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CNN Tours Front Lines With Ukraine President; England Takes Next Step In Easing Third Lockdown; Iran Blames Israel For Cyber Attack On Nuclear Site. Aired 8-9a ET
Aired April 12, 2021 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:00:17]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINE PRESIDENT: And -- but we are also ready because we are on our -- on our land and our territory.
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): CNN taking you to the front lines of Ukraine amid heightening tensions with Russia with where an exclusive
access Ukraine's president.
Then an incident at one of Iran's most important nuclear sites causing a lot of finger pointing and growing anger. I have all the details just
ahead. Plus.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Great. It's really great and more than anything for businesses to survive.
KINKADE: Open for business. People around England celebrating as more coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINDKADE (on camera): Hello. It's 8:00 in the morning here in Atlanta, 1:00 p.m. in London and 3:00 in the afternoon in Kiev. Welcome to CONNECT
THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade sitting in for my colleague Becky Anderson. Good to have you with us. When we start this hour with CNN's unprecedented
access to Ukraine's president on the front lines on eastern Ukraine. Ukraine says Russia has amassed an additional 50,000 troops.
Most of them on Russians western border near the Donbass region. The rest in Crimea with 31,000 troops are already deployed. That's the most Russian
troops in the area since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. In fighting that killed 14,000 people. Well, the latest troop buildup, leading to fears of
another Russian invasion and an appeal from Ukraine's president for help from the United States.
Our Matthew Chance is joining me now from Kiev with details on his startling tour of Ukraine's front line. Good to have you with us, Matthew.
Incredible access. You got there because we know this war has been simmering away since 2015. But from what we're seeing is massive
escalation. U.S. government calling it the biggest appointment of Russian troops on the ground on the border there in seven years. Explain what you
witnessed on the front line.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You're right. There is broad concern now about what Russia might be up to with that
buildup of forces across the border which Ukrainian officials tell me is more than 50,000 personnel in recent weeks. It was incredible to be touring
the damn trenches on the frontlines of eastern Ukraine. With the president of the country, we spoke about how the troops are holding up because it has
been so many years since the conflict started.
We spoke about what Russia might be up to. We also talked about what the United States and its allies can do to try and help bring this conflict to
an end.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE (voice-over): To the frontlines in eastern Ukraine. The simmering conflict with Russian-backed rebels, once again, the focus of U.S. concern.
As tensions with Russia ratchet higher. CNN has gained this unprecedented access to the Ukrainian president. A carefully planned trip visit, flying
with him fast and low to avoid ground fire.
It's been a long time now, it's been seven years this war.
ZELENSKY: Yes. During seven years.
CHANCE (on camera): How are the soldiers? Are they holding up or are they tired of this war?
ZELENSKY: They are tired of course. Like, hey, man, you know, during seven years it's longer than the Second World War. Yes, you see that and
hysterical.
CHANCE (voice-over): Longer than the second with its complex network of dank, muddy trenches. This so-called line of contact in some places, just a
few dozen yards from the enemy looks more like the First World War.
I mean, we've entered this warren of trenches that have been dug along the front line. I can tell you -- I mean, it's like being thrown back to the
early 20th century in the Great War because I've not seen anything like this in modern warfare. But this is modern. Reality of confrontation with
Moscow and its proxies.
(on camera): Is there a chance that the Russians could be planning an invasion?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, of course. We know it. Beginning from 2014. We know that it can be -- it can be anywhere each day. It can be. So they
are ready and -- but we are also ready because we are on our -- on our land and our territory.
[08:05:03]
CHANCE: This is why Ukraine, the U.S. and the Western allies are so alarmed amid growing tensions, a dramatic buildup of Russian forces near the
Ukrainian border and in Crimea. Cell phone footage has emerged of armored columns like this one. And of military hardware being transported by rail
towards the border. Ukrainian military officials tell CNN, they estimate more than 50,000 Russian troops and are massing. Moscow says it's just an
exercise, not a threat.
But back at the line of contact, there's already been a deadly upsurge in sniper fire. More than 20 soldiers killed say Ukrainian officials so far
this year. And out here, even the president runs the gauntlet.
We've got to run for it, right?
ZELENSKY: Yes, run, run.
CHANCE: OK. All right. Come on. Let's go. So we're very close now, aren't we to the separatists?
ZELENSKY: Yes. That is (INAUDIBLE) area.
CHANCE: That was amazing. So, we've come so close now to the frontline between Ukrainian forces and the Russian-backed separatists that President
Zelensky and I just had to run through the open ground to get to this cover because the situation is so volatile, so potentially dangerous here.
