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Connect the World
Crisis in Lebanon; 10K ISIS Prisoners Held in Kurdish Camps; Climate Crisis Forecasts Chronic Flooding; New Fires in California Warning Zone; Interview with Jan Kubis, U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, about the Country's Uncertain Future; Chile Protests; U.K. Lawmakers Support Duchess of Sussex. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired October 30, 2019 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Tonight in ruins, the remnant of the past perhaps a metaphor for the present. You don't have to dig too far
in Lebanon to find the Roman empire's leftovers. Some 2,000 years later, world powers are stomping their way through the country as it slowly
meanders its way to a new government.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson live from Beirut, bringing you what is many are hoping a moment to be remembered years from
now as it finally throws off its sectarian shackles and comes together as Lebanon. That at least is the hope of the people who have been protesting
here. Let's get you the very latest.
We're hearing from Lebanon's president this hour, saying that street protests that led to the resignation of the prime minister have opened the
door to major reforms. The president has asked the prime minister's government to stay on as a caretaker until a new one can be created.
CNN's senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman is based here in Beirut, joining me now live.
Well, the president saying all the right things at present.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Because I think they've heard. They've heard that hundreds of thousands of people on the street,
they've got to do something. He comes out and says that these -- the protest movement has opened the door to serious major reforms.
He also said in this tweet, if those reforms aren't undertaken, then people should go back in the streets. We've heard that the Lebanese minister of
education is calling for schools and universities and private institutes to reopen tomorrow. We understand that the banks are going to be opening on
Friday.
Therefore, it does appear we're in a moment of pause. There are not so many people out on the street. There's no music blaring in the heart of
Beirut. Perhaps there has been something achieved. It's time to give this new order in the making -- it's not made yet -- a chance.
ANDERSON: As we then consider that there may be a period of pause, may only last until the end of the week. We'll hear from the president
officially tomorrow and then possibly from the head of Hezbollah on Friday. Let's consider there's more news to come this week.
As we reflect on where we are at, who are the winners here and who are the losers?
WEDEMAN: There's no question about it. The Lebanese people are the winners. This came out of nowhere two weeks ago. Here we are in a
completely different situation. The government has fallen. They have made promises of serious reforms, not anywhere near what the country needs, what
the people want.
But it's a step in the right direction. Sort of the momentum is on some sort of fundamental change. Now it's like making -- we don't know how the
sausage is going to be made. It could get ugly. But I think the winner is the Lebanese people and the old order has -- is on the defensive.
ANDERSON: On the defensive but not going away, Ben?
WEDEMAN: No. In no sense because the political order as it exists today is dependent -- goes back to 1943, the so-called national pact, which
divided power on the basis of a census taken in the 1930s. It's a bit out of date.
But these parties are not about to sort of rule themselves out of the political game. It will be a long process. They'll fight back but they're
on the defensive.
ANDERSON: A statement from the U.S. secretary of state, Mike Pompeo following the resignation, said the United States calls on Lebanon's
political leaders to urgently facilitate the formation of a new government that can be a secure Lebanon that's responsive to the needs of its
citizens.
Violence must stop and we call upon Lebanon's army and security services to continue to ensure the rights and safety of the protesters.
The U.S. warning all parties to respect the rule of law. Just before the resignation yesterday, we did actually see some flareups on the streets.
[11:05:00]
WEDEMAN: To a certain extent they stepped back but from where we were looking at from our window on the sixth floor, overlooking the square, was
that they were outnumbered and that these individuals who were, some of them chanting pro Hezbollah slogans, were acting as if they had a plan.
They had a plan or--
ANDERSON: Provoking the protesters in the squares?
WEDEMAN: -- basically attack on the squares. They knew where the police were. They had a good idea how many were there. They would go this way to
the left and then attack on the right. It was a well-thought out battle, so to speak.
