27/04/2014 Reporters

before the ship hit an iceberg and sank. Time for Reporters.

Welcome to Reporters. I'm Tim Willcox. In this week's programme:

Strengthening ties and comforting allies. We are in Tokyo as Barack

Obama begins his Asian tour. The American president wants closer

trade and is offering to help balance the rise of China. No other

nation in the world has anything like this. American naval power is

still supreme for now stop and as the president promotes economic

security, Beijing Fletcher is its own military muscle `` flexors. We

have the view from the biggest regional power. President Obama is

visiting allies in Asia. Not on his list but on everyone's mind is China

and its growing strength at the. Trading in terror. Investigating

claims that Nigeria's Islamist militants are paying to recruit

fighters from across the border. Plus, why the long face? It's

because horse`drawn carriages could soon be off the streets of New York

City. Almost overnight, the debate has shifted from tighter regulation

to an outright ban. 2.5 years after promising a pivot to

Asia, President Obama is back in the region to implement his plan. His

message to political leaders in the region has been one of American

reassurance that the visit focusing on security and trade is the thing

on the country. `` however, the visit. That is despite the fact that

Beijing's fatuous relations with its neighbours has been dominating the

visit of top the US president began his tour in Japan.

It's Sunday night in Tokyo and the California low riders are out in

force. President Obama is arriving in a country some still described as

a sort of American colony. Nothing symbolises American power in Japan

more than the seventh Fleet. Out in the Sea of Japan, the huge USS Ponce

Mashhad is about to begin a mock invasion. No other Navy in the world

has anything like this. American naval power is still supreme for

now. But just a few hundred miles over there is China. Right now,

China is making Japan very nervous. This Chinese boat is deep inside a

Japanese waters and is refusing to stop. China is aggressively

asserting its claims to Japanese controlled islands in the East China

Sea. Japan wants know what President Obama will do if there is a

confrontation. There was a real possibility that the Americans might

be entangled into an actual combat simply because of those... This

confrontation between China and Japan about a certain few islands.

The Americans backed off. It's not about the size of the military

capability, which is immense of course, it is the will of the

Americans. But with 27,000 US Marines based in Japan, US

commanders say they have the will and the means.

The message is that the US sticks by its allies. I landed on this page 30

years ago as a younger talent. This shows our stay in power, the

strength of this alliance. President Obama may have a few questions of

his own for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Why, for example, did he go out

of his way to provoke China with this visit to the Yasukuni Shrine?

Home to the spirit of Japan's most notorious war criminals. Shinzo

Abe's reluctance to accept what Japan did during World War II is not

only sabotaging relations with China and South Korea but with his most

important ally as well. Staying with the President Obama's

Asian tour, which comes at a time when regional security in Asia is a

particularly hot topic, one common theme in many of the countries he is

visiting is a growing concern over China's expansionist moves. China is

not on the president's itinerary this time around but we can be sure

his trip will be watched very closely in Beijing.

Naval power is a Chinese obsession. The country's aircraft carrier is

based in this man's hometown but he cannot get close enough to see the

real thing, so he made this model and hopes that even if he does not,

his grandson will live to see China all the waves. TRANSLATION: On

aircraft carrier is not enough. Ten is not enough. Japan is bullying

China and sees that China is not strong enough and there is nothing

we can do about it. A music video from the top guns of the People's

Liberation Army on the eve of President Obama's Asian tour. Out on

exercise to make the Chinese public proud, to teach the neighbours

respect, and to focus American minds on what it might cost in future to

Dominic to the seas. TRANSLATION: It is like Napoleon says. When China

wakes, it will shake the world. The Americans cannot bear it. We have

woken up and we are recovering our might. President Barack Obama is

coming back to Asia and he is conspicuously not visiting China.

Future diplomats in a Beijing classroom. They have grown up with a

map of Asia dominated by US power. Now, there is more talk of the old

map, with China in the centre, circled by deferential neighbours.

Chinese people might think that now we have money, we should be

perceived in a more respectful way and they should respect our

sovereignty. This ferry only goes across the bay but sale east from

here and soon you will be in waters controlled by the US. Navy.

