BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 06 BEIJING 003091 NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT, FOR, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/DO, DS/TIA/OSAC, DS/P/MECU, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/DO/P, DS/ICI/CI, DS/T/ATA, DS/TIA, DS/TIA/PII, DS/CC, EAP/CM, S/CT, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, PASS TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (TSA) OPERATIONS CENTER, HONG KONG FOR RSO AND LEGAT AND USSS, SHANGHAI FOR RSO, SHENYANG FOR RSO,CHENGDU FOR RSO, GUANGZHOU FOR RSO, USSS HQS FOR INV, OPO, HNL E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2038 TAGS: ASEC CASC CH CMGT ECON KOLY OVIP PREL PTER SUBJECT: BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT 12, 08/12/2008 REF: BEIJING 3076 Classified By: Acting DCM Michael Regan for reason 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) The following cable provides information on security, public diplomacy, political, and consular activities related to the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games as of 08/12/2008. ¶2. (U) The interagency USG Joint Operations Center (JOC) can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at the following numbers: - JOC Direct Line: 011-86-010-6532-6966. - U.S. Embassy Beijing: 011-86-010-6532-3431, JOC extension ¶6200. - JOC fax: 011-86-010-6532-4763. - STE and fax: 011-86-010-6532-5163. KEY ISSUES -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Barbara Bachman, one of the U.S. citizen victims of the 08/09/2008 stabbing incident at Beijing's Drum Tower, remains at Peking Union Hospital in serious but stable condition; the U.S. Embassy's American Citizens Services (ACS) unit was told today that the family plans to return Mrs. Bachman to the States on 08/14/2008 via an SOS International med-evac. U.S. Embassy Regional Medical Officers (RMO) continue to provide support to the family at the hospital. Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon--the daughter of Todd and Barbara Bachman who was present at the time of the attack--has agreed to be interviewed by Chinese officials in the presence of the U.S. Embassy Beijing Legal Attache. In addition, the Embassy has been notified that the Chinese citizen tour guide also injured in the tragic incident is in stable condition and is recovering at a Beijing hospital; Embassy consular officers are working with the hospital and the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office to assist the Bachman family in arranging a visit to the guide. Per the request of Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon's two sisters, ACS is also arranging a brief visit to the area of the Drum Tower on 08/13/2008 so that they have a sense of where the attack occurred. The Olympic Security Coordinator (OSC) continues to coordinate with the U.S. Olympic Committee's (USOC) security office on the details of the Chinese police investigation into the attack and perpetrator Tang Yongming; the OSC has passed to Chinese counterparts the USOC requests for an investigative report outlining the details of the incident. ¶4. (SBU) Separately, ACS is coordinating the transfer of Todd Bachman,s remains from the Public Security Bureau (PSB) forensics lab to the funeral home that will prepare the body for shipment to the United States. Transfer to the funeral BEIJING 00003091 002 OF 006 home should take place today. The local funeral home says that it will take two to three days to finalize preparation of the body. (Note: the body was frozen and must thaw naturally, hence the longer period of time needed before embalming can be completed). ACS believes the family is finalizing plans to fly the casket out of Beijing on 08/15/2008. SECURITY ISSUES -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Threats: Athlete Received Hostile Message in July: On 08/11/2008, JOC personnel were contacted by the USOC security office regarding threatening messages received a month ago by a member of the U.S. Men's Gymnastic team. The messages--posted to the athlete's You Tube channel--threatened physical harm to the athlete; copies of the postings have been passed to the JOC for appropriate follow-up. An initial review of the information by JOC agencies indicates that the author likely does not pose a legitimate threat to the athlete given the unsophisticated nature of the actions threatened and the fact that the last posting was over four weeks old. However, JOC agencies will attempt to ascertain the identity and the location of the messages' author. The USOC will speak to the athlete to determine why he waited to notify officials of the hostile postings. ¶6. (SBU) Vague Threat to POTUS and SecState: On 08/11/2008, the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) headquarters received an e-mail log from a U.S. Army recruiting website containing threatening comments against the President of the United States and the Secretary of State. The unidentified author