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Connect the World
India Tops Global Record of New Daily Cases for Second Day in a Row; India's Second COVID Wave Ravages Health Care System; Kremlin Critic Alexey Navalny Ending Hunger Strike; Battle For Oil-Rich City Could Mark Turning Point In War; Houthi Rebels Step Up Missile Strikes in Marib; China Responds To CNN Report On Separated Uyghur Families. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired April 23, 2021 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, this hour a living hell that is how some people are describing parts of India at present. Is it
careering towards becoming a disastrous Coronavirus Petri dish?
Right now the country spiraling deeper into crisis, its hospitals overwhelmed and dealing with a desperate shortage of oxygen all part of a
brutal second wave of COVID-19 the country's overburdened healthcare system now being crushed by staggering new infection rates setting global records
for two days in a row.
One lawmaker slamming the country's leadership Rahul Gandhi, tweeting, "This is on you, Government of India". Well, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
facing heavy criticism on the pandemic in part because of his political rallies which have attracted thousands of people with no social distancing.
Well, for some families trying to get through this crisis there is no way to turn. CNN's Anna Coren connects us to the daily struggle to survive
India's second wave.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): 32- year-old Vishwaroop Sharma believes he is living in hell. Three days ago he drove his critically ill
father who contracted COVID to a Delhi hospital and pleaded for help. With no beds, no oxygen they were forced to wait outside. Sharma rubbing his
father's back trying to offer reassuring words, but no help came.
VISHWAROOP SHARMA, FATHER DIED OF COVID-19: He knows he will go into dire. He was saying I am going; I won't be able to breathe. I need something. I
need more medicines. But nothing is provided to him. And he died in front of me on my hands.
COREN (voice over): Sharma told CNN he returned home to find his mother now a widow struggling to breathe. She too has contracted the deadly virus.
With the help of friends he purchases an oxygen cylinder on the black market. And for the next few days, he drives from hospital to hospital with
his mother in the backseat, breathing through an oxygen mask. Finally he finds an available bed at a hospital 100 kilometers away.
SHARMA: She was consoling me that don't be worry. I'll be back. I'll be back. Don't worry. If God is with us, I'll be back.
COREN (voice over): India is facing a second wave that's turned into a Tsunami catching the nation's government completely off guard that fell to
stockpile or prepare for this moment. On Thursday, the country recorded almost 315,000 new COVID cases and more than 2100 deaths, the highest
number of daily infections and deaths ever recorded in any country since the pandemic began and medical experts say that number is only going to
rise.
DR. SRINATH REDDY, PRESIEDENT, PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION OF INDIA: Given the number of infections that we already have and the people that might have
already infected I do not expect the case count to go down before three or four weeks and the death count to go down intellectually is two to three
weeks thereafter.
COREN (voice over): Hospitals are at breaking point with an acute shortage of beds and oxygen. The Capital Delhi has less than half the required
oxygen for COVID patients. Despite India being one of the world's largest producers of medical and industrial oxygen.
The High Court has criticized the central government's handling of the oxygen crisis describing the shortage as ridiculous. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi announced measures to increase the production and supply of oxygen but the duty of the government now falling to private citizens.
TEHSEEN POONAWALLA, ACTIVIST/TV HOST: It's a horrible situation as it is. As if the government has completely abdicated its responsibility. There is
no help anywhere. The health system has completely collapsed.
COREN (voice over): Activists and TV Host to Tehseen Poonawalla and his wife Monica are using their celebrity influence and resources to help
desperate Indian source oxygen cylinders and hospital beds, which they believe shouldn't be a privilege, but a fundamental right.
Thousands are appealing to them on social media. But for every 50 they say they can only manage to help one.
POONAWALLA: They call us with hope and we can't fulfill it. It's very difficult. Imagine you have oxygen you don't have cylinders. Imagine you
have oxygen in the country. You can't transport the oxygen and therefore people are dying with oxygen. It is criminal.
COREN (voice over): For Sharma a student studying law he knows firsthand how much his country is now suffering? As he prepares to pick up his
father's remains from the crematorium he is praying that COVID doesn't take his mother as well.
SHARMA: I'm totally helpless because I have lost my father two, three days ago and I have left my mom in the hospital and I am so helpless. I'm all
alone now.
