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Connect the World
International Aid is Arriving As More Nations Pledge Help; Indian High Court Blames Electoral Commission for 2nd Wave; CNN Talks with Head of Human Rights Watch About Israeli Report; Military-Owned Media Shows People Arrested for "Terrorist" Activity; Military Accused of Beatings, Torture in Crackdown; HRW Says Israeli Acts Amount to Crimes Against Humanity, Israel Refutes Findings, Says Rights Group is Biased. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired April 27, 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]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Tonight's the Coronavirus situation in India may seem bad but trust me it is way worse than you
think. The World Health Organization telling us COVID-19 cases in India may be 20 to 30 times higher than originally reported the proverbial tip of the
iceberg in India.
The need for international help urgent and it is starting to arrive. Britain's government sending its first shipment of what will be hundreds of
oxygen concentrators, ventilators and other pieces of what could be life saving equipment. New daily cases did finally dip a bit today after days of
smashing global record.
You can see the dramatic surge on this chart in just a matter of weeks. How and why did this happen? Earlier I speak to a Founding Member of the NGO
Team SOS in India and he told me just how far COVID is spread across the country and how painful it has been for families?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NITESH SINGH, FOUNDING MEMBER, TEAM SOS INDIA: There are - like influx from - like influx of cases from the ruler area like Lucknow, Kanpur, Ranchi and
Jamshedpur. So these are the places we have never thought that we will receive cases and we are receiving even not just bed request but plasma
requests as well.
Like we have more places like Gwalior and like - so we are - like technically, it's not just metro city that are impacted. This time, it's
actually the ruler nature also getting impacted and affected. If they do not work for a day, their family might sleep without food. So this time it
is like it if technically, I can say impossible for some people to not to work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN's Vedika Sud is on the ground in New Delhi for us where she has been witnessed some of the most heart wrenching moments that we have
seen. During what has been Vedika this entire pandemic and the situation just keeps getting worse and worse? Just describe what you have seen and
heard on the ground.
VEDIKA SUD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, where does one start, Becky. You know, the public healthcare system here has just collapsed under the crush of
COVID-19. My - I was out yesterday; we first went to the hospital. And we were standing outside the COVID-19 emergency ward there.
And all sudden we saw so many cars coming in more than half a dozen cars. And those cars were rushing in with patients sitting in the backseat. Some
of them had cylinders, some didn't. And they were all just begging for one bed. That's all we needed for the night to make sure that their relatives
survived that night.
And they didn't get those beds. They didn't get even those oxygen supplies because there isn't any oxygen available in many hospitals. They've been
tweeting desperately about it. They come they come, you know, small containers and then it's just all used up.
And then yesterday, we had someone come up to us and say, you know, could you just help us? We just need that one bed. And that stayed with me, Becky
because that's not the situation only in one hospital in Delhi but in so many. We then went to crematorium, I saw young children, there saying their
final goodbyes to a parent that they had lost. And that's going to stay with me forever as well.
Because these are heart wrenching scenes and you're not seeing one body you're seeing so many bodies there burn at the same time. There's a
completely different section for COVID-19 bodies to be burned and another section for the non COVID-19 bodies to be burned. But when you go there,
you just hear people wailing.
You just hear people say you know I went from one hospital to the other. And then I went to another hospital. But no one admitted my son, my
husband, my daughter. It's something that will stay with me. And here's where we went. We went to crematorium to hospital. And we also went to a
makeshift crematorium, where actually while people are dying in hospitals, you have the authorities making more platforms for these bodies to burn in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUD (voice over): These raging fires will continue all day and through the evening. The surge in case has been so much that there's waiting really for
these bodies to be put on the pyre by family members. There's a queue outside, just waiting for the final rights to end for a family member who
has died of COVID-19.
Body after body being brought into this crematorium in India's National Capital New Delhi that has seen a huge surge not only in cases, but in
fatalities as well family members pulling out bodies such as this one from ambulance lined up in this crematorium ground and taking them for
cremation.
[11:05:00]
They've grown up with these people, they've lived with them. And now it's time to say their final goodbye.
