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More Football Scandal; ISIS Fight Continues; Refugee Crisis Worsens; Ukraine Situation Examined; Tiananmen Square Massacre Remembered

Aired June 04, 2015 - 10:00   ET

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

[09:59:50] ROBYN CURNOW: Hello, and welcome to the International Desk. I'm Robyn Curnow at the CNN Center.

We begin with more accusations and allegations about corruption within world football. A former FIFA executive indicted by US law enforcement is

now lashing out at outgoing president, Sepp Blatter. The televised address, Jack Warner vowed to reveal all that he knows about corruption in

FIFA. Warner says he's done nothing wrong, but he knows who did.

JACK WARNER: You'll be a lame-duck president, and so a few of the people that ask you, if you're cooking the books (inaudible), right? So I said to

him, stand down. I said to him, sir, Blatter, I empathize with you because I was, in 2011, where you are today. The only difference is, that you

cause [sic] my demise. I didn't cause yours.

CURNOW: Well, this comes on the heels of revelations from another former FIFA executive, Chuck Blazer, who after a plea deal, admitted in court to

taking bribes to land the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Well, CNN correspondents are keeping an eye on all the claims and counterclaims.

Richard Roth has the latest from New York, but, first, we're going to start with Isa Soares in Zurich Switzerland. Isa, so Jack Warner is there

threatening to reveal an avalanche of secrets. I mean, it seems like the gloves are off. What's the reaction been, do you think, at FIFA

headquarters?

ISA SOARES: Well, I have to say, Robyn, good morning to you. It's been rather quiet from FIFA following those revelations from Jack Warner, but

also following the admission of guilt that we've heard there from Chuck Blazer, but let's talk a bit about what he had to say yesterday, Jack

Warner. He's speaking out, and he was a bit of a rambler. I have to be honest, going through what exactly he said, but he's, nevertheless, a very

key figure here. He's a close ally of Sepp Blatter. He sat right atop of the table. He knew what was happening, and he's also a vice -- former vice

president of FIFA and also president of CONCACAF. He said he is prepared to spill the beans, as you quite correctly pointed out. He says he has an

avalanche of secrets to reveal. He says he has a link, proved a link between FIFA and the elections in Trinidad and Tobago, went further to say

that he also had proof that Sepp Blatter played a role in this scandal. He said he has -- he's -- feels like his life is in danger, but not

even that will stop him from really revealing and exposing this scandal, Robyn.

CURNOW: There are a lot of people got a lot of say, but let's just -- stay with us, Isa. I wanted to speak to Richard now about somebody else who's

been talking, Chuck Blazer, the man whose actual confessions kick started this investigation. Why did he talk? He's got nothing to lose, has he?

RICHARD ROTH: Well, facing prison time or some type of court-supervised restrictions at home, you might say he has nothing to lose, but he's going

to lose millions in money he had, but he's also in poor physical health. He's in a hospital, and according to the sealed court documents released

yesterday, he's suffering from renal cancer, diabetes, a host of ailments. He was in a wheelchair during the court testimony where he admitted,

pleading guilty to some 20 felonies. Chuck Blazer seems to be at the heart of the unraveling of the culture at FIFA over the years. He said in these

documents that he had worked with others on the FIFA executive committee to accept bribes and to help determine the location of the World Cup in 1998

and 2010, and you mentioned Jack Warner there. According to the indictments of last week, it was Blazer who, with Warner, went to Morocco

and was -- Warner was offered a bribe, which Blazer helped arrange, is -- as Morocco bid for the World Cup which South Africa eventually got in

2010. What kind of man, Chuck Blazer? We keep learning more and more about him, certainly colorful with a very large beard and a big

personality. I talked yesterday with his former media director for three years at the tiny CONCACAF office, the soccer federation here in North and

South America, and he told me that Blazer, at soccer tournaments, football tournaments, used to walk around with wads of $100 bills. They were

models. There were parties. But on a more serious note, the former aid said he thinks that Blazer, along with the US Attorney General, may turn

out to be the key figures in the demise of the FIFA culture.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just want to say that I think that Chuck Blazer is the most important person in soccer today. If it wasn't for him, none of

this will [sic] be happening. It took someone at his level and his stature, to have the type of information and access that Loretta Lynch

needed, and if it wasn't for Chuck Blazer, you know, I don't think we will be at cusp of really powerful change at FIFA.

