Return to Transcripts main page

Connect the World

Ethiopia Dismisses War Crime Evidence Verified by CNN Train Derailment in Taiwan Kills Dozens; U.S. to Join JCPOA Talks Next Week in Vienna. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired April 02, 2021 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:21]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: At this hour, a deadly train accident in Taiwan leaves at least 50 people dead, and many others injured.

Details on what caused the crash are coming up.

Then, the U.S. set to meet members of the Iran nuclear deal next week, in an effort to kick-start face to face negotiations.

And --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It might not look huge, but can produce enough mRNA for about eight million doses every

two day, BioNTech says.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: CNN has more on the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine factory.

(MUSIC)

ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi where it is 6:00 in the evening. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD.

In the next half hour or so, we will bring you CNN's complete coverage of the trial of Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd.

First, I want to connect to you a special CNN investigation. Foreign ministers in the G7 group of nations have strongly condemned mass civilian

killings in Ethiopia's Tigray region. CNN in collaboration with Amnesty International has investigated a gruesome video circulating on social

media, that shows the extrajudicial execution of at least 11 unarmed people, by men wearing Ethiopian army uniforms.

We'll get you to our reporter on this, Nima Elbagir.

Nima, for months now, much of the reporting including that of your own team, has found evidence of Eritrean soldiers complicity in war crimes. Now

this today is the first that we've seen of Ethiopian soldiers implicated.

Just what's the significance here now?

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, as we saw that G-7 foreign minister statement, Becky, a lot of the international outcry

has been focusing on the verified withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Tigray, and that definitely has been the implication, when the Ethiopian

government has spoken about, it that we will look into these war crimes and we will push for Eritreans out of Tigray.

But what we're seeing is the complicity, is the war crimes, the atrocities, being, happening in front of us on this video, being carried out by state

actors. So the video opens, and we can't show you the video, Becky, during the day, because of decency laws in the U.K., but it is available on

CNN.com.

The video opens and you see these young men who, their families in the region have told us, amongst whom were people who were dragged from their

homes. So, young men surrounded by Ethiopian soldiers, and it's very clear that the person filming, who we later verify as a former Ethiopian soldier

and a whistle-blower, is filmed very openly. So that speaks to a level of comfort on the part of these soldiers, a level of impunity.

And then, and this is very important, they are moved to another location that we are able to verify, through analysis with Amnesty International, as

being 1.7 kilometers away, and there, you see this, take a look at this, Becky.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why don't you get close and film the execution of these.

ELBAGIR (voice-over): The wording here is important, Execution. This is pre-meditated. They've rounded up these men to kill them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELBAGIR: They are openly stating in front of a recording device, in front of a phone, that they are going to execute this man, and this is what is

too graphic to show you, but later on, in that video, they then casually fling the bodies of these young men, and it's not clear at that point

whether they are dead or alive, but we have just seen them shot at pointblank range, on camera, they're flinging their bodies over a ridge,

and that again speaks to a level of apparent comfort with the bodies being found, a level of really extraordinary impunity.

And the families that we were able to speak to, many of them, Becky, have not been able to watch this video, because of an Ethiopian government

communications blackout in this region, but believe that their loved ones are amongst those shown in this video, because they went missing around the

timing of this massacre, many of those we're speaking to say that the worst thing for them is not knowing whether they will be able to bury their loved

ones in a manner that they believe is respectful and appropriate.

[05:05:10]

That is -- that is what is so awful about all of this, is what it has left many of the victims and the survivors living with, Becky.

ANDERSON: And you alluded at the beginning of this interview, to a statement made by G7 foreign ministers who have strongly condemned the mass

civilian killing, and the use of sexual and gender-based violence in Tigray, what happens next?

ELBAGIR: That is the question. That is the big question, that we are being asked by so many of these witnesses, and survivors. What happens next?

For five months now, we have been hearing world leaders the U.S. secretary of state, now the G7 foreign ministers condemn and call upon the Ethiopian

government. Many of those in Tigray and their loved ones around the world are asking when these statements turn into action. Are we at the tipping

point now that this video has been verified by CNN and amnesty that shows state actors, and their complicity?

Are we now at a tipping point where the Ethiopian government is going to be pressured, possibly sanctioned into taking actions? Because the war

continues. And in spite of that call for withdrawal, and in spite of the Ethiopian government's announcement of withdrawal of Eritrean soldiers,

what we're hearing on the ground, Becky, from eyewitnesses, is those Eritrean soldiers remain in place in Tigray.

So, it is clear the government has not been able to act effectively to what is happening. Is it now time for the world to act effectively, Becky?

ANDERSON: Further inside analysis by Nima and the CNN team on the digital app, CNN.com.

Nima, thank you.

You can see Nima's full report at 2:00 p.m. in New York. That is 10:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi.

Well, at this hour, crews are on the scene of a deadly train accident in Taiwan. They are trying to figure out what sent the train off the tracks,

and into the wall of a tunnel. At least 50 people were killed in the incident and dozens more have been injured. One person on social media

shows a car door beside the derailed train and a man inside saying the train and a truck, but that hasn't been confirmed.