NEERAJ PAL, UNCLE DIED OF COVID-19: My uncle died at about 11:15 pm on April 24th. The hospital didn't inform us when we call the help desk we
were told he's no more.
SUD (voice over): One of the most heartbreaking scenes I witnessed was when a 27 year old was picking up the ashes of his 49 year old mother. His
brother is still in hospital recovering from COVID-19 while his father has just got home after recovering from infection.
I'm standing right behind another crematorium this time in South Delhi. What you can see are about 50 people at work here. They are trying to get
100 platforms ready. This is going to be a makeshift crematorium. Because of the increase the exponential increase in fatalities we believe that this
makeshift crematorium should be ready in the days to come.
I'm standing outside of COVID emergency ward at a top hospital in New Delhi. It is here that a lot of people have been coming and almost begging
for beds and oxygen for their loved ones. If you look at all these cars starting from here, almost a dozen of them parked right outside this
emergency ward.
They're asking just for beds and oxygen which they have been denied as of now because there are no beds available according to officials inside this
hospital. There are old people here; old women, and old men, there are even younger people who are gasping for breath in these cars. They're just
waiting for that one lucky moment where they get a bed inside this facility.
SONIKA BABBAR, DAUGHTER OF COVID-19 PATIENT: I brought my father here, there are no beds. There are people those are in the corridors lying on the
floor. And the very first question says that show your RT PCR test, what is the infection rate? Am I carrying oxygen cylinder, which I wasn't aware of?
I thought this is what the hospital would provide.
SUD (voice over): Relatives of patients who suffering from COVID-19 has been waiting for ambulances also to take them home. But these ambulances
have been busy getting patients here or to crematorium that has been extremely difficult for them to get the sick ones home after being denied a
bed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SUD (on camera): Becky, this is just a situation in Delhi, the similar situation is playing out in so many cities in so many states in India. In
the Western State of Gujarat, we also have news of you know, this hospital that has over 400 patients and just hours of oxygen left. This is what
we're facing right now. And the number of cases we are reporting, like you said is just the tip of the iceberg, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. And we've been speaking to a local NGO who works across the country, who is shocked by how quickly this is spreading outside of the big
cities. Of course, you know, the media tends to concentrate on these big cities. But it's important that we get a sense of what's going on outside
as well.
Look, a top court in India, Vedika is looking for some accountability here. It's so outraged by what it sees as a total inadequacy of the response of
the Electoral Commission in stopping these mass gatherings, its election season, of course in India, in allowing these mass gatherings these mass
electoral gatherings, to go ahead that they say officials that the commission should be charged with murder.
SUD: That's a very, very strong observation by the court. And can you believe it Becky? You were just hearing today that the Election Commission
has said that there shouldn't be any celebrations on counting day, which is early next month, you could have stopped the elections, and you could have
suspended it. That's what a lot of critics say.
But that went on, you had politicians who should be, you know, in the forefront saying stay away from each other ware your masks, actually going
into those rallies campaigning and making sure they were received by huge crowds who were standing shoulder to shoulder.
So this criticism has come in. But it just seems that the authorities were completely in the blind if I might say in the dark when it came to the
second wave. There have been so many times if our medical experts say that India is just about a few months behind European countries when it comes to
this wave.
So we should have been prepared. Instead you have Kumbh Mela, the largest religious festival across the world. Now, authorities say that we truncated
it to a month instead of four. But the damage was done because thousands of people have tested positive.
And today, in fact, is the third time that that holy dip is taking place. A lot of people have moved out but people are still there. And they still
flouting norms. How much will it take for that one festival to be suspended early despite the prime minister appealing to all those religious leaders
saying now it's time you just do this symbolically.
[11:10:00]
SUD: The elections are on there are local elections on in another state. It's just that we are not realizing the magnitude of the situation it seems
at times. There's so much of anger on social media and so much of desperation as well.
You have people taking to Twitter to Facebook to every possible social media saying, I need a bed for my mother, can you help I need oxygen for my
son, can you help? I need Remdesivir can you help? There's a shortage of everything the government is trying to bring in those supplies.