ROTH: Blazer was an informant for the US Justice Department. He wore a wire to meetings in London. There are people who are probably wondering if

their name is coming up through the information Blazer provided, and, Robyn, it's also been reported that Jack Warner's -- two of his sons also

had turned state's evidence in cooperating with the federal government, so we'll probably see this process moving forward in the investigation.

[10:05:00] CURNOW: And it feels like it's snowballing, doesn't it? Thanks, Richard. Isa, to you. Blazer's comments also casting doubt, just

not a previous World Cups, but also forthcoming tournaments, and now England has made a rather cheeky offer about the 2022 competition.

SOARES: Yeah. It seems that this is definitely escalating as the two investigations that are taking place from the US, and, indeed, from

Switzerland, both looking at the Qatar and the Russian bids in 2018 and 2022. Both those countries have fervently denied being involved in any

sort of corruption or bribes. We heard from Qatar yesterday, basically saying they -- you know, this is just racist, and they're trying to

jeopardize the tournament. We have also heard this morning, Robyn, from the Russian Sports Minister who basically said -- I'm quoting here --

Russia is systematically preparing for the World Cup. There are no organization defects here, and I don't see any risks why Russia shouldn't

hold the World Cup. Having said that, like you clearly pointed out, the UK said it is willing to help FIFA if FIFA needs its help stepping in to host

the World Cup. Take a listen to Whittingdale had to say.

SPARROW WHITTINGDALE: If FIFA came forward and asked us to consider helping -- hosting it, we have the facilities in this country, and, of

course, we did mount a very impressive, if unsuccessful, bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

SOARES: We've also heard reports coming out of Australia that they, too, will be interested and willing to step in and host the World Cup if FIFA

does decide, but this is all unraveling rather quickly, Robyn, and, at the moment, we have -- it's four World Cups being investigated, 1998, 2010,

2018, and 2022. All this adding huge amounts of pressure on Sepp Blatter, who is still, who remains, FIFA President for the time being, Robyn.

CURNOW: Okay. Isa Soares outside of FIFA headquarters, and our Richard Roth in New York. Thanks to you guys. Well, what is very clear is that no

matter where the investigations go or who takes the helm after Sepp Blatter, FIFA faces a long and painful process to rebuild a new reputation.

Samuel Burke reports from London.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go FIFA. Let's go FIFA. Thank you. Thank you.

SAMUEL BURKE: What a difference a week makes. Just last week, FIFA had an estimated brand value of more that $3 billion. Seven days later, nearly a

half billion dollars wiped away, and it's expected to keep falling. Now FIFA may even have to consider changing to a completely new name, some

brand experts say. Others believe Sepp Blatter's plans to resign may have just diverted FIFA from destruction.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's just pulled it back from the precipice. I think if they had continued the way they were going, the whole organization

might well have been boycotted. It might well have collapsed like a house of cards. By removing himself, he's given it a chance to survive.

BURKE: In spite of the arrest and criminal allegations hanging over FIFA, it is a brand that's been around for a remarkable 111 years, and brand

experts say, it's revered by many around the world at least for now. FIFA is far from out of the woods. In order to maintain its brand value,

industry observers say, it must become more transparent and open up its books.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need an external body, an independent body, to come in now and ordered FIFA to investigate without fear of favor and really

clear the decks. There is a danger now that the old guard at FIFA may be trying to rally round each other, hope that they can dictate the terms of

the reform process themselves and any investigations that are done, and then put one of the their own people in Sepp Blatter's place.

BURKE: The key question the FIFA brand faces now is, who will take the helm, and if that person can lead the organization to reform because when

Sepp Blatter steps down, a leader will have to step up and rebuild the FIFA brand. Samuel Burke, CNN, London.

