Return to Transcripts main page

NEWS STREAM

Scotland Votes For Independence Tomorrow; Kurds Retake Strategic Bridge; China Detains Prominent Uyghur Scholar; Catalonians Watch Scottish Referendum

Aired September 17, 2014 - 8:00   ET

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


KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet.

Now counting down to history: Scotland is less than one day away from a vote that could see it separate from the United Kingdom.

We'll also look at how Scotland is inspiring hopes in Catalonia as the region can break away from Spain.

While China puts a Uyghur scholar on trial for separatism. We'll look at the impact the trial could have on the rest of the region of Xinjiang.

Now countdown to referendum: Scotland begins voting on independence in just 18 hours from now. And more than 4 million Scots will head to the

polls to decide whether to end three centuries of ties with the UK or to remain in the union.

Now pro and anti-independent supporters are out campaigning very hard today. Opinion polls suggest it's going to be a very tight race. And they

are still many undecided voters.

Now for most, it's a straightforward yes or no, but many potential voters again are still undecided.

Now Christiane Amanpour spoke to former British Prime Minister John Major who did not mince his words.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN MAJOR, FRM. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Whenever the realities are placed before them, they say people are lying. They say we can get straight

into the European Union. Well, the European Union say they can't. So they say the European Union is lying.

They think they can enter into NATO. I think that's extremely unlikely.

They say they can manage without having their own currency. They can't use sterling. They're two days away from the vote and they do not yet know

what currency they're going to use in the long term. Now that is just absurd.

And one could stretch that list to points put to them that they've denied. And they're not points put to them by advocates of the No campaign,

they're points put to them by senior business men, by senior politicians outside the country, people who have studied what's happened and knows the

impact upon Scotland and a Scottish nation have, frankly -- and I don't say this lightly -- have been fed a load of pap by the Scottish nationalists in

the belief that everything will be all right on the night.

Well, it won't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: John Major there.

Now whether Scots have been fed a load of pap or not, there is no denying this is a supremely complicated issue. And there are plenty of

questions that still remain unanswered.

Now would an independence Scotland continue to use the pound? Alex Salmond says nobody can stop it. But the British government and the Bank

of England are firmly against it.

What would happen to the monarchy? Would the queens title change and she'd become the queen of Scots in the same way she's the monarch of 15

different countries?

And then there's the question of defense. The Scottish government says it wants to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland as soon as possible,

namely the UK's Trident nuclear submarine fleet.

And what about sport? Scottish athletes, they won 14 of Team GB's medals at the London Olympic games.

So let's head straight to Edinburgh. Max Foster is there. He joins us now live. And Max, this is a very big day to rally the vote, just one

day away. What is the latest on both the campaigns and the public sentiment there?

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the arguments are so entrenched now and they continue today, it is the last day

of debate, because tomorrow people go to the polls and to some extent there's a media blackout on what we can report.

But today it's still full and fair discussion, which is what's extraordinary about this whole separatist movement in this country, because

it hasn't emerged out of conflict.

Although today there are some tensions, I have to say, there have been some aggressive yes campaigners really mobbing any sort of no effort,

publicity campaign. And that's been a sad sort of last few moments in this campaign. But broadly speaking, it's been very good-natured.

The polls are difficult, really, to decipher simply because this is unprecedented so the pollsters will even tell you that they're not entirely

sure that they've got the right underlying assumptions. But there are all saying pretty much the same thing and that is that it's neck and neck. In

fact, there's nothing in it at all once you counter in the margin of error.

And also there is this undecided contingent, something between 8 and 17 percent. They will decide this. And they're still discussing it today.

If you go out on the streets, people still don't quite know which way to go if they're in that contingent. They're wavering from one to the other.

So it's going to be very interesting to see which way they do eventually go.

You know, the no campaign is really trying to appeal to people's rational side saying you're taking too many risks with independence. But

the yes campaign who really were on the front foot on this for, you know, pretty much two years, are appealing to people's hearts as much as

anything, but also their rational side, saying actually if you want decisions made in your interests, then they should be made in your country.

LU STOUT: Max, 18 hours to go. IT is neck and neck. The polls so close. Why has this become such a tight race?

