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I'M IMRAN SIDDIQUI, HERE WITH ALEX VILLARREAL. THANKS FOR JOINING US, AS WE TAKE YOU ON ASSIGNMENT.
OUR FIRST STOP: PAKISTAN -- WHERE LIFE IS TENSE IN THE RUN-UP TO THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS.
THEN IT'S OFF TO NEW YORK, WHERE SIX MONTHS AFTER HURRICANE SANDY, ONE OF THE CITY'S BIGGEST
ATTRACTIONS RE-OPENS FOR BUSINESS. THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT
IS OUT, THE FIRST UNDER SECRETARY JOHN KERRY. AND, WE'LL CHECK IN ON A CONTROVERSIAL CHINESE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN BURMA. ON ASSIGNMENT STARTS RIGHT NOW. ON MAY 11, PAKISTAN HOLDS
ITS FIRST ELECTION IN FIVE YEARS. VOTES THERE ARE OFTEN MARRED BY VIOLENCE, AND THIS YEAR
IS NO DIFFERENT, WITH MILITANTS LAUNCHING DEADLY ATTACKS ON POLITICIANS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS.
THE ELECTION RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT SECURITY, AND THE INFLUENCE OF WOMEN AND THE MILITARY
ON THE OUTCOME. AND AS VOA ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT SHARON BEHN TOLD ON ASSIGNMENT'S PHILIP ALEXIOU,
YOUNG PAKISTANIS ARE ALSO PLAYING A MORE IMPORTANT POLITICAL ROLE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK. IT WAS
VERY INTERESTING SPEAKING TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE. SOMETHING LIKE A 100 MILLION ARE UNDER THE
AGE OF 29, AND A LOT OF THOSE ARE FIRST TIME VOTERS. THE YOUTH HERE ARE BEGINNING TO BECOME
A LITTLE MORE POLITICIZED, THEY ARE INTERNET SAVVY YOUTH, THEY KNOW WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES
ARE DOING, AND THEY ARE GETTING MORE INTO THE POLITICAL, SORT OF, SYSTEM. BUT, IN THE
END, WHAT EVERYBODY WAS TELLING ME WAS THEY WOULD PROBABLY BOW DOWN TO WHATEVER THE ELDER
OF THEIR FAMILY RECOMMENDED. IN OTHER WORDS, IF AN ELDER WOULD SAY, "WELL, I THINK THIS
CANDIDATE IS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE," THAT IS PROBABLY THE WAY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO
VOTE. I DON'T SAY THAT THAT IS ACROSS THE BOARD; THERE WILL BE YOUTH WHO COME OUT AND
VOTE INDEPENDENTLY, BUT OVERALL THIS IS A PRETTY TRADITIONAL SOCIETY. NOW ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT
STORY IN THE ELECTIONS OF THIS YEAR: YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE, FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN PAKISTAN'S HISTORY, TWO WOMEN FROM THE HIGHLY CONSERVATIVE TRIBAL REGIONS
ARE RUNNING FOR PARLIAMENT. WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THAT, AND WHO ARE THEY?
THERE IS THIS WHOLE AREA OF NORTHWESTERN PAKISTAN WHICH BORDERS AFGHANISTAN WHICH IS ACTUALLY
CALLED A FEDERALLY ADMINISTERED TRIBAL AREA. AND THIS IS AN AREA WHERE THE TALIBAN IS VERY
STRONG. BADAM ZARI IS MAKING HISTORY BY RUNNING FOR PARLIAMENT FROM PAKISTAN'S CONSERVATIVE
AND TALIBAN-DOMINATED TRIBAL BELT. "I MADE THIS DECISION TO SERVE AND HELP OUR SISTERS
AND MOTHERS IN THE AREA. OUR AREA OF BAJUR (TRIBAL REGION) IS POOR AND BACKWARD, WE HAVE
PROBLEMS IN THE HEALTH AND EDUCATION SECTORS - THIS IS THE REASON I DECIDED TO TAKE PART
IN THE ELECTION." MOST WOMEN IN PAKISTAN'S TRIBAL REGIONS RARELY LEAVE THEIR HOMES. ASAD
SARWAR, THE OFFICIAL WHO RECEIVED ZARI'S NOMINATION PAPERS, SAYS HER DECISION IS HISTORIC IN THE
TALIBAN-DOMINATED TRIBAL AREAS. "THIS WOMAN HAS BROKEN BARRIERS. THIS IS VERY COURAGEOUS.
