, any sense of how long ultimately this will take? As you mentioned, it's decades since these events took place and even from the

British government side, the U.K. Defense Minister saying, "Look, they'll pay the legal cost here of Soldier F and that there were many British

soldiers operating at that time that served with courage and distinction. I mean, there's challenges on all sides here.

ROBERTSON: There are. You know, members of the British government, Boris Johnson for example has said that you know, no soldier would want to get up

that day and want to go out and kill civilians. There is a strong sense of pushback there.

I am joined here, Julia, let me bring in John Ray here. James was --

JOHN RAY, BROTHER OF VICTIM OF BLOODY SUNDAY: My brother.

ROBERTSON: Your brother died Bloody Sunday. Tell me about what you feel about what you've heard today?

[08:05:10]

RAY: Well, I have to say, I am quite shocked because Soldier F is now being held accountable for the killing of my brother on Bloody Sunday. I

wasn't expecting that today.

ROBERTSON: How does that feel to finally have this after 47 years?

RAY: Well, after 47 years of campaigning in this city, snow, hail and rain -- a little sunshine, but very rarely. There's a certain amount of relief,

you know? But it's a time of great sadness for the other families who feel that they don't seem to have received the justice today.

ROBERTSON: And what we heard was justice for one family is justice for all, but does this end the campaign for justice for all families now?

RAY: Well, there are other options probably open to the families, but at the moment, as I say, I am in shock in dealing with this, but the news that

we've heard today, and I am not sure if that has sort of -- if the families have released a statement, but for ourselves, for holding our faith on the

PPS, to go forward and hopefully, hopefully they will do their job and, as you say, even though there is no evidence for the other soldiers, it

doesn't mean they were innocent.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron says it was unjustified and unjustifiable, that still stands. But for us, as I say, there is a certain

amount of relief in the fact that someone, after all these years, against - - even though we campaigned, we didn't have high expectation and hope that someone would be held accountable. It's hard to take on. It's

unbelievable.

ROBERTSON: I know it's hard to take in. I know you're in a state of shock about it, but how did it feel that moment you found out and what does it

mean for your family now? What does it really mean for you?

RAY: Well, the moment I found out, I lost my breath. I couldn't speak because I wasn't expecting it. And my sister, who is much older than me.

She is now in her 60s, I'm 57, she broke down in tears. I had to hold back the tears myself because I just wasn't expecting it.

For our the family, as I say, we have -- while the PPS goes with us, for all the families, they had followed up on prosecution and it was

successful, that's -- for years we've been behind the slurs of we were guilty, we were the people carrying the attacks on the paratroopers and

now, this will show that all the families, not just us, the people who are the victims, we are the innocent people.

We expect the state to protect its people. On the day of Bloody Sunday, that didn't happen.

ROBERTSON: And we heard today that there is a need to push forward quickly. Time is of the essence. No more delaying tactics is what we

heard from the families today. Now, you're expecting Soldier F to go to trial. What do you want? Explain to me when you want to see this happen,

how quickly you want to see that happen.

RAY: As soon as possible because none of us are getting younger. If this goes on and on and on. Some of my relatives could be dead and never get to

see the full outcome of it, but I think the state understood that they have this evidence, the PPS, that they expedite the case.

ROBERTSON: So we're talking, you want to see this happening really expeditiously within a couple of years, realistic?

RAY: Before the end of this year, the charges and case is brought. But I don't know the legal end of it, but you know, it sounds like a reasonable

timeframe, yes, as fast as possible because I can't wait another 47 years, that's for sure. There will be nobody left to prosecute.

ROBERTSON: John, thank you very much, indeed.

RAY: Thank you.

ROBERTSON: Thank you. Bye. You get a sense from John there of just how much this means for the family to be in such a state of shock, that they

truly did not believe, did not believe, could not believe after 47 years that they would take this further step towards justice.

Clearly, it's a long road to go, Julia.

CHATTERLEY: A long way to go and time of the essence. Nic Robertson, thank you so much reporting there from Derry, Northern Ireland.

