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Aung San Suu Kyi Sentenced to Four Years in Prison; U.S. Impose Strict Rules Entering the Country; Protests All Over Europe over New Restrictions and Mandates; Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Games by U.S.; Third party to Investigate Oxford School Shootings. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired December 06, 2021 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:00]

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PAULA NEWTON, CNN HOST: Hello and welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I am Paula Newton. Ahead here on "CNN Newsroom," new travel restrictions underway across the U.S. and the U.K. in an effort to combat the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. We are live from London's Gatwick Airport.

Plus, the Biden administration is expected to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Games. We are live in Hong Kong with details and reaction from Beijing.

And Indonesia, the images are both stunning and terrifying. A volcanic eruption has buried entire villages in ash and the threat is not over yet.

And we begin this hour with breaking news. A court in Myanmar has now reached a verdict in the case against deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi. She had faced nearly a dozen charges including incitement in violation of COVID-19 protocols. Our CNN's Paula Hancocks is now live with us from Sydney with the details.

And Paula, as you've indicated, these might be the actual sentencing for some of the charges, but there are more to come.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Paula, yes. These are the first two, so the very first verdict we're hearing in the trial against Aung San Suu Kyi, the deposed leader of Myanmar. And what we've have heard so from sources close to the trial is that she has been sentenced to four years and two of those years are for the charge of incitement and two years for breaking COVID rules.

Now, we've already heard some reaction from Amnesty International dismissing these charges calling it, "an unbridled destruction of freedom," talking about the charges being bogus, something that we have heard consistently from many critics of this military junta who took power on February 1st and deposed the democratically elected government.

Now, as you say, Paula, there are a number of other charges against her, at least another 10 against her and some of those are even more serious charges than what she was convicted of today. For example, a corruption charge against her which has a maximum term of 15 years in prison, then also she is accused and being charged of a breach of the Official Secrets Act. That carries a maximum of 14 years.

So potentially if these courts find Aung San Suu Kyi guilty of many of these charges, which she says she is not guilty of, then she could potentially spend decades behind bars. And this is what we have been hearing from critics of this military junta.

The fact that they have been trying to silence critics. They have been trying to keep Aung San Suu Kyi and also those in the party around her out of the public eye and unable to be in politics any longer whilst they try and consolidate their power. Also, this goes for the president, Win Myint also, verdict coming in today at four years as well, Paula?

NEWTON: Yes. They are -- there are others charged with her. Paula, I have to ask you, there have been some efforts, some international pressure exerted, but it doesn't seem to be having any effect so far on the military junta there.

HANCOCKS: It doesn't. There has been widespread condemnation from the U.N., from the U.S., from the E.U., from countries around the world. ASEAB, the group of Asian nations has also elected an envoy who they were hoping would be able to have access into the country and monitor exactly what was happening.

They had thought that they had some kind of a deal with Min Aung Hlaing who is the architect of this bloody military coup. But he -- according to ASEAN and according to what we can see with our own eyes, he's not kept his side of the bargain. He was supposed to stop the killing.

We know that well over 1,200 have been killed so far according to one advocacy group trying to keep count, but everybody around (ph) admits that the actual number of dead is likely far higher. Paula?

NEWTON: Yes, and we'll continue to keep an eye on that situation. As you said, there's still a lot more legal proceedings ahead. Paula Hancocks for us. Appreciate the update.

[02:04:52]

Now, new COVID testing requirements are in effect for all travelers coming to the United States. It's part of an effort to curb the spread of the omicron variant which has already been found in at least 16 U.S. states. You see them there.

Now, anyone boarding a flight to the U.S. must have proof of a negative COVID test one day before take-off or 24 hours. Plus, foreign nationals must be fully vaccinated to enter the country. But that requirement not yet in place for U.S. citizens.

Now, a travel ban is also in place for South Africa where the variant originated and several other African countries. But top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci says that ban is actually being re- evaluated.

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ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Now as you mentioned, as we are getting more and more information about cases in our own country and worldwide, we are looking at that very carefully on a daily basis. Hopefully, we'll be able to lift that ban within a quite reasonable period of time.