If I could just add something, with Mr. Pompeo's statement, the one thing he didn't mention but is running right through it is, the United States
does not want Hezbollah to be part of any possible government here. The Americans in recent years have been a one-track mind. They don't want
Hezbollah in the government.
ANDERSON: Designated as a terror group in the U.S.
WEDEMAN: Exactly. Nonetheless, a major player, the best organized, most disciplined party in Lebanese politics and one that cannot be ignored. We
understand that there's a possibility that there will be a technocratic government, which won't have any distinct political affiliations, which
will on the one hand try to appease the demands; on the other, avoid problems with the United States.
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman, sir, always a pleasure. Thank you.
As the news of the resignation broke yesterday, I spoke exclusively to the Lebanese defense minister. Have a listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIAS BOU SAAB, LEBANESE DEFENSE MINISTER: This president in particular was a president that gave assurances that Lebanon should be at equal
distance from all the regional conflicts that are taking place here. And Lebanon is in the heart of it.
This president in particular is the one who said that we have to respect international law, 1701; that we should make sure there is stability in
Lebanon and not allow anyone to take control of the country or hijack the political decision.
This president in particular did not allow any war to take place between Lebanon and our neighbors. We had seen incidents where it was dangerously
close to escalation. This president has been the assurance for everyone, that he said I will make sure Lebanon would remain at equal distance.
Lebanon will be disassociated with the conflict in the region and Lebanon will do what is in Lebanon's best interest.
And the relationship with Washington, with the United States, especially in the position I'm in, especially as a minister of defense, I'm telling you,
we have very strong ties with the U.S. They're a supporter of our army. They'll remain to be. And this will not change.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's the defense minister speaking to me after the resignation. My next guest, Habib Battah, is a Lebanese investigative
journalist and filmmaker who has covered Lebanon and the Middle East for over 15 years. Lebanon, no stranger to violence.
What has made this different?
HABIB BATTAH, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: I think what we're seeing is a buildup over the last 10 years. We've seen Lebanese activists organizing.
I've been on CNN many times in this square over the past 10, 15 years. Every time it seems to get more defiant. A new political culture is
forming right now in Lebanese, where a post sectarian culture is happening. People are uniting from different towns --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: This is a generational thing?
BATTAH: We've broken the barriers. What's amazing this time is to see the cameras out in the streets and there's an open mic democracy. I don't
think any country in the world has this kind of freedom. There's been no censorship.
There's been all kinds of curse words being used against politicians, all kinds of issues, like Swiss bank accounts being talked about. Tabloids
have been talked about on the TV. It's all day long. Hundreds will talk on the streets.
ANDERSON: You penned an op-ed.
"There are almost no politicians on TV and no news of their daily whereabouts and dramas. Instead what we see on our screens are the voices
of ordinary citizens.
[11:10:00]
ANDERSON: "People we have never seen before, men and women, young and old and even kids speaking to the cameras to get their 30 seconds in the
national spotlight."
That sounds very optimistic and we share and applaud the optimism. It's gone very quiet here, perhaps a good thing, as the Lebanese people work out
what the next stage is for them.
Are you hopeful that the Lebanese people can translate what they've done in the streets to a peaceful political transition which will take them to a
new era?
BATTAH: I think a lot of political organizing from a lot of new faces, a lot of groups. The last election we had there was a record number of
candidates. There are so many new political parties in Lebanon. They didn't win big last time but now there's a big confidence in the street.
People feel like they have power, too.
These politicians, these warlords, a lot of them killed a lot of people. You don't want to piss them off. But now people are going out there and
going, we also have power. We're not -- they've lived in fear of these people for their whole lives.
Now look who is on the streets. The people closed the country. Now there's more a balance of power that's forming. I think this -- and it's
not just today. It's been going on for 10, 15 years.
Social media has really helped people connect in new ways over this period. I think the organization is happening and it's been there. We're also
concerned it's the international community
ANDERSON: Lebanon gets caught up in messy geopolitical politics. It sits in the heart of things here and we have these proxy wars through this
country.