All right, let's bring it back to here in Westminster, Britain's battle to deliver on the results of its 2016 referendum, taking center stage for the

third day running.

In the coming hours, Parliament will vote on a motion to delay the U.K. exit from the European Union. What you see on your screen are live

pictures now from inside the House of Commons where the debate ahead of that vote is due to begin any moment now.

The U.K. is set to leave the E.U. on March 29th, just 15 days from now. Having voted against a no-deal exit last night, and having rejected the

deal that Theresa May put on the table the night before, it looks all but certain that Parliament will vote for a postponement. But a vote in favor

of an extension raises the question of how long that will be for.

It is also crucially requiring the cooperation of the European Union. Erin McLaughlin is in Brussels with more on the European position at this

moment, but first, let's bring in Hadas Gold here with me. Hadas, great to have you with me.

Okay, we have to make it clear that right now, despite all the drama of this week, as of March 29th, the U.K. is leaving the E.U. without a deal

because we don't have one.

[08:10:10]

CHATTERLEY: Tell me what today could change about that?

HADAS GOLD, REPORTER, CNN: Exactly. So despite all of the drama we had yesterday in Parliament, and there was a lot of drama and those who really

love Parliamentary rules, I encourage you to go back and watch it. You will enjoy it.

However, as we stand, despite all the votes we've seen, we will still, the U.K. will still be crashing out on March 29th with no deal in place. That

will mean long lines potentially at the border, that will mean potentially food shortages.

For example, U.K. citizens who live in the European Union might lose their health insurance. All of that still stands.

Tonight, the vote would potentially go and ask for an extension. Now, this could also be dependent on another meaningful vote on Theresa May's Brexit

deal again. But even if they vote for that extension tonight, that doesn't necessarily change anything.

That doesn't change the calculations in Parliament where we still don't have a majority that could vote for Theresa May's deal. So even we get

more time, that's also assuming that the E.U. agrees to this, we could still be in the exact same position, a few months from now, still be

crashing out without a deal, but just at a later date.

CHATTERLEY: I think you said it perfectly. A lot of what's decided tonight, if indeed, they do decide for an extension, it will depend on what

the European Union is willing to give. Erin, come in here. Because you've just been listening to that. It matters, doesn't it? If we have a deal or

we don't, that will indicate and make the decision for the European Union on just what kind of extension they're willing to provide. Talk us through

it.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: We heard this morning from the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk on the very topic of an

extension. This is the first time we've heard from him talk explicitly about the possibility of a long-term extension.

Let me pull up his tweet here and read you exactly what he had to say. He says that, "During my consultations ahead of the European Council, I will

appeal to the E.U. 27 to be open to a long extension if the U.K. finds it necessary to rethink its Brexit strategy and build consensus around it."

His spokesperson later tweeting out that he's going be traveling to Paris, the Hague, Dublin and Berlin ahead of next week's critical Summit where the

E.U. leaders are expected to gather and discuss this topic if, in fact, the U.K. does make this request.

But it has to be said, in private conversations I've been having here with diplomats and E.U. officials, they're skeptical at the idea that a long-

term extension should could make a difference really to the political calculus there in Westminster from their standpoint, a long-term extension

would essentially achieve potentially two things.

The first thing is to apply pressure on hard Brexiteers to back Theresa May's deal, potentially leading to another meaningful vote. The second

thing, the issue for them is will provide sort of an escape hatch for E.U. political leaders to just kick the Brexit can down the road.

But there is also real risk to a long-term extension, mainly around Parliamentary elections which are scheduled for May. If the E.U. and the

U.K. decide to extend beyond July 2nd, I've been talking to diplomats here, they have been very clear that the U.K. would have to participate in those

Parliamentary elections which means run MUPs which is a political nightmare, really, for the United Kingdom as well as for the E.U.

