BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 BEIJING 003106

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: 08/13/2038
TAGS: ASEC CASC CH CMGT ECON KOLY OVIP PREL PTER
SUBJECT: BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT
13, 08/13/2008

REF: A. BEIJING 3091

B. BEIJING 3018

Classified By: DCM Dan Piccuta 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 08/13/2008.


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) The condition of U.S. citizen Barbara Bachman
continues to improve; plans are in place to return her to the
United States via an SOS international med-evac on
08/14/2008. The remains of Todd Bachman, who was killed in
the 08/09/2008 knife attack at Beijing's Drum Tower, will be
repatriated to the U.S. on 08/15/2008. Elisabeth Bachman
McCutcheon--the daughter of Todd and Barbara Bachman who was
present at the time of the attack--was interviewed by Chinese
police on 08/12/2008 in the presence of the U.S. Embassy
Beijing Legal Attache and representatives of the U.S. Olympic
Committee (USOC). Chinese authorities also passed to USOC a
copy of Mrs. McCutcheon's statement on the incident.
Accompanied by an officer from the U.S. Embassy's American
Citizen Services (ACS) unit, on 08/13/2008 the other two
daughters of Todd and Barbara Bachman briefly visited the
Drum Tower, site of the fatal attack; Embassy officers have
reported that the crime scene remains closed to the public.


SECURITY ISSUES
--------------

4. (SBU) Threats: There is no significant threat
information to report.


5. (SBU) Incidents: Explosives Found in Shanghai, Qingdao:
According to a report posted on the Hong Kong Information
Center for Human Rights website, Shanghai police on
08/09/2008 searched a vehicle parked in front of the Shanghai
Public Security Bureau (PSB) and found it contained
detonators and explosives. Unidentified sources reportedly
stated that two "Xinjiang-looking men" walked away after
parking the suspicious vehicle. Attempting to confirm this

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report, the Regional Security Officer (RSO) in Shanghai
contacted the PSB, which denied that any such activity had
occurred. The RSO will re-address the issue at a more formal
meeting with the PSB in an attempt to obtain additional
details. Separately, the Center also reported that "objects
suspected of being explosives" were found at an eatery near a
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Qingdao on 08/08/2008,
causing the KFC to evacuate its customers. Witnesses claimed
police and a bomb disposal vehicle rushed to the scene; local
police confirmed that "something" had happened, but declined
making further comments. Overseas Security Advisory Council
(OSAC) representatives in the JOC will contact Young
Foods--owner of the KFC franchise--to see if they can provide
any additional information on the alleged incident.


6. (SBU) Individual Noted at Judo Venue: On 08/12/2008,
the USG Field Liaison Officer (FLO) assigned to the
University of Science and Technology Gymnasium--site of the
Judo competition--reported that a male U.S. citizen was
representing himself to the U.S. Olympics Judo coach and
others as a security advisor affiliated with the Beijing
Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG). The
individual--who identified himself as Michael
Whalen--displayed Olympic credentials, was in possession of a
radio, stated that he had "worked the Bush visit", and
implied that he was carrying a weapon. The U.S. Secret
Service (USSS) reported that USSS agents were approached by
Whalen at the same venue prior to a visit by Former President
Bush; Whalen identified himself to the agents as being an
"Events Manager" for BOCOG but did not appear to be familiar
with the venue. At the time of this interaction with USSS,
Whalen did not display any behavior that appeared to be
inconsistent with his stated responsibilities. JOC records
checks on Whalen have revealed that he has a criminal history
and is the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant in the
state of New York. The JOC has also contacted BOCOG to
confirm Whalen's alleged Olympic affiliation. Neither the
USOC security office nor the U.S. Embassy Olympic Security
Office are familiar with Whalen.


7. (C) More Violence in Xinjiang: According to Xinhua,
China,s official state media, on 08/12/2008, an unknown
number of assailants jumped from a vehicle at a traffic
security inspection checkpoint in Yamanya--located
approximately 18 miles from the city of Kashgar in the
Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region--and stabbed four "security
staff," killing three. The assailants reportedly remain at
large. No other Chinese state media has reported on the
incident and Xinhua's English site has not updated the story
as of 1400 hours local time; foreign media, however, are
carrying reports of the incident. An official in the Kashgar
Prefecture Public Security Bureau (strictly protect) told a
U.S. Embassy Political Officer on 08/13/2008 that the Yamanya
incident is still under investigation and that no American

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citizens were involved. On 08/04/2008, 16 police were killed
in an armed attack in Kashgar and on 08/10/2008 up to 12
people were killed in a series of incidents in the town of
Kuqa. Chinese analysts attribute the recent spike in attacks
on security forces in Xinjiang to the fact that extremists
among the region's Uighur minority are seeking to publicize
their cause while the world's attention is focused on the
Olympics in China.


8. (SBU) Olympic Protests: Tibetan Protests Continue:
According to an 08/13/2008 press release from "Students for a
Free Tibet," (SFT) seven U.S. citizens were detained by
Chinese security forces following a protest at the front
entrance of the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park located at the
south end of the Olympic Green. Five protesters wearing
t-shirts that read "Free Tibet" stood behind locked bicycles
at the entrance to the cultural park while two other
protesters unfurled a "Free Tibet" banner over a nearby
pedestrian walkway. ACS staff received a phone call at 1515
hours local from the same SFT-affiliated caller in California
who has reported previous protests organized by group; ACS is
following up with Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB)
officials on the whereabouts of the detained Americans. When
confirmed, this latest round of protests increases the total
number of Americans detained in China for protest activity to

18.