THIS STEP WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR OTHER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WOMEN." WOMEN'S RIGHTS ALSO REMAIN
THREATENED OUTSIDE OF THE STRONGLY-CONSERVATIVE TRIBAL REGIONS. LAST YEAR TALIBAN MILITANTS
SHOT TEENAGE ACTIVIST MALALA YOUSUFZAI FOR SUPPORTING GIRLS' EDUCATION. WHAT ARE PEOPLE
EXPECTING TO COME OUT OF THIS ELECTION? I THINK OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, MOST
OF THEM ARE SAYING NO ONE PARTY IS REALLY GOING TO WIN A SIMPLE MAJORITY. SO WHAT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN IS YOU ARE GOING TO GET MORE COALITION-BUILDING WITHIN THE PARLIAMENT.
YOU MIGHT EVEN GET A HUNG PARLIAMENT. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIVISIONS WITHIN PARLIAMENT,
AND THAT COULD REALLY AFFECT HOW THE COUNTRY MOVES FORWARD. WHICHEVER GOVERNMENT GETS VOTED
IN, IT HAS SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT IT HAS TO FACE. IT HAS GOT AN ECONOMY WHICH IS REALLY
IN TROUBLE, IT'S GOT SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH LAWLESSNESS IN DIFFERENT CITIES AND THE AREAS.
IT'S GOT A PROBLEM WITH MILITANTS AND IT'S GOT A PROBLEM WITH SEPARATISTS. AND THESE
ARE SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS. BUT THE QUESTION IS, WILL
THEY BE ABLE TO? IF IT IS A HUNG PARLIAMENT, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO SORT OF CONVERGE AND
GET NATIONAL INTEREST ON THE FRONT BURNER, AND REALLY COME TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION
TO THOSE QUESTIONS? AND NOBODY IS QUITE SURE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT. WHAT IS IT LIKE
AS A REPORTER FOR YOU TO ROAM AROUND THE COUNTRY, OR AT LEAST IN ISLAMABAD, AND TALK TO THE
PEOPLE? BECAUSE I DO KNOW PEOPLE WHO GO HOME TO PAKISTAN AND COME BACK AND DESCRIBE THIS
COUNTRY, AT LEAST PARTS OF IT, THAT IS KIND OF LIKE THE "WILD, WILD WEST." KIDNAPPINGS
GO ON, THERE IS LOTS OF VIOLENCE; MAYBE THAT'S A PICTURE THAT CAN BE PAINTED IN CERTAIN PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY, BUT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND FROM WHERE YOU GET TO ROAM AROUND, WHAT'S
IT LIKE? I THINK I'M REALLY LUCKY TO BE HERE. I THINK IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING TIME TO
BE IN PAKISTAN AND I DO ENJOY IT. I'M PRETTY FREE TO TRAVEL AROUND THE MAIN CITIES. I'VE
BEEN TO LAHORE, WHICH IS A LARGE CITY, AND EAST OF KARACHI IN THE SOUTH, AND A LITTLE
BIT TO THE NORTH. THERE ARE AREAS THAT ARE ACTUALLY OUT OF BOUNDS. YOU NEED TO GET SOMETHING
CALLED A NO- OBJECTION CERTIFICATE IF YOU WANT TO GO THERE. THE VIOLENCE IN KARACHI
IS, AS YOU SAID, IT'S A LITTLE BIT WILDER, KIDNAPPINGS, SHORT KIDNAPPINGS, LONG KIDNAPPINGS,
MUGGINGS, POLITICAL VIOLENCE. SOME OF THIS IS REALLY RUBBING OFF ON THE ELECTIONS. IN
KARACHI, A CITY KNOWN FOR ITS POLITICAL PARTY VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION SOME PEOPLE ARE
BEING COERCED INTO JOINING THE POLITICAL PROCESS, SAYS RICKSHAW DRIVER MOHAMMED USMAN: "I DON'T
WANT TO VOTE BUT YOU WILL DO ANYTHING AT GUNPOINT. WHAT CAN YOU DO IF IT'S FORCED ON US? WE ARE
FORCED TO JOIN THE RALLIES TOO." THE TALIBAN HAVE THREATENED THREE PARTIES, ALL PARTIES,
WHICH IN THE PAST HAVE CRITICIZED THE TALIBAN AND THOSE THREE PARTIES HAVE BEEN ATTACKED.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS ABOUT THE VIOLENCE. VOA'S SHARON BEHN IN ISLAMABAD.