I was speaking to one E.U. source a while ago who was saying he really wants to see the U.K. leave the European Union in March because if they're

still in the game in May and running for those elections, it will really muddy the picture, perhaps providing fuel to the Eurosceptic fire that's

already burning here in the European Union.

CHATTERLEY: Yes, critical explanation. Thank you very much for that, Erin, and of course critical to the vote tonight is what amendments take

place in the House of Commons right now to shape what that term looks like, what kind of postponement we're talking about. Let's just listen in to

that debate right now in the House of Commons.

JOHN BERCOW, SPEAKER, HOUSE OF COMMONS: If Amendment H were agreed to, Amendments I and E would fall. If Amendment I were agreed to, Amendment E

would fall. To open the debate --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Point of order.

BERCOW: Very well, if the right Honorable gentleman wants to raise a point of order.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm grateful, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I express some disappointment that you have chosen not to select Amendment B which had the

support of 127 Members of this House, including the entirety of the DUP, 13 members of the Labour Party, one independent to boot and the rest being

Conservative members.

[08:15:10]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It therefore had far more signatures than any other amendment on the order paper. And it had three different parties

supporting it.

So often, when you've given guidance on how you select amendments, so we accept that the final decision is yours. You are the referee, but you

often said that you look at whether or not the House wants to decide a question, then you look at the number of colleagues who signed an

amendment. Then you look at the breadth.

So 127 cross party and the House clearly wants to decide it. So can I ask for clarification? You made a decision, sir, and we must abide by it. But

you have picked Amendment H. Leave out from House to end, and that instructs the Prime Minister to request an extension to the Article 50 in

front of the European Council that March 29th, 2019 sufficient for the purposes of legislating for and conducting a public vote.

We thought our amendment was even clearer, that in effect, H does represent a vote this afternoon, in principle, in this House on whether or not to

have a second referendum. Is that interpretation correct?

BERCOW: Well, I'm very happy to respond to the right Honorable gentleman. First, let me thank him for his courtesy in raising the matter in the way

that he has done.

Secondly, what I say to the right Honorable gentleman whom I reminded recently I first came to know 35 years and six months ago is that it is not

uncommon for a Member of this House to be mightily pleased when his or her amendment is selected and notably displeased when it is not.

CHATTERLEY: So we're going to leave john Bercow, the House Speaker there creating havoc as you could hear there.

Let's bring it back because I'm joined now by Conservative MP, James Heappey. He voted to remain in the E.U. in 2016, but now supports Theresa

May's Brexit deal. And what we just a saw there and listened to was John Bercow signing off on all sorts of amendments that have outraged

particularly the Brexiteers, one key one that you were listening to there, to leave a whole host of options on the table.

So let's just go through, because it's very important what remains on the table now, including the possibility of a second referendum.

JAMES HEAPPEY, MP, CONSERVATIVE PARTY: Exactly. So there will be a lot of anger over what the amendments the Speaker has selected today and it is

going to make this week even more baffling. Because effectively tonight, I don't think we'll end up voting on the government motion because I think it

will have been amended significantly beforehand.

And the sort of key things to take out of what the Speaker has selected. So the Hilary Benn Amendment that is supported by Oliver Letwin, Yvette

Cooper, some big cross party support, that's the really significant one because if that passes tonight, then next Wednesday, the government is not

in control of the business of the House of Commons. Back benchers will be able to bring forward legislation and legislate themselves to delay Brexit

whether the government likes it or not.

CHATTERLEY: Wow. So this is the government losing control of the entire process.

HEAPPEY: Absolutely.

CHATTERLEY: As of Wednesday next week and they could say, "Look, we've decided you're incompetent, you are incapable, we are going to delay

ourselves, irrespective."

HEAPPEY: Those are your words, not mine, but yes, effectively, the government gets the --

CHATTERLEY: I think we're at the stage where we can agree on these things.

HEAPPEY: The government loses control. So what you would say is that's fine because that is a gun to the head of the Brexiteers on Tuesday night,

that they have another opportunity to vote for the deal then. But another of the amendments that the Speaker has selected says, in the name of Chris

Bryant says that you can't ask the same question in the same Parliament and, therefore, if that amendment passes tonight, the government can't have

a meaningful vote for it.