I mean, we all feel very badly about the hardship that that might have put upon not only South Africa, but the other African countries. And for that reason, in real time, literally on a daily basis, we're re- evaluation that -- we're re-evaluating that policy.

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NEWTON: So meantime in the U.K., they will also be requiring pre- departure COVID tests for inbound travelers regardless of their vaccination status and that's starting Tuesday. CNN's Anna Stewart is live from Gatwick Airport in London. And Anna, good to see you. Those new restrictions give us all that old feeling, right? That feeling of dread. So many had hoped that these holidays would finally be easier, easier to travel. But what's the U.K. doing now as they face this new variant?

ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Yes, more rules, more restrictions, not what we all asked for Christmas this year given last year. And the U.K. certainly, Christmas is pretty much canceled. Now, as of today, Nigeria is actually been added to the U.K.'s red list bringing it to a total of 10 countries all in southern Arica. That only U.K. citizens can travel from and to.

And if they arrive in the U.K. from any of these countries, they have to quarantine for 10 days in a quarantine hotel at some cost, $3,000. And then as you say, there is all the new testing requirements. So from tomorrow, anyone wanting to travel to the U.K. will have to do a pre-departure test two days before their travel.

It can be a rapid one or a PCR. And then, Paula, on arrival into the U.K., you still have the need to do a test within two days. All of this regardless of vaccination status. That one on arrival, though, within those first two days, that now has to be a PCR, and that is pricey.

Here in the U.K. on average it costs around $100. And all that, of course, on top of whatever testing requirements are now required for the country you're traveling to or from. So I know there are two flights leaving Gatwick today heading to the U.S. Those people will have to do a pre-departure test that goes to the U.S. That's of course 24 hours before. It all adds up. It's doable. This isn't a travel ban, but it is expensive, Paula.

NEWTON: Yes, it's expensive and obviously dampens what industry we're hoping would be quite an uptick in travel. What has been the reaction there from industry groups? And I mean, many people are discussing about how much longer some of these businesses can hang on. STEWART: Its how long can the businesses hang on? And also from some

scientists, in fact. I saw one report over the weekend with someone questioning whether the U.K. government is actually closing the barn door after the horses bolted, given yesterday, 246 omicron cases were identified, an increase of 50 percent in just 24 hours.

Travel and tourism were already caused under huge amounts of pressure. They were really hoping for a bit of an uptick over the holiday season. And while travel isn't banned here as it has been in previous lockdowns and so forth, lots of people will be put off by this. It's going to be very expensive to go ion holiday.

Lots of comments from the travel industry. One I saw from BALPA, the pilots union, said it's a cruel joke. So many families want to reunite. They couldn't last year. They are hoping to this year, and they now may be put off. So, not a good picture here. As Anthony Fauci was saying, this though will be reviewed in the U.K. as well in the coming days. Paula?

NEWTON: Yes, and I think a lot of those countries are looking for more equity as it seems that the variant obviously has spread in many parts of the world. Anna Stewart, really appreciate that update there live for us at London's Gatwick Airport.

Now, all the new omicron variant has caused alarm worldwide, here's what Dr. Fauci then told us about the severity of it. Take a listen.

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FAUCI: Thus far it does not look like there is a great degree of severity to it, but we've really got to be careful before we make any determinations that it is less severe or really doesn't cause any severe illness comparable to delta. But thus far the signals are a bit encouraging regarding the severity.

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NEWTON: Now, as more omicron cases are reported, COVID vaccine makers are planning to tweak their shots to try and target the variant. I want you to take a listen now to what Moderna is proposing to do to improve vaccine efficacy.

[02:10:03]

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NOUBAR AFEYAN, CO-FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN, MODERNA: I think we're going to learn this more definitively over the next seven to 10 days. We're doing the experiments needed to assert -- to establish whether the reduction in binding that could be there, nevertheless, allows us to be protective against this variant virus.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Now, earlier I asked Dr. Scott Muskovich if testing before travel would help prevent the spread of the new variant. Here's his response.