IMRAN, IT'S REALLY SUCH A POWERFUL STATEMENT THAT EXERCISING WHAT MANY OF US BELIEVE TO
BE SUCH A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT, THE RIGHT TO VOTE, CAN ACTUALLY COST YOU YOUR LIFE. IT'S
WORTH TO MENTION THIS YEAR THAT IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN PAKISTANI ELECTIONS THAT A DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED
GOVERNMENT WILL PASS THE BATON TO ANOTHER DEMOCRATICALLY- ELECTED GOVERNMENT. AND VOTING
IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL REPORTS
ON GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS, THE FIRST UNDER THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY. SECRETARY
KERRY SAYS THAT THE HOPE EMBODIED BY THE EARLY DAYS OF THE ARAB SPRING HAS RUN UP AGAINST
THE HARSH REALITIES OF POLITICAL TRANSITION. I TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH OUR STATE DEPARTMENT
CORRESPONDENT, SCOTT STEARNS. SCOTT, OF COURSE, THESE COUNTRY REPORTS THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
RELEASES EACH YEAR, THEY DON'T INCLUDE RANKINGS, BUT IF YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT FOR US MAYBE ONE
OF THE COUNTRIES THAT WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING ONE OF THE WORST OFFENDERS IN TERMS OF HUMAN
RIGHTS, AND THEN ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SHOWING PROGRESS? SURE. SECRETARY
OF STATE KERRY MENTIONED CHINA AND ITS REPRESSION OF TIBETAN NATIONALS AND THE UYGHUR MINORITIES
AS CONTINUING CONCERN OF THE UNITED STATES. ON BURMA, SECRETARY KERRY AND THIS REPORT
REFLECT SOME PRETTY SERIOUS PROGRESS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2012,
SO THE REPORT REFLECTED A LOT OF THE CHANGES THAT WE SAW IN 2012...ALL THE REFORMS... THE
EMERGENCE OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND HER POLITICAL PARTY, HER ELECTION TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY,
(AND) THE GOVERNMENT LOOSENING OF MEDIA RESTRICTIONS, FOR INSTANCE. NOW, THERE'S A FREE PRESS, OR
A FREER PRESS, IN BURMA. NOW I WANT TO GET TO SYRIA SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE KERRY HAD SOME
STRONG WORDS ON SYRIA. YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT SYRIAN CIVILIANS WERE GONE THROUGH, OR WENT
THROUGH IN 2012. THE COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF CENTRAL AUTHORITY IN A LOT OF AREAS. THERE
WAS CONCERN EXPRESSED IN THIS HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ABOUT SYRIAN CIVILIANS WHO ARE LIVING
IN AREAS THAT ARE STILL UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE BASHAR AL-ASSAD GOVERNMENT IN DAMASCUS.
BUT ALSO CIVILIANS WHO ARE LIVING IN AREAS THAT THERE APPEARS TO BE LITTLE CONTROL, OR
CONTROL BY GROUPS THAT THE UNITED STATES BELIEVES ARE AFFILIATED WITH AL-QAIDA. DO THESE COUNTRIES
STUDIED ACTUALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THESE REPORTS? IT'S HARD TO SAY. I MEAN, SOME MORE THAN OTHERS.