But as of now, I just see days of suffering for the people of India, unfortunately, and we just have to be brave through it all, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. Vedika Sud is on the story Vedika, thank you. Ivan Watson also covering this story for us and his report next shows well, just how
bad things are?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A lifeline has just arrived at this hospital in India. A tanker filled with oxygen pulls through the gate
to replenish the taps. The scale of the need across the country for life saving supplies like this is breathless.
DR. SHARAT, CASUALTY MEDICAL OFFICER, PENTAMED HOSPITAL: We need oxygen immediately; persons are wandering here and there for oxygen. But there is
no help.
WATSON (voice over): Health facilities say they're in begs and borrow mode to keep the oxygen flowing along with other critical supplies. Two
hospitals in New Delhi tweeted over the weekend they were less than two hours from running out of oxygen.
Military now stepping in saying it will release oxygen to hospitals from Armed Forces Reserves and retired medical military personnel will provide
relief to the country's overburdened doctors and nurses. One of India's top health officials says fear is driving some people to hoard essential drugs
and rush to the hospital, even if they have mild symptoms.
RANDEEP GULERIA, DIRECTOR, ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES: There is an unnecessary panic among the public. And it is causing more harm than
good. Anyone who is COVID positive, even if their saturation is normal and they have no symptoms they panic.
WATSON (voice over): But for many people watching their loved ones gasping for breath and being turned away from treatment facilities that are out of
space out of supplies. These are desperate times.
ANIMESH KUMAR, RELATIVE OF PATIENT: This hospital is not admitting him either. Oxygen and the ambulance are running out. We're standing here
without oxygen and a patient in the middle of the road without any hope.
WATSON (voice over): Dire circumstances that have caught the world's attention. Countries like the UK, Ireland, Germany and Saudi Arabia are
sending aid along with the U.S., which announced it would partially lift a ban on exporting raw materials for vaccines, which should help India ramp
up production of its Covishield Vaccine.
And more options could be on the way. The U.S. said Monday; it plans to share its stockpile of the AstraZeneca vaccine with other countries. Ivan
Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, you're watching "Connect the World". Still ahead a system of domination, Human Rights Watch says Israel is effectively committing
apartheid. Israel says that's fiction. We'll hear from the Head of the rights group up next. And--
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now in hiding this 19 year old is brave enough to share his story with us. He says he was detained after being stopped by
soldiers who found photos of him at protests on his phone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Four accounts of torture and abuse at the hands of Myanmar's military, Clarissa Ward reports.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: Human Rights Watch says Israel has crossed a threshold and its policies towards Palestinians amount to "Apartheid". The rights group
points to acts like demolishing Palestinian homes in the occupied territories. For example, the goal says the group is to maintain
"Domination". Well, Israel calls the findings preposterous and false.
The foreign ministry says Human Rights Watch has a long standing anti- Israel agenda. It says report is part of an ongoing campaign and there is no connection to facts or the reality on the ground.
Well, Kenneth Roth is the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch. He's with us now via Skype from New York. Well, thank you for joining us. We
have heard claims of apartheid before most recently in their - report. So what is new in your report?
KENNETH ROTH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: Well, I think as you note, people have increasingly been using the term apartheid to apply to
the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians, particularly in the occupied territories.
Often, these are conditional terms, people will say, oh, if you continue down this path, the Israeli government will be committing the crime of
apartheid. What we do in this report, which is a very detailed report, 213 pages filled with factual examples, a detailed legal analysis, we show that
the time has come. This is not something in the future. This is something today.
And you gave as an example, you know, the question of where Palestinians can live with --? And it's a blatant example, if you look in the West Bank
Israeli settlements for Israeli Jews are flourishing. But right next door in what's known as Area C of the West Bank, Palestinians can even add a
bedroom onto their home.
In fact, you're 100 times more likely to get a demolition order than you are to get permission to add onto your house or to build a school in your
community. And this kind of blatant discrimination permeates the way the Israeli government has been treating the Palestinian community.
ANDERSON: Can I just drill down here because - and I want to drill down on the term apartheid. It's a term that we associated with South Africa until
the mid 1990s. I want to quote here from Benjamin Hallgren (ph), sheet maintained, he said, a privilege for white South Africans who were the
minority, and people of color, the majority were doomed to subservience.