FOSTER: Well, I think really because the no campaign started sourcing out their effort in the last couple of weeks, literally. Because what they

were doing in a lot of the campaign was being very, very negative and just niggling away at what the yes campaign was saying.

What they're now doing is offering an alternative vision and it has full support of Westminster. All the main parties there signed up to a

pledge to say there will be more tax powers, more spending powers and complete control of the national health service, which is crucial to many

voters here in Scotland.

They will all be brought to the UK. They signed up to it. So the next prime minister of Great Britain, which will be one of them, accepts

that from Friday if there's a no vote, they will be devolving more powers to Scotland.

Of course that's opening a can of worms, because now in Westminster there's a bit of a backlash, because many people there are saying actually

you can't just go ahead and give all this power to Scotland, we want them in England. And there might have to be a referendum in England, would you

believe, Kristie, if those rules are actually brought to Scotland, because it would change the constitution. There needs to be an act in parliament

for that to happen. And the public needs to support it in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.

LU STOUT: Max, I have to ask you as you admire this distinct landscape behind you there in Edinburgh, just the idea of Scottishness, of

having this separate cultural identity to Britain, how strong is the Scottishness identity? And has it emerged as a deciding factor at all in

this video?

FOSTER: Well, what's very interesting if you speak to a lot of Scots is that -- if you speak to a middle-aged Scot they'll say that they're

rather embarrassed of all the trappings of Scottishness when they were at school. They wouldn't wear kilts to their graduation ceremonies, they'd

wear suits. It's quite recent, really, that you have this sense of nationalism here and sense of Scottishness. But it's very much there. And

myself as an Englishman coming here, it does feels like a separate nation a different culture already. But there are hot here that want to solidify

that and say we don't want to be just a nation within a union, we want to be a country within the world.

LU STOUT: All right, one day to go before Scotland makes this historic decision. Max Foster joining us live from Edinburgh, thank you,

Max.

Now let's get the mood from London now. CNN's Erin McLaughlin joins us from outside 10 Downing Street. And Erin, again, one day to go. The

polls are so close. What is the prime minister saying about it?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Prime Minister David Cameron acknowledging in an interview this morning in the

London Times. But he's sweating the very real possibility of an independent Scotland.

And he also defended the arrangements for this referendum. Really the Scottish people only have two options, either a yes vote or a no vote. And

there are some people that believe that there should have been third option included on that referendum ballot, an option for Scottish people to be

able to vote for more powers to be granted to Scottish parliament, the thinking being that that might perhaps have split a yes vote.

But it's criticism that the prime minister in that interview in the London Times rejected this morning saying that really it was right to have

a fair and decisive and legal referendum in Scotland.

You know, we've heard from him over the past week or so really some impassioned pleas to the people of Scotland, pleading with them for a no

vote. And as you mentioned, or Max mentioned, rather, all three of the major parties here at Westminster offering Scotland more powers in the

event of a no vote, which has ruffled some feathers here in London.

Some people saying that now they want England to have more powers as well. There's been talk of an English parliament.

So what we're seeing tomorrow, really, regardless of the outcome, either a yes vote or a no vote, is really some serious implications

emerging for the political landscape across the United Kingdom as well as implications for British Prime Minister David Cameron's legacy.

LU STOUT: Yeah, serious political implications here. What are the implications of tomorrow's vote for the British military?

MCLAUGHLIN: Well, it was really interesting this morning in the sun. It was an open letter from the 14 British armed forces chiefs pleading with

the people of Scotland for a no vote.

Let me just read you an excerpt of this open letter that they wrote. It reads, quote, "at risk is the most successful alliance in history and

one which has seen men and women from all parts of the country play their part in securing liberties we now enjoy. The division of the UK may or may

not be politically or economically sensible, but in military terms we are clear it will weaken us all."

Now if you consider the numbers, the amount of military personnel and infrastructure the United Kingdom currently has in Scotland, some 50

defense sites in Scotland, over 10,500 military personnel permanently based there, over 4,000 civilian workers, not to mention Britain's entire nuclear

submarine fleet, a fleet which the yes campaign has vowed to kick out of an independent Scotland.