Americans often say that China should be grateful to the US fleet

for keeping the peace in Asia for the past 40 years but it has allowed

China the space to grow rich and grow strong. But that is not how the

Chinese government sees it, nor the Chinese public. Here, they will be

watching President Obama's tore across the water, alert for signs

that he is encouraging the territorial claims of others, and

dreaming of the day when China is strong enough to enforce its own

claims in the seas. This week, Myanmar laid to rest one

of the country's longest serving political prisoners and a pioneer of

the country's largest opposition party. Not that long ago, there were

more than 5000 political part `` political prisoners like him in

Burmese jails. Now after a series of political reforms, all but a handful

have been released. But adjusting to normal life has not been easy. This

long walk to freedom led all the way to a rubbish dump. This man was a

teacher when he took part in the 1988 student of rising but after 16

years in jail, he has found it impossible to get his old job back,

so his family now squat illegally on government land, selling vegetables

at the market. Their father's commitment to democracy means no

money for the children's school and only a makeshift roof over their

heads. He tells me that he has no regrets and tearfully, his wife

agrees. She is proud of him, she says, for trying to change the

system. At one point, there were more than 5000 Burmese political

prisoners. Now, thanks to reforms, there are just a handful. But there

has been no rush to make amends. They get no official help as the

state considers them released criminals and treat them

accordingly. Why is nobody talking about compensation for the political

prisoners? Some of them spent a large chunk of their life locked up

for their political beliefs. It's very weird talking about our

policies out loud but we are trying to document cases. Why, for example,

is unsung Suu Kyi, the most famous political prisoner of them all here,

not raising the case more about the thousands of less high profile

political prisoners? Actually, I feel very sorry for her now that...

I want her to raise the issue before the parliament but I have not heard

anything from her. I'm really disappointed. Where some have

struggled, others have thrived. This man runs a company servicing cars

and is about to expand into a new branch. He says his time behind bars

taught him that nothing matters more than family. And with that in mind,

he has a girlfriend. She is a former political prisoner, of course. As we

both are political activist and spent time in prison, we know all

about each other's experiences, she says. Others think they cannot

understand. They are getting married this year, another small sign of

hope in a country that has suffered so much.

The reach of the radical Islamist group Boko Haram appears to be

spreading beyond Nigeria. This week, the BBC revealed the insurgents may

be paying to recruit fighters from across the border in the share.

Nigeria's neighbours have feared for some time that the Boko Haram

insurgency could spread. Our correspondent took up the

investigation in south`eastern Nigeria, which is along the border

with Nigeria. There is little to take from a sandstorm. At least it

feels safer here. These Nigerian refugees were pushed across the into

Niger after Islamist militants from Boko Boko Haram invaded their

village. They are fleeing by boat. The UN estimates that 500 cross into

Niger every week. This man arrived last month, with his two wives and

six children. TRANSLATION: I was going to bed when we heard the first

gunshots, when we run to escape, little girl was shot as she fled her

burning house. He counted 50 dead in the streets. It is a growing refugee

crisis, but without camps. The authorities argued that they could

become new targets, or worse, recruitment centres for Boko Haram.

Boko Haram has said they can hit the Nigerian state in different ways,

bomb attacks, raiding villages, attacking schools and abducting

children. For now, their neighbours are dealing with the consequences of

the violence. The prospect of this violence pulling over is becoming

more of a question of not if but when they could strike here. Niger

macro security forces patrol the border. Several attacks have been

foiled over the last few months. Dozens of men suspected to have

links with Boko Haram have been arrested. We have made contact with

a local gang whose members claim they are collaborating with Boko

Haram. They have agreed to talk to us but we cannot show their faces.

The gang members are all in their early 20s, and have told us that

five of the group have joined the Nigerian militants, and to have

already been killed operations. TRANSLATION: Some of us are with

them now. We give them information about what is going on now. They

come to us and we involve them. If they tell you to launch an attack

here, would you be ready to do that? Yes, we are ready, we have no job so

ready. That is what we are here for. Boko Haram, they say, have paid them

?2000 to join their insurgency. It is the cash that they want, they

have no interest in defending Sharia law. Drought and hunger have made

communities that are vulnerable. Kuzin rebellions have made it on

stable. This fragile state is threatened by the crisis next door

which is fuelled by poverty and neglect. Both conditions exist here.

The South Korean school devastated by the loss of many of its students

on a ferry disaster last week have begun classes again. More than 300

students from the high school south of Seoul were on board the ferry

when it capsized. Memorial services have been held for many of the

students were who died in the disaster. Lucy Williamson was there.

White Flowers told their story. The purity, and of death. One each from

grieving mothers, classmates, and many strangers. A whole nation

wanting ritual to take this loss. They were supposed to be

schoolchildren and not heroes. Their faces are too young for this. What

should I do, she says? What should I do? TRANSLATION: I feel angry when I

think of the students who were not rescued. If we had acted sooner,

they would have survived. I often imagine what they must have gone

through. They must have screamed for help. That thought tortures me. The

messages left by mourners spoke of sympathy and guilt. And also pride.

