This International Dateline episode includes three segments: Robert Fisk - The Road to Damascus, Majida Abboud-Saab and Keysar Trad Interview, and Varsu Rasiah Interview.
Robert Fisk - The Road to Damascus
The feature story is a stroll with Independent newspaper journalist, Robert Fisk, through 29 years of Lebanese history. Robert Fisk arrived in Beirut one day after the Syrians, almost 3 decades ago. Fisk was on the spot back in late March when Lebanon's political hero and millionaire businessman, Rafik Hariri, was brutally assassinated in Beirut's market Corniche. Immediately, the Lebanese were out on the streets in unprecedented numbers, not only to lament Hariri's passing, but also to demand the withdrawal of their country's Syrian military and intelligence overlords. Such was the intensity of the reaction that, after a 30-year occupation, the Syrians pulled out and Fisk was there... but this time he had some company, Dateline reporter Thom Cookes.
Majida Abboud-Saab and Keysar Trad Interview
Australian Mufti, Sheikh Hilaly, has spoken with one of Douglas Wood's kidnappers and learned that Wood is alive and may be released soon. Understandably, Prime Minister John Howard's reaction was one of cautious optimism, saying that in these tricky hostage situations, it is possible people in Iraq may deliberately misrepresent the Sheikh. The Dateline story was broken this morning by journalist Majida Abboud-Saab from Arabic radio at SBS Dateline. Also, joining Dateline in the studio is Islamic Friendship Association spokesperson Keysar Trad. Both Majida and Keysar have been in regular telephone contact with Sheikh Hilaly since he arrived in Baghdad.
Varsu Rasiah Interview
Australian Schapelle Corby has been detained in a Balinese prison and now awaits sentencing from a panel of judges on whether she will be committed to the death penalty, by firing squad, for allegedly attempting to import four kilograms of cannabis into Indonesia. Her lawyers, supporters, legal experts, the Australian Federal Police, and in the past 24 hours, the Howard Government, are still arguing the pros and cons as she awaits her fate at the hands of three Indonesian judges next week. In the months since her arrest, Varsu Rasiah -- a senior member of the Corby legal team -- has consistently accused the Federal Police of a cover-up that has damaged Schapelle Corby's case and placed her at risk of life imprisonment. George Negus speaks with Varsu Rasiah from Denpasar.
About International Dateline
SBS Dateline, which began in 1984, is Australia's longest-running international current affairs program. It has a well-earned reputation for authoritative and incisive reporting. Dateline has taken the traditional way of producing TV current affairs and turned it on its head. Reporters who used to travel with a cameraperson and sound recordist now travel alone and have the responsibility of both filming and reporting their stories. The reporters became video-journalists, gaining access to people and places that the conventional camera crews cannot.
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