So, really there's a lot at stake. Tomorrow's referendum, social implications, political implications and clearly defense and security

implications as well -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, so much at stake with this vote, just 18 hours to go. CNN's Erin McLaughlin joining us live from outside 10 Downing Street there

in London. Thank you, Erin.

And while the U.S. president talks strategy with his generals, up next U.S. military is already making a difference in Northern Iraq. And ahead

on News Stream, we'll look at the latest advances by Kurdish forces who are fighting ISIS.

Now Mr. Obama is sending U.S. military personnel on a mission of mercy as well. We'll tell you about his next step in the war against the Ebola

virus.

And the latest on the scandals rocking the NFL. Charged with child abuse, star player Adrian Peterson gets sidelined.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now the U.S. President has spelled out his intention to defeat ISIS in Iraq once and for all. Now he is to get a briefing from U.S. generals at

Central Command headquarters in Florida in the next few hours.

Now Mr. Obama has said that no U.S. ground troops would be part of the fight, but his top military man has raised that possibility.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. MARTIN DEMPSEY, CHAIRMAN, U.S. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: My view at this point is that this coalition is the appropriate way forward. I

believe that will prove true. But if it fails to be true and if there are threats to the United States, then I of course would go back to the

president and make a recommendation that may include the use of U.S. military ground forces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now, U.S. airstrikes in Iraq have been increased. And they are proving critical in helping Kurdish forces take back territory from

ISIS. Intense battles took place Tuesday in Northern Iraq. And CNN's Anna Coren is near the front line.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As the first rays of light stream through the clouds, the roar of U.S. fighter jets could be

heard right across these desolate plains.

This was a signal for the Peshmerga to launch their new offensive against ISIS. The mission, to reclaim the township of Hassan Sham and the

surrounding area, which includes a strategic bridge blown up by ISIS a month ago.

The bridge connects the highway running from Irbil, Kurdistan's capital, to the city of Mosul, an ISIS stronghold just 30 kilometers away.

Well, for more than an hour, two U.S. fighter jets, which you can hear now, have been circling launching airstrikes on enemy targets also

providing that critical cover for these ground forces to advance towards the bridge.

For the man in charge of these troops and this operation, Dr. Rowsch Shaways, he is the one communicating and coordinating with the Americans,

advising them on ISIS targets.

What are you wanting them to hit when you give the orders to strike? What will they be hitting?

ROWSCH SHAWAYS, PESHMERGA COMMANDER: (inaudible) position where they are fighting, but it's (inaudible) which will be very difficult for our

Peshmerga to get in.

COREN: And so far the partnership is working well, although the Kurdish forces have made no secret of the fact they would like to see an

intensification of the U.S. air campaign.

After hours of strikes, artillery and mortar attacks, the horizon was filled with columns of rising black smoke.

But some ISIS militants refused to retreat. One packing an oil tanker with explosives, driving it towards the Peshmerga front line.

Luckily, it was taken out with an RPG, resulting in this explosion.

By late in the day, the Peshmerga had suffered at least half a dozen deaths, but they had taken back control of the bridge.

Well, up until this morning, this was the ISIS front line, but after an intensive ground operation by the Peshmega, they have managed to clear

out Hassan Sham and the surrounding villages of militants.

Well, the focus now is this highway. It runs all the way to Mosul. And an operation is currently underway to carefully and slowly remove what

the Peshmerga say are barrels filled with explosives and IEDs laid alongside the road.

As the engineering unit began detonating the explosives, soldiers showed us some ISIS handiwork.

Now, this is what ISIS is laying alongside the road. It's a very primitive pressure plate, but if you step on it it will set off an

explosive.

A deadly device that will no doubt litter the road all the way to Mosul. A future battle these forces know won't be easily won.

Anna Coren, CNN, Hassan Sham, Northern Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now the U.S. has also bolstering its response to the Ebola epidemic. And the World Health Organization says it is spiraling out of

control after a briefing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. president announced plans to send up to 3,000 more military

personnel to the region. They are to build field hospitals and treatment centers and to train up to 500 health care workers a week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: If the outbreak is not stopped now, we could be looking at hundreds of thousands of people infected with profound political and

economic and security implications for all of us. So this is an epidemic that is not just a threat to regional security, it's a potential threat to

global security if these countries break down, if their economies break down, if people panic. That has profound effects on all of us even if we

are not directly contracting the disease.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: And to learn more about what you can do in the fight against Ebola, check out our impact your world page on our website and

there you'll find our latest coverage on the outbreak and information on how you can help. It's all at CNN.com/impact.