SECURITY OPERATIONS
--------------

9. (SBU) Women's Soccer Team Moves to Shanghai: The U.S.
Olympic Women's Soccer team has advanced in play from
Shenyang to Shanghai; FLOs will accompany the team in their
travels. The U.S. Men's Soccer team is currently in Beijing
and also appears likely to advance. With the movement of the
Women's Soccer team from Shenyang, the RSO in Shenyang is now
traveling to Dalian to review security measures and
coordination efforts for the U.S. Track and Field team.


10. (SBU) Condition of USSS Security Officer: The USSS
Security Officer hospitalized on 08/11/2008 for a non-life
threatening condition remains in good condition at Beijing
United Family Medical Hospital (ref. a). The Security
Officer is expected to be released from the hospital in the
next two days.


VIPS
--------------

11. (SBU) FPOTUS Returns to U.S.: The final member of the
USG Delegation to the Olympics Opening Ceremony, Former
President George H.W. Bush, departed Beijing the morning of
08/13/2008. U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson remains in
Beijing and is scheduled to leave the city on 08/15/2008.

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
--------------

12. (SBU) Media Inquiries About Repatriation Efforts: The
repatriation flight for the remains of Ann DeWaters, who died
on 08/04/2008 after falling through an open manhole (ref. b),
was canceled on 08/12/2008 due to volcanic activity near the
flight's stop-over point in Alaska. The family and
Congressional representatives contacted Consular Affairs'
Overseas Citizen Services office in Washington, DC, for an
explanation of the delay and to express concern that an
American air carrier was not being used. ABC News in Chicago
also contacted the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Section
(PAS) and asked for an explanation for the delay. PAS
declined to provide details out of respect for the family,
who has not yet decided to talk publicly about the case, but
explained in general terms Embassy efforts to assist with the
repatriation. The remains are currently scheduled to be
repatriated on 08/14/2008 pending final clearance of the
flight through Alaska.


CONSULAR AFFAIRS
--------------

13. (SBU) Update on American Detained for Ticket Scalping:
ACS has confirmed with the Beijing PSB the release of the
U.S. citizen detained on 08/11/2008 for selling an Olympic
ticket to an undercover police officer (ref. a). Ms. Rocio
Del Carmen was held briefly and released on the same day
without penalty; media reports indicate approximately 29
people were recently detained for ticket re-selling, which is
a violation of the terms of sale for Beijing Olympic tickets.


14. (SBU) Police Reports for Lost/Stolen Passports: On
08/12/2008, a U.S. citizen was pick-pocketed at the Beijing
Capital International Airport; among the items taken was his
U.S. passport. PSB officials at the airport stated PSB rules
had changed and that it would now take between three and five
days to issue a police report for the lost passport. After
ACS pointed out that Americans would not be able to check
into a hotel without a police report for the missing
passport, the PSB officials eventually relented and issued a
police report. Although resolved, ACS is concerned this
restrictive policy may become a new rule.


POLITICAL AFFAIRS
--------------

15. (SBU) Press Freedom: Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
told a U.S. Embassy Political Officer on 08/12/2008 that
three Chinese journalists have confirmed the issuance of a
21-point government directive outlining "sensitive" issues
Chinese journalists should refrain from commenting on during

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the Olympics. These issues include blocked overseas
websites, religious services provided in the Olympic Village,
food safety, and protests in the three Beijing parks set
aside as "protest zones." RSF noted that the regulations are
similar to a directive released in 2007. Separately,
Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) reported 08/12/2008 that
Chinese journalists had their notebooks confiscated after an
08/10/2008 news conference held by the U.S. Olympics Men's
Volleyball team. The press conference included discussion of
the recent murder of a U.S. citizen relative of a U.S.
Volleyball coach. RSF confirmed these reports, noting that
even prior to the Olympics, confiscation of notebooks and
equipment was "common" for Chinese journalists covering
stories viewed by the Chinese Government as "sensitive" or as
"harming national security."


16. (C) Foreign Media: A prominent Western journalist in
Beijing described to an Embassy Political Officer a shift in
Chinese Government strategy toward foreign media. The
journalist said he is alarmed by the growing trend within
Chinese journalist circles to serve as a "check and balance,"
not just against the Chinese Government, but against Western
journalists. This is a conscious strategy of the leadership
and the trend "is getting worse," he said. Although controls
on foreign reporters have loosened in recent days,
significant problems remain, such as the blocking of
sensitive websites.


17. (U) Hua Huiqi: A Beijing PSB spokesman denied that PSB
officers beat, detained or threatened Chinese Christian
activist Hua Huiqi, according to an 08/12/2008 Kyodo World
Service news report. The report quoted the PSB spokesman
saying that officers had "absolutely no contact" with Hua.
Hua was detained 08/10/2008 by Chinese officials while on his
way to a Chinese church service attended by President Bush.


18. (SBU) Protest Zones: Foreign media reports have
lambasted the Chinese Government's so-called "designated
protest zones," noting that there has been no protest-related
activity at the three designated sites. Foreign reports have
also focused on the alleged arrest of Fujian activist Ji
Sizun, whom Human Rights Watch reported applied for
permission to protest the lack of participation of Chinese
citizens in the political process, rampant corruption and
abuses of power. Embassy Officers who have regularly visited
the protest zones over the past week have seen nothing to
dispute reports of inactivity in the supposed "protest zones."


19. (U) Opening Ceremony: Charges that aspects of China's
Olympic Opening Ceremony were faked continue to be aired.
Foreign media have exposed in recent days that some of the
fireworks viewed on television during the celebration were
computer-generated or enhanced and that the nine-year-old
girl who sang a solo "ode to the Motherland" was a

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lip-synching stand-in for the real singer, who is reportedly
less telegenic. Web commentators claiming to be
mountaineering experts have also noted aspects of the You
Tube video of the Olympic Torch ascent of Mt. Everest that
suggest the video was not shot on the Everest summit as
claimed in Chinese State media.
RANDT