EMBASSY URGES RELEASE OF KADEER SONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 022747 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2031 TAGS: PHUM CH SUBJECT: EMBASSY URGES RELEASE OF KADEER SONS REF: BEIJING 22238 Classified By: Classified by Political Internal Unit Chief Susan Thornton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) POLOFF expressed concern to MFA Human Rights officer Zhou Feng on October 27 over reports that the trial of two of Rebiya Kadeer's adult sons has been held in Xinjiang Province. POLOFF noted reports that Alim and Kahar, who have been charged with tax fraud, were tried in a closed proceeding this week with only a few family allowed to attend. Suspicions that the tax fraud charges were brought in retaliation for Rebiya Kadeer's overseas activities have not been allayed by the non-transparent handling of the case, Poloff told Zhou. The U.S. Government urges the judicial authorities to dismiss the charges against the Alim and Kahar and to cease retaliatory harassment of other Kadeer family members (see reftel). ¶2. (C) Zhou stated that he is not familiar with this case and that almost all IO Division officials are currently out of the office working on the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Zhou said he would report the U.S. message to his superiors. Randt