It determined every aspect of life from where you live to the school that you attended to the hospitals you use to which park bench you could use
without facing arrest. Whatever faults you find, Kenneth, with the Israeli position, do you think that apartheid is a fair and accurate description of
life in Israel today?
ROTH: We do. Let me make clear that we are not making an historical analogy to South Africa. That's where the term began, of course. But international
law has now defined the term. There's a convention against apartheid treaty, in essence, and then the International Criminal Courts main statute
also defines apartheid.
So we apply international law which is very clear and involves an intent by one racial group to dominate another, coupled with systematic oppression
and certain kinds of oppression that are defined as inhumane acts.
And we find that in the case of Israel, the intent to dominate is demonstrated by an effort to manipulate the demographics to restrict access
to land, the systematic oppression and the inhumane acts come from, you know, for example, the seizure of Palestinian land.
The refusal to let Palestinians build, the differential access to resources like water on the inability to travel freely if you're a Palestinian, but
not if you're an Israeli Jew and the precariousness of even the right to live in a say in an occupied East Jerusalem.
So when we look at these quite specific cases of oppressive discriminatory conduct is absolutely is apartheid as defined by these international
treaties, which have been widely ratified, and which have now come to define the crime, quite apart from the historical example of South Africa.
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: I want to - I want to put the Israeli position to you the official Israeli position to you in a moment. But first proponents of
Israel will say that their laws are put in place to defend its people in the face of perpetual security challenges. So I must put it to you, does
Israel, in your assessment, pursue racial laws?
ROTH: We actually acknowledge that the Israeli government has legitimate security concerns, obviously, it does. But if you look at a lot of what the
government is doing, this has nothing to do with security, you know, demolishing Palestinian homes in the West Bank has nothing to do with
security.
You know, preventing people from building their homes has nothing to do with security. You know, giving water to the settlement, but not to the
Palestinian village next door has nothing to do with security. You know, taking people's residency permits away, because they might study abroad has
nothing to do with security.
So we, you know, recognize that there are some legitimate security concerns, by all means, but they should be addressed in a targeted way. But
instead, what we find is Israel - the Israeli government uses the security rationale to justify these broad oppressive restrictions on the Palestinian
population.
ANDERSON: I wonder what you make of critics of the report, who suggest that this is an attempt to de legitimize the state of Israel. Israel itself has
responded to the report saying and I quote, Human Rights Watch is known to have a long standing anti Israeli agenda actively seeking for years to
promote boycotts against Israel.
This report is yet another part of the organization's ongoing campaign with no connection to facts or reality. On the ground, what do you make of the
accusation that this is an attempt to de legitimize the state of Israel?
ROTH: Well, if there's any do a little bit of minimization, it's the Israeli government's conduct. It's somewhat ironic, the Israeli government
says that this is somehow separated from the facts, but they don't engage with the 213 pages of facts that we present. So it's the Israeli government
that doesn't want to talk about the facts.
They then make up fictions. Human Rights Watch has never advocated a boycott of Israel. That's poppycock. We just don't do that. So this is, you
know, they're engaged in name calling right now. They're not engaging in the reality of what they're doing.
Now, I should say that, you know, when we talk to governments around the world, particularly Western governments, what they often say is, you know,
yes, we know that it's horrible how the Israeli government is treating Palestinians, but there's a peace process.
You know, the peace process will solve this. We've been hearing that for 30 years. This peace process, everybody hopes that we get peace, we hope that
there's a peaceful resolution. But we can't wait forever for that. And we've said that, you know, enough is enough, it's time to look at the
reality today.
And just because, you know, maybe sometime in the future, there's a prospect of peace, that doesn't justify the oppressive discrimination that
the Israeli government is imposing on so many Palestinians today, and in certain parts, particularly in the occupied territories that amounts to a
part.
ANDERSON: Let me read you the - or for our viewers say, get the official Palestinian perspective. This is the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister,
in response to the report saying, and I quote. The traditional situation where many countries worldwide announced their position against occupation
without actual sanctions and without revising their relations and agreements with Israel on the different diplomatic, cultural and trade
relations can and should not continue.
And you seem to elude with some frustration to the response of the international community with regard Israel's position with the
Palestinians. I just wonder, in your assessment, why it is that you believe the international community is so week.
