HUMAN RIGHTS: AMCIT NASDAQ REP DETAINED THEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000621 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR CA/OCS, DRL, EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2032 TAGS: PHUM PGOV CASC CH SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: AMCIT NASDAQ REP DETAINED THEN RELEASED AFTER QUESTIONING ON FALUN GONG Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel L. Shields. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Chinese security officials detained and questioned AmCit Lawrence Pan, NASDAQ's chief representative in China, on the morning of January 26 in connection with NASDAQ's alleged "support" for Falun Gong activities in the United States. He was released the same afternoon, Hong Kong-based NASDAQ office director for Asia-Pacific James Ogilvy-Stuart told Beijing ACS Chief. ¶2. (C) Ogilvy-Stuart contacted post midday on January 26 to report that Pan, who is of Chinese descent, had sent an e-mail informing the NASDAQ office that he had been "called in to the China State Security Bureau for questioning about NASDAQ supporting Fa Long Gong in US event today (sic)." ACS wrote an official urgent letter to the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office about the case and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department seeking 1) verification, 2) explanation and 3) immediate access to Pan. Pol and Econoffs also called working level contacts at the MFA to ask about the case. As of 1730 local time January 26, we have received no official response to our inquiries. ¶3. (C) Ogilvy-Stuart said Pan sent him an e-mail late the afternoon of January 26 after his release reporting that "it had been a long day" but that he was fine. Ogilvy-Stuart said that Pan, to secure his release, may have pledged to Chinese authorities that NASDAQ would no longer allow the Falun Gong-operated television network New Tang Dynasty News to cover NASDAQ from the electronic stock exchange's New York headquarters. ¶4. (C) Pan has not signed a Privacy Act Waiver. Ogilvy-Stuart told ACS Chief that Pan has requested that no one contact him for the time being, although Ogilvy-Stuart confirmed that he had given Pan the Embassy's after hours emergency telephone numbers just in case. SEDNEY