Do you genuinely believe there is change afoot?
What will that mean for the geopolitical picture going forward?
BATTAH: Like you said, what happens in Lebanon doesn't stay in Lebanon. People believe these warlords are funded by other governments, Saudi
Arabia, the U.S., Iran, France.
You know, we're kind of wondering are they able to do what they want, they have to get orders from the West?
The secretary of state of America was here and he was at a big party with all these politicians that people find corrupt. So you have to wonder what
the U.S. really means.
ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. We've heard from Pompeo and he said any violence or provocation must stop and we call upon the Lebanese army to
continue to ensure the rights and safety of the protesters. He's looking for a stable, prosperous and secure Lebanon that is responsive to the need
of its citizens.
Thank you, sir.
ISIS, a group that has terrorized this region, now without a leader. But ISIS supporters remain defiant after getting reports about the death of Abu
Baker al-Baghdadi. Dozens of ISIS members remain in prison in Syria while their family members are holed up in camps.
Some have dismissed use of Baghdadi's death as fake, staying loyal to the terror group. CNN's Sam Kiley joining us now.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, we have obtained material from a prison camp and a refugee camp. The prison camp relates to
fighters and the refugee camp houses 70,000 women and children, many still very loyal to the Islamic State itself, less moved by the recent death of
Abu Baker al-Baghdadi.
So this is what the scene looked like.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KILEY (voice-over): Mostly captured on the battlefield, allegedly fighting for the so-called Islamic State, they are malnourished and weakened. But
these men still pose a potent threat. The guards are from the Kurdish- dominated Syrian Democratic Forces and they are all to stand between these
men and freedom to rebuild the terrorist army.
MYLES CAGGINS, SPOKESMAN, OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE: The Syrian Democratic Forces are responsible for detaining nearly 10,000 ISIS
fighters. This is their responsibility and a burden that they have shouldered. The coalition provide some advice to them and we understand
that it is a threat that some of the detainees might want to break out and be free.
KILEY (voice-over): Some say they just want to go home, like this man who says he is British. Since Turkey's incursion into Syria to drive the Kurd-
dominated SDF away from its border after decades of conflict with Kurdish separatists.
[11:15:00]
KILEY (voice-over): The Kurds say about 800 alleged ISIS fighters have escape from prisons like this one near Hasakah.
Many foreign fighters and their families are held in prisons and camps, their home countries refusing to take them back to face trial, even as the
guards dwindle in number and join the fight against Turkey.
TRUMP: We are holding thousands of ISIS fighters right now and Europe has to take them. And if Europe doesn't take them, I will have no choice but
to release them into the countries from which they came, which is Germany and France and other places.
KILEY (voice-over): The U.S. president has celebrated the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
TRUMP: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead.
KILEY (voice-over): An estimated 70,000 women and children from ISIS areas are housed in this camp alone. Some of the so-called caliphs followers
remain defiant here even after his death.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Hello, did you hear about al- Baghdadi death?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): No, he is not dead.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Huh?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): No, he is not dead. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): You did not hear about the news?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): No, he is not dead.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): No, I don't want to hear the news. He is not dead, al-Baghdadi.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): The U.S. president announced his death.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): No, al-Baghdadi is not dead.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): He is lying, with God will, he is lying. What do you benefit of recording me? It's better for you to stop
and go before I do something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): You are not sad because al Khalifa is dead?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): No, we are not sad. One hundred people will come to replace him. What do you think his death means? You
think it's over. No, it's not.
KILEY (voice-over): Such threats are being passed down a generation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): God willing, one day you will go through this. A day you will be imprisoned like this. God willing, one
day, you will be through what we are going through. God willing, we will imprison you one day. Don't think that the state is over.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Sam, what happens next to these prisoners and these women and children?