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SCOTT MISCOVICH, FAMILY PHYSICIAN: For the United States to only request one day, what happens if you caught the disease two days before or three days before? You may not be positive yet, and yet another day or two later you may be just fully shedding and spreading it. So, many studies have shown that one-day testing is not enough to stop the traveler from, you know, catching them with their COVID.

NEWTON: So you think things just have to be more strict? Do you have tests upon arrival and then until that comes back negative, you think people should be isolating at least?

MISCOVICH: Absolutely. I think the U.K. policy is very solid. I think a test at day three minimum is what the United States should be asking for. And depending on where people are coming from or depending on vaccination status, even another test on day five. Once you hit day five, you're going to get into the mid-high 90 percent that no one has COVID that will then materialize after those tests. And that's what we're looking for. A test at day one, that's not going to tell you much. You're going to be maybe 30 percent.

NEWTON: Yes, and that's interesting because I know how closely you've been following the data on this for the better part of two years. Now, there is a lot of hopeful speculation about this new variant and the fact that possibly it could lead to milder illness. Now, what evidence is there of that so far and is it possible in some way, shape or form that it is starting to share some characteristics with the common cold, which as we all know is usually mild?

MISCOVICH: Excellent, Paula. That's exactly what some of the early data is showing us out of South Africa. What we're seeing in the data that maybe Dr. Fauci is referring to is if we took hospitalizations up through the fourth of the two main hospitals in South Africa, we found that 70 percent of those admitted were not on oxygen, which is very unusual.

And that means only 30 percent were, and none were in the intensive care unit. But if you look at the age, those were mostly under 50. So, I do believe we all will caveat this. It's a little early to tell.

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NEWTON: Now, for viewers here in the United States, we will hear from CNN global economic analyst Rana Foroohar later this hour on the economic challenges posed by the omicron variant and it's not all bad. So, stay tuned for that.

Now, police in Brussels used water cannons and tear gas to disperse angry protests against mandatory new COVID measures.

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Now, 20 people were arrested in those scuffles. So far, fewer than a dozen cases of omicron have been confirmed in Belgium, but officials aren't taking any chances. On Friday, the government announced new restrictions including a mask mandate for children over the age of 6. For more on the unrest over restrictions and mandatory vaccinations, I'm joined by CNN's Melissa Bell in Paris.

Melissa, good to see you. You know, these protests, they show no signs of simmering down in many different countries throughout Europe. I mean, do authorities believe that these confrontations will continue? And I'm interested to hear from you about this get tough approach because so far I'm not sure it's helped in any way, shape or form.

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think the problem that we're seeing and you're quite right to point out that as far as the omicron virus -- variant, rather, we're seeing the beginnings of that in Europe and really what Europe is dealing with here is the delta variant still which continues to cause such havoc in so many countries, and in particular in their intensive care units.

Hence, these campaigns, these restrictions, these changes to the law to try and oblige or encourage those who are unvaccinated to go ahead and do so because who is in those ICU units? The majority of them of course, Paula, those who have yet to be vaccinated. So, very many efforts being made to try and get them to do so.

Increased restrictions as we saw announced last week in Germany that are essentially forcing the unvaccinated to get vaccinated and ultimately many countries now looking at whether there will be mandatory vaccination because they have to prevent their health care systems once again from being overburdened and facing the kind of collapse that we've regularly seen with these waves.

So, yes, as you get close to these populations that have been so recalcitrant that over the course of the last year since vaccines have been available in Europe, have refused to do so consistently.

[02:14:58]

As you target them more and more, of course, you're going to get the kinds of scenes that you saw on the streets of the Belgium capital over the weekend and not just there.

Also in Austria, a third weekend of demonstrations against the measures that are pretty heavy there since they are obliging people to get vaccinated by next February. First country in Europe to do it.

Also, demonstrations in Luxembourg where they overran the COVID restrictions. There was a gate where you had to show your COVID pass to get into Christmas market, they forced their way in and the authorities had to intervene.

So the more you -- the closer you get to these populations that are so determined not to get vaccinated that they will find more and more punishing restrictions against them as authorities try and force them to go and get vaccinated.