CURNOW: Coming up at the iDesk, Germany hosts the G7 Summit this weekend, and our Fred Pleitgen gets a preview from Chancellor Angela Merkel herself,

so stay for that, and warnings of a new humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq as ISIS militants cut off water to pro-government towns. We'll have an in-

depth look at both stories. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CURNOW: Welcome back. Now, Egypt's former president, Hosni Mubarak, will stand trial once again over the deaths of hundreds of protesters after the

country's high court granted a request from prosecutors. A lower court had cleared Mubarak of charges last year. Right now, Mubarak, who is 87 is in

a military hospital. Witnesses say ISIS militants are using water as a weapon of war in Iraq. They say the insurgents have closed off a dam north

of Ramadi, cutting water to pro-government towns downstream, and making it easier for fighters to attack loyalist troops, but a US official says ISIS

is suffering enormous losses, as well. Deputy secretary of state, Tony Blinken says the anti-ISIS coalition has killed more than 10,000 militants.

He was asked about that statement earlier today on CNN.

ANTONY BLINKEN: The number, in and of itself, alone, doesn't mean much. Here's what's going on. We had 22 countries, the core of our 62-country

coalition, come together in Paris to see where we were in this campaign. The coalition has been together for nine months, and we've seen some

setbacks, including in Ramadi, but we've also seen significant progress. Part of that progress is the fact that ISIL now controls 25 percent less

territory in Iraq than it did when the coalition got together, and part of that progress is the serious damage that's been inflicted on it in terms of

its loss of them and its loss of material.

CURNOW: Let's go to Baghdad. Nick Paton Walsh is there. He joins us with more on those comments. You're on the ground in Iraq. We're your

assessment of Blinken's comments and the debate around how to measure coalition successes and failures against ISIS?

NICK PATON WALSH: Well, it's interesting to hear that touted initially as perhaps some sort of gauge of success, if you like, of the coalition

strategy, but then also in the same breath to stand -- he said, actually, you know, what we (inaudible) most of those fighters are immediately

replaced on the battlefield by other ISIS recruits, so let's be cautious about what that actually means. Now, also, there have been Pentagon

officials that expressed dismay, of perhaps returning to the Vietnam Era of body counts, and I have to say, while we understand that those numbers come

from that sort of (inaudible) tally of each air strike and how many they think they hit. They clearly don't know because they don't have a presence

on the ground in half the places where these air strikes come in, so you may look at a number like that, round as it is, and, I mean, very large,

frankly, given the amount of time in which the coalition air power has been used here and see if it perhaps smacks of some bid to try and suggest a

measure of success where elsewhere, there may not be one, but if you look at what's happening here, the momentum certainly, perhaps because of ISIS',

frankly, masterful use of social media and video, seems to be on ISIS' side, and as you mentioned yourself, you know, we've seen Mosul fall last

year, Ramadi fall now. It was supposed to be Mosul that was being liberated at this stage by coalition and Iraqi security forces instead.

They're asking themselves, what on earth went wrong to allow another key city, Ramadi, to fall instead? Robyn.

CURNOW: Let's talk about Ramadi and Ram -- and the dam. I mean, give us some sense of the humanitarian and the strategic implications of what's

happening there.

PATON WALSH: Well, (inaudible) not here. It is incredibly hot. The climate is very repressive at this stage of the year, so water is a

valuable commodity at the best of times, particularly right now in the months ahead, and we're seeing that, of course, reflected in Iraq's

agriculture, and the simple ability for people displaced by war, millions of them right now, to go about their daily lives. Now, we know in this

region, it's increasingly scarce as a resource, but we also know many of them thought it might be used as a weapon in the future, and that is

exactly what seems to be happening on the outskirts of Ramadi now. ISIS have closed 23 of the 26 gates of that key down there. They seemed to be

letting a couple of them flow for periods each day to allow water from that town, Ramadi, that they hold, to flow down stream towards another town they

hold, Fallujah. In between that is government-controlled areas and there are a lot of Shia fighting groups and Iraqi military building up there,

but, also, a

lot of refugees, too, and we're hearing reports that perhaps the river level there may have dropped as much as three feet, about a meter or so. I

am seeing social media pictures in support of that, and even ones that suggest that from the ISIS side of the dam, they're overflowing. People

being shown holding fish they've caught. I mean, clearly, a bid by ISIS who has said, you want water, you need to be on our side of the divide

here, but there's another issue here, too, for those fighting groups there. If the river is lower, then there is a strong possibility that ISIS held

back by like the river being a moat of sorts away from their enemy, can simply walk across those river beds. That significantly complicates

matters for those troops on the ground there because they're not only facing a water shortage. They're facing ISIS able to go across one of

their main defensive lines, so it is a substantial game-changer potentially, although, many, I think, are actually asking how is it

possible? That in simply

a matter of days, we've seen such a change in the terrain in there by the closing of this one dam, Robyn.