SOME COUNTRIES DO RESPOND TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT. CHINA HAS REALLY MADE A POINT IN A
LAST FEW YEARS OF RESPONDING, OFTEN TIMES WITHIN THE SAME NEWS CYCLE, TO WHAT IT EXPECTS
THE UNITED STATES WILL SAY ABOUT CHINA. THIS YEAR, CHINA EXPRESSED ITS OWN CONCERNS ABOUT
THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES. RIGHT. BUT THE U.S. DOESN'T EVALUATE ITSELF
IN THESE REPORTS, RIGHT? THIS IS STRICTLY LOOKING AT THE REST OF THE WORLD. THIS IS
A LOOK AT HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD COMPILED BY, GENERALLY COMPILED BY PEOPLE WHO WORK
AT THE EMBASSY IN THOSE RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES. IN COUNTRIES LIKE IRAN, WHERE THERE IS NO
(U.S.) EMBASSY, THAT WORK IS DONE MORE BY WORKING WITH GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT
OPERATE IN THAT COUNTRY. SO IT IS OBVIOUSLY HARDER TO COME UP WITH INFORMATION ABOUT A
COUNTRY WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE AN EMBASSY. I WANTED ALSO TO TALK ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE
RELEASE OF THIS REPORT THIS YEAR. IT WAS A BIT OF UNFORTUNATE TIMING IN LIGHT OF THE
EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN BOSTON WITH THE BOMBINGS.
SECRETARY KERRY WHO, AS YOU KNOW, REPRESENTED MASSACHUSETTS FOR A LONG TIME IN THE UNITED
STATES SENATE, HE CLEARLY FELT PERSONALLY THE EVENTS THAT WERE GOING ON IN BOSTON. HE
SAID IN RELEASING THE REPORT THAT THEY HAD CONSIDERED DELAYING THE RELEASE, BUT THAT
HE FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GO FORWARD, BECAUSE RUNNING A MARATHON WITHOUT TERROR
OR ENJOYING A HOLIDAY WITHOUT TERROR IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT AS WELL. SO HE FELT
THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO PUSH FORWARD WITH THAT. HOW DOES THAT APPLY TO THE WAY THAT
THE U.S., AND DIPLOMATS IN THE U.S., FEEL IN OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL? THE FEELING IS
THAT THE UNITED STATES, I BELIEVE, IN DOING THIS HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, RECOGNIZING SOME
OF ITS OWN HUMAN RIGHTS SHORTFALLS, THAT THE UNITED STATES IS NOT PERFECT, DOES TRY TO
APPLY THIS UNIVERSAL STANDARD TO ALLOWING OR EVALUATING THE FREEDOM THAT PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD LIVE IN. THAT SPACE, THAT SORT OF SPACE FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE, AND THE ABILITY,
AS WE SAY, TO ENJOY A DAY FREE OF TERROR -- ONE OF THE OBSERVATIONS OF THIS HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT
WAS A "SHRINKING" OF THAT SPACE FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE IN SOME COUNTRIES. A LITTLE HISTORY
ON THIS: CONGRESS BEGAN REQUIRING THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABROAD
AS PART OF THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961. WE'RE TAKING A BREAK NOW. COMING UP: A FAMOUS
AMUSEMENT PARK RE-OPENS IN NEW YORK CITY. YOU'RE WATCHING ON ASSIGNMENT. LAST OCTOBER,
HURRICANE SANDY SLAMMED INTO THE EASTERN UNITED STATES, SEVERELY DISRUPTING LIFE IN COASTAL
AREAS. ONE OF THOSE AREAS WAS CONEY ISLAND, IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. THE AMUSEMENTS THERE
HAVE ENTERTAINED PEOPLE FOR OVER 100 YEARS, BUT THE HURRICANE'S SEA SURGE FLOODED RIDES
AND GAMES. AND ONE OF THE FAMILIES BEHIND THE ATTRACTIONS WAS FORCED TO REBUILD. VOA'S
ADAM PHILLIPS FOLLOWED THE VOURDERIS FAMILY THROUGHOUT THE WINTER AND JOINS US NOW FROM
NEW YORK. AND WE WANT TO ASK ADAM A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR REPORTING. ADAM, WHAT
