BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 06 BEIJING 003171 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: 08/19/2038 TAGS: ASEC CASC CH CMGT ECON KOLY OVIP PREL PTER SUBJECT: BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT 19, 08/19/2008 REF: A. BEIJING 3147 ¶B. BEIJING 3139 ¶C. BEIJING 3117 ¶D. BEIJING 3146 ¶E. BEIJING 3158 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 08/19/2008. ¶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 USG Delegation to the Olympics Closing Ceremony is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on 08/21/2008. Advance team members for the delegation are already in the city, working with U.S. Embassy personnel and Chinese officials to ensure a successful visit for the closing of the Games. SECURITY ISSUES -------------- ¶4. (S/REL to USA, IESC) Threats: According to tearline information, "Thirty-three suspected terrorists may attempt to cross the border between Pakistan and China with the intention of sabotaging the Beijing Olympics. The suspected terrorists are of Chinese and Pakistani descent and are allegedly being sent by various unnamed terrorist organizations." For additional information, please refer to the Threat Integration Center (TIC) 1700 Olympic Situation Report dated 08/18/2008, which is available via the National Counterterrorism Center's NCTC Online site. ¶5. (SBU) Incidents: Continued Concerns about Access to U.S. Basketball Team: The USG Field Liaison Officers (FLO) assigned to the U.S. Men's Basketball team notified the JOC on 08/18/2008 that individuals without credentials, as well as off-duty and improperly credentialed personnel, had again been allowed to enter the team's locker room and the team bus area; this is the second reported occurrence of unauthorized BEIJING 00003171 002 OF 006 access to the team's secure areas (ref. a). When notified of the situation, Chinese police advised that they have no authority to keep people from the area--despite the fact that it is secure--but pledged to add extra security personnel to maintain order. The FLOs have noted that police and Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) volunteers also appear unable to manage attempts by credentialed individuals to seek autographs and access to the players; it is likely that the situation will become worse as the final games approach. The Olympic Security Coordinator (OSC) on 08/19/2008 sent a formal note of complaint to the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) about the ongoing crowd control and access issues and again requested that individuals without proper credentials be denied entry to secure areas. The MPS had previously responded favorably to requests for the assignment of additional personnel to keep fans at least 6 feet from high profile athletes (ref. b). ¶6. (SBU) Incident at USA House: On 08/18/2008, the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) security office reported to the JOC that an individual identified as Richard Cohen was banned from the USA House on 08/18/2008 for posing as an Olympian and then as an Olympic coach. Cohen had raised the suspicion of security personnel because he had a guest day pass issued by Bank of America in the name of Paul Fleischler but had identified himself as Richard Cohen. The USG Field Liaison Officer (FLO) assigned to coordinate with U.S. Olympic corporate sponsors has contacted Bank of America to obtain information on Cohen/Fleischler and the JOC will run appropriate checks once his data is received. ¶7. (U) Olympic Protests: No protest activity was reported overnight on 08/18/2008. ¶8. (U) Chinese Authorities Have Approved Zero of 77 Protest Applications: Xinhua reports that since 08/01/2008, Beijing authorities have received 77 applications involving 149 people--including three foreigners--seeking to hold demonstrations in the city's three designated "protest zones." According to an unnamed spokesperson for the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB),most of the applicants sought permission to publicly protest issues related to labor, health, and welfare disputes. The spokesperson pointed out that 74 of the 77 applications were withdrawn after the applicants' grievances were "properly addressed by relevant authorities or departments through consultations." Two applications were "suspended" on account of "incomplete procedures," the spokesman added, while one application was rejected by the PSB for an undisclosed violation of Chinese law on demonstrations and protests. BOCOG spokesman Sun Weide had no comment on why approval had not been granted to any protest applications. Chinese regulations require individuals to file protest applications five days in BEIJING 00003171 003 OF 006 advance, meaning that 08/19/2008 is the last day to apply for permission to hold a protest before the Closing Ceremony on 08/24/2008. ¶9. (U) IOC on Protest Application Issue: Press agency AFP has reported that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) conceded that the Olympic "protest zones" are not functioning properly. "To date, what had been announced publicly doesn,t appear, in reality, to be happening, and a number of questions are being asked," said IOC spokesperson Giselle Davies. "The IOC is keen to see those questions answered by the relevant authorities." ¶10. (SBU) Woman Surrenders Pro-Tibet Pamphlets: On 08/18/2008, the Regional Security Officer (RSO) in Hong Kong learned that a Japanese woman was stopped by security screeners at the Sha Tin Olympic venue after she was found to be wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying pamphlets on Tibetan independence. According to information passed to the RSO, the woman was permitted to attend the events after surrendering the items, which were returned to her afterwards. SECURITY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Additional FLO Coverage at Beach Volleyball Venue: On 08/18/2008, the FLO assigned to the Beach Volleyball venue requested additional security support for the men's semi-final competition on 08/19/2008 in light of the scheduled attendance of members of the U.S. Men's Basketball team. The FLO formerly assigned to the U.S. Men's Soccer team--who possesses an "infinity" credential allowing him access to all Olympic venues--will provide liaison assistance for crowd control; OSC contacted Chinese officials to notify them of the high-profile attendees and to request the arrangement of appropriate security measures. The U.S. Men's Basketball team routinely attracts large crowds of fans during their venue appearances and the OSC has previously requested additional crowd coverage by police and BOCOG volunteers during NBA team movements (ref. c). ¶12. (SBU) Olympic Athletes Injured/Ill: The FLO assigned to the Olympics Cycling venue reported that a U.S. Track Cyclist