You're watching News Stream. Still to come on the program, will Ray Rice be back on the field ever again? That is the question hanging over

the NFL as he appeals his punishment.

We got more on that after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Live from Hong Kong, you're back watching News Stream.

Now the latest on a series of controversies rocking America's NFL, the National Football League. Now the Minnesota Vikings have made a U-turn.

They now say Adrian Peterson will not play this weekend.

Now the star running back is facing child abuse charges, accused of injuring his 4-year-old son. Now the Vikings initially said Peterson could

play in Sunday's game and then early on Wednesday the team made an about face and benched Peterson until his legal issues are resolved.

Earlier this week, Peterson said this, quote, "I am not a perfect parent, but I am without a doubt not a child abuser."

Now his lawyer says he used a switch from a tree to discipline his son, but never intended to harm him. His next court appearance is

scheduled for early October.

Now in another NFL scandal, the Players' Union is appealing Ray Rice's indefinite suspension from the league. Now he was suspended after footage

showed him punching his then fiancee, now wife, in an elevator. Miguel Marquez reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rice's appeal will focus not on a punch to his then-fiancee Janay Palmer, but on what Rice

told Roger Goodell on June 16 during a meeting at NFL headquarters in New York.

Goodell says Rice misled him about the severity of what happened in that Atlantic City casino last February.

ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER: The description of what happened was not consistent with what the videotape was. When we met with Ray Rice and

his representatives, it was ambiguous about what actually happened.

MARQUEZ: In the letter officially suspending Rice, Goodell makes clear, it wasn't what's happened in the elevator that forced his hand, it

was Rice's recounting of the story that didn't match reality. In the letter obtained by ESPN, Goodell wrote, this video shows a starkly different

sequence of events from what you and your representatives stated when we met on June 16th.

Ray Rice's team is expected to argue that the three-time pro-bowler told the truth all along and Goodell only upped the punishment when the

second video caused a public outcry. ESPN reported four sources said Rice told Goodell in that June 16 meeting that he punched or hit Janay in the

elevator.

On the day Rice was terminated from the Ravens, its coach John Harbaugh suggested his star running back did not mislead him.

REPORTER: John, did he misled you -- were you misled in any way and you stood up here and defended the guy, and now you see the video and make

this decision?

JOHN HARBAUGH, RAVENS HEAD COACH: You know, I don't want to get into all of that. I don't think it that way. You know, everything I said in

terms of what I believe, I stand behind.

MARQUEZ: One person definitely feeling misled and apparently angry, Rihanna who has her own history as a victim of domestic violence.

(MUSIC)

MARQUEZ: A new glitzier version of her video "Run This Town" meant to play a starring role in all CBS Thursday night openers was yanked last

week. Today, she took to Twitter writing, "CBS, you pulled my song last week and now you want to slide it back in this Thursday. No. (EXPLETIVE

DELETED) you. Y'all are sad for panelizing me for this." CBS, which had planned to use Rihanna's video this week quickly responded and saying the

network will be moving in a different direction for a game opener.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT : Your'e watching News Stream. And still to come, decision day. It's now just hours away. We'll look ahead to Scotland's historic

vote on independence.

And an independence minded region of Spain is closely watching what happens in Scotland. We'll visit Catalonia in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

Now hours from now, Scotland heads to the polls to vote on independence. If the referendum passes, more than 300 years of a union

with England will come to an end. Opinion polls suggest it's going to be a very tight race with many voters still undecided.

Now U.S. President Barack Obama is at the U.S. military's Central Command in Florida. Now top generals are to give him a briefing on how

they plan to defeat ISIS in Iraq.

The human toll in Syria has taken a big jump. An opposition group says at least 200 people were killed in fighting on Tuesday. They say 60

were killed in Syrian government airstrikes. And in Raqqa, and ISIS stronghold, a government fighter jet was brought down.