HAPPENED TO THIS FAMILY BUSINESS, TO THIS FAMILY THAT YOU COVERED? IT'S A WONDERFUL
GREEK FAMILY, VERY DOWN TO EARTH, THEIR HEART IS COMPLETELY IN THE BUSINESS. THEY BUILT
A LOT OF THE RIDES THEMSELVES, AND THEY MAINTAIN THEM WITH TOOLS THAT DATE BACK TO THE 1920S,
WHEN THE BIG "WONDER WHEEL," WHICH MOST PEOPLE THINK OF AS A FERRIS WHEEL, WAS BUILT. SO
THEY ALSO HAVE THAT, AND THEY HAVE A THING CALLED THE "SPOOK-A-RAMA," WHICH WAS KIND
OF A FUN HORROR HOUSE, WITH A VERY KIND OF SCARY RIDE WITH ALL THESE SCARY MONSTERS AND
OTHER KINDS OF GHOULISH THINGS THAT JUMP OUT A PEOPLE ON CARS. AND THE SEA SURGE ALMOST
COMPLETELY DESTROYED EVERYTHING IN THE SPOOK HOUSE, WHICH WAS MOSTLY HAND MADE, AND SEVERELY
THREATENED THE VIABILITY OF THE WONDER WHEEL, AMONG ALL THE KIDDIE RIDES AND THINGS THAT
THEY HAD IN THIS AMUSEMENT AREA WITHIN CONEY ISLAND.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT ADAM'S REPORT AND COME RIGHT BACK. FOR OVER A CENTURY, CONEY
ISLAND HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR FUN, RELAXATION AND SEASIDE THRILLS. BUT THAT DREAMLAND TURNED
INTO A NIGHTMARE FOR THE VOURDERIS FAMILY ON OCTOBER 29TH, WHEN A MASSIVE SEA SURGE
FLOODED THEIR RIDES AND GAMES. THEIR CENTURY-OLD WONDER WHEEL AND SPOOK HOUSE, FROM 1955, WERE
NEARLY DESTROYED. "WHEN WE GOT HERE AND SAW THE DEVASTATION, IT WAS LIKE A DEATH." DENO
VOURDERIS IS A THIRD GENERATION WORKER IN THIS FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS. "I MEAN FIGURATIVELY
LIKE A DEATH, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE STUFF HAS HISTORY." BUT THE FAMILY RESOLVED TO REBUILD.
DENO WORKED WITH A FIVE-MAN CREW HE HAS KNOWN SINCE HE WAS A BOY. THEY ASSISTED HIS FATHER,
CO-OWNER STEVE VOURDERIS, WHO DIRECTED THE CLEAN-UP AND RESTORATION. "WE'RE MEN AND WE
DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE GET IT DONE." STEVE'S BROTHER DENNIS VOURDERIS HANDLED LOGISTICS
AND FINANCES. HE SAYS THE FAMILY HAD TO BORROW A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS
AND NEW EQUIPMENT. STILL, IT'S PROBABLY SAFE TO SAY THAT NOWHERE HAVE THE RESULTS BEEN
MORE FUN THAN HERE. "WE LOVE YOU CONEY!!" ADAM PHILLIPS, VOA NEWS, NEW YORK. WE'RE BACK
WITH ADAM PHILLIPS IN NEW YORK. ADAM, WHY DID YOU PARTICULARLY FOLLOW THIS FAMILY? WHAT
WAS SO UNIQUE ABOUT THEM? WELL I GOT TO KNOW THEM A LITTLE BIT EARLIER IN THE SUMMER, BECAUSE
WE WERE DOING A STORY ON CONEY ISLAND AND HOW IT'S STILL A WONDERFUL PLACE TO GO FOR
THE FAMILY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT "CARNIVAL-ESQUE," I JUST KNEW THAT THEY WERE IN TROUBLE, BECAUSE
SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE RIGHT ON THE COAST, THE ATLANTIC COAST, WERE FLOODED. AND I JUST
KNEW THEY HAD A LOT OF HEART, THEY REALLY CARED ABOUT THE BUSINESS, THEY REALLY LOVED
THE FANS, AND I JUST THOUGHT THEY COULD STAND IN FOR THE WHOLE, IN TERMS OF WHAT IT'S LIKE
WHEN YOUR SMALL BUSINESS IS NEARLY DESTROYED. ABSOLUTELY, AND ADAM IT IS GREAT TO SEE THEM
UP AND RUNNING AGAIN. VOA'S ADAM PHILLIPS FOR US IN NEW YORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
TALKING WITH US. THANKS, ADAM. WE'RE TAKING A BREAK NOW. COMING UP: A CONTROVERSIAL DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT FOR BURMA. YOU'RE WATCHING ON ASSIGNMENT. LAST MONTH, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN BURMA PROTESTED
AGAINST A CHINA-BACKED ENERGY PIPELINE PROJECT. SIMILAR PROTESTS HAVE ERUPTED AT CHINESE-FUNDED
PROJECTS ACROSS BURMA, FORCING BEIJING TO RE-THINK ITS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN THE COUNTRY.