of the messages repeatedly stated that he/she wanted to kill "Mr. Bush" and "Rice." The e-mail appeared to originate in Henan Province, China; the Regional Security Officer (RSO) in Beijing is attempting to confirm the identity and location of the sender. President Bush safely departed Beijing on 08/11/2008; Secretary of State Rice is due to arrive in China on 08/22/2008 as part of the USG Delegation to the Olympics Closing Ceremony. ¶7. (SBU) Incidents: Resolution of E-mail Information on 08/09/2008 Attack: On 08/11/2008, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents interviewed the Houston-based author of an e-mail alleging that family members of the U.S. Men's Indoor Volleyball team were specifically targeted in the 08/09/2008 knife attack and asserting that extreme Chinese nationalists pose a threat to U.S. Women's Indoor Volleyball coach, Lang Ping (reftel). The agents confirmed that the individual--a U.S. citizen of Chinese descent--had no connection to Tang Yongming (the perpetrator of the attack) and no first-hand knowledge of the incident; by his BEIJING 00003091 003 OF 006 own admission, the subject's e-mail comments regarding the attack and the threat to Lang Ping were based solely on his personal feelings. Based on this finding, the JOC considers this issue to be closed. ¶8. (SBU) Bomb Scare at Beijing Railway Station: On 08/11/2008, a U.S. Embassy officer near the Beijing Railway Station observed Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers with a bomb disposal vehicle investigating an abandoned suitcase in front of the station. After inspection by bomb sniffing dogs, the suitcase was opened and found to be empty. The Embassy officer noted that the police did not clear the area of curious bystanders, who were quite close to the suspicious suitcase. ¶9. (SBU) Two Women Involved in Kuqa Attack: On 08/11/2008, a Chinese Government official told reporters in Kuqa, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, that two women were among a squad of 15 assailants accused of killing 12 people when they hurled homemade bombs at Chinese Government buildings and police in Kuqa on 08/10/2008 (reftel). One of the women is in custody and the other was killed during the attack. Three of the attackers--who officials claim were a mix of local residents and outsiders--are reportedly still at large. ¶10. (SBU) Olympic Protests: For the first time since 08/06/2008, the U.S. Embassy on 08/11/2008 received no reports of U.S. citizens detained and deported in conjunction with pro-Tibet protests near Beijing Olympic venues or tourist sites. Updating reftel information regarding the 08/10/2008 detention and deportation of three U.S. citizens for protesting near Tiananmen Square, ACS has confirmed that the third American-- whose name did not appear on the "Students for a Free Tibet" (SFT) website that routinely publishes information on American protesters in Beijing--was returned safely to Los Angeles on 08/11/2008. According to a family member who spoke with ACS, the individual was filming the pro-Tibet protest at the time of his detention. In addition, the SFT-affiliated individual who has previously alerted ACS to American citizen detentions advised the U.S. Embassy via e-mail that among the individuals detained on 08/10/2008 was SFT co-founder, John Hocevar. Possibly indicating that additional protests will occur, the SFT contact stated in her message that "with two weeks left in the Olympics, there is a lot more work to be done" and confirmed that "we will keep you updated on events as they happen." The total number of Americans detained and deported for protest activity since 08/06/2008 remains at 11. ¶11. (SBU) Protests Continue in U.S.: Protests continue at Chinese diplomatic facilities in the United States, though the frequency of these demonstrations appears to have decreased since 08/08/2008. On 08/11/2008, approximately 15 BEIJING 00003091 004 OF 006 Falun Gong members protested in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC. An 08/10/2008 demonstration conducted by a group identifying itself as the "North Korea Coalition" also took place at the Chinese Embassy. SECURITY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Coordination with NBA: The OSC is coordinating with National Basketball Association (NBA) officials to ensure that the JOC and USG Field Liaison Officers (FLO) are informed of the movement of NBA members to Olympic venues. The appearance of NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant at Olympic sites has generated an enthusiastic response from spectators; alerting the JOC to NBA visits to the venues will help FLOs to provide entry assistance and to ensure appropriate crowd control. ¶13. (SBU) USSS Officer Taken to Hospital: On 08/11/2008, a U.S. Secret Service Security Officer assigned to assist with the visit of President Bush to Beijing fell ill and was transported to Beijing United Family Medicl Hospital, where he was admitted to the Intesive Care