COREN (voice over): Anna Coren, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, something drastic needs to be done to control India's COVID crisis that is the view of Chest Surgeon Arvind Kumar, who now joins me
live from just outside New Delhi. And sir, you are on the front lines of this pandemic treating COVID patients yourself as I understand it.
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: Just describe your experiences at this point.
DR. ARVIND KUMAR, CHAIRMAN, INSTITUTE OF CHEST SURGERY: First of all, thank you very much for having me on your show. As your reporter has already
described in the story, just now, the situation at present is pretty grim. So till January, the cases number or till end of February, the number of
cases was falling.
And all of us kind of went into a complacency mode that probably we have overcome the COVID crisis. And we are probably out of it. Sadly, a new
highly, highly infectious form of the strain started from the State of Maharashtra, and started spreading there like wildfire.
And it went from one district to another district in that state. I think that was the point where the whole country should have woken up that if
this is happening in Maharashtra, a week or two or three weeks later, it's going to happen across the country. Sadly, it did not happen.
And as expected, it spread from Maharashtra to other states, other states, other states, and then caught the whole country totally by surprise. This
train is highly, highly infectious. Last year in the first wave, we saw if one member of the family is affected, and if he or she isolates the other
family members were not getting affected.
But this time, if one member of the family is affected, even if there are 20 members in a joint family, all 20 of them are getting affected. It's
highly infectious form number one. Last year it was affecting mainly the old people, this time the 19 or 18 to 49 group, which is the most mobile
group are affected mostly.
And unlike last time, it is also affecting children as young as less than a year and up to the 18 years age. And the numbers have increased so rapidly,
so rapidly and the numbers are so huge that this sudden massive appearance of patients has completely overwhelmed the health system.
So there is shortage of beds, there is shortage of ICU beds, there is shortage of ventilators. And there is now very sadly shortage of oxygen as
well--
ANDERSON: Can I just jump in here because this is - India is not an isolated case. We have seen these variants strains in other countries and
this is a global problem. Authorities in India must have been aware at what could happen.
My colleague Julia Chatterley spoke earlier to the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser who shares your thoughts. He says India was caught by
surprise by the extent of this surge, there will be people watching this show who say really, how is that possible that a country like India can be
caught by surprise at this point in the Coronavirus pandemic?
DR. KUMAR: So Becky last year also, India followed the Europe by a gap of about two months. So if you remember, April, May and June were the worst
period for Europe and our worst period, ours came thereafter. So this year when the Europe was hit by the second wave and had to go for the second
lockdown.
I think that was the time where everybody in India and I include everybody across the board, from administrators, politicians, doctors and public at
large, everybody should have woken up to the fact that if this is happening in Europe, we are going to be hit by it two months down the line. And
that's exactly what happened. Sadly, all of us were unprepared and it has caught us by surprise.
ANDERSON: There are people that Anna spoke to in her report who simply described the inadequate response by Indian authorities as criminal. Do you
share that suggestion?
DR. KUMAR: Well, now which word you use, that's an individual choice, but as I have already stated, I as a doctor, also shared this burden so whether
it was the leaders, whether it was the administrators, whether it was the medical community or most importantly the people across the country.
[11:10:00]
DR. KUMAR: So last three months were the period of lot of festivals. There was lots of political activity. People had lots of social activity, fun
activities, the whole country had gone into a mode, as if we are out of Corona and that Corona doesn't exist, everybody had started returning to a
near normal life without realizing that this deadly virus is out there hiding.
Virus was not only hiding, it was actually changing its shape, turning into a mutant strain, far more deadly, and was waiting to strike which it did
with a real, real menacing proportion.
ANDERSON: OK. So there appears to be a complete vacuum of leadership in India at present. Rahul Gandhi a popular Indian Member of Parliament taking
to social media today saying and I quote, Government of India, this is on you. What would you say to the government now about what needs to be done
next? I mean, you have said something drastic has to happen. This is your opportunity to speak.
DR. KUMAR: So Becky, I'm a doctor. So I would restrict myself to medical comments without going into any of the comments by politicians. So as a
doctor, today, my top most priority is to supply the most life saving drugs in the treatment of COVID and that is oxygen, majority of the people can be
saved if they can only be given adequate quantities of oxygen.
