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United Kingdom Elections; Impeachment Inquiry, Committee Will Vote On Impeachment Articles Thursday; Israel To Hold Third Election In Less Than A Year; Debating Articles Of Impeachment; Citizenships Protests In India, India's Citizenship Bill; Volcano Recovery Mission Planned; Aung San Suu Kyi Defends Military, Rejects Allegations; Protest Threaten Algeria Election; Boeing 737 Max; Greta Thunberg On Climate Crisis. Aired 3-3:30a ET

Aired December 12, 2019 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Political deadlock is forcing a third national election in less than a year. And on Capitol Hill a rare late night debate ahead of us toward vote on articles of impeachment.

And we start this hour in the U.K. where polls are open for the country's third general election in less than five years there are 650 open parliament seats, a political party needs 326 to get a majority. The polls closed 10:00 p.m. local time and we will bring you the results as soon as they come in. Our CNN's Nina Dos Santos joins us now live from London. And Nina, the polls have been open for about an hour now.

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, 59 minutes and 30 seconds to be precise, Kristie. As you can see behind me here at this polling station in Notting Hill in West London, there's been a steady stream of people coming to cast their ballots before heading to work. The polls are open between &:00 a.m. local time and 10:00 p.m. later on this evening after which then as this traditions of the exit polls will start to come out, 650 seats are up for grabs in the U.K. Houses of Parliament, 326 is the magic number for any party trying to get a majority to push through their legislation from here.

There are seven parties, main political parties that are on the ballot paper, during this kind of period when campaigning while it's stopped it is traditional for the media not to enter into any kind of discussions about policy, but remember that this is an election that is coming for the third time since 2015. So, turnout will be key here, because the U.K. people have been asked to go to the polls, national (inaudible) like these for many occasions over the last five years.

And also remember on top of that they have been two other referendum. One on Scottish independence and the other one on the contentious question of Brexit. A little factoid for you here. It is the first time since 1923, Kristie that Britain's have gone to the polls in the month of December just before the Christmas holidays. As I said, the polls will be closing in a number of hours from now at 10:00 p.m. and thereafter will start to get some indication of (inaudible).

LU STOUT: All right, Nina Dos Santos, with the Election Day fact sheet for us, thank you and join us Thursday for CNN special coverage of the results as the polls close starting at 10:00 p.m. in the U.K.

In just a few hours House Judiciary Committee members are expected to propose amendments to the two articles of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump. They will then vote on them before the articles go to the House floor for a full vote likely next week. Now, this comes after a heated debate on Wednesday night for 41 committee members speaking for five minutes each put forward their views on the impeachment articles. Phil Mattingly has the details.

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PHIL MATTINGLY, NEW YORK BASED CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was lengthy here. It was rather later and it was probably most importantly the next step in the process to a Democrats say were almost certainly lead to the impeachment of President Trump.

Look, what you had is the House Judiciary Committee which you have been holding a number of hearings on impeachment starting the legislative process and actually considering that nine-page resolution. Two articles of impeachment. It was all 41 members of the committee giving their opening statements. Democrats laying out why they support the two articles of impeachment. Republicans every single one of them laying out why they oppose them.

And some manners very robustly depending on how they actually decide to frame things. But I think it's also important to pay attention to how they are framing things, because that's what you're going to see over the course of the next couple of days. Take a listen to how one Democrat and Republican did just that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JERRY NADLER (D-NY): I hope every member of this committee will withstand the political pressures of the moment. I hope that none of us attempt to justify behavior that we know in our heart is wrong. I hope that we are able to work together to hold this president or any president accountable for breaking its most basic obligations to the country and to its citizens. And while you think about that choice, please keep in mind that one way or the other President Trump will not be president for ever.

REP. DOUG COLLINS (R-GA): The big lie they were hearing perpetration not as one to end justifies the means. The lies that the sham impeachment is OK, because the threat is so real and it's so urgent, and so imminent. The big lies that political expediency is honorable in justifiably history shall not to be untrue and dangerous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: Here's what's next, you're going to have the same committee with the same members who gave all the opening statements on Wednesday night, start the actual legislative process in that committee. That means anyone on the committee can offer any amendment they want to those nine pages, those two articles of impeachment. And they will be able to get a vote on it.

Now, Democrats had made clear, they don't want any changes. They are not going to propose any amendments. Republicans on the other hand, they will propose many amendments.

[03:05:00]

They will try and strip things. They will try and change things, they will try and revise things and they will likely loose every single one of those efforts. Democrats hold the majority and the majority vote wins. I think the most important element to pay attention to on Wednesday night and on Thursday is this. Once, the judiciary committee bangs the gavel on a final vote of those articles of impeachment, there are no more stops left.