The World Health Organization warns cases of Ebola in West Africa could double in just weeks. Now this comes as President Barack says the

United States will send up to 3,000 more military personnel to the region to build field hospitals and treatment centers.

Now people in Scotland head to the polls in less than 18 hours to decide on whether to split from the United Kingdom. Now Max Foster takes a

look at what is at stake.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Scotland already has its own traditions, its own identity, but for many here it's just not enough. They want to break away from the

UK altogether.

On Thursday, Scots will be asked in a referendum should Scotland be an independent country. Leading the charge for the yes campaign is Scottish

nationalist Alex Salmond.

ALEX SALMOND, FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND: Scotland is a nation. And I think it's a universal law that the best people to govern the nation are

the ones who lie and work in it. They're going to make the best decisions.

FOSTER: Feelings have been running high ahead of the vote as Salmond's opponents found out on this campaign visit to Glasgow.

ALISTAIR DARLING, BETTER TOGETHER CAMPAIGN: This is not like voting in a government, where if you don't like them you can vote them out in four

or five years time. If we decide to leave it's forever. There's no going back.

FOSTER: Some big issues are under debate here -- which currency, for example, will Scotland have? London says they won't share the pound.

Salmond says they have to.

Oil. How much does Scotland have to cash in on after independence? Estimates on both sides differ widely.

Membership of the European Union. Would Scotland automatically become a member in its own right or will it have to reapply?

And would a compromise be better, bringing more power from London to Scotland and keeping the union?

Scottish voters have to weigh up whether to share control and risk with London or throw themselves into an independent future and hope it

works out.

Max Foster, CNN, the Scottish Highlands.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now for more on the potential economic and business impact of an independent Scotland, CNN's Jim Boulden joins us live from CNN

London. And Jim, first, a lot to talk to you about, but let's talk about currency first.

If there is a yes vote for independence, what would that mean for the British pound?

JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we only have to look back a week-and-a-half, don't we, Kristie, when the world really woke up to fact

that this G7 country might break up. And we saw the pound falling heavily. It was remarkable that most people had ignored this for the last year, even

though we know this vote was coming. But when they realized that this could break up this economy we saw the pound fall.

Markets hate uncertainty. And this has brought in uncertainty. So that's what we've seen.

Now the pound has leveled off a little bit. But it was going gangbusters until July. And nobody really was predicting that we'd see

this fall. And that affects a lot of things from currency markets to mortgages et cetera, et cetera.

So the uncertainty is what's really been fueling this market for the last week.

LU STOUT: And now we've got to talk about oil, North Sea oil is at the heart of the Scottish economy. What's at stake for oil when Scotland

decides?

BOULDEN: Well, what we're not going to debate is how much oil there is, because that's been one of the big debates and we just don't know.

Now many people will say that this is really what Scotland's economy will be based on, but we know the oil eventually is going to go away. And

that's not something you should base an entire economy on. That's what the debate is.

So during the negotiations, if there is a yes vote, they'll have to decide three things. They'll have to decide how much of the oil stays in

Scotland, how much of it goes to England -- or the UK, what's remainder. What happens to the money that will be generated over the next 20 to 30

years from oil. Should some of that still go to what is the UK? And then the cleanup costs, because there is always going to be decommissioning

costs, who will pay for that? That will all be part of negotiations if there is a yes.

LU STOUT: And the overall economy. Jim, if there is a yes vote, what would happen to the Scottish economy? And I want your thoughts on this,

because a number of analysts have been very bearish on this point.

BOULDEN: Yeah. No, they've been very bearish. The banks have been very worried. A lot of the companies have said we're not sure we're going

to stay in Scotland -- or at least not our headquarters. Headquarters aren't huge, they're just a few people, and registration.

But again it comes back to uncertainty. We're not sure what will happen. EDF, the huge electricity company, French based, but it has a lot

of supplies in there in the UK has said they're very worried about this because they just don't know what 's going to happen.

So, you talk about interest rate rises. Some people have said that Scotland will have to have higher interest rates on its bonds, for

instance. They might have to raise taxes, others say no, no, no, we'll be a much smaller rich country. We won't have as high taxes. We'll become

more a tax haven.