CHATTERLEY: So let's put that in English. What that is saying is, you simply can't -- Theresa May cannot bring the same deal into Parliament and

say, "Look, I'm going the give the Brexiteers the chance to change their minds because this is the hardest potential Brexit deal we could get." The

Speaker is basically just thrown out the option that they could decide to say, "You know what, you're not allowed to have that." We can't have a

third meaningful vote here.

HEAPPEY: Exactly, and it brings with it an extraordinary dynamic, because you would think that lots of people in the house would want to vote against

that, but if you voted against the deal on Tuesday night, as hundreds of my colleagues did and the DUP did, why on earth would you vote tonight to

allow the government to bring meaningful vote three back next Tuesday? Which is so --

CHATTERLEY: We have to wrap this up, but very, very quickly. What is likely to actually pass here, because this is key? Of all of this, what's

likely to actually pass tonight?

HEAPPEY: So I think the Hilary Benn Amendment definitely will. The back benchers will have control of business next Wednesday.

[08:20:07]

CHATTERLEY: Right.

HEAPPEY: I think that Jeremy Corbyn's motion will fall. It will fail. I think that the Chris Bryant Amendment maybe, I don't know, and I'm certain,

I know, we've not even mentioned, this is an amendment down for a second referendum.

CHATTERLEY: That's in the future.

HEAPPEY: I am sure it won't command support tonight either.

CHATTERLEY: Right. So the key is, they could be taken out of action. The government could be taken out of action by Wednesday next week. Sir, great

to have you here.

HEAPPEY: No, I thank you.

CHATTERLEY: Good timing. James Heappey there, Conservative MP. Kristie, I'll back to you.

LU STOUT: Wow, yet another critical vote later today and the political drama churns on. Julia, thank you.

Julia, thank you. You're watching "News Stream" and still to come, CNN is marking My Freedom Day around the world. Students are raising awareness

about modern day slavery through music and through action.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back, and the global celebration of freedom is here. CNN reporters have been fanning out across the world covering My Freedom

Day.

Our teams are in schools all over the world from India to Ghana to the United States and of course, here in Hong Kong. Now, young people all over

are posting their messages on social media describing what makes them feel free. And just listen to what they're saying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom to me is being able to enjoy my hobbies whenever I want.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom to me is having the opportunity to have fun with my friends.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom, to me, is the ability to explore and travel the globe.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom, to me, is being able to be with your friends and family without worry of separation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And for me, freedom is that I can learn new things and discover them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALES: To us, freedom is --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Allowing people to pursue their dreams.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: From any restrictions.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Do your part and march for peace. #MyFreedomDay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Wow, such thoughtful and spirited responses there. Now, CNN's Oren Liebermann is at the Poznan School of Music in Poland, our Eleni

Giokos is in Accra, Ghana at the Association of International School. Hello to you both, and Eleni, CNN recently aired that important documentary

called "Troubled Waters" about 20,000 children working as slaves in the fishing industry on Lake Volta there in Ghana. Now, you are in the capital

of Ghana, but in many ways, it's another world.

ELENI GIOKOS, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Yes, it's another world. I mean, to think that it's just a few hours away from here, that we are sitting in a

school in Accra where children have a reality of freedom that is so different to those 20,000 children ...

[08:25:08 ]

GIOKOS: ... that are currently enslaved or even put into forced labor and it's really tragic to think that it's all being perpetuated by these weak

economic cycles in these peripheral areas outside of the city.

But by no means does it actually mean that people's realities of freedom need to be different, that it should be the same across the board.

And I have experienced so much love today, so much creativity -- poetry, children writing music and I actually have one of the musicians in Ghana,

Rocky Dawuni, who has got a new rock band or a new reggae band basically.