KILEY: It's very unclear, indeed, Becky. As you know, the area under Syrian Democratic Forces' control has shrunk. And indeed the Assad regime
has been invited in by the Kurds to help patrol the lines of friction, if you like.
If the SDF continue to lose territory, there is a probability they'll be unable to sustain their guarding operations on these prisons and
importantly these camps, which are places of extreme violence. There's been reports of murders, attempted and murders and that's just in the
women's camp.
This is and remains an extremely difficult problem for Europe. I have to say, there has been no indication from countries such as Britain, Germany,
France, who all have plenty of military firepower and a judicial system that should be able to cope with the 800 European foreign fighters, for
example, that the SDF currently hold.
ANDERSON: Sam there on the Turkish-Syrian border. Appreciate it, thank you.
Still ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD, a new report reveals climate change impacts could be worse than previously thought especially for tens of
millions of people living in coastal regions around the world.
Wildfires rage in southern California, as the region faces a first time ever extreme weather warning. Those details just ahead.
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ANDERSON: No region is arguably hit harder by climate change than here in the Middle East. Increasingly severe heat waves and droughts only serve to
exacerbate conflicts like Syria's civil war. And for coastal countries like this one, Lebanon, urban areas face a growing threat.
New elevation data in a climate change study warns that chronic flooding will threaten hundreds of millions of people around the world. CNN
meteorologist Chad Myers joins me now.
The news in all of this is that this report lays out a picture, which is far worse than previous studies as I understand it, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: More than 100 million more people will have a yearly flood by 2050. Not because the water is going up. We know it is.
But because their land is not as high as we first thought.
Three times more people will have a yearly flood because we had an error in the measurement of where the land actually was. New numbers are more
accurate, the old numbers were from a space shuttle flying over taking measurements of how high the elevation it thought it was.
Part of the problem is the houses are so close to together, that many of the measurements were taking the picture of the roof of the house and not
the land that the building was sitting on.
So all of a sudden, the land is two meters lower than previously thought. So that's what we're going to see. We know the water is coming up. We
know we're going to get between half a meter and two meters by 2050. But we didn't know that the land was lower.
Let's go to Abu Dhabi. This is what we thought. This is now what we know, back to what we thought. You can see many more square miles, square
kilometers underwater yearly because of a flood.
Go to London. Don't worry, London, you're in a nice elevation there. But because where the areas we thought were now about 2 meters lower than they
were -- higher than they were, now they're lower, they're going to flood the western part as we get there. That's where we think we are now.
Couple more places that are significantly more of a problem, Calcutta in India. Take a look of where we thought the flood would be once a year in
2050. Now that's what's going to flood once a year. This is just the once a year flood. This is not storm surge, it could be fresh water, it could
be salt water. That's what we thought and now we know that's significantly incorrect.
We go to Ho Chi Minh City. This is what we know will flood. The bigger story here, too, is that after this once a year flood, as we get into these
floods of -- 70 percent of people are in these places: China, Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Japan. That's where we
know the worst will be.
But now the worst part. Let's fast forward to when we're not here but when our kids and grandkids are here. By 2100, 200 million people will be
living below high tide.
What are they going to do?
They're going to have to move or survive somewhere else -- Becky.
ANDERSON: That is absolutely remarkable and very, very frightening. Alluding to Abu Dhabi, which is where the show is normally based, tonight
out of Beirut and Lebanon for you. Thank you, Chad.
Right now wildfires is threatening areas in both northern and southern California. Wind gusts have reached hurricane strength in some areas of
southern California.
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON: A new wildfire just broke out in Simi Valley. Fire officials say the grass fueled this fire and the wind also a major concern. The area
under a mandatory evacuation order. In northern California, firefighters say they're making progress but 30,000 hectares have already burned.
CNN's Athena Jones joining us from Santa Rosa, California.
ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Becky, we're 55 miles north of San Francisco, very far from the fires going on in the south. Unlike
the fires going on in the L.A. area, this is a lot more rural. It's the biggest wildfire that's currently raging in the state of California.