Collected two years ago on a promise of ending this conflict, something he's failed to achieve. President Zelensky says he risks these hotspots as
he calls them to show his frontline soldiers they have political support.
What Ukraine really needs, he says is more assistance from Washington. More weapons, more money, and crucially, more backing to join NATO. The western
military alliance supportive words from President Biden, he says are simply no longer enough.
ZELENSKY: Ukraine need more than words. That is the sole one.
CHANCE: Can I just ask a follow up on that? You understand that, don't you? That if Ukraine were to be given NATO membership, that might make the
conflict in this country even worse, it would infuriate --
(CROSSTALK)
ZELENSKY: I can tell you. I can answer you. Maybe you are right. But what now is going on? What did you hear what our people do here? They fight. So,
what can be in the future? I don't know. But we have independent contract and we decide where to be or where not to be? To be or not to be. You
remember Shakespeare?
CHANCE (voice-over): That is, as they say, the question rather how much us support can the Ukrainian president now expect in the running drama being
played out in this theater of war?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE (on camera): Well, Lynda, the prospects of Ukraine even moving a little bit closer to NATO membership is something the Russians have made
clear. They're fundamentally opposed to just recently, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman in Moscow, saying that even potential membership of NATO for
Ukraine could have irreversible consequences for Ukraine's status. That's not, you know, a veiled threat. I don't know what is.
KINKADE: Matthew, some absolutely incredible reporting there on the front line up close. And of course, this this finding picked up last month that
already we know at least nine Ukrainian soldiers have died. Just give us a sense of how the Kremlin is trying to justify this.
CHANCE: Yes. Well, actually 20 Ukrainian soldiers from what I've been told by Ukrainian officials at least over the past -- well this year alone
because of the upsurge in violence along those frontlines. In terms of what the Kremlin are doing. It's, as usual, pretty opaque. What they say is that
these are regular military exercises that these aren't intended to threaten anyone, and they're certainly not a precursor for any kind of military
action.
But, you know, Ukraine certainly feel threatened. And there's a big concern amongst the international community that something more ominous may sort of
take place. Now, what's happening, do they have a plan? Well, sometimes the Russians use military adventures to distract from problems domestically at
home. And, you know, certainly a lot of problems at home in Russia.
[08:10:03]
CHANCE: They also may be sending a message to Washington, to the Biden administration, tensions are very high with Washington at the moment. There
have been sanctions over allegations of hacking over the treatment of Alexei Navalny, the opposition figure in the country. It was only a couple
of weeks ago that Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, the killer.
And you can bet he absolutely hated that. So, this could be a test of the resolve, if you like, of the new Biden administration. Just see what they
will do, Lynda.
KINKADE: And we certainly will wait and see what response there is, if any at this point in time. Matthew Chance for us. Great to have you on this
very important story. Thank you.
Well, back in business. England is getting there. Taking its next step out of its third COVID lockdown. Non-essential shops, gyms and hairdressers can
all reopen today. Pubs are also welcoming people back but only to outdoor areas so far. And Central London is seeing long lines of shoppers eager for
a chance to get back inside their favorite stores. And back to some kind of normal life.
The Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is urging everyone in his words to behave responsibly. Well, it's pretty chilly in London, but that's not
expected to put a dent in alfresco dining and drinking. Let's get to Anna Stewart in West London to find out. Good to see you there. Anna. Of course,
nothing says freedom in Britain that like a pint at the pub. How are people feeling that today?
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: I think you're right, Lynda. I have to say it's been really heartwarming seeing this pub. Welcome back. They're regulars.
And this is after over three months of lockdown. It's been a really long time. And really, pubs are so much more than just somewhere you go for a
drink. It's not like a bar. In many parts of the U.K. this is really a pillar of the community.
So they have been able to reopen here in England, it's going quite well so far. As you said they can only open outdoors. So that means unfortunately,
lots of pubs don't have outdoor space. There only around 40 percent of pubs are believed to be reopening today. Lots of paper safety measures in place.
You have to have someone ready to check people in -- on arrival for contact tracing. They're ordering their beers, their pints using an app.
So it's been quite a big investment for the pumps. But so far, so good. And it's been pretty cold. It was snowing just a few hours ago. I know the
sun's out now. It's typical British weather for April. But that means lots of temperature measures as well. Lots of heaters and fires, hasn't dampened
the spirits though. Look sort of a queue forming behind me. Lynda?
KINKADE: The sun actually makes it look quite welcoming how to imagine this being snow a short time ago. But I have to ask, given that we are seeing
this surge in cases not far away just in Europe. And this is a virus that does not respect borders. Is there any concern that there will be more
restrictions put back in place, reimposed at some point down the track?