ROCKY DAWUNI, MUSICIAN, GHANA: Yes, it's really incredible. I had an opportunity of coming here, being invited to celebrate Freedom Day, and

they have been such an inspiration to me. I've learned so much. And I think the promise of the future is well secured in the hands of this young

minds.

GIOKOS: And it's incredible through music because poetry and music has been so much a part of this activating of awareness.

DAWUNI: Yes.

GIOKOS: You've written a song that the children have now learned and it's all about freedom.

DAWUNI: Yes, it's the title track of my newly released album and I came here to work with them, "Beats of Zion." It's about expressing personal

freedoms.

GIOKOS: Okay, go for it.

DAWUNI AND UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Police on patrol another ace is in the hole. Got a new beat on repeat and now the nations on their feet.

Singing, ready to rally. In it to win it, ready for it. Like lead this is heavy, ready for it, you can bet upon it, ready for it. All around the

tower people feel the power

Beats of Zion, beats of Zion. Those who can hear it go ahead and share it. Beats of Zion, beats of Zion.

GIOKOS: Brilliant. I mean, at the end of the day, you've got children here that know that their peers, children that are a similar age have a

very different reality and they are so, so pro trying to get assistance to these children. And I think that we're going to see a lot of activism down

the line.

LU STOUT: Yes, so much awareness, as well as love, poetry and music there in Ghana. Eleni, thank you so much and take care.

GIOKOS: Yes.

LU STOUT: Now, let's go to Oren Liebermann who is standing by and Oren, how was My Freedom Day being marked there in Poland?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Speaking of music, we are here at the (inaudible) School in Poznan, Poland where it has been a celebration of My

Freedom Day as you can see here behind me. The music they're playing is Pharrell's "Freedom," which has the simple, but resounding chorus of

freedom, which they are singing here behind me.

I'm joined now by Dominique Acucha (ph) whose coaching foundation supports the work here, but also in Ghana and all around the world. What does

freedom mean to you personally ?

DOMINIQUE ACUCHA (ph): Freedom is being yourself. It's having the right and possibility to think the way you want to, to do what you need and to be

able to speak it up and share it with the world.

LIEBERMANN: Your organization does work all over the world, as we just saw in Ghana, but also in Haiti, Iraq, and other places about empowerment and

education of the youngest generation so they can be leaders. How important is that to you and to those you impact?

ACUCHA (ph): I think, this is really crucial that people are free and to have the freedom to create their reality the way they want to see it and

experience, so my organization is trying to support and being free and empowering them, to just take the decisions which are important for them so

they can really improve their living.

LIEBERMANN: We're here in Poznan on My Freedom Day, why here and why is the concept of freedom so important today in Poland?

ACUCHA (ph): Well, freedom is very important for Polish people. We've been struggling and we've been always kind of fighting for this freedom to

have it back. And we know that it's not only about fighting freedom back because we know in history that we've been doing that successfully.

But it's very important to take care of your freedom and to teach the children what does that mean? So the future is really free for all of us.

LIEBERMANN: Dominique Acucha (ph), thank you for your time and for your work.

We have a full day of celebrations here of My Freedom Day and we will join you with more on how they celebrate this day here in Poznan.

LU STOUT: Yes, beautiful messages of freedom. And the music behind you as well. Oren Liebermann, live from Poland for us. Oren, thank you so much.

And tell the world what makes you feel free. Share your stories using the #MyFreedomDay. Follow our live blog at cnn.com.

You're watching "News Stream" and we'll be back ini a moment.

[08:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHATTERLEY: Welcome back to the show. I'm Julia Chatterley live outside the U.K. Houses of Parliament here in London. Inside the Houses of

Parliament, MPs are readying for the third crucial vote on Brexit in as many days and breaking news just moments ago, as you heard here, MPs will

vote in an indicative ballot on a possible second referendum. That is not the only thing.

Hadas Gold joins me now. Wow, an interesting development over the last 15 minutes. All right, we need to break this down. What exactly are we going

to see MPs vote on over the coming hours? And what might actually pass here?

