AMERICANS EXPELLED FROM XINJIANG FOR RELIGIOUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 004237 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2032 TAGS: PGOV PHUM CASC PREL KIRF OLY CH SUBJECT: AMERICANS EXPELLED FROM XINJIANG FOR RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Robert Griffiths. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) A number of American citizens either resident in or visiting Xinjiang were expelled from China between February and June 2007, apparently because of their involvement in Christian religious activities. Xinjiang security officials reportedly questioned these persons about their religious activities and accused them of violating related laws. In the past, Xinjiang officials had normally chosen to "wait out" who it viewed as "undesirables" by refusing to renew their visas, rather than expel them. One American in Xinjiang believes the expulsions are part of a larger effort to clamp down on foreign missionaries. An Urumqi-based Chinese Christian Pastor, however, said she doubts the Chinese government has changed its policies on Christian religious activity, though she acknowledged that some officials in outlying areas are more reactionary. End Summary. Americans Expelled Over Religious Activities -------------- ¶2. (C) Between February and June 2007, a number of American citizens in several areas of Xinjiang were expelled from China, apparently because of their involvement in religious activities. -- In mid-February, authorities in Korla told American businessman Jeremy Wideman that he had to leave China within a period of a few days. They accused Wideman of conducting illegal religious services at his home in Korla. Wideman told Emboff that he had held a Christmas party in his home, but denied having conducted any religious services there. -- On April 19, four Amcits were among a group of about thirty house church leaders who were arrested after holding a meeting in Aksu. The four Amcits were questioned about their religious activities, accused of performing illegal missionary work and required to depart China by April 28. Authorities charged six of the meeting participants, all Chinese, with suspected involvement "in evil cult activities." -- On April 26, Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB) officials questioned long-time Kashgar resident Gregory Kopan. Kopan, his wife and their two daughters were then ordered to depart China by May 21. Kopan, who ran a cafe and travel agency in Kashgar, denied assertions by local officials that he was "carrying out Christianity in the name of business." However, he told Emboff on May 19 that he had distributed copies of the Bible as well as literature referring to Xinjiang as an independent state. Kopan thought he may have been targeted for expulsion by a Han Chinese competitor with strong connections to local officials. Two of Kopan's employees, a Swiss national who was expelled from China and a Canadian national whose application for visa renewal was denied, were also forced to leave the country. -- On May 29, Kashgar authorities accused Amcit Jeremy Thompson of proselytizing and ordered him to leave China by June 7. Thompson signed a confession stating that he had passed an electronic copy of the New Testament to a Chinese citizen. Authorities also required one of Thompson's associates, a Canadian citizen, to depart China. -- On June 3, Urumqi security officials questioned Amcit James D. Fanella about his religious activities after raiding a small home worship service in which he was participating. Fanella, a Seventh-day Adventist who has been visiting Xinjiang periodically since 2000, was required to exit China within 10 days. Fanella told Emboff that "he got caught this time" because he and other worshippers had grown "careless" by, among other things, "singing hymns with their apartment windows wide open." Fanella said he kept a low profile during previous trips. ¶3. (C) This week Emboff learned of another case in which an American has been questioned in Xinjiang about his religious activities, though to date no action has been taken against him. On June 21, RAB officials questioned Amcit Kurt Merwin, a long-time resident of Urumqi. Merwin told Emboff that RAB officials tried to obtain a confession that he had hosted "a local person at a Christmas party" in December 2006. RAB officials did not tell Merwin whether he will be expelled, but they said that Public Security Bureau officials will visit Merwin "soon" to "follow up" on his case. Theories Behind the Expulsions -------------- BEIJING 00004237 002 OF 002 ¶4. (C) American citizen Ray Anderson (strictly protect),a resident of Xinjiang for the past nine years and employer of expelled Amcit Jeremy Thompson, told Emboff that the recent spate of forced expulsions is part of a trend whereby Xinjiang authorities have placed increased pressure on "foreign Christians." Anderson said that, in the past, local officials simply "waited out undesirables" by refusing to renew their visas. In contrast, Urumqi-based Three-Self Patriotic Movement Pastor Fan Chenguang separately told Emboff that she has not heard of any expulsions or campaign against expat Christians and doubted that the government has made any significant changes to its policies concerning Christian religious activity. In fact, Fan argued that Urumqi officials have grown "increasingly tolerant" of Christian religious activity in recent years. Nevertheless, she conceded that the situation is "very different" in outlying areas where local officials possess "an old way of thinking" based on "primitive policies" like those seen "in the early days of Communist rule." Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) The precise motivations behind the string of expulsions involving American Christians in Urumqi is unclear. Separately, some members of the expat Christian community in Beijing, as well as overseas mission agencies, have reported hearing that expat Christians in other parts of China have been expelled, allegedly as part of an official effort to prevent public protests during the Beijing Olympics by taking preemptive action against house churches and Christian missionaries. In these most recent expulsions in Xinjiang, however, no link was made to the Olympics by any of those involved, though all made clear that they were being forced to depart China because of their alleged religious activities. PICCUTA