ROTH: Well, look at the international community is legitimately concerned about Israel's security. But as we note, the oppressive discrimination that
the Israeli government imposes on so many Palestinians goes way beyond any conceivable security concern.
This is about maintaining domination, it's about controlling demographics, it's about controlling access to land, you know, that much of the
international community also says, look, we're promoting the peace process.
And, you know, great, I'm glad that they are but you know when governments are sophisticated, they can walk and chew gum at the same time. They can
promote peace, but also address the persecution and more to the point; the peace process is just no longer an adequate excuse.
How can you tell a Palestinian whose land has been seized who can't build who's whose ability to travel or even as permanence in the occupied
territories is at risk? How can you say, oh, don't worry about that there might be peace at some point in the future. That's just wrong.
You've got to address the reality today. And so the main point of this report is to say let's stop fooling ourselves. Look at the awful reality
let's address that. Yes, promote peace but look at the reality today.
ANDERSON: Do you think this report will change anything on the ground?
ROTH: I hope so. You know, we don't do this just for our own benefit.
[11:25:00]
The whole point of this is to say let's you know, open our eyes, let's recognize reality, let's stop fooling ourselves. And that's the first step
toward changing it. It's not easy to call this apartheid. It's not easy to call it persecution. There's, there's resistance to that.
But that's the fair description. And we hope that by, you know, providing 213 pages of documentation showing why this is the fair description that it
will get governments around the world and ultimately, the Israeli government to recognize that this is an intolerable status quo that has to
change.
ANDERSON: Kenneth, while I've got you I do just want to get your take on Myanmar and thank you for the discussion on the report. Briefly, the
Military Chief attending the ASEAN Summit over the weekend where consensus was reached to end the violence two questions, should you have been
invited? And do you have any faith at the end of this coup is near anytime soon?
ROTH: Well, look at I would have preferred that Myanmar junta leader was arrested. He's overseeing crimes against humanity, given that he was
invited, you know, ASEAN did secure this five point agreement, including, you know, a statement that the junta would end the violence.
You know, we're skeptical about that there's some indication that violence has continued. The junta leader went back and said, I thought the
protesters were responsible for violence, you know, it's not us the military that's shooting, you know, over 700 protesters to death.
So we'll have to see how that goes. Notably, ASEAN did not secure a commitment from the junta leader to release the political prisoners,
including Aung San Suu Kyi. So there's a lot of work to be done. And the key to this, frankly, is pressure on the junta and particularly attacking
its revenue sources. If those can be cut off, it can't continue to finance and its killing machine.
ANDERSON: Thank you for addressing Myanmar with me, as well, on the day of what is an important report released by Human Rights Watch. Kenneth Roth,
thank you for joining us. In just a few minutes, I will speak with Yair Golan, who is an Israeli Politician and he's Retired General from the
Israeli Military to get his perspective.
Also ahead on this show, the Special Envoy to the United Nations for the Union Parliament of Myanmar Dr. Sasa speaks with us about the push to end
the brutal violence there. We will discuss the attendance of the Military Chief at that ASEAN Summit over the weekend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: Southeast Asian leaders have come to a five point consensus on Myanmar where the military is widely accused of using torture and abuse to
crackdown on pro democracy activists. Now hundreds have being killed including dozens of kids according to the Assistance Association for
Political Prisoners.
The Myanmar Military Chief attended the ASEAN Summit on Saturday his first international appearance since he took over the country in a military coup
12 weeks ago. The leaders agree there should be an immediate cessation of violence and that a Special Envoy from ASEAN would facilitate dialogue.
Well, CNN's Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward was in Myanmar earlier this month. You may remember her reporting from there was
extensive. She spoke while she was there, to a young man who says he survived being brutally tortured by the military and another soldier so
horrified by what he had seen, but he left his post. We want to warn you that some of the images that you will see in Clarissa's report are graphic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They gather outside the prison every day, mostly parents, desperately hoping for
a glimpse of their children proof that they are still alive. They know that behind these walls Myanmar's Military Junta is engaging an unspeakable
cruelty against those who dare to defend democracy.