As you mentioned, there has been progress overnight. Our latest update we got in the last hour and a half is that this fire, which has burned more
than 76,000 acres, is 30 percent contained. As of last night, about 12, 13 hours ago, it was reported as 15 percent contained.
Now one of the big concerns overnight and all along has been high winds. Very, very high winds, up to hurricane force winds, which caused the fire
to spread quickly last week. It was growing at a pace of a football field every three seconds or so.
Wind is a real factor here. A fire official tells me firefighters worked hard to battle the blaze and they were able to keep the growth of the fire
under 1,000 acres. That's how they've been able to make progress.
They've got more than 5,000 fire personnel fighting this fire. And so they're glad to see that the progress of 30 percent. The winds are still
an issue. There's still a red flag warning, which means the wind conditions, the temperature and also the low humidity are conditions ripe
for fires. They're hoping they can continue to make progress here in Kincade. Becky.
ANDERSON: A bit more on that as we continue to watch these images.
The protests here in Lebanon began days after massive wildfires swept through the country. The government's response to the fires was heavily
criticized. Multiple helicopters that had been donated to the country years earlier were grounded.
Why?
Because the government did not keep up their maintenance. The budget for their maintenance wasn't paid. It was held up as an example of economic
corruption and failed policies that have left this country so vulnerable.
This hour, the United Nations special coordinator urging authorities in Lebanon to act decisively and quickly to form a new government. Insisting
political parties must be held accountable for any violence by their supporters. He joins me here up next here on the show. You're watching
CONNECT THE WORLD live from Lebanon. Stay with us.
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ANDERSON: Violence, turmoil, outright chaos. This has been part of the picture in Lebanon over the past couple weeks. Not the only picture but
this has been part of the picture. A country long scarred by divisions seems to be getting more divided.
The prime minister and his government resigned, bowing to the demands of protesters. It's unclear what will happen next. The president has asked
him to stay on as a caretaker until the new government is formed or to form a caretaker government.
Protesters promise not to back down until all their demands are met. Those demands are a new government, a clean government and new elections. We
caught up with one woman who has been on the streets since the beginning of this so-called revolution. Have a look at what she had to tell us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: This is the center of the protest movement, very symbolic, given this is, of course, Martyr's Square. You've been here for what, nearly two
weeks. Just describe life for me, if you will.
MIRANA MAKAREM, LEBANESE ACTIVIST: One thing that is clear is that this protest and movement has made all Lebanese very united. Very united. We
understood that we're very alike. Life here is very simple and we're all equal. This is what you want as Lebanese to discover that.
Then we have a morning routine. We wake up, we clean the place. We sit.
ANDERSON (voice-over): It's quiet as Mirana and I talk today. But just 24 hours ago, a quite different scene here, as counter demonstrators spilled
into the square, attacking peaceful protesters and wrecking this site.
MAKAREM: They broke everything. They burned tents.
ANDERSON (voice-over): This image of Mirana in white was taken just before she says she was hit by the man wielding the stick.
ANDERSON (voice-over): What happened here yesterday -- and I witnessed it myself -- was very violent and very frightening. A couple hours after
that, the prime minister announced he was submitting his resignation.
MAKAREM: We don't feel victorious. We felt that this was step one. But there are many other steps. Now we want a new government. Before the new
election, we want a transitional government made out of people that are just going to work.
ANDERSON: Is that realistic?
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: -- think you can get rid of the old faces in a new government?
MAKAREM: It has to be. Or otherwise why that we would do all this?
ANDERSON: Can go have a look inside?
MAKAREM: Yes, this is our encampment. It wasn't like this. It was very open. We recall the Lebanese embassy in Lebanon. The idea was we're from
all over.
ANDERSON: How long are you staying here?
MAKAREM: As much as needed. As much as needed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Mirana speaking to me earlier.