Unit. The Security Officer received treatment for a non-life threatening condition and is in stable condition at this time. It is anticipated that barring any further medical complications, the Security Officer will be released within the next several days; however, he will likely remain in Beijing for further medical observation until cleared to travel. ¶14. (S/NF) Security Around Beijing: The U.S. Defense Attache Office (DAO) in Beijing on 08/09/2008 and 08/10/2008 observed varying degrees of security throughout the city. Notable observations included the lack of a special security presence at the Beijing Workers Stadium and Gymnasium; light security throughout Chaoyang Park, with typical Olympic security observed only at the beach volleyball grounds; and the presence of a light security force at the Olympic Green. (Please refer to IIR 6 814 1776 08, dated August 11, for additional details.) Separately, the Deputy Olympic Security Coordinator (DOSC) assigned to the Chinese International Police Center has indicated that Chinese authorities briefed international law enforcement representatives that they have increased security patrols by special units throughout the city. U.S. Embassy officers monitoring Olympic protest zones and cultural sites have reported a heavy security presence at Tiananmen Square composed mainly of Beijing police and People's Armed Police (PAP) units. ¶15. (C/NF) Olympics Security in Hong Kong: Information available to the DAO from a source with direct access indicates that the Hong Kong Disciplined Services, Special Duties Unit (SDU) is on 24-hours-a-day alert during the BEIJING 00003091 005 OF 006 Olympics. Some senior SDU members are deployed at the Olympic venue in Hong Kong during events, while all other SDU members must be at their headquarters at all times. Despite the SDU,s readiness posture, the unit reportedly is not integrated into the overall Olympic security plan and probably would be reactive, rather that proactive, in dealing with threats. (Please see IIR 6 842 0462 08, dated August 11, for additional details.) ¶16. (U) Multiple Checks, Biodetection Equipment at Shanghai Venues: According to Chinese media reports, the Shanghai Olympic stadium and the four Olympic training sites in Shanghai receive "blanket" security checks from Chinese military and fire department personnel at least three times every day. The articles state that spectators entering the stadium are required to pass through both conventional metal detectors and a "doorway-type detector of contamination on the surfaces of people." VIPS -------------- ¶17. (SBU) Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush remains in Beijing; he is scheduled to depart the city on 08/13/2008. U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson also remains in Beijing; he will depart on 08/15/2008. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶18. (U) There is no significant information or activity to report. CONSULAR AFFAIRS -------------- ¶19. (SBU) Be Careful With Those Tickets: An American was detained on 08/11/2008 near an Olympic venue for trying to sell an extra Olympic ticket to an undercover policeman. It is not known if the American was selling the ticket for face value or an inflated price. The tickets state that they must not be resold and scalping Olympic tickets is punishable by up to 14 days in detention. ACS has formally requested the Public Security Bureau (PSB) confirm the detention; calls to the Olympics PSB police station have turned up no information. POLITICAL AFFAIRS -------------- ¶20. (U) Chinese Protester Detained at Forbidden City: According to the Associated Press, a Chinese citizen was detained by Chinese police on 08/11/2008 for handing out leaflets in front of the Chairman Mao portrait near the BEIJING 00003091 006 OF 006 entrance to the Forbidden City. Press reports indicate that the individual had previously applied to demonstrate in one of Beijing's protest zones, but his request was not approved by Chinese officials. The police allegedly allowed the individual to briefly speak to tourists and television crews before removing him from the scene. ¶21. (SBU) Church Activist Escapes from Police Custody: Updating a report that Chinese activist Hua Huaqi was detained by police on 08/10/2008 while on his way to the church service attended by the U.S. President (reftel), according to information in a letter purportedly sent by Hua to the group "Human Rights in China" on 08/11/2008, he fled from police detention in a Beijing office building after his minders fell asleep. Hua reported in the letter that the is "afraid to go home." ¶22. (SBU) Tibetan Monks Face Restriction: According to Hong Kong AFP, Tibetan monks are facing security measures aimed at limiting their movements during the Olympics. Tibetan monks reported they could not purchase train tickets, could not receive e-mail until October, were being "watched constantly" by authorities, and were "pressured not to talk to foreigners." RANDT