STEWART: Well, of course, that's -- I think that's always a possibility. And certainly something people are anxious about. This is also emerging
from our third lockdown. We have seen reopens happened before and a surge in cases happening shortly afterwards. So, there's certainly that anxiety.
But the government has really emphasized that this is -- this reopen, Boris Johnson, the prime minister said is cautious, but irreversible.
And part of that is because of the advanced vaccine rollout we have here in the U.K. So it is hoped that this is the final one. And it's not back to
normal. This is just one level. So, in a few weeks' time, pubs, for instance, we have to open indoors as well. So slowly things will reopen.
And they'll be able to gauge as they reopen different sorts of businesses, what happens with the virus and whether that vaccine rollout is really
working. Lynda?
KINKADE: Stewart, good to have you there on duty at a pub for us to get a chance to have a beer at some point. Thanks so much.
Of course, it is a far different picture in the rest of Europe. A third wave of infection sweeping the continent. Germany's intensive care units
and near peak capacity. And the country of 80 million has now surpassed three million total cases since the pandemic began. More than 13,000 on
Monday alone.
Well, I want to bring in Fred Pleitgen who joins us now from Berlin. And Fred, obviously, it's the complete opposite there what we are seeing in
Britain compared to Germany where more restrictions are set to be imposed.
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You're absolutely right. That's certainly something that seems very much on the cusp for
Germany. And I was just looking at the current numbers of COVID-19 or coronavirus infections here in this country. And it really is, Lynda, a
very dire picture. Today on Monday, there's 5000 -- around 5000 more infections that we saw on the Monday of last week.
So right now, that curve of infection, certainly very much going in the wrong direction. As you've noted, the Germans themselves are saying that
they are in the midst of a third wave.
[08:15:00]
PLEITGEN: And right now they really don't have the vaccination campaign to stop that first wave or at least it's not far along enough to be able to do
that. At the same time. You're absolutely right, ICU capacity is really going down at the moment, and ICU occupancy is going up very quickly as
well. And that's why Angela Merkel's government is set to decide and then bring through Parliament new rules that could have an even stricter
lockdown than you're seeing in Germany right now.
One of the things that's being discussed is, for instance, a curfew that could happen in the night hours from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. Some other
restrictions on the amount of people that everybody is allowed to meet, as well. All that happening in a phase where -- and this is really making it
even more difficult. There's sort of a bit of a political deadlock here in this country, where in the past, you've seen Angela Merkel talk to state
governors about these measures, and then just put them in place.
Now, that's not the case anymore because the last couple of times that was so ineffective, that they're now bringing things or trying to bring things
through Parliament. But that process itself, of course, takes longer. And one of the things, Lynda, that we've learned throughout the course of this
pandemic is that speed is usually of the essence. And that's something where Germany is currently really having problems. Lynda?
KINKADE: Yes. It certainly isn't speaking of speed, Fred, we did see that sluggish starts when it came to the rollout of vaccinations, but that is
now starting to pick up as insane essentially,
PLEITGEN: Yes. Yes. That might be one of the silver linings here for the country is that the vaccination campaigns certainly seem to be gaining and
steam over the -- there's the latter half of the last week, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. They went from having around 300,000 vaccinations on
one day to over 600,000 the next day. So, that was really a pick up the pace. And the secret sauce, if you will, in all of that for the Germans was
the general practitioners' offices really joining in in that vaccination campaign, that really sped things up.
One of the things that I just looked at now I was just actually right before we went to air, I looked at the numbers one more time. On the
weekend, it slowed down again. So, one of the issues that the Germans still have is they don't really have enough vaccine and stockpiled right now to
be able to sustain a fast and massive vaccination campaign. They are set to get new deliveries very soon.
They said that April's going to see them get a lot of deliveries, but that vaccination campaign, we're just going to have to wait and see whether or
not it's really going to be sustainable to remain at a high level and then hopefully, of course for this country to start making a difference also in
infection numbers, and especially in those ICU numbers in the not too distant future as well, Lynda.
KINKADE: All right. Frederick Pleitgen standing across all of it There in Berlin billion for us. Thanks so much. We will talk to you again very soon.
Well, health authorities are also dreading the impact of the Kumbh Mela Festival in Northern India. It's the largest religious pilgrimage on Earth,
which seems like these. People defying social distancing rules. Hundreds of thousands of people have insane bathing in the Ganges away to wash away
their sins in the rivers sacred water. The festival all had been delayed once already to see it because of the pandemic.
India just reported a daily record high for the sixth day in a row with almost 169,000 new cases on Monday. On a positive note, India topped 100
million COVID vaccinations in one of the fastest rollouts in the world.