Now in hiding this 19-year-old is brave enough to share his story with us. He says he was detained after being stopped by soldiers who found photos of
him at protests on his phone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we got there, the commander tied my hands behind my back and use small scissors to cut my ears to put my nose, my neck and my
throat. Then he let his fellow soldiers beat me up that night.
WARD (voice over): He shares photos of the abuse is back lacerated from whippings with a cable wire, his face swollen from endless strikes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I even told them to kill me instead of torturing me. It was that painful.
WARD (voice over): Myanmar's junta shows no shame about its cruelty. On state television, it proudly displays images of those arrested for so
called terrorist activity. The face of this 31-year-old dance teacher is barely recognizable.
Family members say this is what she looked like before the beatings. From the safety of neighboring India this 23-year-old army cadet says the
soldiers were only allowed to watch state TV. We have agreed not to reveal his identity for his protection.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They tried to brainwash us. There are soldiers who only believe what the commander's told them. They don't think.
WARD (voice over): Two years into his military career, he decided to defect haunted by the military's brutality after the coup. Every night he says
they would set out on rapes, armed with assault rifles, and the names of protest leaders given by their informants.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At one point, we went to arrest two leaders one got arrested, and one was trying to escape and we shot him on the spot. We were
ordered to shoot when they escaped.
WARD (voice over): That night he claims he intentionally broke his rifle so it wouldn't fire but says it was the cruelty to the families of the
protesters that finally broken.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were crying when we raided their houses and beat them. The neighbors knew to but no one dared to come out at night. If
someone was looking at us through their windows, we told them to come out and beat them too. The youngest one I saw was around 10 or 11-years-old, a
boy.
WARD (voice over): Despite the ferocity of the military's crackdown, Myanmar's pro democracy movement is still very much alive. The young
protesters ordeal lasted three long days. During the endless beatings he says he had one focus, staying alive so that he could protest once again.
Clarissa Ward, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, joining me now is a Special Envoy to the United Nations for what's known as the Union Parliament of Myanmar. Dr. Sasa and his group of
deposed former civilian leaders have formed the national unity government in opposition to Myanmar's junta. The group wasn't invited to Saturday's
ASEAN Summit.
Sir, you said ahead of that meeting, that any meeting that includes the murderer in chief of Myanmar won't help the country. Be that as it may, he
was invited, and he did attend. Do you see any evidence that the agreement made there at the ASEAN Summit to end the violence is being implemented?
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: Do you see any evidence on the ground?
DR. SASA, UNION PARLIAMENT OF MYANMAR SPECIAL ENVOY TO U.N.: Today, once again the - himself make a statement and say, ASEAN five points will be
considered only when the stability returned. This is the military general knows for telling lies, knows for crimes against humanity and - since and
it is no way that these ASEAN five point will be implemented under the watch of these--
Right from the beginning, we have been giving the warning to ASEAN that these ASEAN summit result will be found on the ground in Myanmar would the
killing stop? Will political prisoner released? Will the arising of 54 million people of Myanmar stop? Will they return the power to a -
government of Myanmar? All those results until they achieve this no meaning.
ANDERSON: Your - the Dependents National Unity Government of Myanmar wasn't invited to this ASEAN Summit. I just wonder what it was like to watch from
the sidelines as the Military General represented Myanmar on the world stage and did this legitimize his rule?
DR. SASA: It's very painful. It was a shame day for ASEAN to organize the meeting without the people of Myanmar. We have made it very clear right
from the beginning anything to do with the future of Myanmar must include the people of Myanmar. They include - Chief to talk about us. We have no
future with these Military Generals, the killer, they are the criminals.
We have no - any democracy or freedom under these people. So inviting me - shame ASEAN. And it shamed the reputation of ASEAN the dignity of ASEAN and
he just went and destroyed. As now as we see come back, he boasting that was accepted in a meeting now he is killing more people.
ANDERSON: Right.
DR. SASA: Therefore ASEAN - this country.
ANDERSON: Sorry, I interrupted you there. Let me press on as evidence in CNN's reporting. The military is using increasingly brutal tactics against
civilians - is as the military is known as a standing force of up to half a million men soldiers within its ranks live separately to civilians.