ACTIVISTS SAY THE PIPELINE HAS AFFECTED FISHING AND FARMING AND DESTROYED THE ENVIRONMENT.
VOA'S DANIEL SCHEARF REPORTS. THE PROTEST IN WESTERN RAKHINE STATE WAS THE LARGEST AND
MOST ORGANIZED PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO THE BURMA-CHINA PIPELINE PROJECT. ACTIVISTS WERE TWICE DENIED
A PERMIT TO ASSEMBLE, BUT DEMONSTRATED ANYWAY. SEVERAL WERE ARRESTED. SPEAKING VIA SKYPE,
ACTIVIST WONG AUNG (WUN AWN) SAYS THERE IS TOO MUCH AT STAKE TO REMAIN SILENT. "SUCH
AS, YOU KNOW, THE FISHING GROUND. WE ARE BEING RESTRICTED. LOCALS ARE NOT GETTING ANY QUICK
COMPENSATION OR KEPT [FROM] LOSING THEIR LIVELIHOOD. AND ... THE LOCAL PEOPLE DID NOT GET ANY JOB
OPPORTUNITY AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE BEING EXPLOITED WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO WORK IN THE
CHINESE COMPANY." JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, PROTESTING IN BURMA
WAS PRETTY MUCH NOT ALLOWED. I MEAN IF YOU WERE ON THE STREETS, IF YOU WERE DEFYING THE
AUTHORITIES, YOU WERE SHUT DOWN REALLY QUICKLY AND YOU WERE THROWN IN JAIL. THINGS HAVE CHANGED
OF COURSE. IT'S NOW LEGAL TO HAVE GATHERINGS AS LONG AS YOU GET PERMISSION. AND WHAT HAPPENED
HERE, WITH THIS PROTEST WE HAD EARLIER THIS MONTH OVER THE PIPELINES, WAS THAT THEY HAD
SOUGHT PERMISSION TO PROTEST. THAT PERMISSION WAS DENIED, NOT ONCE - AT LEAST TWICE. SO
THEY WENT AHEAD WITH THEIR PROTEST ANYWAY BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE THEY NEEDED TO BE HEARD.
AS A RESULT, THERE WERE A FEW ARRESTS, DETENTIONS THAT HAPPENED. THEY WERE RELEASED ON BAIL,
FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND. BUT THEY WERE ALSO CHARGED WITH HOLDING AN ILLEGAL PROTEST. SO
IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT KIND OF A SENTENCE WILL BE PASSED DOWN. WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY
PROTESTING AGAINST? I MEAN DEVELOPMENT BRINGS JOBS, BRINGS MONEY INTO THE REGION...