Well, still to come here at CONNECT THE WORLD. Just hours after Iran restarts one of its most advanced nuclear facilities, a mysterious blackout
hits this side. We'll tell you who Iran is blaming when we come back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This area is often a flashpoint, on that side is a Protestant community. Over there as a Catholic neighborhood. At times,
youth have clashed here. Police are trying to keep them apart. But all political parties have called on everyone to stay home, stop protesting and
it seems to be working.
KINKADE: And we will take you to the streets of Belfast where the death of Prince Philip is bringing about a fragile piece.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If we have a vaccine, that would be a very great news.
SU SUTSAM, LOBSTER AND PRAWN RESTAURANT MANAGER: We hope for vaccine. If the vaccine is OK, we hope this customer will come back.
KINKADE: Thailand desperate to get tours back into their country. We'll take a look at the government's plan to bring them back while keeping
everyone safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:21:30]
KINKADE: Well, Iran is blaming Israel for what appears to be a cyberattack on an Iranian nuclear site. Tehran says no one was hurt and there were no
leaks when a blackout happens at the underground nuclear facility. It came just hours after Iran activated new advanced centrifuges at the Natanz
site. An important step towards making enriched uranium. Well, Iran's Foreign Minister is vowing revenge against Israel for the attack.
Israel has not officially confirmed or denied that it was behind the incident. I want to bring in Hadas Gold in Jerusalem for more details on
all of this. Hadas, good to have you with us. So just give us a sense of what Israeli leaders and the media they're saying about any potential
involvement in this incident.
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Lynda. Iran may be pointing the finger directly to Israel. But Israel is not officially a commenting as of yet on
what happened. However, we have seen some possible hints in the last 24 hours. Israeli media for their part are citing unnamed sources saying that
it was the Israeli Mossad agency behind this attack. And we've seen some comments from Israeli officials that seem to hint at that some sort of
involvement.
Just hours after the incident, the Israeli Army Chief Aviv Kochavi said Israel's operations throughout the Middle East are not hidden from the eyes
of the enemy. And Prime Minister Netanyahu just yesterday spoke about Iran saying that the struggle against Iran and its proxies, and the Iranian
armored efforts is a huge mission. He said, the situation that exists today will not necessarily be the situation that will exist tomorrow.
So, while no official statement or -- of any kind that we've seen yet, we do have to look at these comments of the last 24 hours and take them into
account.
KINKADE: Absolutely. And of course, the U.S. Defense Secretary is visiting Israel right now. The highest ranked official from the Biden administration
to make that visit. And I understand he and Benjamin Netanyahu have just released a joint statement. What do they had to say?
GOLD: Well, Linda, it was actually a joint statement made in front of in front of the media, not exactly a press conference because they took no
questions. However, they did speak to cameras and although the Defense Secretary did not actually mention around by name, Benjamin Netanyahu did
say he said that both he and the Secretary know the horrors of war and both understand the importance of preventing war and both agree and Iran must
not get a nuclear weapon.
However, that to know did not directly address this alleged this incident in Iran at the nuclear facility. You just spoke generally about the threat
from Iran and the agreement with the U.S. that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon but it was notable that the defense secretary Austin, he did not
mention Iran at all by name. However, Defense Secretary Austin was asked earlier today by reporters that were traveling with him about this
incident.
All he said was that in terms of the efforts to engage with Iran diplomatically to get back to the Iran nuclear deal, he said those efforts
will continue. He was asked if the incident at the nuclear facility would be any sort of impediment to that deal. And all he says that he will
continue to focus on doing what the President is trying to retreat -- achieve. Now, President Biden's -- President Biden's administration is
trying to achieve some sort of return to any sort of Iran Nuclear Deal from 2015.
But Israel is vehemently opposed any sort of return to a 2015 style nuclear -- Iran Nuclear Deal, they say that we'll simply give a ran the green light
to get nuclear weapons, and that's why they're so against it. But talks are ongoing. They're supposed to continue in Vienna, between a group of us
U.S.-led group of world powers and Iran. Some of these talks are sort of indirect ongoing in Vienna right now.
[08:25:06]
GOLD: Will be interesting to see is whether this incident that just happened in the last day will have any sort of effect on those talks. And
of course, we will continue to see this sort of war of words perhaps between Iran and Israel continue.
KINKADE: All right. Hadas Gold for us in Jerusalem. We will stay in touch as this story develops. Thanks so much.
Well, still to come here on CONNECT THE WORLD, the death of Prince Philip is bringing some pace to Northern Ireland. We're live in Belfast coming up
with protesters on the streets taking a break.
