Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING11075
2006-06-02 11:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

STAFFDEL CUTS SHORT XINJIANG VISIT AFTER KADEER

Tags:  PHUM PREL CH 
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VZCZCXRO5974
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHBJ #1075/01 1531136
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 021136Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7478
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 011075 

SIPDIS

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DEPT FOR DRL, EAP/CM
NSC FOR WILDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2031
TAGS: PHUM PREL CH
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL CUTS SHORT XINJIANG VISIT AFTER KADEER
FAMILY MEMBERS DETAINED

REF: A. BEIJING 10749

B. BEIJING 10893

Classified By: Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission David S. Sedney.
Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 011075

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL, EAP/CM
NSC FOR WILDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2031
TAGS: PHUM PREL CH
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL CUTS SHORT XINJIANG VISIT AFTER KADEER
FAMILY MEMBERS DETAINED

REF: A. BEIJING 10749

B. BEIJING 10893

Classified By: Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission David S. Sedney.
Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) Summary: House International Relations
Committee Staffdel Halpin cut short its visit to
Xinjiang and returned to Beijing June 2 after Chinese
officials confirmed they have detained three of Rebiya
Kadeer's adult children on suspicion of tax evasion.
Xinjiang officials also accused Kadeer's two sons of
forcibly resisting detention. Polmincouns expressed
deep USG concern about the detentions to MFA
International Organizations Deputy Director General
Shen Yongxiong on June 2 and pressed for the immediate
release of the Kadeer family members. Shen confirmed
only that the three had been detained by police. End
Summary.


2. (C) Three adult children (estimated ages in 30s or
early 40s) of Uighur businesswoman Rebiya Kadeer were
formally detained on June 1 on suspicion of tax
evasion. According to a June 2 Xinjiang press report,
Kadeer's sons Alim and Ablikim and daughter Rushangul
were criminally detained for "violently refusing to
abide by the law." The article cited Rebiya Kadeer's
involvement with splittist groups overseas, suspicion
of tax evasion by Rebiya's company Akeda and attempts
by the family members to transfer funds overseas. It
accused Kadeer, who was recently elected President of
the Uighur American Association, of becoming the
"head" of overseas anti-China splittist forces.


3. (C) Polmincouns contacted MFA IO DDG Shen
Yongxiong on June 2 to express the USG's deep concern
and urge the release of the Kadeer family members.
Shen said that he could confirm that the three family
members were "picked up by police," but that he had no
further details. Shen added that it was his
understanding that the Staffdel had attempted to
contact the family members while in Xinjiang.
Polmincouns clarified that the Staffdel had not
initially sought to contact the family. Only after
reports of detentions emerged did the Staffdel express
readiness to meet Kadeer family members to confirm
their status. Shen said Embassy Poloff initiated
contact with the Kadeer family by phone. Polmincouns
noted that this was only after the reported detentions
and after Chinese officials denied the detentions and
encouraged anyone concerned about the family to call
the family directly. Shen indicated that his
department would work with MFA North American Affairs
to follow up on the issue.


4. (C) The status of the Kadeer family was a hotly
discussed issue throughout Staffdel visit. As
reported reftels, the three Kadeer family members were
taken in for questioning on May 30 at the time of the
Staffdel's arrival in Xinjiang. Responding to
Staffdel and Embassy protests, Xinjiang and NPC
officials denied that the family members had been
detained. On May 31, Xinjiang Vice Governor Nuerlan
Abudumanjin urged "anyone concerned about the Kadeers"
to telephone them to confirm that they were at
liberty.


5. (C) As reported Ref A, Poloff attempted to
telephone Kadeer family members by phone to verify
their status. Kadeer's son Alim, stating that he was
returning those calls, telephoned Poloff on May 31 to
report that he and his siblings were held overnight
and released at 5:30 that morning. Alim said the
detention was "of course related to the Staffdel's
visit" and that he wished to provide details about his
family's mistreatment in retaliation for his mother's
activities in the United States. Alim told Poloff
that police had returned them to their homes but were
still monitoring them.


6. (C) As reported Ref B, Embassy received subsequent
reports that the three were again detained. At
midnight June 1, Xinjiang and National People's
Congress officials told the Staffdel that the Kadeer
children had been formally detained. At the same
time, Xinjiang television news broadcast reports of
the detentions, with content similar to that outlined
para 2. Following the midnight meeting, the Staffdel

BEIJING 00011075 002 OF 002


canceled the remainder of its visit to Xinjiang and
returned to Beijing June 2.


7. (U) Staffdel did not have the opportunity to clear
this message.
RANDT