And therefore last many days, I have been appealing that we should set up a National Coordination Committee, and every hospital should be supplied
enough amounts of oxygen. If we can do at least that a large number of patients will be saved because we all know that 97, 98 percent of the
patients can be managed. It's only about 2 to 4 percent of the patients who need ventilator. So that's the next step--
ANDERSON: Well, Prime Minister Modi has said - yes, Prime Minister Modi has said every effort was being made and measures are being taken at several
levels to increase production and supply. Do you see evidence of that happening?
DR. KUMAR: Yes, yes. So last 48 hours, the Indian Railways has been running what is called Oxygen Express. These are special trains, which are running
with oxygen tankers, carrying them in one part of the country to another through a green corridor having two engines a diesel and an electric so
that it doesn't stop.
Indian Air Force has been brought into picture and it is carrying oxygen tankers and oxygen cylinders. I don't think we have shortage of oxygen
production. Because we have a huge production capacity, I think the bigger issue is probably of distribution.
And last 48 hours, there has been a massive effort on the part of the government as well as private bodies to supply oxygen from the production
facilities to the hospitals where it is needed. And it's happening on the ground.
ANDERSON: There are though over 300,000 cases a day thousands of people are dying, how many more will die before that oxygen gets to the right places
sir?
DR. KUMAR: You very rightly said that, if we have 300,000 plus cases being added to the country every day, even if a small percentage of these were to
need oxygen and ventilator it would be a massive number which the country will not be able to handle.
And therefore as a doctor, I have been appealing every day that we need to go into a self lockdown mode. Each of the country man needs to lock himself
inside the house so that there is no human to human interaction for the next 10 days. And that is the most effective way today to break the chain
of transmission and thereby bring the numbers down which is the biggest priority.
Because if the numbers keep increasing at the rate at which they are increasing now, no system in the world will be able to sustain it. So we
need to work hard. On one hand we need to take care of those who are already sick but at the same time, more effort needs to be put to contain
the numbers, which is the biggest need of the hour.
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: Right. We are seeing shocking scenes like these mass cremations taking place in Delhi. I asked you this sir as a medic thousands of people
have been taking to Twitter with trending Hash-tags like "Resign Modi" "Super Spreader Modi" and the reason is because Prime Minister Modi's
ruling political party has been holding rallies off late. And I just want our viewers to have a listen to what the Prime Minister had to say at a
recent rally.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NARENDRA MODI, INDIAN PRIME MINISTER: Today, for the first time, I've seen such a large gathering. We have shown such huge strength in numbers. As far
as I can see, there are people in large numbers. You guys have done wonders today but the task ahead is more important. You guys have to go out and
vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was a week ago. Do you think Modi's handling of this pandemic could be categorized as reckless and negligent? And I know you've
said that you and others, medics and politicians alike were caught, unawares, but somebody has to take responsibility for what has happened,
should he resign?
DR. KUMAR: Becky, I would also like to remind you that last year, when this COVID crisis had just started in India, Europe had refrained from putting
lockdown early till things went almost to the level at which they are in India today. But India was amongst those countries, which took the historic
step of lockdown, right when the cases had just started rising, because at that time, it be at pace this numbers, things would have been making that
decision.
ANDERSON: Sir, but that was then, this is now that's why I'm asking you.
DR. KUMAR: --would have taken that decision. So what I say as a doctor, I would say that last year, the same person had taken a historic decision
this year, I would say that there was complacency on the part of everyone in the country. And I include the politicians, the government, the
administrators, doctors and the public and we failed to see the writing on the wall when the Europe was reeling under second wave.
And when Maharashtra started having failed that was the time each one of us should have woken up. If we had done that probably we would have avoided
the disastrous situation that we are in today.
ANDERSON: I'm going to let you go because I know that you are incredibly busy and we applaud you for the work that you are doing. We can only hope
that things will improve, but they certainly won't improve until somebody takes some responsibility for what is going on at present. And sir, thank
you very much indeed for joining us.
Well, Japan seeing just a fraction of India's amazingly horrific numbers, but its fourth wave of infections has prompted a new state of emergency in
four of the prefectures there it starts Sunday, and we'll include Tokyo just three months before the city hosts the 2020 Summer Olympic Games,
which of course were delayed from last year.
It also covers a soccer nearly 1200 new infections have been reported there today. Hospitals are running low on space. Still, Olympic organizers say
they are not considering canceling. Well, in other news Russian Opposition Leader Alexey Navalny has just announced he is ending his hunger strike,
and is according to his team's Instagram account.