So those debates have not been subtle at all.

So a lot of people who go to the polls tomorrow will be voting, I think, on emotion because they just can't say for sure what will happen to

the economy.

LU STOUT: Now earlier we talked about oil, but there are so many other, you know, pretty critical Scottish industries. You've got

agriculture, tourism, I mean what would leaving the United Kingdom mean for those sectors in Scotland?

BOULDEN: Well, believe it or not, Scotch Whiskey is one of the largest sectors of exports for the UK economy. So the UK economy will lose

the entire Scotch Whiskey industry worth billions of dollars every year. That of course will help Scotland, but it means the UK economy will shrink

over the next two years. There's no doubt about that.

So you will be talking about a G7 country, the only one that's actually growing decently at this moment, becoming much smaller, not

overnight, but over two years. So you will have a new economy in the world in Scotland, you'll have a new smaller UK economy, and all the companies

and all the mortgages and all the interest rates and everything will have to adjust to that.

And I think most people had not thought about that until just the last week.

LU STOUT: Yeah, so many economic ramifications for a potential Scottish independence here. And the vote coming up just 18 hours away.

Jim Boulden joining us live from CNN London. Thank you, Jim.

Now, the winds of change are also blowing in Spain. The region of Catalonia has long voiced its own desire for independence. It's all coming

to a head this year. The people of Catalonia, they want to hold their own vote in November. And they are closely watching what is happening in

Scotland. Al Goodman brings us that story from Barcelona.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AL GOODMAN, CNN INTERANTIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A Catalan song that says it's time to stand up and be heard played for hundreds of thousands in the

streets of Barcelona, capital of the restive region of Catalonia. This crowd, wearing the Catalan colors on Catalonia's national day wants to

break off from Spain.

It's the third year in a row of a mass demonstration demanding a vote on independence for Catalonia, and a vote on independence in Scotland is

driving the Catalan cry to a fever pitch.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are following this process in Scotland, because we feel like we are next to them, because we feel the same.

GOODMAN: But Nouria Arisa (Ph), who came out with her family, says there's a big difference. Scotland is voting, but Catalonia so far can't.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Spain doesn't allow us to vote. And England is behaving very differently. I wish I was Scottish.

GOODMAN: But Spain's prime minister wants the Catalans to remain Spanish.

The government vows to block a Catalan referendum planned for November saying it's unconstitutional.

But Catalonia has its own language and culture. It accounts for a fifth of Spain's economy. And has a long list of grievances with Madrid

like taxation.

Alex Ribowho helped organize this big protest says Scotland's vote is timely.

ALEX RIBO, CATALAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: It does help. The Scottish situation. It motivates the people to see that there's a way to go, that

the way to go is the same as what we're doing.

GOODMAN: But this year there was a counter demonstration in another Catalan city. Although smaller, it shows not all Catalans want

independence.

RAFAEL ARENAS, UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR: We want to be part of Spain, because we are part of Spain. So we are a part of Spain. So there is a

big difference with Scotland, for example, because Scotland and England are different countries, but the Spain is one single country parts.

GOODMAN: That's not how the crowd in Barcelona sees it. They proudly sing other popular Catalan songs with many predicting even more strident

tones this autumn, between Spain and Catalonia.

Al Goodman, CNN, Barcelona, Spain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT; You're watching News Stream. And still to come, in China a Uyghur scholar maintains his innocence as he goes on trial charged with

separatism. We'll look at the impact this could have on ethnic tensions in China.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: A prominent Uyghur scholar in China is now on trial for separatism. Now nine months ago, Ilham Tohti, an economics professor in

Bejing was detained and taken to his native Xinjiang province.

Now Xinjiang is the northwestern region of China. It's had a number of violent attacks in recent months. Beijing puts the blame on Muslim

Uyghur separatists who want to establish an independent state.

Police say that they found evidence that Ilham Tohti was colluding with people overseas to, quote, "spread separatist ideas, incite ethnic

hatred and advocate Xinjiang independence."

Now Tohti's lawyers say the scholar maintains he is innocent.

