Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GUANGZHOU608
2007-05-25 08:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Guangzhou
Cable title:
Guangxi Officials Downplay Family Planning Riots
how-toVZCZCXRO6507 RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHGZ #0608 1450850 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 250850Z MAY 07 FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6092 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L GUANGZHOU 000608
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2032
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI CH
SUBJECT: Guangxi Officials Downplay Family Planning Riots
REF: A) Beijing 2855
B) Guangzhou 589
(U) Classified by Acting Economic/Political Section Chief
Drake Weisert for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L GUANGZHOU 000608
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2032
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI CH
SUBJECT: Guangxi Officials Downplay Family Planning Riots
REF: A) Beijing 2855
B) Guangzhou 589
(U) Classified by Acting Economic/Political Section Chief
Drake Weisert for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Guangxi officials and Mainland media acknowledged
the violence in Bobai County almost a week after the
incidents occurred, playing down the severity and extent of
the riots. On May 24, Yulin Municipal Government spokesman
Guo Chengqiu denied reports of fatalities, estimated that
the largest single demonstration involved only 2,000
people, refuted foreign media reports that police dispersed
crowds with water cannons and that women were forcibly
sterilized regardless of age. Guo admitted, however, that
the incident reflected that some problems exist in the
local officials' handling of family planning enforcement.
2. (C) Guo said that 28 people were detained in connection
with the incidents, 23 of whom are now under house arrest
on charges of "networking, persuading and being involved in
damaging properties." Bobai County Vice Director Huang Wei
stated that some individuals with "ulterior motives" had
incited the riots. Their identities have not been
released. Guangdong Foreign Studies University Law
Professor Wang Yunxiang (strictly protect) and Shenzhen-
based China Development Institute senior research fellow Li
Weining (strictly protect) told Congenoff that some local
officials will be punished in order to pacify the people
and warn officials in other regions against similar
practices, but that their punishments will likely not be as
severe as the riot organizers'.
3. (SBU) According to a May 23 Xinhua report, in response
to the riots, central and local governments have increased
police presence in the affected areas of Bobai County, one
of the largest counties in Guangxi with a population of 1.6
million. Yulin City and Bobai County dispatched 4,200
"cadres" to the area to study the incident, respond to
residents' concerns, and to prevent future unrest.
4. (C) The Chinese government continues to tightly control
information on the Guangxi riots. Zhongshan University
Professor Ai Xiaoming (strictly protect),an advocate for
greater political openness, told Congenoff that emails
containing certain key words associated with the incident
have been blocked, and that she cannot access internet news
about the riots. Professor Ai suggested that email and
text messaging about the incident, especially Chinese-
language messages, would continue to be blocked, but that
English-language messaging may slip by censors.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2032
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI CH
SUBJECT: Guangxi Officials Downplay Family Planning Riots
REF: A) Beijing 2855
B) Guangzhou 589
(U) Classified by Acting Economic/Political Section Chief
Drake Weisert for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Guangxi officials and Mainland media acknowledged
the violence in Bobai County almost a week after the
incidents occurred, playing down the severity and extent of
the riots. On May 24, Yulin Municipal Government spokesman
Guo Chengqiu denied reports of fatalities, estimated that
the largest single demonstration involved only 2,000
people, refuted foreign media reports that police dispersed
crowds with water cannons and that women were forcibly
sterilized regardless of age. Guo admitted, however, that
the incident reflected that some problems exist in the
local officials' handling of family planning enforcement.
2. (C) Guo said that 28 people were detained in connection
with the incidents, 23 of whom are now under house arrest
on charges of "networking, persuading and being involved in
damaging properties." Bobai County Vice Director Huang Wei
stated that some individuals with "ulterior motives" had
incited the riots. Their identities have not been
released. Guangdong Foreign Studies University Law
Professor Wang Yunxiang (strictly protect) and Shenzhen-
based China Development Institute senior research fellow Li
Weining (strictly protect) told Congenoff that some local
officials will be punished in order to pacify the people
and warn officials in other regions against similar
practices, but that their punishments will likely not be as
severe as the riot organizers'.
3. (SBU) According to a May 23 Xinhua report, in response
to the riots, central and local governments have increased
police presence in the affected areas of Bobai County, one
of the largest counties in Guangxi with a population of 1.6
million. Yulin City and Bobai County dispatched 4,200
"cadres" to the area to study the incident, respond to
residents' concerns, and to prevent future unrest.
4. (C) The Chinese government continues to tightly control
information on the Guangxi riots. Zhongshan University
Professor Ai Xiaoming (strictly protect),an advocate for
greater political openness, told Congenoff that emails
containing certain key words associated with the incident
have been blocked, and that she cannot access internet news
about the riots. Professor Ai suggested that email and
text messaging about the incident, especially Chinese-
language messages, would continue to be blocked, but that
English-language messaging may slip by censors.
GOLDBERG