Navalny began that strike more than three weeks ago to demand proper medical attention in jail rather than the prison doctors. Navalny writes he
has been seen twice by civilian doctors who advised him to end the hunger strike Fred Pleitgen following the story for us from Moscow, Fred?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Becky. And really the fact that those doctors did say and did strongly advises him
to end that hunger strike. He said that was one of the main reasons why he actually did it.
He said the fact that they said that if he continues that hunger strike just a little bit longer. They believe they might not even have a patient
to heal anymore, meaning that he was in real danger of dying, but that was certainly something that was a big contributing factor.
He also quite frankly, he said that the international solidarity that he was hearing about in his situation was also one of the reasons. Apparently,
there were some organizations, for instance, the "Mothers of Beslon Organization" that actually went on a hunger strike in solidarity with him.
He said when you heard about that, he felt so moved that he decided to end his hunger strike because he doesn't want others to suffer the way that he
said that he was suffering inside that Russian prison. So a variety of reasons however, he does still say that he is demanding to get better
medical attention. I want to read you part of his reasoning that he put in that Instagram quote.
[11:20:00]
PLEITGEN: This is a quote; I do not withdraw the requirement to admit the necessary doctor to me. I am losing sensitivity in parts of my arms and
legs. And I want to understand what it is and how to treat it? But taking into account the progress and all the circumstances, I am starting to get
out of the hunger strike.
And of course, that's easier said than done, Becky. He said it's going to take about 24 days to actually get out of that hunger strike, get used to
food, and get used to solid food again. So certainly that, once again, is an uphill battle, all the while, of course, he is still protesting against
the conditions that he's being kept in.
And one of the things that we've been reporting about this entire week is the fact that tens of thousands of people came out this week once again to
protest the circumstances under which he is being kept. And also obviously demand that he is released as well.
So he does say that he's very hopeful and very proud of all the solidarity that he's getting. And for now, he is ending that hunger strike. But of
course, he says once again, that his battle to get out of jail is something that certainly will continue in his organization says the same thing Becky.
ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen is on the story. Thank you, Fred. Still to come tonight on "Connect the World" we are live from Jerusalem where tensions
have erupted on the streets leaving more than 100 people hurt what's going on there is coming up. And the City of Marib in Yemen not only holds vast
oil riches but also the key to the entire conflict here.
We will explain what is going on, on the front lines after this? And separated Uyghur children and their parents desperately asking to be
reunited China now responding to a CNN report on the "Lost Children of Xinjiang".
(COMMERCIAL BREAQK)
ANDERSON: Well, tensions boiling over in Jerusalem after more than a week of nightly clashes hundreds of Palestinians protested the closing of a
space in front of the Damascus Gate while Jewish extremists marched elsewhere shouting death to Arabs.
Police use water cannon and stun grenades to beat back stone throwing crowns more than 100 people were injured. CNN's Hadas Gold is in Jerusalem
following this for us and she joins us with the very latest, Hadas?
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, more than 100 people were injured and more than 44 arrests in what were some of the tensest and chaotic moments
for Jerusalem which has been relatively calm over the past few years.
Now, as you noted tensions has been building over the past few days. So let me walk you through what happened last night that seemed to have boiled
over. Where we are right now we're in front of Damascus Gate. This is one of the entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem.
And this Plaza is a popular place for people to hang out and sit down around especially during Ramadan. But over the past few days police have
erected these barriers preventing people from sitting hanging out there not allowing people to sit down and Palestinians have been protesting this
closure.
Last night things got a little violent. The protesters were throwing stones and glass bottles at the police. Police responded with rubber bullets stun
grenades and this spring this foul smelling water the stench of which Becky we can actually still smell today.
[11:25:00]
GOLD: Now around the same time and not too far away, a group of a few 100 right wing Jewish extremists were marching towards this area, some of whom
were chanting death to Arabs. They also clashed with police. Israeli media reports that they were also throwing things at police and police responded
to them with water cannons.
At one point, Becky, these two groups were apparently only a few 100 meters apart from one another. Now, Becky, why have tensions been building in the
city that has been relatively calm for the past few years? Of course, you have the issue of the plaza being closed down here.