Plus, even under military raids and more violent crackdown. Protesters in Myanmar continue their fight against military rule. We've got an update
coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Well, as the nation mourns Britain's Royal Family is getting ready to say their final goodbyes to Prince Philip. His funeral will be held this
Saturday at St. George's Chapel on site at Windsor Castle where his remains currently lie. It's expected to be a low key ceremony without the usual
public fanfare. But of how a spokesperson says the plan is in line with Prince Philip's wishes. The public has been urged not to participate due to
coronavirus restrictions. Prince Philip died Friday the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Queen Elizabeth.
Well, after the news of Philips death, they were caused to stop the renewed unrest in Northern Ireland. That came after several days of riots across
cities and towns in the region. The recent uptick in violence between pro- British loyalists and Pro-Irish nationalists is threatening a fragile peace there. Salma Abdelaziz joins me now from Belfast in Northern Ireland. This
was the worst unrest we've seen in recent years. Now a pause in the wake of Prince Philip's death. Just give us a sense of the feeling there.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Having people now are asking, Lynda, if the pause is more than that. If we actually are looking at a quiet that will be
lasting. Now Prince Philip's death if you are a Protestant, a pro-unionist, if you tie your lot to the United Kingdom, you feel that that meant
something very deep to you because the monarchy is a symbol of that connection. Now, of course, if you're a Catholic, if you are a nationalist,
you feel exactly the opposite.
There is no love loss there between you and the monarchy. But both sides in the wake of Prince Philip's death, put aside their differences and called
for calm. This is what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): Sunday service for an anxious Protestant community.
[08:30:09]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I will lead us in prayer for Prince Philip and his family.
ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): Here, there is mourning for Prince Philip and devotion for the queen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can I invite you to stand? We pay tribute to Prince Philip.
ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): And prayers for peace, too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can most certainly stand together to say violence is not the way.
ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): Belfast was shaken by violence worse than any seen here in years. Mounting frustrations over issues ranging from Brexit was to
COVID restrictions poured out onto the streets. That quickly descended into clashes between Northern Ireland's bitterly divided Protestant and Catholic
communities.
But in the aftermath of Prince Philip's death, calls to end the fighting by pro-British loyalist leaders like Billy Hutchinson were heard.
BILLY HUTCHINSON, LEADER, PROGRESSIVE UNIONIST PARTY: I felt that people should respect Prince Philip. I didn't want to see people back out on the
streets. These young people will be criminalized. They'll be vilified.
ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): At nightfall, we witnessed calm along the troubled fault line in North Belfast.
(on camera): This area is often a flashpoint. On that side is a Protestant community. Over there is a Catholic neighborhood. At times, you have
clashed here. Police are trying to keep them apart, but all political parties have called on everyone to stay home, stop protesting, and it seems
to be working.
(voice-over): Away from the hotspots, I meet three Protestant youth workers who tell us they do not want to return to the hatred of the past.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't want to be involved in that.
ABDELAZIZ (on camera): Why not?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because you've moved on. You want peace.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just think it's reckless and dangerous, and it's wrecking their own community.
ABDELAZIZ: Does any part of you feel afraid? Does any part of you feel like, oh, this could get worse?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's terrifying. The thought of that is terrifying. Having to grow up somewhere where you're scared of your own community.
ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): Mourning for the royal family has quieted these restless neighborhoods, where loyalty to the monarchy runs deep. But the
fear is the respite might not last beyond the princess funeral.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABDELAZIZ: For now, the piece is holding Lynda but the fear is those factors that reignited historical tensions here are still in place. What
are they? They are a Brexit agreement that has essentially created an Irish seaboard are dividing Northern Ireland from mainland Britain. That is
something that Protestants unionists in this country feel is an absolute red line. They expect unfettered access from Westminster to mainland
Britain.
The other issue is over COVID restrictions. There are calls here for the local police chief to resign after a funeral for an XRA -- for an ex member
of the IRA attracted almost 2000 people despite COVID restrictions. A lot of anger about that, a lot of sense that the rules don't apply to all. And
then there's very tough socio economic conditions here as well. Austerity has hit this corner of the U.K. very hard.
And it pushes youth to these very difficult neighborhoods where conflict can break out. And what's at stake here, Lynda, is not just the peace, the
hard won peace in Northern Ireland. It's the unity and stability of the U.K. as a whole.
KINKADE: Absolutely. Salma Abdelaziz, good to have you on that story from Belfast. Thank you.
Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi is facing a sixth criminal charge. Her lawyer tells CNN. The latest announced when she appeared in court on
Monday via video link. The charges come as protests against the military takeover continue in several cities across the country. This one in the
middle of the night. Militaries violent crackdown is only getting worse when monitoring groups their security force has killed at least 82 people
in the town of Bago, north of Yangon on Friday.