" My beloved little sister, we heard you saved your friend we are so

proud of you. " For some, the hardest day in this story will be

tomorrow. The high school at the centre of the tragedy has become a

memorial site, a place of funerals and grieving. Tomorrow, with half of

the classroom is empty, it will open as a school again. `` classrooms.

The desk the knockers will now be empty spaces. School friendships

ended, future is gone. `` desks and lockers. They will be missed by so

many, and we wish they knew how much.

A few weeks from now, hundreds of millions of people will get the

chance to vote in the first Europewide elections since the

Eurozone crisis. This week, we took a closer look at the EU 's two

biggest and most important economies, France and Germany. These

two countries at the heart of Europe have had differing fortunes over the

past few years. As Matthew Price and Chris Morris found out.

They can afford to take it easy here in Germany. This, the economic

powerhouse of Europe. Where even when the wind is not really blowing,

they are still living a good life. Life is perfect. The season is

coming for sailing. Economy wise, I guess, everything is here.

Unemployment is low, exports are solid, and people are confident.

Unlike an awful lot of the rest of the EU. What is it likely you are,

Chris? Here in Marseille, the French know how to enjoy as well. The

question is how they are going to pay for it. At this club, you can

sense the national mood of economic anxiety. Unemployment here remain

stubbornly high. While this is very competitive, you cannot say the same

about the French economy. TRANSLATION: They say we do not work

as hard as the Germans, maybe that is true in Marseille, we can be a

bit lazy. We need reform. I think we can do it. Down at the old port, the

morning catches just coming in. Plenty of people in France are

working hard to make ends meet. Economic changes often a painful

process. When you show your currency with others, it is not entirely in

your eye and hands. Everything is more expensive with the euro, prices

have trebled, this woman says. With the Frank, you got a good meal on

the cheap but not now. Others could see it differently, but there is no

doubt that the single currency and its future will be right at the

heart of this election campaign. In France, the National front wants to

leave the euro. It could even come first. A big protest vote, a little

different on your side of the border? That is right, being part of

the euro has helped Germany to build up its wealth. Yet, even here, some

doubts are beginning to creep in about the single currency. Those

concerns do not run that deep. But most here do believe their status as

an economic colossus is guaranteed only if the EU is weaker economy is

becoming more German. It is our interest to have a strong EU.

Against the United States, and also against Asia. So, Germany, and

France, two countries very much at the political and economic heart of

Europe. With difficult `` with different commies, they are putting

mesh on the rest of the EU. It is bound to put pressure on both sides

of the border with how they vote will stop `` putting pressure. Now,

the new mayor has bowed to ban them. He says they are inhumane and wants

to replace them with a fleet of vintage electric cars.

They are treasured by many New Yorkers as living landmarks. They

are as much a part of the Manhattan seen as the skyscrapers that Mindy

avenues. The entire horse carriage trade faces abolition, because the

city 's new mayor believes this urban jungle is far too hostile and

environment. The years, animal welfare groups have been lobbying

for the ban. Claiming the animals are traumatised by the traffic. They

are treated as machines. To be exploited, until they can no longer

make a profit. New York City into South 14, has two do better. `` in

2014. Animal cruelty is a tourist attraction. The carriages have been

part of the tourist trail since the mid`19th century. In the past 30

years, they have made 6 million trips. The romance comes with risks.

Since 2011, there have been seven reported incidents, with two horses

collapsing and one losing its life. Historically speaking, the horse

carriage industry has always had very powerful allies, all`star New

York politicians who have protected it from animal welfare groups. Now,

that has changed, and almost overnight the debate has shifted,

from tighter regulation, to an outright ban. This is one of four

staples were the horses are housed. `` tables. In the city, they do not

get to graze daily, but they get five weeks holiday every year. She

has a store where she can turn around and lie down. She comes on

cue to say hello. This man says his animals are well cared for, and vets

have never found evidence of neglect awkwardly. What is wrong with her?

There's nothing wrong with the horse. She is in good health and

providing a good service, earning our keeper. She has provided a lot

of pleasure to a lot of people in New York City. `` earning our

keeper. The ban was supposed to come into effect at the beginning of

January. The earning has staged a last`ditch fight. As a central

current will not be the same without the carriages. But, this picture

postcard could be about to disappear.

That is all from the show today, from me and the whole team here in

London, goodbye for now. We started the weekend dodging

downpours, we are playing the same game with the day ahead, low

pressure is so close by, just to the south. We have this weather front

bringing in the cloud, to the eastern side of Scotland, north`east