Lebanon's protesters feeling their work is far from done. But Saad Hariri's government staying in a caretaker role, it seems, for an unknown
length of time and no clear idea of who will take his place. My next guest, U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon, is urging authorities to act
decisively and quickly to form a new government while maintaining security and peace.
I want to talk to you about what you mean by that.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: But first I want to get reaction from you to the news of the president asking the prime minister to stay on. Yesterday's man, it seems,
is no longer yesterday's man.
JAN KUBIS, U.N. SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR LEBANON: Yes, indeed, it was a little bit unexpected to many, maybe not to all. But what is important is
to have firm authorities in place to be able to manage the situation.
But before going into it, perhaps, if I may, two, three sentences. First of all, when introducing the topic you said the country is divided, the
country is growing into a very crisis period. And I would like to state something to the contrary.
The big picture is that people are united. People that -- maybe one fourth of the population went to the street, requesting change. They were the
effector of change. They already managed to deliver a lot because of being united.
And the authorities, although they don't hear and respond to all of the requests, at least they tried to accommodate something. And the security
forces, as well, they have largely responsibly, that they need to act more about this touch that tried to attack the peaceful demonstrators. But this
is different in comparison with some other countries.
ANDERSON: I want to talk about that. You make a very good point. As we see the success, as it were, and the concessions provided by the
government, the success of these protests, we see a different picture in Iraq at present.
Let's stick with where we are for the time being. You tweeted last night that security forces should maintain law and order and take action against
those who instigate violence.
Your words echoing those of the secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who said pretty much the same thing.
We did see demonstrations on the streets. You make a very good point, this is a country that's been polarized for so long, very united on the street,
whose responsibility is that?
Interior minister, defense minister, these people who effectively have just lost their jobs.
KUBIS: Well, have a look. It starts at the top. You'll have the president, who is the commander in chief. And then you have all the
security forces, starting with the Lebanese armed forces. They're in the streets. They're to provide security for the peaceful protesters.
They are to provide a barrier between them and those that are trying to attack them. All sorts of groups, maybe politically motivated, and this is
my message and the message I'm delivering to leaders of different political factions as well. Doesn't matter whether they're in the government or
opposition.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Are they listening?
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: How do you read what's going on in their minds at present?
This is a tough time for these what are called here by many political oligarchy.
KUBIS: They know that business as usual, business as before, is not possible.
ANDERSON: They know that?
KUBIS: They also know that it is extremely important to keep and maintain basic stability, law and order. And it means that they need to encourage
their supporters not to instigate violence and to work for very quick creation of the new government.
ANDERSON: It will be interesting to hear from the leader of Hezbollah, who I believe is set or due to speak on Friday. Given that last Friday he said
that he didn't want to see the end of the government and, should these protests continue, that he could send his supporters to the streets and
that would change the equation.
KUBIS: I hope this will not be necessary. I hope we'll now see a very rapid process of forming of the government.
But the government must be not only acceptable to the political classes that eventually will have to get the confidence from the parliament. They
must be the government that gets the confidence from the street, from the people. That's very important. The political leaders, by and large, they
understand this.
ANDERSON: Let's talk about Iraq. This is important. Protesters storming into Baghdad's Tahrir Square on Tuesday. Furious over the killings of 14
demonstrators in Kamala a day earlier. The MPs, police deny anyone was killed.
Iraqis have protested for weeks now, angry over alleged government corruption and lack of jobs and basic services, which all sounds very
familiar to the demands and the concerns people have here. Yet we're seeing a different picture out of Iraq.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: We've seen deaths, huge amounts of injuries.
What is your perception of what is going on?
What is your message to leadership there?
KUBIS: It's a tragic and sad story. It's two countries. I left at the end of last year, when I was almost four years responsible for the
operation there. They had the same intentions, to accommodate the needs of people, to provide services, to be more inclusive and just.