Well, our Paula Hancocks is following this for us from neighboring Thailand and joins us now live. And this this crackdown, as I said, it seems to be
getting worse. The death toll now exceeding 700, including dozens of children. From what we're seeing, it seems to be the military often using
machine guns against people who are largely unarmed.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Lynda. The advocacy group AIPP, they're the ones that said that tally, the death toll as best
they can. They said the actual death toll is far higher. But they say that they believe the military has been using assault rifles, heavy machinery
RPGs and hand grenades just in that one City of Bago on Friday. That's where they say at least 82 people were killed.
Now, we have spoke to one eyewitness in the area who said that many have actually fled the city. They're hiding in neighborhoods nearby because they
believe that the military is still there. At least they were up until Sunday still searching for protesters.
[08:35:08]
HANCOCKS: Now that eyewitness spoke of bodies being piled up in mortuaries and one horrifying new development now we understand from the Bago Student
Union where they've posted on their Facebook this has been corroborated by others, that the military is now charging an equivalent of $85.00 to the
bereaved families of those who have been killed in order to get their bodies back so that they can bury them.
Or so that they can pay their final respects. A real horrifying development there. The military from their point of view, they're saying that they
believe only one person died on Friday. A vastly different narrative. They also say that they believe that some of these rioters as they call them,
had homemade guns, had homemade shields had other homemade weapons but clearly, Lynda, a homemade shield does not protect you against a rocket
propelled grenade.
KINKADE: Absolutely horrific. I also want to ask you about Myanmar's former leader Aung San Suu Kyi who's now age 75 and facing a possible sentence of
about 14 years behind bars.
HANCOCKS: Yes. She had another day in court today or at least via video conference. And another charge was added. This is what we have been seeing
quite a lot of each time she comes to face the judge, then another charges added. So six charges are now leveled against her. Her lawyers say that
they're all trumped up charges. But this new one that was added this Monday was violating the country's disaster management laws.
No further details than that. She's also been charged with violating the Official Secrets Act. And that's the one that does carry that long prison
sentence, if indeed she is found guilty, which many fear she will be given the fact they do not believe that this is in any sense of free and fair
trial. We also know according to her lawyer that she did ask the judge that she'd be able to meet in person with her -- with her legal team.
But clearly, there are a few that believe any of these charges against her are anything but trumped up certainly within the country. Aung San Suu Kyi
still enjoys tremendous support from those on the ground, from those calling for democracy, and often when we see them on the streets still
protesting knowing the risks that they face. They still carry posters of her and she still does enjoy tremendous popularity there. Clearly one of
the reasons that the military want to keep her out of the public eye.
KINKADE: Hmm, absolutely. All right. Paula Hancocks for us. We will speak again very soon, thanks so much.
Still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD. After a week of world drama and accusations, Jordan's Prince Hamzah is finally seen in public. We'll have
the details and an interview with one of the country's senators, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:40:09]
KINKADE: Welcome back. Jordan's Prince Hamzah has finally been seen in public after denying accusations he plotted to destabilize the country.
Joining other members of the royal family including King Abdullah, he attended event marking the 100th anniversary of Jordan's independence.
There has been mounting speculation about the Prince's whereabouts for the last week after he claimed he'd been placed under house arrest.
Becky Anderson spoke with Hussein Majali, a man who has extensive experience in Jordanian politics and society. He's currently a senator in
Jordan's parliament and a former interior minister. And she began by asking him about the Royal Rift and what the next steps might be for those who
have been detained over this supposed plot.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HUSSEIN MAJALI, JORDANIAN SENATE MEMBER: This is oil family issue that is then among the confines within the wards of the court. And we as Jordanians
believe that this is how it should be. Not all the people who have been detained are guilty, they are being interrogated, and then the Prosecutor
General sees whoever is -- there are certain suspicions of involvement and anything will be transferred to the court of law to be dealt with.
HAMZAH BIN HUSSEIN, JORDAN'S FORMER CROWN PRINCE: I am not the person responsible for the breakdown in governance, for the corruption and for the
incompetence that has been prevalent in our governing structure for the last 15 to 20 years.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: A lot of what Prince Hamzah said, has truly resonated in the minds of frustrated Jordanians especially
hearing it come from a royal, the issues that people are complaining and protesting about. The issues that Prince Hamzah addressed are issues that
remain what is being done to address them.
MAJALI: This is the duty of the government. We have a government that is responsible for -- before an argument. And successive governments have not
been doing their job. And it always comes up to His Majesty the King to correct the path. Jordan 20 years ago was 4.6 million people. Now we are
10.5 people 7.5, Jordanians, and the rest are refugees. Definitely you're going to have an unemployment.