There have also been incidents of physical violence between Israelis and Palestinians, some of which have been filmed and have been going viral
online. We also can't ignore the recent elections that happened in Israel, where several right wing politicians were elected.
They're being courted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he tries to form a government. And critics have been saying that that has created a
sort of permissive environment for some of those extremists that we saw marching last night.
That there was a notable statement from the American Embassy they released today saying we are deeply concerned about the incidents of violence in
Jerusalem over the last several days. We hope all responsible voices will promote an end to incitement, a return to calm and respect for the safety
and dignity of everyone in Jerusalem, Becky.
ANDERSON: Hadas Gold is on the spot for you folks thank you Hadas. The news just coming into CNN, a female police official has died after being stabbed
inside a police station near Paris in France. You can see the emergency services are at the scene here.
The prosecutor's office who handles terrorist attacks in France has opened an investigation. Spokesperson tells CNN and we will bring you more on this
story as it develops. Well, Yemen's ongoing conflict shows few signs of letting up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Three years ago, commanders took us to their frontline it was on top of the mountains
overlooking the capital. They were confident that they'd be able to take it. Now they've been pushed back they were on the back foot, defending
their own city.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Nic Robertson takes us to the front line the City of Marib; it could be the deciding factor in the year's long war there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: In Yemen, fierce clashes in the internationally recognized governments' last major northern strong hold could mark a turning point in
the deadly six year conflict. The oil rich City of Marib is now at the center of a military escalation by Iran-backed Houthi rebels attempting to
extend their control further east.
[11:30:00]
The devastating campaign of drone and missile attacks on both Yemen itself and indeed neighboring Saudi Arabia. Well, Saudi backed government forces
say U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to reverse Donald Trump's widely criticized designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization
which came into force just days before the end of Trump's term in office has only emboldened the rebel group.
CNN's International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson gained rare access to Marib's front line with a battle for control in the ancient desert city is
raging on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Safe - in pain, the 13-year-old hit by a Houthi missile in the Yemeni City of Marib. I can't breathe. I can't breathe, he cries. Still
recovering a week later, he tells me what happened.
We were playing football. The missile hit, my leg was injured. I couldn't breathe. One of my friends was dead, and the other looked like he was about
to die. In another ward, the hospital's Deputy Director shows me saves friend.
And what's his condition? Under sedation he is clinging to life. He is in a bad way. How is it for you as a doctor to see so many injured children come
in from all these rockets after all this time? An ophthalmologist by training he says he has no words to describe the suffering, no choice but
to trying to help and hope that the fighting will end.
The Houthis are trying to come towards trying to push this way towards Marib. But as Yemen's Defense Minister shows me, Marib's situation is
getting worse, longer target of the Houthis they've stepped up attacks from three directions. He blames President Biden for an escalation that brought
the Houthis to within 10 kilometers of the city. And we'll blame him if the city falls.
LT. GEN. MOHAMMED ALI AL-MAQDASHI, YEMENI MINISTER OF DEFENSE: The American administration holds the big responsibility for this crime, they removed
the Houthis from the terrorism list, but there is no greater terrorist than the Houthis. They should support us and we expect that they will, because
our fight is righteous and because we are fighting for democracy.
ROBERTSON (voice over): Once a fabled Desert Oasis Marib is now war time sanctuary to more than 2 million people, gateway to much of Yemen's gas and
oil wealth, and is the internationally recognized government's last major stronghold in Northern Yemen.
Marib is too important for the government to lose its vital leverage in any future peace talks. What happens here now is pivotal to the future of the
country. In Marib's many internally displaced people or IDP camps, life is left in the balance.
Nine years old - has been throwing up, can't eat. Her mother worries she'll starve. She tells us who the attacks are making - very afraid. When we hear
the missiles land close by, we're all scared she says. Around the city 10 camps have recently displaced a growing the government claims there are
more than 2.7 million IDPs.
Although the UN believes it's less. What they both agree on is that a Houthis offensive could force many to flee again. And it would be harder to
help them--
NAIMA TAHIR, SHELTER OFFICER, INTL. ORG. FOR MIGRATION: Because they keep moving now almost we have a lot of IDPs who have been displaced for the
second and third some of the fourth time. So that definitely there will be a lot of other movements for people and then adding to their suffering.