GOLD: So tonight, we will see the vote on the Prime Minister's motion calling for members to vote on her deal, once again, for the third time by

March 20th, and then she will go and ask for an extension from the European Union and if that does not pass, then they will ask for a lengthy extension

from the European Union on that March 29th deadline.

However, one of the amendments that was chosen tonight is that second referendum amendment which is causing a lot of drama in the House of

Commons behind us right now as we speak.

This would call for there to allow to be a public vote, another Brexit referendum. Now, I have to warn our viewers, it is very unlikely that this

will pass. There does not seem to be a majority to call for a second referendum.

As Theresa May herself has said several times, there is a fear this would cause (video delay) and it reversed -- but also, polls show that it's very

close, that it is very possible the vote would stay Brexit and then what does that mean? That puts you right back in the same situation.

CHATTERLEY: It's an important point in time to do this, though, and to have Parliament rule out the prospect of a second referendum because again,

it sends a huge message to those people in there to say, guys, we're not having a second referendum. So let's now be pragmatic and find out what we

can agree to, what kind of a deal gets the U.K. out of the E.U. cleanly at this stage.

GOLD: Yes, and I would have to say, the most likely scenario -- now, you know, I don't have a crystal ball, so I don't know exactly, but I would say

that tonight they will most likely approve some sort of extension. I don't know what that would look like, but perhaps it's Theresa May's motion as it

stands, but some sort of extension.

We will likely see the deadline move, but again, that does not change the calculus in Parliament. There doesn't seem to be a majority even if she

somehow convinces the hard right Brexiteers that this is their last chance to have Brexit happen, it's not clear that even those numbers are there for

her.

CHATTERLEY: The winds are blowing here. The winds have changed, that's the question. Hadas Gold. Thank you so much for that.

Kristie, I apologize to our viewers for the extent of the chaos going on in the U.K. What can I tell you?

LU STOUT: Chaos in so many different forms, but you know, good coverage and we're looking forward to seeing how this vote is going to play out.

Now, up next, right here on "News Stream," the lawyer of a Vietnamese woman is demanding ...

[08:35:10]

LU STOUT: ... the Malaysia Attorney General explain why he rejected his client's appeal. She is now the only defendant in the murder trial for the

assassination of the half-brother of Kim Jong-un. We've got the latest after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: In Malaysia, prosecutors are refusing to drop charges against one of the two women accused of killing Kim Jong-nam in 2017. He is the

half-brother of the North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un.

Now, this woman, Duong Thi Hoang from Vietnam is now the only suspect facing trial on a charge of murder.

Earlier this week, charges against the other defendant, an Indonesian woman were dropped without explanation. Our senior international correspondent,

Ivan Watson is in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. He joins us now and Ivan, why did the Court refuse to release the Vietnamese suspect while

just days ago, the Indonesian suspect was able to walk free?

IVAN WATSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: It's a very good question and we simply don't have a real answer from the Attorney General's

Office here, the public prosecutor, who has the power to release the Indonesian suspect on Monday, but refused an appeal to release the

Vietnamese suspect during what was a quite dramatic morning session in a High Court here in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (voice over): A show of force outside a Malaysian courthouse, on trial inside, a Vietnamese woman accused of assassinating the North

Korean's half-brother, Kim Jong-nam.

Duong Thi Hoang emerges visibly distraught. Prosecutors refused an appeal to drop murder charges. If found guilty, she could face the death penalty.

The trial will proceed despite last minute lobbying by the government of Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Ambassador tells me he's calling for his citizen's release.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (on camera): Mr. Ambassador, you're disappointed today?

LE QUY QUYNH, VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR TO MALAYSIA: Yes, I am disappointed.

WATSON: And how did she look to you when you spoke with her?

QUYNH: She's very nervous and weak.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (voice over): On February 13th, 2017, security cameras in Kuala Lumpur International Airport filmed a woman resembling Duong Thi Hoang

smearing something on the face of Kim Jong-nam. He sounded the alarm, but soon after died, poisoned authorities say by VX nerve agent.