Definitely you're going to have a problem with economy, bit of inflation and all that. But we need all to work together. We cannot just take
everything and put it on the Kings shoulder and then say, go forward. This is the duty of every single Jordanian in their respective jobs. To keep
moving the country forward, as vigilant by His Majesty.
ANDERSON: The perception and confidence gap between society and institutions is huge. It is a gulf at present, and the country has
experienced major civil unrest as a result of that, and a lot of that unrest has taken place in provincial and Bedouin areas where Prince Hamza
has reached out to local leaders. He shares close ties with many Bedouin tribes who essentially form the bedrock of support for the Hashemite
monarchy. What's the palaces and indeed the government's perspective on that, sir?
MAJALI: Every single member of the royal family are welcome in any part of Georgia. That is -- I don't say for propaganda. This is a reality in short.
So you would say he chose to go to these areas, I would say or royalties go to all areas. But probably sometimes, people on social media tried to hype
up a visit over another visit for any member of the royal family. This is a subject matter that concerns the palace and all would be controlled within
the confines of the court.
ANDERSON: Lots of claims of support, statements of support for King Abdullah and Jordan at this point. But what more can be done by other
countries, by the International community to help Jordan get itself back on its feet to help with the security and stability of a key U.S. regional
ally going forward, sir?
MAJALI: Jordan is the center of stability in the region. In the international community, whether on the neighbor side, the Arabs, whether
on the international arena, headed by the United States, most definitely our biggest donor and supporter of Jordan, plus the E.U., plus the Gulf
states. Any disability in the Jo -- in the region, not in Jordan. In the region as a whole would cost the international communities, hundreds and
hundreds of forts.
So, please fulfill your obligations to Jordan. Jordan has always fulfilled its obligations to the international community. When I was Minister of
Interior, we had refugees from 92 countries. 92 countries, there is no country in the world can do with it. Help, Jordan in the same level as
Jordan help us. That's what we (INAUDIBLE)
ANDERSON: There have been reports about a leaked audio recording between Prince Hamzah and someone who is at least perceived to be the chief of the
army, Yousef Huneiti. And in that recording, the man purported to be the army chief asked Prince Hamzah to stop posting on social media and to stop
hanging around disaffected tribes saying he had crossed the Red Line. Sir, have you heard that recording? And do you have a comment on it?
MAJALI: I refuse to hear the recording, but I read it. So I cannot confirm nor deny who was on it from the -- from the other side, but I did read it.
And I read every single word and the sentences you've used yourself are correct sentences coming from a person addressing Israel. If the Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the head of the intelligence department and the head of the Public Security Department, so that such actions are
deemed as a destabilizing or as a threat or whatever they look at it. I'm not ready to look. Then it was their right to go and voice the concern to
this ordinance.
ANDERSON: You know Jordanian society well, and the way that this country works. Is it possible that a visit, at this level to Prince Hamzah with the
message that it carried would be done or could be done without the King's knowledge? And if that is the case, did the Chief of Staff cross align
himself?
MAJALI: Well, definitely, I wouldn't say he crossed the line. Most definitely I would not say that. Because he is in charge of the overall
security of the state. So crossing the line I wouldn't -- I wouldn't call it that at all. I'm 100 percent sure that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff after he has done what he has done, he has most definitely informed his majesty of what has happened, but not before.
ANDERSON: Some members of your family's tribe were detained in association with this alleged coup. Many of them working in Prince Hamzah's office. The
Majali Tribe is an influential one in Jordan, many of its members, like yourself serving prominent positions in the government and in the military.
In a statement last week, your tribe described the arrest as unlawful and the event as a black day in Jordan's history. Do you share that belief?
MAJALI: When 50 people come up, 100 people come up, they do not to represent the whole tribe. So, probably some of them were from the affected
people and I sympathize with them. But we should not over exaggerate the matter. There are voices here and there. And as we've stated hashtags, and
hashtags there, but when it comes to the security of the nation, to the security of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan or Jordanians are one voice
behind our leader was His Majesty, King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein and the conferences (INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: We're going to take a short break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:51:20]
KINKADE: We have some breaking news just in the scene and we're getting reports of a shooting outside of Paris hospital. Police say one person is
dead and one is injured. Several gunshots were reported and the attacker has fled the same. There's no word yet on the mortgage here but we will
continue to follow you -- follow this story for you and we will bring you some updates as we get them.