ROBERTSON (voice over): A Yemeni military trip to the front line reveals how precarious the city is? Soldiers in the trunk tell us that there's
fighting around here every day for the past few months. The reason we're driving so fast well, that's because of the danger and the guy at the
wheel. That's the Army Chief of Staff. On the way he stops greets tribal leaders, without his fighters he can't hold the front line.
[11:35:00]
ROBERTSON (voice over): And another stop this time with his own troops, both he and the information minister promising them their morale sapping
pay arrears will be sorted. The front itself, small dirt - dust rises from Houthi vehicles and shooting starts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This car is brought to the enemy.
ROBERTSON (voice over): His answer yes, in some places, the mountains they have in the open areas we're doing better and vows they'll never take
Marib. Three years ago commanders took us to their frontline. It was on top of the mountains overlooking the capital, they were confident that they'd
be able to take it.
Now, they've been pushed back there on the back foot defending their own city. We're pulling back from the front line the commander felt it was just
getting too dangerous. That exchange of gunfire was heating up. And it wasn't quite clear to him how it was going to play out.
We stopped near a ramshackle gun and placement. Military hardware here is old, scattered and scarce nothing here that couldn't be overrun in a hurry.
They're relying on Saudi coalition airstrikes to hold the Houthis back and feel weakened by Biden's decision to end American Military support for it.
GEN. SAGHEER BIN AZIZ, CHIEF OF STAFF, YEMENI NATIONAL ARMY: America's decision hurt us and we hope that the Americans administration will go back
on their decision.
ROBERTSON (on camera): So for Biden's Yemen policy is raising the stakes for this city whether or not that can produce political compromise
necessary to make peace remains unclear? Nic Robertson, CNN Marib, Yemen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And you can read more about Nic's experience in Marib, including more details from victims and the strategic importance of that city
@cnn.com. Well, let's get more perspective on Marib and its value to Houthis. We're joined by Jamal Benomar who used to be the UN's top man on
Yemen. He is now Chairman of the International Center for dialogue initiatives.
And it's very good to have you with us sir thank you. As we just saw in my colleague Nic's report, of the Saudi-backed Yemeni Government blaming the
Houthis for this recent escalation in attacks, your assessment of what is going on, and why?
JAMAL BENOMAR, FORMER U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR YEMEN: Well, the Yemen has now fragmented basically; there are more political actors each one of them is
in control of territory. The most important rebel group is that is now in control of the capital is the Houthis.
But there is other you have the forces associated with Islamic Party, the Muslim Brotherhood; they're fighting in Marib and other places. You have
secessionist in the south backed, by the UAE. And you have Salafi groups backed again, UAE, and Al-Qaeda, of course, and others.
That - each one in control of some territory, and the prospects are very bleak. And the suffering of the Yemeni people continues.
ANDERSON: Well, it's a very pessimistic outlook. Let's - but I'm sure you know, you have every - all the evidence to suggest that this is - these are
bleak times. The Saudis have proposed troops, the Houthis have rejected that offer, saying they want to see a full lifting of the - blockade. You
have just described, very, very complex politics on the ground.
I want to sort of look at what's happening with regard to Houthis and the Saudis. Do you see that blockade being lifted and a ceasefire happening
anytime soon?
BENOMAR: It doesn't seem like it's going to happen very soon. Both sides talking, but they're talking past each other. Both have conditions the
Saudis have conditional - condition they're lifting of the blockade or part of the blockade while the Houthis also they want many things to be done
before even they can begin peace talks.
[11:40:00]
BENOMAR: They're basically been talking for years now, about the consequences of conflict, you know, ceasefires and humanitarian - and so
on. What haven't happened are substantive discussions on what should be the end game? What should be the solution?
And I think if the U.S. is to offer a vision to the Houthis, of what will be this endgame? I think the discussion be different.
ANDERSON: Right. And, you know, you've pinned an op-ed to that extent. Let me just stop you for one moment, because you were Envoy to Yemen, you
brokered a peace agreement back in 2014 talks, but then at least seemed as if they were on track to conclude, until Saudi Arabia intervened
militarily, which of course forced you to resign.
You condemn the Saudis and warned against interference from outside forces. Are you convinced that this is it for the Saudis that they truly want out
of Yemen at this point?
BENOMAR: Well, in 2015, you know, when the Saudi intervened, you know, there was a political process in place. There were negotiations that I was
chairing, and facilitating at that time and Yemenis all sides were negotiating, and they were close to a power sharing deal.