Now what more do we know about Ilham Tohti and what impact could his trial have on tensions in Xinjiang. Let's go straight to CNN Washington to

consult with Sean Roberts. He is a professor at George Washington University. He has done extensive research into the Uyghur community of

central Asia and his joins us now live.

Thank you so much for joining us.

And please tell us more about who is Ilham Tohti and why would Beijing see him as a separatist?

SEAN ROBERTS, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Well first of all, he really was the only public intellectual among the Uyghurs who was involved

in any kind of debate about the situation of the Uyghurs within China. And -- about their rights. And so with his arrest and presumably with his

conviction, there's essentially nobody now from the Uyghur community within China who is involved in any kind of public debate about the fate of their

people.

LU STOUT: Tohti was a prominent public Uyghur voice in China. How concerned should the international community be about his fate, his

separatism charge and this trial?

ROBERTS: Well, I think it's very concerning. First of all, one of the things that I think we've learned around the world is that when a state

silences all opposition, especially moderate voices, that that only tends to radicalize any opposition to the state.

Tohti was a very moderate voice. In fact, to my knowledge he never publicly spoke about separatism or the independence on Xinjiang. In fact,

he was really involved in trying to build bridges between the Uyghur public and the Han Chinese community in China. And his -- probably his most

controversial act was establishing an online forum that was trying to generate public debate between Uyghurs and Han Chinese about the situation

in Xinjiang.

LU STOUT: So, he was a bridge builder. He was a moderate Uyghur voice, a public voice representing Uyghurs in China while based in Beijing.

What impact will his trial have on ethnic tension in China and all the unrest in Xinjiang?

ROBERTS: Well, if you look at what's been happening in Xinjiang for the last 20 years, and particularly over the last decade, we've seen an

escalation of violence. Initially there were a lot of events that took place in the region that might be seen as civil unrest, but not as targeted

terrorism.

Over the past year, we seem to be witnessing the development of a nascent militant group that is organizing predetermined acts that are

obviously for political purposes.

I thin that silencing a voice like Tohti will only likely further radicalize the population in Xinjiang and give more salience to this

militant groups.

LU STOUT: So, there is the danger and the threat of more tension, more violence to come as a result of this trial.

Now, Beijing has responded to the violent incidents that have happened in and around Xinjiang in recent months by doing tow things. One, putting

a lot of economic investment into the region, but also with this very significant and huge anti-terror campaign.

Has there been a backlash already before the trial? And do you think with this trial are we nearing a very critical tipping point when it comes

to ethnic tension in China?

ROBERTS: Yeah. I do think that we are. We have seen in the last several months an escalation of state policies in Xinjiang. And often

these are localized policies. And it should be noted that Tohti's being tried in Xinjiang where the courts are much less lenient than I would say

even in Beijing. And we've seen in Xinjiang over the last several months enforced dress codes for Uyghurs. We've seen all attempts to silence any

kind of discussion about political issues, and particularly an assault on religion.

And so I think that that is just going to keep on creating tensions in the region. And is likely to further escalate the conflict there.

And it's important to note that this region is very important strategically to China. It's really their bridge to the west and into

south. So it's into south and central Asia and beyond even into Europe. And the Chinese, I think are -- that's one of the reasons they're so

concerned about controlling this region. And they don't want to hear any sort of opposition to the policies that they're undertaking now.

LU STOUT: It's such a strategic region, but it's a region full of volatility, so what's the solution here? I mean, what is the long-term

solution to end or mitigate the tensions and the unrest when it comes to Xinjiang.

ROBERTS; Well, I would argue that probably the majority of Uyghurs, although it must be said that because there's so little access for

journalists, scholars , public polling firms, et cetera we don't really know the full extent of Uyghur public opinion. But I would argue that most

Uyghurs just want to have a say in their lives on a daily basis in what they consider to be their homeland.

So, I don't think that there's necessarily a threat of independence to the Chinese state or separatism. So really what the Chinese state should be

doing is they should be engaging the local populations in Xinjiang, particularly regarding the development of this region, because over the

last decade there has been incredible development in this region and largely to access markets and to access natural resources across the

borders in central and south Asia.