What happened, they failed to deliver. I'm sorry. They failed to deliver. Maybe because of the political forces that didn't allow the prime minister
to act as he wanted to act. This is a situation that's similar to what is here.
But it's also a big lesson for the leaders of Lebanon but also for all the people of Lebanon. Don't allow yourself to be provoked; don't provoke as
well. For security forces, do not use force against peaceful protesters at any cost.
At the same time, what is needed is that the economy of the country starts working. What is needed is that the government takes on the reform
program, the beginning, only the first steps, but the reform program they approved and parliament legislates by creating a government that will
respond to the needs of the people and will be credible for them.
ANDERSON: It's a pleasure having you on, as we remind ourselves that Lebanon is the third most indebted country in the world. The youth
unemployment rate almost 20 percent. Protests have only compounded the economic woes.
We're hoping to see the banks back open on Friday. We hope not to see a run on the banks. We're hoping the pause is a good one. But there's a big
economic issue. Going to have to leave it.
KUBIS: I have a message from the governor of central bank.
ANDERSON: Go on.
KUBIS: The central bank will support the banking sector and will provide the necessary backing of the banks and servicing their clients.
ANDERSON: A man told me a couple nights ago this country was just days away from economic collapse, should there not be immediate action and the -
- some sort of political solution. We're beginning to see --
KUBIS: And you see the immediate action prompted by the prime minister resigning.
ANDERSON: We're going to leave it there. Pleasure to have you on.
KUBIS: Thank you very much.
ANDERSON: Tune in tomorrow's CONNECT THE WORLD as I speak to Lebanon's interior minister. We ask her about how Lebanon works its way out of this
political and economic crisis. And who will be at the head of that effort. That interview on Thursday. 4:00 pm, Beirut time, 6:00 pm in Abu Dhabi,
2:00 pm in London.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD live from Beirut. We're covering the protest here. Also covering uprisings around the world from Iraq to
Bolivia to Chile. We're live in Santiago where protests have turned deadly. Stay with us.
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ANDERSON: Here in Lebanon, protesters got a little bit quiet to a certain extent here. Still celebrating what many are calling a revolution here and
even though the prime minister has resigned, he's been asked to stay on in a caretaker role.
The demonstrators who have been on the streets for two weeks are vowing not to back down until their demands are met. They want a better economy and
an end to alleged corruption.
In Chile, security forces stretched to the limit. The country has canceled its APEC summit and COP 25 climate meeting amid what are these ongoing
protests. Thousands of Chileans returned to the streets. Demonstrations began over a metro fare hike but grew into a demand for economic equality.
Ben Wedeman based here in Beirut joins me now live. We also have CNN Espanol's Christopher Ulloa, who is in Santiago.
Can you describe what you're seeing and hearing where you are now?
CHRISTOPHER ULLOA, CNN ESPANOL CORRESPONDENT: In Chile, the unrest continues. The president has just announced that he has canceled the APEC
and the COP 25, both international meetings that were taking place in November and December. I want to show you right away the images, the film
of the people right now.
Hundreds of thousands of people getting around to the streets. Again, protesting the government. You have to remember they did it for more than
two weeks, the people have been protesting all over the country. At least 20 people have been killed because of this.
People say that they're tired of the economic inequality in a country where only the rich people get richer and the rest of the people have to face
rising costs of health care, the low wages and the low retirement.
The president has stopped the state of emergency in all of the country. He has also tried to stop the crisis but none seems of this to be enough for
the people. They still go out into the streets. They want the president's resignation and a new constitution.
ANDERSON: Christopher, joining us there from Santiago. Thank you for that.
And Christopher's words out of Santiago should echo around this region. Ben Wedeman is here with me here.
You've been covering this region of the Middle East, is it something like 20 years?
WEDEMAN: Three and a half decades.