You can be sure that there is only likely to be further protest, further unrest as they try and fight what is increasingly determined efforts by European governments to get them vaccinated, Paula.

NEWTON: Yes. So determined that the E.U., in fact, said that they might have, you know, some kind of a vaccine mandate for the entire region. Melissa, appreciate the update. Thanks so much.

Now, just over 60 days to go until the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics, and sources close to the Biden administration say they expect the announcement of a diplomatic boycott of the games sometime this week. Now, that means no U.S. government officials will attend the games, silently protesting China's human rights abuses without impacting U.S. athletes who are now, of course, hoping to compete and prepare.

President Joe Biden first mentioned he was considering a boycott last month. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout has been on this story for several hours now, and you've been tracking reaction. I mean, in terms of what the Biden administration is doing, again, we have to underscore this isn't going to affect the athletes competing, but certainly it will anger China.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. And when the formal announcement will be made, that will be a very, you know, public criticism of China on the world stage concerning an event that is of intense national pride and China will push back.

Look, we are awaiting from comment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, we have been monitoring the reaction of Chinese social media and the censors are already at work. In fact, on the popular social platform Sina Weibo, we've noticed that the words United States Olympic boycott are actively being is blocked and censored online in China.

This after several sources tell CNN that the Biden administration will announce this week a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympic games. This is not a full boycott, but a diplomatic boycott, meaning that U.S. government officials would not attend the opening ceremony of the games due to take place in about two months' time.

And this was expected, you know, for months now. And the run up to the games, you have U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle demanding a diplomatic boycott over human rights abuses by China, including charges of genocide being committed against Uighurs and other ethnic Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, this western region in China.

An allegation that China denies. Last month the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that he was discussing the issue of Olympic participation with a number of other countries, other world leaders, like the British Prime Minister have also been weighing the possibility of a diplomatic boycott.

And all along, China has been condemning these calls, saying that these calls for diplomatic boycott are "malicious hype that's politicizing sports." Let's bring up a recent statement for you. It came last week from a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is what we heard from Wang Wenbin. He said, "The U.S. and a handful of countries make an issue of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and link their officials' attendance with so-called human rights issues. This is in essence a smearing campaign in the name of defending human rights. Such an act of politicizing sports obviously violates the Olympic Charter."

Paula, as you discussed before, a lot is at stake here for the Olympic host. This is a moment of national pride. This is a moment to have China showcase itself, power on the world stage. And when the Winter Games take place in Beijing, it would make Beijing the first to be the host both the summer and the winter Olympics, and that is a point of major pride inside the country. Back to you.

NEWTON: Yes. And any kind of a boycott would obviously tarnish that. And now the Biden administration has made clear they don't want to do this alone, right. They are putting pressure on the U.K., Australia, and Canada to go along with this as well. It will be an interesting week to come. Kristie, thanks for covering it all for us.

LU STOUT: You bet.

NEWTON: Still to come here on "CNN Newsroom," new details released by the Michigan school system where a tragic shooting happened last week. The warning signs staff missed and the call for an independent investigation.

Plus, after losing his daughter to a school shooting, one father is determined to spare other parents the same heartache. His reaction to what happened in Michigan when we return.

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[02:20:00]

NEWTON: So we're learning more about the building where the parents of the school shooter in Michigan were arrested, specifically the man whose work space the couple was found in. The 65-year-old contacted police saying he had no idea James and Jennifer Crumbley had active warrants for their arrest. So far, he hasn't been charged with any crime. CNN's Athena Jones has the latest now on the investigation from Michigan.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there. Well, the Oxford School District is now requesting an independent third-party investigation into the events leading up to Tuesday's deadly shooting. In a letter from the superintendent to the school's community, they are revealing more about the school's version of the events leading up to that day.

So we know now that on Monday when Ethan Crumbley was discovered looking at images of ammunition on his cell phone, he told a school counselor and a school staff member that he and his mother had recently gone to a shooting range and that shooting sports were a part -- were a family hobby.