It's heading to the House floor. It's on the House floor where next week at some point, we don't know the date yet, House of Representatives will vote to impeach President Donald Trump. Every Republican has already made clear, they're not going to support Democrats in this. Democrats have also made clear, they've already got the votes impeaching is coming after that the Senate trial. Phil Mattingly, CNN, Capitol Hill.

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LU STOUT: The latest vote in India's parliament gets a violent response the controversial Citizenship Bill passes and protesters have been hitting the streets.

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LU STOUT: Thousands of troops are in India's northeastern state of Assam and Tripura after violent protests erupted over a new citizenship bill. A parliament passed the measure which fast-tracked citizenship to immigrants from three countries, but not if they are Muslim. People on the Assam region knew that new immigrants could upset the areas demographic balance. Vedika Sud joins us now from New Delhi with the latest. And Vedika, this bill, it now awaits the president signature. I mean, what are the ramifications of this bill been on the ground?

VEDIKA SUD, CNN PRODUCER: Well, massive ramifications both in parliament and outside. Let me start with what's happening in the northeastern states of Assam and Tripura, for the last two days there have been violent protests. Now there is the army that's been called into Assam and you have parliamentary forces stationed in Tripura, because in which things are now reportedly calm.

We've spoken to police officials in both the states. And they claimed that the internet is down for the moment and things are calm. Flights to Assam, some of their alliance had stop the flights to Assam is also what we are hearing. We just heard from the Prime Minister who addressed a rally in India and his attempt to remove the fears of Muslims. He claims there been no harms for the Muslims through this bill. Which is due to be in legislation soon with the president's nod.

Now it's the opposition in parliament that is trying for so of this bill. They claim that the Hindus and five other minorities will benefit from this bill but what about the Muslims to which the whole minister has attempted (inaudible) once again to (inaudible) fears, by claiming that look, we talked about three countries here. We talked about Pakistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh and the prosecution of these minority communities and the Hindus and the people who are coming in from these countries need refuge in our country.

So, since they are Muslim countries, how can we also open our doors to the Muslims from these three countries? The ramifications like I said, they are political, as well as some on the ground in some of the northeastern states as we speak.

[03:10:00]

LU STOUT: And if India goes ahead and adopts those controversial bill. Is it going to face international fall out?

SUD: Well, you've heard from a U.S. federal commission already. There was a press statement issued by Monday where they said that if this legislation goes through, it is going to be dangerous. Because it does question the secularism of the country.

Now, this U.S. federal commission has sought sanctions on the Home Minister of India who tabled the bill in parliament, Amit Shah and they have asked for sanctions on them if this bill goes through. So, we have to wait and watch and see how this U.S. Federal Commission reacts now that the bill lies with the president of India for that official nod, rather for this to become a legislation. But otherwise, we haven't heard from international communities on the ramifications internationally as far as this bill is concerned.

LU STOUT: All right, Vedika Sud, reporting live from New Delhi. Thank you. Now, time now for a short break and just ahead, we are going to be live in New Zealand for the latest on that deadly volcano, and plans for a mission to recover more, victims' bodies.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Regretfully, Gambie has placed before the court and incomplete and misleading factual picture of the situation in Rakhine State in Myanmar.

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LU STOUT: And with that, Myanmar defacto leader, and Nobel Peace Prize discounted the overwhelming evidence of military brutality and rejected charges of genocide. Aung San Suu Kyi told the U.N.'s highest court that the 2017 military crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state was a response to terror attacks on police stations. And she listened passively to graphic descriptions of rape, and mass murderers a day earlier. On Wednesday, she admitted only that disproportionate force could not be ruled out, and should be investigated internally.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Surely, under the circumstances, genocidal intent cannot be the only hypothesis. Under its 2008 constitution, Myanmar has a military justice system, criminal cases against soldiers or officers, for possible war crimes committed in Rakhine must be investigated and prosecuted by that system.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: More than 740,000 Rohingya fled the violence and went to Bangladesh. Refugees who watched Suu Kyi's testimony on television accused her of lying.

New Zealand's military is planning a mission to White Island on Friday morning hoping to recover victim's remains after Monday's volcanic eruption. Eight people are confirmed dead. And authorities believe that eight more bodies are still on the island. Will Ripley is live this hour in Whakatane, New Zealand he joins us now and will the delicate process of recovery will continue tomorrow morning.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Delicate and dangerous, Kristie, because the conditions on the island are still deemed to be unsafe. And yet it is now been several days since Monday's eruption and for the families of those eight people believed to be lying, there on the island since Monday

They need to get their loved ones back. And I think the New Zealand government knows that which is why they've been in meetings, for basically ever since the eruption happened trying to figure out the best approach, the best strategy.