So the military intervention of Saudi Arabia and its allies, aborted this agreement. And now we're back, you know, to discussing peace talks and so
on. But the reality here is that the involvement of countries of the region, the involvement of Iran, UAE, or Saudi Arabia, has complicated the
situation because Yemenis before 2015, it was an internal Yemeni strife.
Now, Yemen is the theater of the regional competition. Now, this international community has not been helpful, either, because when I was
the UN Envoy, the members of the Security Council, the permanent members were very much in support of my effort.
When the Saudi intervention started, that support evaporated, in fact, because Yemen and the war in Yemen became a business opportunity for
members of the Security Council competing for arms deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
So one condition for peace talks, you know, to start and succeed, is for all these regional actors, you know, to leave Yemenis alone, leave them the
space. This is what I said to the Security Council in my last report, in April 2015. Yemenis were need to be afforded the opportunity to have the
space for them to make the compromises necessary for them to move forward without interference, and without coercion from outside forces.
ANDERSON: Well, let's talk about this U.S. involvement then. In a recent op-ed, you said, and I quote, there will, of course, be those who say that
for the U.S. to abandon preconditions, let alone seek to negotiate with the Houthis would be a capitulation and reward for the Houthis bombing
themselves into government.
But you said from the IRA to the Taliban, there are many examples in recent history of armed groups doing just the same the U.S. negotiated power
sharing with both. Some might beg to differ with you particularly on the part of the Taliban there, but leaving sort of any criticism of those sorts
of side.
Yemen's politics are incredibly complex, as you have rightly pointed out. How does - what is going on around Marib at this point? Complicate U.S.
support for a ceasefire to help end this conflict?
BENOMAR: Well, first, you know, the - I'm delighted to see the U.S. engaged. You know, the U.S. supported the war effort, the Saudi war
efforts. They're not a neutral party. They're part of the problem, but I'm delighted they're reaching out and talking to the Houthis and others.
It's only through dialogue, you know, that a way forward, you know, can be found. But having said that, you know, I must state that, you know, for you
know, this conflict to be settled at the end of the day to the Yemenis, who need to make you know, the hard decisions.
They can continue to fight you know, forever. If you know if the Houthis believe you know, that they can prevail and rule Yemen, now, they will be -
you know, they are wrong. And I told them this in 2015 and I still saying it today.
[11:45:00]
BENOMAR: I told also the President - when he was in Ireland, that if he believes that, you know he can create an army in the south and then advance
on the Houthis and throw them out of the country, that's not going to happen.
The reality here is that Houthis are part of the social fabric of Yemen. So are other factions also like Muslim Brotherhood separatists in the south
and others. And they need to co-exist and the only way forward is power sharing deal. Without that--
ANDERSON: OK.
BENOMAR: --if somebody wants to just defeat the Houthis, it means that the war will continue and continue forever.
ANDERSON: Jamal Benomar, Former UN Envoy to Yemen. And we are delighted to have you on your analysis and insight it is incredibly important off the
back of what was some superb reporting by Nic Robertson and his team. Thank you.
Uyghur children and parents forcibly separated and begging to be reunited, you saw that story right here on CNN last month. Well, now Chinese
government is responding to our report. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: China is blasting a non binding motion passed in Britain's Parliament accusing the Chinese government of committing genocide against
Uyghur Muslims. The emotion is symbolic and does not compel the UK government to act.
China's Embassy in Britain saying the unwarranted accusation by handful of British MPs that there is "Genocide in Xinjiang is most preposterous lie of
the century and outrageous insult whitewashing domestic human rights issues while at the same time staging human rights fascists concerning other
countries smack of sheer hypocrisy and double standards".
Well, Chinese government also responding to a CNN investigation that shed new light on this humanitarian crisis. Last month we told you about
children from China's Xinjiang region who were ripped from their families. Amnesty International estimates Beijing's policy towards ethnic Uyghur
Muslims is split up thousands of families.
Well, CNN's David Culver brings us an update to his team's investigation including reaction from Beijing.
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We began looking into this after the parents of these children reached out to us, desperate for answers and
hopeful that they might be reunited with their kids. We took their concerns to Chinese officials throughout our news gathering effort, sending them
dozens of detailed questions about the families.