CURNOW: Indeed. And how does that impact on Baghdad?

PATON WALSH: Not really much at this stage. You could argue, as some do, that if ISIS are looking perhaps in Syria to limit water flow from Syria

down to Haditha, and then limit flow from Ramadi down to Fallujah, that Baghdad may find itself significantly worse off for water in the long-term

future, but after, you know, a reality check in terms of those who think that Baghdad is under pressure. Yes, there are car bombs here on a

terrifying regular basis. You know, (inaudible) here has been shaken by them in just last week, but there is not a sense in this city that we're

about to see ISIS piling into it. It is very well defended. What firepower the pro-Shi'ite Government here is certainly concentrated around

making sure that capsule is impregnable to some degree; although, impregnable is clearly the wrong word given the (inaudible) we hear, but,

in the longer term, if ISIS were to control the flow of water down that river, it would have been a devastating impact on certainly, Anbar's

agriculture and

population. Then, of course, too, eventually, here, but that's a long way off, and the capitol, so far, I think, you can get a sense of the sectarian

divide here because pro-Shia Governments and, you know, military elements here that are defending the capitol have the resources they need, but those

fighting for the recapturing of Ramadi, quite clearly, at this stage, don't, Robyn.

CURNOW: As always, thanks so much. Nick Paton Walsh there coming to us from Baghdad. Well, the UN is calling for a huge cash infusion to avert a

possible humanitarian disaster in Iraq. The UN's humanitarian coordinator there says a funding short fall is threatening more than half the current

aid operations with immediate closure or cut backs. The UN and partner agencies say they need nearly half a billion dollars just for the next six

months. The UN says more than eight million people are in need, and that, that figure will approach 10 million by the end of the year, and nearly

half of the four- and-a-half million people now in need of food assistance are children. Well, UNICEF's Middle East Communications Chief, Simon

Ingram, joins us now from Brussels where the appeal was launched earlier today. These numbers are staggering.

SIMON INGRAM: They are staggering and the shocking thing is that they're getting worse, and they're getting worse in a hurry. We fear very much if

all our predictions come to pass, that by the end of the year, the number that you just cited, something like 8.2 million people, civilians in need

of urgent assistance, that number could become 10 million, so we're looking at a situation which is really unraveling very fast, and unraveling right

across the country. It -- until, say, last year, at least, the situation was more or less confined to the north. It was in the Kurdish areas that

we were seeing these mass displacements of people, but, of course, as you're well aware, over recent weeks and months, the focus, the key, the

main focus the conflict going on in Iraq has shifted south towards the center of the country, and it's there that we're seeing vast numbers of

people displaced from their homes, terrible scenes as whole families flee on foot to get away from the violence, which is engulfing that area,

so it's a very, very severe situation and unraveling fast.

CURNOW: Severe situation, and as always, children, the civilians, bearing the brunt of this. I mean, you're asking for a lot of money. Do you think

you're going to get it? And if you did, how could it impact on the lives of four-and-a-half, nearly four-and-a-half million children, who are in

need of food?

INGRAM: Well, in fact, the amount of money that we are asking for is not a lot in the context of major international appeals, and the 500 million that

we're seeking will only cover the next six months because, at the moment, we're right at the edge quite literally. Programs, key programs,

lifesaving programs of health, food support, shelter, are on the brink of being closed down. The money has just run out, so what we're looking for

basically is to hold the situation to position supplies and services so that they're able to deal with this expected deterioration of the situation

over the coming six months. We hope very much that by the end of the year, the Iraqi government, who is an -- is a key partner, the major partner in

this whole undertaking, that they will be in a better position financially to take on the burden themselves, but until that happens, there's an awful

lot of time to pass. Six months is a long time; especially, in the heat of the Iraqi summer, so we're desperately hoping and hopeful,

indeed, that donors will step forward, that they will recognize the urgency of the situation and the fact, as you say, that these innocent civilians

who are caught up in this, they are the ones paying the real price.