[03:15:00]

So, Details are not entirely clear right now as to how the New Zealand defense force will actually pull off this operation. We know that there's enable (inaudible), just offshore here. But whether they will travel to the island by boat, or whether they will try to land a helicopter, near the volcanic crater, where those bodies are believed to be lying, at least six of those bodies. They don't actually know where the other two are.

But time is going to be crucial, because the island is still unstable, there's geothermal activity, I can tell you that we've been standing here on the ground, and yesterday we were up in the air in a helicopter, and we saw a smoke bloom at times very large, almost resembling the plume that you saw after the eruption on Monday, there hasn't been a second eruption, but there has been an uptake in activity, and so, obviously these brave rescue crews will go in the early morning hours.

They are going to be putting themselves in danger, to try to recover the bodies, as quickly as possible, we don't know how long operations going to take. But we do know that New Zealand police and scientists will be here in Whakatane, guiding the operation, from the mainland, from this safe vantage point and the hope is that they can get everybody out of that island as quickly as possible, and give those families closure that they so desperately need. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes. As you said time is of the essence because it's a delicate and a dangerous operation. And Will, you've also learned more about the rescue operation, to retrieve those who did survive and make it off White Island, what more can you tell us about that?

RIPLEY: It's become very clear to us on the ground here that had regular civilians, this are not rescue personnel, but helicopter pilots who usually conduct tours of the island, tour boat operators and passengers, had they not stepped up and bravely gone back to the island in those early moments after the eruption, putting themselves in danger, the death toll would have been significantly higher.

There were -- actually two tour boats on White Islands shortly before the eruption, one of the boat had just pulled off. Maybe 10 - 15 minutes before the eruption itself. And so, once the smoke plume started to die down a bit, instead of sailing back to safety here, they turned around and went back, they've pulled 23 people on their tour boat and there are a couple of doctors on board, there were a couple of passengers trained as first responders, and so they along with the crew assisted these people who had horrific burns.

You're talking about skin falling off of their bodies, and they poured cold water, they've made sure that they stayed conscious and they kept these people alive long enough to get them to the ambulances onshore. Similarly the helicopter pilots whose job is to fly commercial into the island. They had been taking people there for years, they defied the warnings to stay away from the island, and they flew in putting themselves in great danger, actually landing inside the crater itself, and they've rescued 12 people who were alive but in very bad shape.

I spoke with the helicopter pilot here in Whakatane who said had they not conducted that rescue operation, those 12 people undoubtedly would have died. Because as we know now several days have passed, and this is not going to be the first opportunity still some 12 hours away to even go in and recover those bodies, Kristie.

I think the frustration has been that, you know, people wanted the bodies brought back sooner, but because the island has just been so unstable all week, they didn't feel that there was an appropriate or safe way to do it and we'll see what happens here in the early morning hours local time.

LU STOUT: Yes. We'll see what happens to our morning, but incredible to hear these stories of these brave and selfless civilians. Will Ripley reporting live for us, thank you so much, Will.

And you're watching CNN Newsroom and up next, in politics, if at first you don't succeed you try again and again. Israel now headed for an unprecedented third election in less than a year.

Plus, protesters want today's presidential vote in Algeria canceled, they say the election won't be fair, just ahead.

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LU STOUT: The U.S. government knew a year ago that the Boeing 737 Max was more likely to crash than other airplanes. And Boeing was warned by its own employees long before that, it neither did anything about it. The aircraft wasn't grounded until the 737 Max went down Ethiopia, five months after another 737 Max crash in Indonesia. On Wednesday the head of the Federal Aviation Administration was confronted with these facts during a tense Congressional hearing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. SEAN MALONEY (D-NY): Are you aware of that four months before the first crash you brought this problems to Boeing's attention. Are aware of that gentlemen? Four months.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know that there were -- yes, that concerns were raised.

MALONEY: That's right. And do you understand that after the Lion Air crash, he went up and down the chain at Boeing, he went to the CEO, he went to general council, he went to the board. Are you aware of that? He sent them letters too, saying all the same things.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

MALONEY: And you know what they did? They sat on it until a second plane crashed. That's what happened, a bunch more people lost their lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: The FAA chief said that the 737 Max have remained grounded for the foreseeable future and probably wouldn't be cleared to fly again until next year.

In Israel, perhaps the third time will be the charm the country will hold an unprecedented third national election in less than a year, after Knesset failed to agree on a politician who could get the support of more than half of parliament. More now from CNN's Oren Liebermann.