WELL, THE MAIN PROBLEM THE PROTESTERS SAW WAS JUST THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING BROUGHT
INTO THE ACTUAL PROJECT. THIS WAS OF COURSE A DEAL THAT WAS MADE IN THE PREVIOUS MILITARY
GOVERNMENT WITH CHINA. AND WHENEVER THOSE DEALS WENT DOWN, THEY JUST DIDN'T MAKE ANY
DETAILS PUBLIC. AND OF COURSE YOU KNOW THE LOCAL PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST AFFECTED BY IT,
THEY WANT TO KNOW, "WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS GOING TO DO FOR US, AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO
MY HOME?" "AM I GOING TO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE," AND SO FORTH. AND ALSO A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT
HOW SOME OF THE PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION WOULD AFFECT FISHERMAN -- THEY'RE NOT BEING ALLOWED
TO FISH IN CERTAIN AREAS, BECAUSE SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON. CONCERNS
ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT -- WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A LEAK? YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S ONGOING CONCERNS
ABOUT THIS PIPELINE PROJECT, AND THE LOCALS JUST FEEL THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BENEFIT FROM
IT. HAVE THESE PROTESTS SLOWED DOWN THE DEVELOPMENT AT ALL? WELL IN THE CASE OF THE MYITSONE DAM,
IT WAS, OF COURSE, SLOWED DOWN COMPLETELY. IT WAS PUT, IT WAS SUSPENDED TILL FURTHER
NOTICE. ANALYSTS LIKE RALPH COSSA, SPEAKING VIA SKYPE,
SAY AUTHORITIES ARE LEARNING THEY CANNOT IGNORE THESE PROTESTS. "IT'S A MESSAGE, IT'S A WAKE-UP
CALL BOTH FOR THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT AND FOR THE CHINESE THAT THEY HAVE TO, SORT OF, TAKE
LOCAL CONSIDERATIONS INTO EFFECT A LITTLE BIT MORE, THEY NEED TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN
DEALING WITH PUBLIC RELATIONS. I'M SURE THAT THEY WILL BE. AGAIN, YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE ALREADY
SEEN THE CHINESE START TO TAKE SOME POSITIVE ACTIONS IN THIS REGARD AND I EXPECT THAT THAT
WILL CONTINUE." AS FAR AS THE PIPELINES GO, THE PIPELINES ARE GOING TO BE COMPLETED SOMETIME
IN THE NEXT MONTH (MAY) IF THEY STAY ON SCHEDULE. IT MAY TAKE A FEW MORE WEEKS, A FEW MORE MONTHS
THAN THEY HAD ANTICIPATED, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED VERY QUICKLY, AND THEY'RE
EXPECTED TO START PUMPING NATURAL GAS AS EARLY AS THE END OF MAY. DANIEL, I JUST HAVE ONE
MORE QUESTION ABOUT YOUR FORAYS INTO BURMA. IT WAS SORT OF A CLOSED SOCIETY A FEW YEARS
AGO, SO ARE THEY USED TO SEEING FOREIGNERS BY NOW? OR ARE YOU STILL KIND OF LOOKED AT
A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY? YES, BURMA WAS VERY CLOSED OFF TO A LARGE DEGREE. A LOT OF THE
REASON BEHIND THAT WAS BECAUSE THE DEMOCRACY LEADER, THE OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU
KYI, HAD DISCOURAGED TOURISM. AND, AS A RESULT OF THAT, A LOT OF TOURISTS AND BUSINESSMEN
OF COURSE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SANCTIONS -- ECONOMIC SANCTIONS THAT WERE AGAINST THE
GOVERNMENT. SO DOING BUSINESS THERE WAS QUITE DIFFICULT. BUT THAT HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS -- TO THE POINT NOW WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOTEL ROOMS TO
PUT UP ALL THE TOURISTS AND BUSINESSMEN WHO ARE COMING INTO TOWN. AND OUR THANKS AGAIN
TO VOA'S CORRESPONDENT DANIEL SCHEARF. THE PIPELINE TO CHINA IS EXPECTED TO EARN ABOUT
A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR BURMA. CHINA RECENTLY OVERTOOK THE U.S. AS THE LARGEST
ENERGY CONSUMER IN THE WORLD. CHINA'S ROLE IN ANOTHER REGION -- AFRICA -- IS ONE OF MANY
SUBJECTS IN THE WORKS OF KENYAN ARTIST MICHAEL SOI. SOI SAYS HE LIKES TO PAINT THINGS THAT
MAKE HIS FELLOW KENYANS UNCOMFORTABLE. JILL CRAIG HAS THAT STORY.