And many will describe them as bread to kill. What will happen to the people of Myanmar if the international community doesn't intervene, if
nothing more is achieved than a summit where a five point sort of communicate was issued?
And if the military is left unchallenged last time you and I talked it was about three weeks ago, and you said you feared that things could get an
awful lot worse and you talk to about a civil war. Is that still your concern?
DR. SASA: Let us be very clear. 54 million people of Myanmar have said enough is enough to leave under this oppressive, brutal, cruel regime. We
don't want it. We want to die than to live under these - night after night, day after day there are rising its own people is not going to work.
These military generals are known for brutality for the last seven decades. We have said enough is enough. It's better for us to die than to live under
these --. Right from the beginning we'll be saying about the great civil war, which is already began.
Now they almost killed now 1000 people as we speak. If the death toll reaches 10,000 people, it will be declared as genocide. At that time
personal community action will have no meaning.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: Let me briefly close with this. An undisclosed location that's for your own safety your life and the lives of those in the deposed
government are still very much under threat. We've got 45 seconds what is your message to the world right now on behalf of that civilian government?
DR. SASA: Please engage with elected government of Myanmar, which is National Unity Government of Myanmar to prevent these great civil wars,
which will end up in genocide. World Food Programme has predicted that 3 million people of Myanmar are going to go for hunger in these coming
months.
All these need to be prevented before it's too late. We need power for strong international action. No more words, but actions.
ANDERSON: With that, we'll leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us. We're taking a short break back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching "Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson. Now, if you have been with us for the last 20 minutes or so you
will have heard how Human Rights Watch is accusing Israel of apartheid towards the Palestinians.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the advocacy groups' new report fiction. I want to bring in Yair Golan. He's a Member of the Israeli
Knesset and the Former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces.
Good to have you thank you very much indeed for joining us today. Human Rights Watch says Israeli authorities are committing the crimes of
apartheid and persecution against the Palestinians. Do you accept that characterization sir?
YAIR GOLAN, FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES: I reject this totally. And I think this is you know, quite ridiculous from part in
Israel, the apartheid is based upon a racist ideology. There is no racist ideology in Israel. And something like this is the - of the state of
Israel.
What we have in Israel is internal criticism on the policy of the government. And here, you know, as member of leftist party in Israel I tell
the Israeli government and the Israeli Prime Minister over and over again, we should start there - in order to reach the solution of two states
solution.
This is the idea and I think that by going to some - it's like the Human Rights Watch report takes up you know, out of out of the route to
facilitate and to move forward with a two way agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
ANDERSON: Alright, let me put this to you because this report, of course comes three months after a similar publication by - which also accused
Israel of becoming an apartheid regime. And just weeks after the ICC announced it was pursuing a war crime investigation against Israel.
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Now Israel slams all of these reports claiming that they are false. There is - is there not though a common thread of culpability in
these reports? How so?
GOLAN: I think that, well, I would say that unfortunately, many organizations around the globe look at the conflict between Israel and the
Palestinians from the - standpoint, and this is wrong. We need to think about this issue not as a colonial superpower, that conquers certain
countries around the globe, this is not the story of between Israel and the Palestinian.
ANDERSON: Right.
GOLAN: What we have here - do you know people assembled for the - land over and over and over again. I'd like to mention that for many, many years, the
main goal of the policy - was to Israel and properly and not you know, to accept Israel as the valid nation up on Earth. So we have a conflict here,
and we need to solve this is the most important interest of Israel. And I in college, to move, you know, in order to solve this conflict, but you
know, this--
ANDERSON: Let me put this to you, because I think for our viewers' sake, it would be interesting to get from you, how you would characterize what is
going on? I mean, in 1967, the word occupation was used per the UN Security Council. Is that how you would characterize the situation at present? And
how long do we keep calling it that, and why is it still in place after 54 years?
GOLAN: Well, unfortunately, we - try to solve this conflict. The first you know, attempt was during the Oslo agreement process years. And
unfortunately, the one who really failed this process, from my point of view, are the Palestinians.
And the second, you know, in an already more significant than what implementation of this disengagement plan in - by Dan Bryan is the real
Chevron, and we withdrew from the Gaza Strip entirely. We took four settlements out of the Northern Somalia.