We know that on Tuesday morning after a teacher alerted the school counselor about Ethan Crumbley's concerning drawings, Ethan told the school counselor that the drawings was depicted a semiautomatic handgun, a bullet, a body with bullet holes in it that appeared to be bleeding and the words like "blood everywhere" and "the thoughts don't stop. Help me." Crumbley said that that journal (ph) was part of a video game he was designing.

[02:24:58]

And so the letter says that at no time did counselors believe that Ethan Crumbley exhibited behavior that showed he was going to be a harm to himself or to others. They say his demeanor was calm. One key point from this letter is that the superintendent writes that Ethan Crumbley's parents did not inform the school district about their son's access to a firearm or that they had recently purchased him a firearm.

What is not clear from this letter is whether the school asked the Crumbley's about Ethan's access to a firearm. We have also learned more about the man who helped James and Jennifer Crumbley into that building, that warehouse in Detroit, where they were discovered in the early hours of Saturday morning.

That man is cooperating with authorities. We know he's a local artist there in Detroit who uses the location as a work space. And through his lawyer, he says he did not know, he wasn't aware that the Crumbley's were facing an arrest warrant. This man has, as I said, retained a lawyer and he could still face charges after having helped the Crumbley's. Athena Jones, CNN, Pontiac, Michigan.

NEWTON: So earlier, I spoke with Tony Montalto whose daughter was killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He now leads an organization working to protect students in all U.S. schools and said the Oxford shooting was largely preventable. Listen.

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TONY MONTALTO, DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN PARKLAND SHOOTING: My beautiful daughter, Gina, was taken from me in what was probably the most preventable school shooting in American history. Over 40 visits by the police to the shooter's home, the school district was aware of the danger this shooter posed.

The FBI had tips regarding him, and nobody could put the pieces together to stop this. And sadly, we see some parallels here with the recent shooting in Oxford Township. We see the school doing a good job of initially identifying the student, bringing in the parents, but what they failed to do is bring in their behavioral assessment team.

Their behavioral threat assessment team would have consisted of school personnel, mental health professionals and law enforcement. And the reason you want that multi-disciplinary approach is because each of those folks bring something special to the table.

Perhaps mental health professional would have looked at some of those drawings and said, we need to get this child help immediately. Perhaps law enforcement at the school would have looked at some of these warning signs and said, you know what, we need to search your backpack before we send you back to class. But again, that's why these multi- disciplinary teams are so important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Now, for more information on Tony's organization and the work they're doing to prevent school shootings, you can visit their website at standwithparkland.org. And we thank those families for giving us their insights.

Now, the leaders of the U.S. and Russia are gearing up for a virtual meeting in the issue of Ukraine. Expect it high on the agenda. We'll have a preview next.

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PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and right around the world. I'm Paula Newton. And you are watching CNN Newsroom.

The White House has says President Joe Biden is looking forward to talking with his Russian counterpart when the two leaders hold a video call Tuesday. Now they're expected, of course, to discuss a range of topics, and that includes Ukraine.

The White House says Mr. Biden will underscore U.S. concerns over Russia's military activities on the border with Ukraine. CNN's Joe Johns has more now from Washington.

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Plenty on President Biden's agenda this week probably the number one item is that secure video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The number one issue in that call likely to be the 1000s of Russian troops massing on the Ukrainian border.

American authorities say they have a lot of information about it. They even released an intelligence report with a number of pictures of the locations where the troops are massing. What they don't know is what it all means whether Putin is attempting to set up a distraction or whether he, in fact, is seeking an invasion of Ukraine sometime next year.

Administration officials have said that if Putin tries it, there could be a whole round of financial sanctions to make Putin pay.

Joe Johns, CNN, the White House.

NEWTON: Senate Republican Joni Ernst is urging President Biden to be very clear and very strong during his call with Mr. Putin. CNN Military Analysts Retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling weighed in on this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LT. GEN. MARK HERTLING (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: He knows what Russia has done in the past. He realizes that this is another threat by Mr. Putin against NATO and European countries and he wants to stop it before it starts.