Let's get more details from the scene, from reporter Tingting Liu is from our Taiwan affiliate, TVBS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TINGTING LIU, TVBS REPORTER: This is believed to be one of deadliest incidents in Taiwan's rail history. So, the tragic accident happened

earlier at 9:38 a.m. this morning. This train, number 408, Taroko train was actually bound for Taitung, started from New Taipei city, it's a placed

Shulin.

So what happened as it was traveling, and before entering a tunnel near Daqingshui (ph), a construction truck believed, its brakes not properly

pulled up, this truck actually fell apart on the rail tracks and an incoming train, clearly at high speed, the driver was unable to brake in

time, so crashing on this construction truck, dragging this whole truck into the tunnel, resulting in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth

carriages severely damaged and injured and with that, (INAUDIBLE) within the tunnel, leaving rescue efforts more difficult to enter the scene.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, that's the story on the scene.

Will Ripley is joining us from Hong Kong now, with more details, as we understand them, of what may have caused this derailment -- Will.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT:

So, you heard the reporter in Taiwan, Becky, talk about that heavy duty truck, possibly a construction vehicle, that somehow careened down a hill.

You're talking about this area, Hualien County, there are dramatic mountains and cliffs, and it's a really beautiful scenic train route. But

at some point, there was this collision that caused this train, which could have been traveling at speeds upward of 80 miles an hour, to go off the

tracks, and to derail inside this tunnel.

This is a train with eight cars, and almost 500 people on board. It was packed. Some people were standing. They had belongings with them.

And all of those people and all of those items were tossed around in such a violent manner, that eyewitnesses, those who were able to walk out,

describe shear terror in those moments. You had families who were together, who in the chaos and confusion were torn apart and weren't able to reunite

until later. You had 70 people who were trapped in some of the crumpled train cars, it took hours to get all of those people out.

And now, you have this death toll, at 50, at this stage, 50 people dead, that is five times more people than have died in Taiwan during the entire

COVID-19 pandemic. And, Becky, what is so sad about this, is that it happened on a public holiday, a very important one, for people in Taiwan,

called Tomb-Sweeping Day.

[10:10:05]

People go to the gravesites of their relatives. They tend to the grave stones and pay their respects. This is supposed to be a special day, and

instead, now, you have even more names added to that list of dead relatives that these families have to mourn.

The investigation continues. Those who were killed and injured will be receiving reparations. And, of course, the investigation into how this

could have happened, perhaps the deadliest train disaster in many decades, in Taiwan, even deadlier than one in 2018, and questions about why this

happened, what went wrong, and what can be done to prevent this kind of accident, Becky.

ANDERSON: Will Ripley is in Hong Kong. Will, I appreciate it. Thank you.

Well, a push forward today in getting the U.S. and Iran back into compliance on the Iran nuclear deal. America will join all current members

of the deal next week for talks in Vienna.

Now a Biden administration official says no direct meetings are planned between the U.S. and Iran. Remember, former U.S. President Donald Trump

withdrew the country from the nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.

The U.S. participation announced by the chair of a virtual meeting, which is held today between the current members, Iran, China, France, Russia,

Germany, and the U.K.

Our international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson has been following the twists and turns this from the very start and joins me now from London.

Nic, what did you make of what's been announced today, and what it is that is up for discussion, as it, were at this meeting next week?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: I think if you take the very big picture view, Becky, this is inch by inch, President Biden

moving towards achieving one of his major foreign policy goals, which is to reconnect, reintegrate with the JCPOA, the Iran nuclear deal that President

Trump walked away from in 2018, I think that's the big picture there, a Russian diplomat attending the meeting described it as businessman-like, on

track to achieve positive results, but substantial difficulties lie ahead and that's what we heard from the E.U. chair as well, a positive meeting

but a lot of work to be done.

So U.S. representatives and representatives of the other members of the JCPOA, Iran will be there, the U.K., Germany, France, Russia will be there

with representatives, senior representatives we understand in Vienna, but the U.S., not meeting at the table with the Iranians, and this is sort of

part of the aspired incremental goal to getting back around the table.

The key point here is the choreography around the United States relieving sanctions on Iran, which Iran says are a must, and Iran coming back into

compliance with the JCPOA deal that the United States has said is a must. So far, the United States has been willing to sort of give a little ground.

But we heard today again from the Iranian foreign minister saying very clearly that the United States has to move first, that there is no need at

this stage for the U.S. and Iran to meet together, which really for the U.S. State Department, would be an aspiration, which would allow them to

work out the sequencing better. But we're not there yet, clearly.

ANDERSON: Yeah, and the State Department cautioning that the talks in Vienna next week, and I'm quoting here, are not likely to produce a major

development. These remain early days, the State said, and we don't anticipate an immediate breakthrough as there will be difficult discussions

ahead. But we believe this is a healthy step forward.

Nic, thank you. One very interested party to this deal, looking on from the sidelines, is Saudi Arabia. I spoke to the Saudi foreign minister about the

kingdom's wish to become directly involved in any future talks, and if there is a chance that that could happen.