We were willing, during that time to take more settlements from, you know, the Somalia and their rich. And unfortunately - the instead of having a
true Palestinian side, what we got instead are terrorist attack on Israel settlement, and this is totally unacceptable.
ANDERSON: Let me put this to you. Do you believe that Israel shares some of the blame for the way things are at present and what is the way forward so?
GOLAN: Well, yes, indeed. You know put the blame on the Benjamin Netanyahu governance that did nothing during the last 12 years in order to solve the
conflict. This is a shame. This is my main criticism on the Israeli government.
And I wish to replace this government by more constructive elements from the Israeli political arena, like the merits party in order to renew
negotiation with the policy and - all reconcile the this conflict, this bitter conflict that lasting for more than 100 years.
Yes, we can do a lot. You know, I like to end the fact that you know, this kind of - instead of facilitating further junction, in fact, block and a
future--
ANDERSON: Sir, I'm going to stop you there. Unfortunately, the technology is letting us down and you've - it's been good enough for you to make your
points and I'm glad that we were able to persevere with it.
But I'm afraid it's not good enough to carry on. So - but we appreciate your time. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. The technology
gremlins getting to us but I know that we've definitely exhausted that conversation. Thank you.
Still ahead, we're going to - well, we're going to switch gears a little bit. We're going to take a look at an artist who needs to create the way
that most of us need to breathe.
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: How his passion is getting through what have been these trying times?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well every day, CNN connects you to what I hope you believe are fascinating reports from all over the world. These reports well, they can
take hours or even weeks or months indeed to prepare. CNN has launched a new initiative to share those skills.
It is called "CNN Academy" right here in Abu Dhabi, young Emirati nationals and other UAE residents from some of the 200 nationalities who live here
got the chance this year to learn from CNN's best. They were taught the finer aspects of reporting a story and how to make it compelling for you to
watch?
Nearly this month, our very first class graduate. Well, this week, we are sharing some of their final projects with you. Here is a poignant piece by
- it's about a painter getting through the pandemic one brushstroke at a time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: --is an artist who has passion to painting. I struggled through COVID. And this story we will know more about - and his
paintings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ever since as a child, I had this passion of painting, actually. I mean, I, as long as I remember, I pay almost every day. I mean,
so far, I can say that thing, I can't live without painting or sketching, I need to do something every day.
Where I'm quite close emotionally, the more I know, the portrait will become much better. You need to learn about the person actually how they
behave, and then only you can get that expression because caricature is almost like an exaggeration of the features of a person actually.
It's not a portrait, but it should look like him, you will have to learn the inner personality of the person, then only you will get it. Because art
is something you go on touch you know see the touches of the painting. You know the technique; you know how you use it?
You know, go and stand for hours on the painting, and then only you see it actually. In online, you don't have that experience. But you just see
things you know, but it's almost like you're watching a digital print out of the painting. You don't see the original, you know.
Earlier I used to go on sketch outside actually, we used to go out and sit and draw people. But now because of the COVID, you know - but we gradually
started it like this. So it's not like hopefully, in the near future, you're going to go back to the free spaces.
The togetherness, you know, being in the company, actually, that that's the COVID take away from us I feel. We become isolated. You know, we live in
islands. We are not social animals anymore actually. This is the restrictions of the COVID.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of people were victims of COVID. But artists like - were affected as well. People that use the world as their canvas of
inspiration, or physical disconnection shouldn't stop us from doing what we love to do. And it should prepare us to rehabilitate ourselves on how we
use to enjoy the world?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, some people are making the best of being alone during the pandemic, a lot of people well, quite frankly just want to be together.
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: Tomorrow another intrepid CNN Academy Journalist looks at what happens when the virus gets in the way of love and marriage? Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Elica (ph) and Brandon were planning their wedding for months. But when the pandemic hit in 2020, they were forced to say, I do
through with cream.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It's been a great project. The world needs journalists after all. I hope you will agree. Thank you for joining us tonight. Wherever you're
watching the world do stay safe. Stay well. It's a very good evening from my team here in Abu Dhabi and those working with us around the world.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