CURNOW: You say it's a relatively small amount, but it is also only a small part of the problem. I mean, when we look at Iraq, perhaps we can't

even separate it from the situation happening in Syria, and then there's also the issue of refugees overflowing into Lebanon. I mean, the problem

seems to be just gaining size. I mean, how do you deal with such a worrying, desperate, humanitarian crisis that's unfolding?

INGRAM: It is scary. There's no doubt about it. We're seeing turbulence, upheaval, taking place right across the region from the Mediterranean Coast

right over to -- into the heart of Iraq, so the situation is undoubtedly getting worse, and this causes us an enormous amount of alarm, and that is

why, I think, we have to be absolutely clear that it is only by showing solidarity; especially, with the people of Iraq, and with the government of

Iraq, that we can manage to put a truncate, if you like, on this situation and prevent it from getting that much worse, but the situation is

desperate. There's no doubt about that. The conflict is escalating, and that is the reality that we're dealing with, and we as humanitarian

partners, and there are something like a hundred and fifty of us inside Iraq, United Nations, NGO's, civil society organizations working together

on this. It is a huge partnership, and one which has achieved a great deal in very, very, difficult circumstances over the past couple of years,

and we believe that we can continue that work, and that we can get help to the people in the places where they need it, even those people as they're

on the road fleeing their homes and their cities in confusion and panic. We've shown that we can do it. We can do it still more, provided we get

the funds that we need.

CURNOW: Looking for that truncate of $500 million. Thanks so much. Simon Ingram there from UNICEF. Now, a somber candle-lit vigil marks the 26th

anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Hong Kong pauses to remember the victims of the crackdown. That's later on the iDesk, and Germany's

chancellor talks about the crisis in Ukraine, Greek debt, and much more with our Fred Pleitgen. We're live in Berlin to hear about that

conversation next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CURNOW: Welcome back. Well, Germany's foreign minister says the situation in Eastern Ukraine must soon be resolved. He's warning against a military

escalation following deadly clashes on Wednesday, and an escalation does seem imminent. Ukraine's president told Parliament there was, quote, a

colossal threat of a renewal of large-scale military operations from the side of the Russian terrorist groups and there was a quote.

THE INTERPRETER: The military must be ready as much for a renewal of an offensive by the enemy in Donbass as they are for a full-scale invasion

along the whole length of the boarder with Russia. We must truly be ready for this.

CURNOW: Well, the flare-up in Ukraine is expected to be on the agenda at the G7 meeting this weekend in Southern Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel

is hosting the gathering, and she sat down with our Fred Pleitgen. Well, Fred joins me now from Berlin. Hi there, so let's start with this

increasing concern about a flare-up and violence in Ukraine. What did Mrs. Merkel have to say about that?

FRED PLEITGEN: Well, she certainly is very concerned about it she says, and one of the things that she's doing more so than she has, I feel, in the

past is, she's using very harsh words when she's describing the action the of Vladimir Putin. One of the things that she said to me is that she felt

that with his actions, Vladimir Putin had left the common values of the West and Russia the way they were interacting before, so it certainly is

something that clearly worries the Germans a lot. At the same time, however, of course, the Germans have a very special position when it comes

to negotiating with the Russians, when it comes to dealing with Vladimir Putin, simply because her and Putin still have quite good relations. They

talk openly. They talk very frankly, and many times, it's been the Germans who have been sort of an intermediary between, for instance, the US and

Russia. Those are still talks that are going on. If you look, for instance, at the Minsk Agreement, it was clearly one where Angela Merkel

and Francois Hollande took the lead to try and get that through. She says she believes that there still are a lot of problems in the world where the

West is going to have to act in conjunction with Russia to solve problems, but she is also using harsher language than we've heard, for her, before to

describe Russia's actions in Ukraine, Robyn.

CURNOW: Yeah. Interesting to listen to that. And, also, are all eyes on Greece? What did Mrs. Merkel have to say about --

PLEITGEN: Yeah.