And if the Uyghur community in the country felt that they were a part of that development, that they had a say in what happened, I think that

that would clearly change the situation. Instead, the Chinese state has been largely pushing Uyghurs out of the equation, bringing in more Han

Chinese and also destroying important historical landmarks of Uyghur culture and that's really been aggravating the situation and will continue

to do so for the foreseeable future.

LU STOUT: Sean Roberts really appreciate your insight and analysis into the ethnic tension and what's been happening there in Xinjiang in

light of the trial of Ilham Tohi, the Uyghur academic. His trial just began on Wednesday. And Sean Roberts of course at George Washington

University joining us live from CNN Washington, thank you. Take care.

ROBERTS; Thank you.

LU STOUT: Now you are watching News Stream. Still ahead, Boeing and SpaceX, they're both ready for liftoff. They will head to space in this

unique new partnership with NASA. More on that after that break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: All right. Time now for a check of the global forecast. Samantha Mohr is at the World Weather Center. She's got the latest on that

active pattern in the tropics -- Sam.

SAMANTHA MOHR, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT; Hi, there.

Yes, Kristie, we have some four different systems that we are watching here across the Pacific. This one really dying out. This is Kalmgaegi at

one time a powerful typhoon, but now bringing some strong thunderstorms in through Laos and in through Thailand.

But boy when it came through the Philippines it dumped over 30 millimeters of rain, continued its journey across the South China Sea,

crashed into Hainan yesterday and then into China and Vietnam right along the border there. And had some very heavy rainfall amounts associated with

it as it hit eastern China as well.

We ended up seeing some 300 millimeters or more in some of these spots. Haikou had almost 200 millimeters. And those winds really gusting

around 151 kilometers per hour as it barreled onshore.

So folks were bracing themselves. This person out, you know, trying to fend off the elements with an umbrella, not very successfully there.

And folks that were trying to put their lives back together after Ramusan from earlier this year, that was a cat four that moved in in July having

now to put his tent back together because he was in temporary living conditions and then we have Kalmaegi move in and blow the house down

unfortunately. So a lot of work to be done to put their lives together here.

And still some moisture being brought in across the region with what's left this former Kalmaegi, former typhoon, bringing that heavy rain in

across Laos and Thailand for the next 12 hours or so.

And then right behind it we have another system that could very likely develop east of the Philippines, once against, of course, that's where they

usually form here in the western Pacific. Central to Western Pacific. And you can see most of the moisture with this next potential system will be a

little further north than the last one. So hopefully they won't get that direct blow as we saw with Kalmaegi.

Let's talk about the eastern Pacific, on the other side of things. We still have a tropical storm in Odile. That was that system that was almost

a category four when it came onshore. The strongest storm to ever hit the southern top of the Baja. It actually tied Ophelia back in 1967, but they

were both very strong hurricanes.

And now the main threat here is moisture that's going to be brought into the desert southwest. So we could see flooding concerns. We have

flooding watches in place for five states here as all that moisture from that decaying system moves onshore. And we're already seeing that rain

moving in here on the radar across much of the desert southwest.

And last, we've had all-time record rainfall in Phoenix, Arizona, almost a year's worth, in just about 24 hours in some of those spots like

Mesa and Gilbert and Tempe.

And you can see the system will be dying out, but all that moisture moving in. And then right behind it we have yet another system, so this is

number four if you're keeping count Tropical Storm Polo, 100 kilometer per hour wind gusts right now. And more problems along the coast. And we're

going to have to watch its track, too, Kristie, because it could end up heading in much the same direction as Odile did. So more trouble possibly

for Cabo San Lucas.

LU STOUT: Wow, so many storms to watch. Samantha Mohr joining us there. Thank you, Sam.

Now, NASA has just picked two private companies to help it get back in the business of sending humans into orbit.

Now Boeing was one of them. it's been working on an Apollo shaped launch capsule. And so has SpaceX. Since the 2011 end of the U.S.

spaceshuttle program, the U.S. has relied on Russia to get crews to and from the international space station.

Now the companies are expected to have a workable model in place by year 2017.

And that is News Stream. But the news continue at CNN. World Business Today is next.

END