We didn't hear back despite giving them ample time to reply. Since the broadcast of our story however, the Chinese government and state media have
launched a concerted campaign to discredit our reporting and claim the parents are terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CULVER (voice over): It's a familiar sight by now families of Uyghur exiles, profiled by international media suddenly showing up on air and
online in Chinese state media stories and posts. A 10-year-old - telling state broadcaster CGTN she's living a happy life in her grandparents' house
along with her younger brother.
[11:50:00]
CULVER (voice over): But just days earlier when we unexpectedly found her in - old town, telling her our colleagues had interviewed her father. Her
reactions were quite different. But amidst her innocence, and awareness, not to say too much, she told us she'd not spoken to her father since 2017.
And when we asked her, what would you want to say to him if you could talk to him? I miss him. She later told me. Can you tell me some of what you're
feeling? I don't have my mom with me right now. I don't have my dad either. We just want to be reunited with them she told me.
We later showed with - father Mahmud John Abdur-Rahim (ph) the video of our encounter with his daughter and parents in - he watched from his home in
Adelaide, Australia. Overcome by grief for the year's loss.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What kind of country does this to people, to these innocent people?
CULVER (voice over): More than a week after our story aired in a written statement sent to CNN, that Chinese government accused Mahmoud John of
influencing his wife with extremist religious and violent terrorist views.
China claims she returned to the country with an assignment of encouraging others to join overseas terrorist groups. Flocked on the outside, so unless
they're gone for the day, or they're gone permanently. The authorities added that Mahmoud John's wife, whom we tried to track down in - was
sentenced to nine years in prison last June the charge inciting ethnic hatred.
CNN's request to see additional details in the court verdict was rejected. Mahmoud John released a video statement in response to China's statement,
calling it laughable and again pushing for his wife to be freed. CNN's report last month also highlighted the plight of another Uyghur family
living near Rome.
Mihriban and Ablikim (ph) are still desperately trying to reunite with their four children. Last year Chinese officials stopped the kids from
flying to Italy after they escaped to Shanghai. They were sent back to Xinjiang to live in a state orphanage.
After making a pass by the orphanage, we headed to one of the schools. We asked to see the kids eventually a local official showed up and asked for
about 30 minutes to get back to us. That was more than two hours ago. But they've yet to let us talk to the children.
We later made contact with - through video chat. Do you want to be with them? Do you - do you miss them? I do he says. He entered quickly and kept
looking off camera, someone was directing him to answer. Tell them that you see your sister every day the boy said.
Despite the pressure that the children face every day, they even risk sending out a photo message to their parents. The four of them lined up
holding a sign in Chinese saying, dad mom, we miss you a rare glimpse of an uncensored truth.
Following our report that children say a state media team went to film them at the orphanage. A video was later circulated online showing an edited
interview with the eldest sibling - who said my life is colorful and happy every day.
The Chinese government told CNN in a statement that the four children are leading a normal life and attending local schools. The authorities alleged
that the kid's parents had abandoned them to become key members of a violent terrorist group, but declined to provide CNN with evidence.
Their Uyghur parents in Italy told us that Chinese accusations are baseless. Their eldest boy - has since been in touch with his mother. He
told her that he and his siblings have faced repeated interrogations since our attempt to visit them.
The children even tried to send a handwritten note to the Chinese authorities formally requesting to join their parents in Italy who have
secured Italian visas for them. Their case has captured international attention since our story aired and was brought up in Italy's parliament,
where the Foreign Affairs Undersecretary said the government is working to help the family.
Italian officials have been debating a resolution on condemning human rights violations in Xinjiang and following the U.S. and other countries
and labeling China's actions as genocide. Even with Beijing becoming increasingly forceful and pushing back criticisms of its Xinjiang policy.
The parents hope that added international pressure will help them reunite with their children. David Culver, CNN, Shanghai.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: We'll take a very short break, back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: SpaceX and a crew of astronauts on their way to the International Space Station made history today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: They never get old those images do they? That's the Crew Dragon Capsule blasting into the sky from NASA's Kennedy Space Center just a few
hours ago. On top of Falcon Nine Rocket No Less it's the first time ever that a crew has launched in a recycled rocket and capsule.
Four astronauts from the U.S., France and Japan are on board. They will be inside for 23 hours before docking to the space station for a six month
mission. That's it from us. Good night.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