AS THE ART SCENE IN KENYA HAS GROWN, THE WORKS OF MICHAEL SOI HAVE BECOME SEARING DEPICTIONS
OF SOCIETY, INCLUDING THE UNDERWORLD OF STRIP CLUBS, PROSTITUTION, AND POLICE CORRUPTION,
AS WELL AS EVERYDAY CONTRADICTIONS IN POLITICS AND PERSONAL LIVES. SOI SAYS HE AIMS TO SHOW
LIFE AS IT REALLY IS, AND THAT TENDS TO MAKE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE. "IT'S JUST BECAUSE I
CHOOSE TO WORK ON ISSUES THAT A LOT OF KENYAN ARTISTS CHOOSE NOT TO WORK WITH. I USE, I
BASICALLY CREATE, WORK THAT WOULD BE SEEN AS WORK THAT DISTURBS PEOPLE."
FOR EXAMPLE, SOI DID A SERIES OF PAINTINGS ON NAIROBI STRIP CLUBS, IN WHICH HE SAYS HE
FOCUSES MORE ON THE MEN'S REACTIONS THAN ON THE WOMEN THEMSELVES. HE SAYS HE LIKES EXPOSING
HYPOCRISY IN SOCIETY. "IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT BASICALLY LOVES TO DIG A HOLE AND BURY YOUR
HEAD IN THE SAND AND PRETEND THAT THESE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DO."
DANDA JAROLJMEK IS THE FOUNDER OF THE CIRCLE ART AGENCY. SHE SAYS THAT SOI HAS NEVER BEEN
AFRAID TO PUSH CONVENTIONAL LIMITS. "I THINK UP UNTIL RECENTLY, ARTISTS WERE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE
ABOUT BEING OVERTLY POLITICAL. PEOPLE WERE FRIGHTENED TO DO THAT, AND I'VE NOTICED OVER
THE LAST FIVE, SEVEN YEARS THAT IT HAS BECOME OPEN. BUT HE'S STILL ONE OF THE FORERUNNERS
BECAUSE HIS WORK IS VERY HUMOROUS, AND HE DELIBERATELY MAKES IT UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE
HE WANTS HIS AUDIENCE TO BE LOCAL KENYANS WHO CAN RELATE TO HIS WORK AND UNDERSTAND
IT -- AS OPPOSED TO ART BEING A SORT OF ELITIST THING WHERE ONLY THE UPPER CLASSES CAN APPRECIATE."
JAROLJMEK SAYS SOI'S ARTWORK USUALLY AMUSES PASSERSBY. IN FACT, SHE RECENTLY BROUGHT HIS
PAINTING OF VOTING LINES DURING THE MARCH ELECTIONS TO A SHOW IN NAIROBI. "AND EVERY
SINGLE PERSON WHO WALKED PAST THAT PIECE LAUGHED THEIR HEADS OFF, YOU KNOW, FROM THE CLEANER
TO THE GENERAL MANAGER."
ISSUES THAT MAKE KENYANS SQUIRM ARE PRECISELY THE ONES THAT SOI WANTS TO DOCUMENT FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS THROUGH HIS ARTWORK. "I AM BASICALLY TRYING TO CREATE WHAT I WANT TO CALL A SOCIAL
PICTORIAL DIARY. YOU KNOW, I AM JUST DOCUMENTING THIS CITY, I AM JUST DOCUMENTING THIS COUNTRY
AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT." AND HE HAS NO PLANS TO STOP DOCUMENTING THESE MOMENTS ANYTIME
SOON. JILL CRAIG FOR VOA NEWS, NAIROBI. AND WITH THAT, WE'VE COME TO THE END OF OUR SHOW
... BUT BEFORE WE GO, A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN
WATCH ON ASSIGNMENT ON YOUTUBE WITH CAPTIONS IN ENGLISH, AND MANY OTHER LANGUAGES...ALL
YOU HAVE TO DO IS CLICK ON "CC" FOR "CLOSED CAPTIONS" IN YOUR YOUTUBE PLAYER, AND ADJUST
YOUR SETTINGS. NEXT WEEK, WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE WINNERS
OF THE VOA PHOTO CONTEST. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO MISS THAT, SO DEFINITELY STAY TUNED.
WE WILL SEE YOU THEN.