But I think what's also interesting while the President is meeting with Mr. Putin on Tuesday, he has already sent Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, and remember, he also sent CIA Director Burns to Moscow a few weeks ago. They were all doing preludes to this diplomatic engagements to tell the Russians we know what you're doing, knock it off. It's going to cause major problems, not only for you but for your kleptocracy, if you will, as the sanctions get a little tougher.

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NEWTON: Now days ago, Mr. Biden said the U.S. was aware of Russia's actions for a long time and expects to have a long discussion with Mr. Putin this week.

Coming up on CNN Newsroom, more than a dozen people are dead after Saturday's volcano eruption Indonesia. We'll have a live report on the rescue efforts and the dangers that remain.

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[02:35:25]

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LISWATO, HEAD OF MT. SEMERU VOLCANO OBSERVATORY CENTRE (through translator): The status of Mt. Semeru is still at level two, which means at this level the people must be vigilant because the potential threat is still there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Now you heard that quote. Now, the situation in Indonesia's East Java province remains quite dangerous after Saturday's deadly volcano eruption. At least 15 people were killed and about 1,700 are now displaced after the sudden eruption destroyed hundreds of homes, damaged many schools and left villages covered in ash. Twenty-seven people are still missing.

Now the hot ash, volcanic gases and smoldering debris are still a threat to those living nearby. For more on this, we're joined by Will Ripley in Hong Kong. I know you've been following the situation there quite closely.

Will, I have to say, I've just been riveted by the pictures in an absolutely tragic way. I mean, it is really hard to feature what some of these people have been through in the last few days.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And just to know that as horrifying as what we are watching in the social media videos that are being shared in the footage of the aftermath, it pales in comparison to what it is like undoubtedly on the ground when you're just surrounded by this devastation. Particularly, you know, this this cloud, these mushroom clouds of ash that were raining down on villages and people are running away in terror screaming.

The greatest danger coming from these pyroclastic flows, which is essentially scathing hot mud, a river of mud that people initially when the eruption happened on Saturday thought was a flood, they thought it was floodwaters and then realized in terrifying effect that in fact it was hot, that it was badly burning people or sweeping them away in a literally burning river of mud and ash and rock and volcanic gas. That is nightmarish enough. Then you get back to these villages, at least 11 villages, many of them buried under this ash, which is in some cases as high as the houses. So it's, you know, covering vehicles covering houses. You don't know if there are people trapped, you don't know if there are bodies down there.

But as the rain falls, and then it dries and this ash then becomes so hard that people are walking on it. It's almost like mixing concrete. You have the official death toll of 15 including potentially three bodies that were pulled just in the last couple of hours, Paula, a man, woman and a child.

NEWTON: Yes. I mean, well, the images combined with your description is just horrifying. We mentioned that there are hundreds of people displaced at this point. What are authorities doing to try and help them?

RIPLEY: Yes, you're talking about upwards of 1,700 at this stage displace. Indonesia does sit on the ring of fire, as you know there are very prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions tsunamis, so the government does have plans in place, contingency plans.

[02:40:10]

And Mount Sumeru is sitting in Java province. It's East Java province. But Java is where the Indonesian capital of Jakarta is. And so, in relatively short order, they're able to mobilize help for these people, they set up a temporary evacuation centers in schools and mosque, assembly halls, sometimes people's homes. People are going to be receiving financial assistance for at least six months, as they try to relocate them into more permanent housing.

So, they are getting some help on the ground. But obviously, more help is needed, they're calling in for more resources. You have to figure out how you're going to educate the students at those at least 33 schools that have been badly damaged. So it's a very, very difficult situation, and they're just at the front end of it. Long after the rest of the world looks away, they're going to be dealing with this for a very long time.

NEWTON: Yes, you're so right, right? The front end and the prospect that some of the people will never be able to return to their homes or their villages.

Will, really appreciate the in depth look at what's going on in Indonesia. Now. I am Paula Newton, I want to thank you for joining us. World Sport is next for our international viewers --

RIPLEY: OK. Thank you. Thanks.

NEWTON: -- before everyone else. The news continues right here on CNN.

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[02:45:18]

(WORLD SPORTS)

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