Well, Thailand's tourism workers are ready to get back into business. Officials have approved a plan to allow vaccinated tourists to skip
quarantine and get right to the beach. But there's still a lot to fear about COVID and not enough vaccines to go around. Our Blake Essig tells us
what's at stake.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLAKE ESSIG, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On Phuket, off the coast of Thailand, the waves peacefully lapping up against the shore
mask a race furiously underway.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If we had a vaccine, that would be really great news.
SU SUTSAM, LOBSTER AND PRAWN RESTAURANT MANAGER: We hope for a vaccine. If the vaccine is okay that we can come back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The vaccine is the best solution now.
ESSIG (voice-over): Normally bustling this time of year, one of the world's greatest destination's been foul by the pandemic. The sooner Phuket reaches
herd immunity, the sooner it can welcome back those well- heeled travelers from abroad.
VINCENT GERARDS, GENERAL MANAGER, PHUKET ELEPHANT SANCTUARY: Around 80 percent of the population in Phuket relies on tourism in some form or
another, whether there were working in hotels, taxi drivers, fishermen. It's all connected to tourism.
ESSIG (voice-over): For Vincent Gerards, who runs the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, the pandemic and the Thai government's strict quarantine rules
have been existential threat to businesses.
GERARDS: We are a tourism company. So we're not a foundation. So, before COVID, our main income stream would be visitors who come here and join our
tours. More than 150 elephants leaving in Phuket have left the islands since the beginning at COVID-19 because the camps have temporarily or
permanently closed.
ESSIG (voice-over): Mandating quarantine for outsiders has helped Thailand control the spread of COVID-19. Fewer than 100 people have died from
coronavirus here. Anthony Lark, the president of Phuket Hotels Association, says that the drop in tourism has caused untold damage.
ANTHONY LARK, PRESIDENT, PHUKET HOTELS ASSOCIATION: We know that the virus is not what is destroy this industry. It's the quarantine.
ESSIG: And the ripple effects go well beyond just one island. Since many tourists and workers come from outside of Phuket and send their income back
home to support their families. After a year of struggle, many here are pinning their hopes on a new government plan to allow inoculated foreigners
to start returning to the island in July and skip the quarantine.
Lark says that the way out of the crisis is not with vaccinated tourists but vaccinated locals.
LARK: The fear factor here is quite high. You know, there's a lot of people here in Thailand that don't want foreigners coming in here with this --
with this, you know, carrying the virus. So the secret is to get the local community vaccinated to a level where we feel safe enough with the presence
of antibodies and people systems to welcome back tourists without that fear.
ESSIG: For a developing country like Thailand, getting vaccine doses has not been easy. The country has received just over one million doses so far
for a population of nearly 70 million. With millions more doses on order the government has said that it will prioritize tourist- dependent Phuket,
earmarking nearly a million doses for the island, hoping to speed up the path to herd immunity.
Gerards smiles at the thought of Phuket reaching that milestone.
GERARDS: It's great to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
ESSIG: He looks forward to welcoming back the international tourists that support his 12 elephants, along with many other businesses, in the heart of
Thailand's tourism industry.
Blake Essig, CNN.
[08:55:00]
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, Sunday's BAFTA Awards sought to level the playing field and focus on diversity. Women dominated the Best Director category with four of
the six nominations, with the award ultimately going to filmmaker Chloe Zhao and to film Nomadland.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the BAFTA is awarded to Nomadland.
CHLOE ZHAO, DIRECTOR, NOMADLAND: Thank you, BAFTA again. Thank you so much. We would like to dedicate this award to the nomadic community who so
generously welcomed us into their lives. They shared with us their dreams, their struggles, and their deep sense of dignity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: The film acclaimed four awards. The most of the evening, including, best film, best-leading actress and best cinematography. And
Palestinian filmmaker Farah Nabulsi picked up the British short film award for her film, The Present. Here's what she had to say.
FARAH NABULSI, DIRECTOR, THE PRESENT: For anyone who has seen The Present, which is now streaming on a worldwide platform, the color of this room, you
would know why I dedicate this award to the people of Palestine for whom freedom and equality is long, long overdue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: The award show also included a tribute to Prince Philip noting the support he in the royal family have given to the arts over the years.
EDITH BOWMAN, HOST, BAFTA 2021 FILM AWARDS: It was Prince Phillip and Her Majesty, the Queen support throughout these years but in many ways has
allowed BAFTA a leading charity in the arts to continue in difficult times and still be here today in 2021. The Duke of Edinburgh occupies a special
place in BAFTA's history and our thoughts are with the royal family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Thanks so much for watching this edition of CONNECT THE WORLD with me Lynda Kinkade. I will be back in an hour's time for another edition. But
first It's time for "FIRST MOVE" with my colleague, Julia Chatterley.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:00:00]
END