Malaysia issued arrest warrants for four North Korean men who have since gone missing and authorities arrested Hoang and an Indonesian woman named

Siti Aisyah. Both pled not guilty to murder charges.

But on Monday, after years of lobbying by the Indonesian government, Malaysia's prosecutors suddenly dropped charges against the Indonesian

suspect.

Back home in Indonesia, Aisyah told CNN she thought she was making money filming a reality TV prank show when she first approached Kim Jong-nam.

The Vietnamese suspect, Hoang, used the same defense.

This is Hoang in happier times. Her lawyers released this video clip of her participation in an earlier prank show.

[08:40:10]

WATSON (voice over): Her lawyer tells me she's a North Korean scapegoat, arguing she was fooled by North Koreans into unwittingly killing Kim Jong-

nam.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (on camera): Will anyone face justice for this?

QUYNH So long as the North Koreans are not brought here to face trial, justice is not served.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WATSON: Now, Kristie, this case is leading to something that is actually quite rare here in Southeast Asia where governments kind of have a

tradition of not meddling in each other's business. Instead, they are airing their grievances, Vietnam, quite unhappy publicly with the decision

not to release their citizen and, in fact, publishing this tweet within the last couple of hours from the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry in which the

Deputy Foreign Minister expresses his disappointment about the quote, "Malaysian prosecutor's decision to reject Vietnam's request to free Duong

Thi Hoang in a meeting with the Malaysian ambassador."

Again, rare to see two governments in the region publicly airing their grievances like this and to hear a Vietnamese Ambassador speaking on the

record expressing his disappointment about the way the judicial system is operating here within Malaysia -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, high stakes diplomatic pressure is on after today's court decision there in Malaysia. Ivan Watson, thank you.

Now, let's get back to our special coverage of My Freedom Day. CNN has partnered with young people around the world for a day of action against

modern day slavery and earlier, I joined a group of students here in Hong Kong.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

LU STOUT: Here in Hong Kong, at one of many campuses across the region marking My Freedom Day, a student-led day of action against modern day

slavery and see it as soon as you come on to the campus.

Right now, what's happening is a Socratic seminar where the children or rather the students are discussing human trafficking, how to identify it

and how to break the cycle of exploitation.

You also see behind them a freedom wall with their messages of hope and hope is needed because the problem here in the Asia Pacific region is so

immense.

According to the Global Slavery Index, some 25 million men, women and children are enslaved today. The challenge is so daunting, but for the

high school students here at Hong Kong International School, they're willing to take it on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SOFIA SINGER, HKIS GRADE 12 STUDENT: I started working with domestic helpers in my eighth grade year here at HKIS and from there, I've kind of

learned more about modern day slavery and how it affects not only the helper community, but a lot of vulnerable women here in Hong Kong, as well.

SAMARA FARUQUI, HKIS GRADE 12 STUDENT: It's really been fun for us to see how students can then go from our club and then make a change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Young people are so often the victims of human trafficking, and yet they are emerging as some of the most passionate and powerful voices

against it.

In fact, activists say that their contribution is critical to raise awareness.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT FRIEDMAN, CEO, ANTI-SLAVERY NGO, MEKONG CLUB: I've been doing this work for 30 years and when I sit down and listen to these students, I feel

like I want to take a notebook out. They are so aware of what this issue is. They've done their homework, they've gone online. They've collected

all of these information.

What they can do basically, learn about the issue and then share this information with somebody else. It's very, very easy to do something like

that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: As for the students here at Hong Kong International School, their goal is twofold -- to raise money for anti-slavery NGOs and also to

raise awareness, to end the billion-dollar criminal enterprise that is human trafficking. So on this day, March 14th --

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: My Freedom Day.

LU STOUT: May these kids also inspire you to act.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

LU STOUT: And tell us what makes you feel free using the #MyFreedomDay. And that is it for "News Stream," "World Sport" is next.

(SPORTS)

[09:00:00]

END