CURNOW: -- that issue?

PLEITGEN: All eyes certainly on Greece here in Germany, of course, in many other places in Europe and -- as well, and, of course, in the world also.

We've heard some of the things that the US has said where they're saying they want something like a long-term solution to the Greek problem because

one of the things that happens is before a lot of these payments that Greece is due to make, it seems as though the Eurozone is always on the

brink of that default, on the brink of a possible another Europe-wide, possibly worldwide, financial crisis, and this is something that I put to

Angela Merkel. Here's what she had to say.

THE INTERPRETER: Of course, to find a solution, and I want a solution, just like all my European colleagues, we need big efforts by both sides.

We, the partners in the Eurozone, have to show solidarity, and I am glad the IMF is also engaged. At the same time, Greece has to be willing to

undertake the necessary reforms because in the end, a country brings itself on a growth course by its own efforts, and we have other European countries

that have undertaken harsh reforms, like Ireland. They went through such a program and now have the best growth in the Eurozone. That is the kind of

course Greece needs to get on, and that is why it is tough negotiations, but they are clearly aimed at keeping Greece in the Eurozone.

PLEITGEN: And, of course, there is still a lot of disagreement, Robyn, between Germany, other European countries, other Eurozone countries and the

Greeks as to what is necessary, and, of course, even more, how much is necessary? And we all know, and Angela Merkel certainly knows, that time

appears to be running out, Robyn.

CURNOW: Thanks so much. Fred Pleitgen there in Berlin. Hear more of what German Chancellor Angela Merkel had to say to Fred on the Greek crisis,

relations with Russia, and the fight against ISIS. All of that's coming up on Amanpour starting at 7:00 p.m. in London, 8:00 p.m. in Berlin, only on

CNN. And just ahead on the iDesk, last ditch efforts to find any survivors on that capsized cruise ship in China continue. We'll get an update from

the scene. Stay with us for that story and much more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CURNOW: Welcome back to the International Desk. I'm Robyn Curnow. And here are the headlines. Indicted former FIFA executive, Jack Warner, is

vowing to release an avalanche of evidence of corruption in world football. That will include allegations against outgoing president, Sepp Blatter.

This follows the release of former FIFA executive Chuck Blazer's courtroom admission that he and others took bribes to put the 2010 World Cup in South

Africa. And at least 76 people are dead after a huge gas explosion in Ghana. More bodies are expected to be found in what's left of the gas

station in Ghana's capitol, Accra. The station was packed with people seeking shelter from torrential rains. In the US, Jeb Bush has revealed he

will officially announce he's running for president on June 15th. The former Florida governor will make the announcement in Miami. His brother,

George W, and his dad, George, also served as presidents. While rescuers in China cut holes in the hull of the cruise ship that overturned in

the Yangtze River late Monday, but they didn't see or hear any signs of life. Seventy-seven people are confirmed dead, and hundreds are still

unaccounted for. Only 14 people are known to have survived the disaster. Well, CNN's David McKenzie is covering the search and rescue efforts. He

filed this report for us a short time ago from Jianli County in China.

DAVID MCKENZIE: The search and rescue efforts here on the Yangtze River has moved into a new phase, an extraordinary phase to try and raise the

vessel, the Eastern Star, out of the murky waters of the river to recover the souls who are onboard. We were there earlier today to see the scene.

They were trying to get inside the hull to find any chance of proof of life by welding and cutting into that hole, and divers were also on the scene,

but they didn't get proof of life for sometime. At 72 hours, they said, the limit of human endurance has been reached, and only a handful of

survivors came from that desperate situation when it appears that serious weather hit this vessel; though, still unclear exactly what happened, but

more than 400 people still missing as the family members descend onto this town to try to get some kind of closure for what has been the worst

disaster of its kind here in China in some time. David McKenzie, CNN, Jianli, China.

CURNOW: Thanks, David, for that report. Now, 26 years ago, a massacre took place in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, and Hong Kong is remembering that

tragic day with a traditional candle-lit vigil, but as Anna Coren now reports, this year's vigil is exposing deep political divisions within the

city.