Here's some of what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE FAISAL BIN FARHAN AL SAUD, SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER: Let me be clear. The countries that are most at risk from a nuclear armed Iran are the

countries in the region, including, of course, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the GCC states. So, it's entirely logical that we should be part of the

discussion and part of the dialogue, and we hear from our European and American partners that they understand that the concerns of the countries

of the region must be addressed and must, we must have a role in those discussions and in those negotiations.

We are in a dialogue now with our international partners, as to how, the power role, and how concerns in those discussions can be addressed. We

think we should be at the table. As I said, we are the countries most at threat. And therefore, it is only right that we be at the table.

And, of course, Iran has repeatedly said that it's interested in having a dialogue with its neighbors about regional security.

[10:15:04]

And what is not an issue of regional security if not the nuclear issue. So if Iran wants to have a dialogue with us, that is fine, but we think we

should have that dialogue as part of the discussions vis-a-vis the JCPOA and that could help to allay our concerns to a great deal.

If we are at the table, we will see -- we hope that we will see an Iran that comes back into compliance and that agrees to address the concerns

that we have, both about the deficiencies in the previous JCPOA structure, but also, of course, regional stability and ballistic missiles and other

issues.

ANDERSON: Bottom line, how realistic is it that you can be at the same table as the Iranians on any JCPOA negotiation?

PRINCE FAISAL BIN FARHAN AL SAUD: Yeah, I think it's entirely realistic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Those comments part of my comprehensive interview with Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, and you can see the full interview next week on

CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson.

Well, day five of the testimony in the Derek Chauvin trial set to begin in any moment now, wrapping up what has been a week of emotional testimony

over the death of George Floyd.

On Thursday, jurors heard from a string of witnesses, including Floyd's girlfriend, of nearly three years. She tearfully spoke about their

relationship and the couple's struggle with opioid addiction.

And a major blow to the defense, Chauvin's then supervisor testified that the former police officer should have stopped pressing down on Floyd's neck

as soon as he stopped resisting.

Well, CNN's Josh Campbell was inside the courtroom Thursday, he joins us now, from Minneapolis. What more did we learn yesterday, Josh?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Becky, you know, the key witness that we heard from, one of them, was this former senior police officer, who

is now retired.

But on the day of that incident here in Minneapolis, last May, he had arrived on the scene and what was interesting is he interacted with Derek

Chauvin, who was the officer that has obviously been charged here in the murder of George Floyd and what was interesting is not what Chauvin told

him but what he left out. The senior officer said that Chauvin never told him he placed his knee on George Floyd's neck. It wasn't until that officer

made it to the hospital to check on George Floyd where he learned about the seriousness of the incident. And getting into the mindset what is being

said on the scene and what was not being said.

This witness was a key witness because of something else that the defense tried to prevent him from saying this, the senior officer was asked by a

prosecutor whether the use of force against George Floyd was appropriate. This senior officer said no, that that use of force, that restraint against

George Floyd should have been ended much sooner, whenever he had stopped resisting, and that dealing a serious blow to the defense here.

Now, we also heard from two paramedics who were on the scene. They arrived after this incident started. One of them said that as he attempted to check

the pulse on George Floyd, who was still on the ground, still in handcuffs, that he saw the Officer Derek Chauvin with his knee still on George Floyd

even long after he was no longer moving and looked at Chauvin and said get out of here, move out of the way, he was trying to care for the patient.

So, again, just a lot of new insight there into what transpired on that day and then finally Becky, we got some new information from someone who knew

George Floyd very well, that was his girlfriend, who talked about George Floyd as a person, really talking about the humanity, someone who loved his

children, someone who loved sports.

And you know, we talked so much about Floyd as a victim, but seeing that human side was so important in the courtroom, and so, we learned a lot of

those details about the Floyd, Floyd's family about, his background, and we expect to hear from additional witnesses today, the court has been keeping

the witness list close to the vest, they're not announcing them in public. But if it's anything like it was yesterday, we will certainly learn a lot

more about that incident here last May, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, this is the fifth day of testimony. And what has been 18 days worth of trial.

Josh, thank you.

That emotional trial that is going on, as Christians around the world mark a somber Good Friday. Ahead on the show, warnings authorities are giving

amid fears Easter weekend will bring a spike in COVID cases.

Plus, we'll talk about Europe's sluggish vaccine rollout. And CNN got an exclusive look inside one lab now ramping up production.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:21:50]

ANDERSON: Well, Christians around the world are marking Good Friday ahead of Easter Sunday, and experts are concerned that the weekend's gatherings

will once again trigger a spike in COVID cases, a spike that Europe cannot afford. Already, dozens of countries are in full or partial lockdown and

with an abysmal sluggish vaccine rollout, authorities warn now is not the time to relax restrictions.

Well, the message of solidarity during Holy Week, Pope Francis offering vaccinations to 1200 poor and marginalized people. Here he is being

welcomed in Paul VI audience hall where many of the vaccinations have been given. In a couple of hours, he will lead Christ's passion in Saint Peter's

Basilica and the Way of the Cross in Saint Peter's square.

All right, let's cross to Minneapolis, and to the Derek Chauvin trial for you.

(DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL)

END