ANDERSON: You've forgotten more about this region than most people will ever know. You have also covered so many times of crisis, of conflict and
of protests on the streets, demonstrations against administrations around this region. What Christopher was suggesting there, you know, the demands
for the resignation of the president there and for better economic conditions for the people just so resonate to what is going on here now.
What's been going on for so long in this region.
WEDEMAN: But really the economic conditions in this region have deteriorated dramatically in the last few years. Yes, I covered the
revolution in Egypt in 2011. But at the same time the Egyptian economy was doing fairly well. Even for ordinary people. The focus was more on more
freedom.
What we're seeing here is people are seeing their standards, here Iraq, Egypt, elsewhere, they're seeing their standards of living falling while
people at the top are getting obscenely rich. Some people say it's inequality. But it's the economic system that exists. Call it neo
liberalism. Call it capitalism on steroids.
(CROSSTALK)
WEDEMAN: Or kleptocracy. But this is what is -- because it's not just your ability to speak. Lebanon is a relatively free country. But they've
seen their standards of living fall. They're sending their children overseas when they can because they can't find decent jobs here.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: -- 3,000 individuals I think here in Lebanon who earn something like 50 percent or own something like 50 percent of the GDP.
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: It's quite remarkable when you look at the numbers like that.
We've got some images of you in the region in Tahrir Square. I think it was during the revolution in 2013. Let's just have a look at those images.
Do we have those?
We can't hear you for once.
WEDEMAN: For once, yes, indeed. That's 2013. That was the military coup d'etat that killed the revolution.
ANDERSON: So what we're seeing now has been progress in Beirut. Protesters celebrating the fact they feel like -- they're not necessarily
calling it a victory. They see the government beginning to concede to some of their demands. We await to see what happens next.
What about in Iraq?
Very different story there.
WEDEMAN: Iraq is different. For one thing, it's been much more violent. Hundreds of people going back months have been killed in these uprisings.
Iraq has a lot of money; Lebanon, the economy is much weaker here. There I think the stakes are higher for the ruling class than they are here. Here,
it's a relatively poor country.
ANDERSON: That's CONNECT THE WORLD. We're live in the beating heat of Lebanon, Beirut. We'll be back after this.
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ANDERSON: A show of support for Britain's Duchess of Sussex; 72 female members of Parliament have written an open letter of solidarity, following
what they call outdated colonial undertones against Meghan and her family in the media. The letter comes after both the duchess and her husband
Prince Harry spoke publicly about the strain they're under due to the media.
Today, CNN is proud to announce the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2019. Everyday people doing extraordinary work to help others. Each honoree will receive
a cash prize and a shot at the top honor. Here's Anderson Cooper to show you how to vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Now that we've announced the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2019, it's time to show you how you can help decide who should be the
Hero of the Year. Go to cnnheroes.com where you can learn more about each hero and when you're ready, click on vote.
You get 10 votes every day to help support your heroes. That means you can cast your votes for one hero or divide them among your favorites. To
confirm your votes, log in using either your email address or Facebook account. This year, you can even double your votes by rallying your
friends on social media.
[11:55:00]
COOPER (voice-over): Then on Sunday, December 8th, join me and my friend Kelly Ripa as we reveal the CNN Hero of the Year during the 13th annual
all-star tribute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes to those heroes.
The problem is the whole corrupt sectarian system, my guests telling me this show, about this country of Lebanon. We're here connecting you to the
front lines as we connect you to the front lines of what is going on and what is it seems an ongoing Arab revolution.
Before we leave you tonight, I want to give you some words to think on from the poet Khalil Gibran.
"Your Lebanon is a political knot, a national dilemma, a place of conflict and deception. My Lebanon is a place of beauty and dreams, of enchanting
valleys and splendid mountains. Your Lebanon is empty and fleeting while my Lebanon will endure forever."
I'm Becky Anderson coming to you live from what I hope is to everyone here a my Lebanon. Thanks for joining us. We'll be back with a lot more
tomorrow, including an exclusive interview for you. Stay with us.
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