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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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