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OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORESPONDENT: if insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results, Israel's political system definitely qualifies. For the third time in 12 months Israelis will be voting in national elections, trying to lead a country out of political deadlock. It's election deja vu, the same candidates, the same issues, and possibly similar results.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu versus his now familiar foe, former military chief of staff, Benny Gantz. Netanyahu has now failed to put together government twice. He'll be indicted for bribery, and fraud and breach of trust in three separate corruption cases, but it's done little to shake his support. The 70-year-old leader casting the indictments as a media-driven attempted coup, to topple him.

A rival within his own party has emerged to challenge him, but Netanyahu remains the face of Israel's right-wing. Gantz' blue and white party emerge from the last elections with the most seats. He was also unable to form a government, and no other politician emerged who would garnered the necessary support to lead. Netanyahu's election strategy until recently was largely based on President Donald Trump, but as Netanyahu failed two straight times to pull out a victory, Trump was no longer the gift that kept on giving.

The leader facing indictment, could no longer rely on the leader facing impeachment. Israel hasn't had a properly functioning government since Christmas Eve of last year, and there's no promise the third election will change anything. Israel remains stuck in political nowhere. Is this the middle of nowhere or nearing the end?

Well, we began talking about the possibility of a third election the day after the second election, back in September. Then, we have already begun discussing the possibility of a fourth election, later next year. In fact one member of Knesset, suggesting setting the day for it right now. If nothing changes, in the political deadlock that is now gripped Israel for a year. Oren Liebermann, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: The polls are open in Africa's largest country as Algeria chooses a new president and what is sure to be a contentious election, huge crowds of protesters clashed with police in the capital on Wednesday demanding the vote be counseled. They say the election won't be fair, as long as the military and the old guard of politicians are involved. Our Jomana Karadsheh is following developments for us in Istanbul, she joins us now. And Jomana, there's serious questions about the legitimacy of this election, How was it playing out in the streets of Algeria's capital?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, that's right, very serious questions about the legitimacy and the credibility of these elections. And it is not just the fact that you don't have an international observers on the ground, it's also how they are being perceived by the people. As you mentioned there, so far many have been rejecting this as a ploy by the real rollers in that country. And that is the military to basically try to keep its grip on power to try and bring an end to this protest movement that has been going on there for about 10 months now.

As you recall, this all started back in February when people took to the streets after that announcement from the countries president at the time, who had ruled Algeria for more than two decades, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the age of 82 saying that he was going to run for a fifth term, they force the resignation of Bouteflika, but that did not bring these protests to an end, Kristie.

[03:25:07]

They have been going on, as we see in other parts of the region, as we see in other Arab countries, people are not just protesting against one person, they say that this is about the entire system, about a regime, about the ruling elite that they want to see gone. And that is the problem with these elections, people do not think that the time is right. They don't think that there is a real political process that has engage these protesters and their demand.

At the same time, if you look at who is running, you've got five candidates running for the president of Algeria today, and they are all associated with President Bouteflika, with the regime, two of them were former Prime Ministers, also a minister, and others who supported Bouteflika.

So while you've got the military, that really has ruled the country from the shadows for decades, but now has really come to the forefront, they are seen as really manipulating what is going on behind the scene of the country is they really pushing forward to try and bring an end to this protest movement, this political paralysis that has grip the country for nearly a year now.

They are really playing a very dangerous game. It's quite a risky gamble because of the expected low turnout in these elections by all expectations. Not many people are expected to turn out and vote, which will raise real questions, about the legitimacy of whoever is elected in these elections and how they are going to be perceived, accepted not really by the people, the protest movement, the head out there that says that they will continue to go out on the streets.

And we are getting news, you know, polls open there, Kristie, about an hour ago, and we are hearing that protesters claim that they have shutdown at least three polling centers in a city, about 200 kilometers to the east of the capital, Algiers. Kristie.

LU STOUT: And no loss of momentum in these large-scale protests in Algeria. Jomana Karadsheh, reporting. Thank you Jomana.

Time Magazine has named this person of the year and of course you know who she, 16 year old climate activist Greta Thunberg, her relentless advocacy, her fearless calls for world leaders to do something to stop climate change, have grab the world's attention. Now she has been on the receiving end of insults from world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, but that has not stopped her from speaking out. The teen activists is in Madrid right now for COP25, the U.N. climate meeting, and in her trademark, take no prisoners style, Thunberg is criticizing politicians and businesses for not taking enough steps to stop climate change.

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GRETA THUNBERG, SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST: I still believe that the biggest danger is not inaction, the real danger is when politicians and CEO's are making it look like real action, is happening when in fact almost nothing is being done, apart from clever accounting and creative pr.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LU STOUT: Wow, the real danger is the illusion of action she says,

thank you for joining us. I'm Kristie Lu Stout, the Modern Explores is next. I'll be back with a quick check of the headlines, you're watching CNN.

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