ANNA COREN: Tens of thousands of people have turned out for the candle- light vigil here in Hong Kong to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in which hundreds, if not more than a thousand

people, mainly students, were killed in the bloody crackdown in Beijing. Still, Hong Kong is the only territory in China where people can come

together to remember the massacre back in 1989, and many say it's their civic duty so that no one forgets happened and to continue calling for

democratic reform on the mainland.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are Chinese, right, and China is our government. We love our country, and we want the -- our country to be stronger, to be

better, but in terms of, you know, a democratic, we have to be more equalized and treat our people better.

COREN: But some members of the pro-democracy occupy movement that took to the streets of Hong Kong last year in the tens of thousands, paralyzing

parts of the city, say this vigil only focuses on the past in mainland China, not on the current struggle Hong Kong itself is facing. They're

demanding true universal suffrage in 2017, where the people of Hong Kong select their own candidate for leader and a vote. Well, currently being

proposed is for Beijing to approve the candidates, and many citizens here say that is completely unacceptable. In two weeks' time, the Hong Kong

Legislature will vote on the proposal, and many pro-democracy lawmakers have already said they will vote against it. Well, it's an issue that's

causing great divisions here in Hong Kong, but also between Hong Kong and China, but for the demonstrators here, they just hope that their presence

will give a voice to those who sacrificed their lives in the name of democracy. Anna Coren, CNN, Hong Kong.

CURNOW: Coming up, a heartbreaking tribute to a husband lost too soon. You'll hear from Facebook executive, Sheryl Sandberg and listen and read

her essay on grief next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CURNOW: Facebook executive, Sheryl Sandberg has posted a gut-wrenching tribute to her late husband on the social networking site that made her

name. Dave Goldberg, died while exercising during a family holiday, and her post comes at the end of the 30-day traditional Jewish mourning period.

Sara Sidner has more on Sandberg's very moving reflections on love and loss.

SIDNER: A very personal post on Facebook from company's COO, Sheryl Sandberg. A childhood friend of mine, who is now a rabbi, recently told me

that the most powerful one-line prayer he has ever read is, let me not die while I am still alive. I have would have never understood that prayer

before losing Dave. Now I do. Sandberg's husband, Dave Goldberg, unexpectedly died on a family vacation, leaving Sandberg a single mother

and grieving widow. I think when tragedy occurs, it presents a choice. You can get into the void, the emptiness that fills your heart, your lungs,

constricts your ability to think or even breathe, or you can try to find meaning. I have lived 30 years in these 30 days. I am 30 years sadder. I

feel like I am 30 years wiser. I have gained a more profound understanding of what it is to be a mother, both to the depth of the agony I feel when my

children scream and cry and from the connection my mother has to my pain. She's tried to fill the empty space in my bed, holding me each

night until I cry myself to sleep. She has fought to hold back her own tears to make room for mine. Sandberg doesn't hold back on what not to say

to someone experiencing the pain of loss. Real empathy is sometimes not insisting that it will be okay but acknowledging that it is not. When

people say to me, you and your children will find happiness again, my heart tells me, yes, I believe that, but I know I will never feel pure joy again.

Even a simple, how are you? Almost always asked with the best of intentions, is better replaced with, how are you today? Sandberg shares

wisdom on life back in the office after death at home. I realized that to restore that closeness with my colleagues that has always been so important

to me, I needed to let them in, and that meant being more open and vulnerable than I have ever wanted to be. Lastly, she says good bye to her

husband, marking the end of the Jewish mourning period. As heartbroken as I am, I look at my children each day and rejoice that they are alive.

I appreciate every smile, every hug. I no longer take each day for granted. I was talking to one of my friends about a father/child activity

that Dave is not here to do. We came up with a plan to fill in for Dave. I cried to him, but I want Dave. I want option A. He put his arm around

me and said, option A is not available, so let's just kick the (bleep) out of option B, Dave, to honor your memory and raise your children as they

deserve to the raised. I promise to do all I can to kick the (bleep) out of the option B. I will always mourn for option A. As Bono sang, there is

no end to grief, and there is no end to love. I love you, Dave.

CURNOW: Sharing a very private loss in a very public way, making that message even more powerful. Thanks for watching. I'm Robyn Curnow.

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