was taken to Sino Japanese Friendship Hospital on 08/18/2008 to receive treatment for injuries sustained during her competition. She was released from the hospital later the same evening and USOC physicians will take over her medical treatment. Separately, a U.S. Baseball player suffered a minor concussion and had to leave the game on 08/18/2008 after being struck by a ball; USOC has reported that the athlete was taken to the hospital and his condition will be monitored. According to press reporting, several BEIJING 00003171 004 OF 006 members of the U.S. Track and Field team became ill at the team's pre-Olympic training center in Dalian, with food poisoning as the likely cause. According to the USOC chef responsible for providing meals to the athletes, at least 15 per cent of the 150 athletes who trained in Dalian experienced some degree of illness, though he stated that the cause could not be determined. The USOC medical director characterized the illnesses as "normal stomach bugs," and commented that the condition was not considered widespread or out of the ordinary for an international trip. ¶13. (S/NF) SWAT Teams Augment Security: Members of the U.S. Defense Attache Office (DAO) in Beijing from 08/15/2008 to 08/18/2008 observed four armed Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officers posted at both the west and northwest entrances of the Olympic Village. On the west side of the Village, DAO also observed one SWAT officer standing guard on the athlete side of both outer chain-link fences that surround the Olympic Green. Four unarmed SWAT officers were also seen on the north side of the Olympic Green. DAO commented that the SWAT officers are an augmentation of the normal security seen on past visits. (Please see IIR 6 814 1815 08, dated August 18, for additional details.) Separately, a JOC representative noted "total containment vessels" (TCV) located within four Beijing subway stations; the TCV--which are used primarily for bomb disposal purposes--were attended by uniformed officers. ¶14. (U) Quick-Response Bomb Teams in Hong Kong: According to an 08/18/2008 Hong Kong Tai Yang Pao online report, in response to "panic" caused by a wave of recent bomb hoaxes, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) Commissioner has established "quick-response" teams for handling bomb cases. The teams, which are composed of "frontline" policemen, are responsible for determining if a suspected bomb is real and for disposing of fake bombs. In future incidents involving potential bomb scares, bomb disposal experts will only be called to the scene if the device is determined to be authentic. The RSO in Hong Kong has reported four bomb hoaxes on the island since 08/08/2008 (ref. d); Hong Kong media noted that another three incidents took place on 08/15/2008, bringing the total number of bomb threats to seven. ¶15. (SBU) Airport Restrictions for Closing Ceremony?: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representative to the JOC has reported Chinese authorities have not yet commented on the potential closure of the Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) or additional Beijing airspace restrictions during the Olympics Closing Ceremony on 08/24/2008. BCIA was closed for a period of five hours during the Opening Ceremony on 08/08/2008. BEIJING 00003171 005 OF 006 ¶16. (SBU) British Police to Visit JOC: The OSC anticipates that a UK delegation of Metropolitan Police associated with the 2012 Summer Olympics in London will visit the U.S. Embassy on 08/22/2008 in order to get an overview of JOC operations. A similar meet and greet with Canadian Olympics officials and U.S. corporate Olympic sponsors was well-received on 08/15/2008 (ref. d). VIPS -------------- ¶17. (SBU) Arrival of Vancouver OSC: Diplomatic Security's Olympic Security Coordinator for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics will arrive in Beijing on 08/20/2008 to get a first-hand look at Olympic JOC operations prior to the Winter Games. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶18. (U) Please refer to paragraph 19 for updated PAS activities. CONSULAR AFFAIRS -------------- ¶19. (SBU) Americans Depart Airport Without Bibles: The four U.S. citizen members of the Christian group Vision Beyond Borders--who attempted to bring more than 300 bibles into China on 08/17/2008 (ref. e)--left the Kunming airport without the books after a 26-hour standoff. The Americans were reportedly unaware of Chinese regulations that limit the importation of religious materials for personal use only. Media coverage of the story was widespread; a Google search the morning of 08/19/2008 returned more than 450 results from news organizations around the world. The Public Affairs Section (PAS) produced press guidance shortly after American Citizens Services (ACS) received notification of the incident. POLITICAL AFFAIRS -------------- ¶20. (U) Dalai Lama to Meet with French Foreign Minister: The Dalai Lama's 12-day visit to France continued 08/18/2008 as he met the mayor of Nantes. One day after AFP reported that French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner would be unable to meet the Dalai Lama as originally planned on 08/20/2008, LCI Television of Paris reported that FM Kouchner will meet the Dalai Lama on 08/22/2008 with first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy at the inauguration of a Buddhist temple. In a television interview over the weekend with TF1 Television in France, the Dalai Lama spoke out against Chinese repression in Tibet. "Unfortunately, the Olympic spirit is not respected by all BEIJING 00003171 006 OF 006 Chinese officials inside Tibet," he said. "And often civilians are arrested and tortured very violently, to the point where they die. It's very, very sad." ¶21. (U) Grounding of Uighur Pilots: According to The Times and other international media sources, three ethnic Uighur pilots in China's civil aviation sector were removed from flight status in March and will not be permitted to fly until after the Olympics at the earliest. In addition, Uighur flight attendants have been transferred to flights outside the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. ¶22. (U) Don,t Ask, Don,t Tell: According to an independent Hong Kong press report, many ticket scalpers in Beijing believe that, despite recent arrests, a tacit deal has been struck between police and ticket brokers that as long as no money changes hands in front of police, no action will be taken. Scalpers allege that police have loosened their checks on ticket dealing because some stadiums have been nearly half empty for events, even though all tickets were officially sold out long before the Olympic Games began. One scalper interviewed had even rented an apartment near the National Stadium to conduct business out of sight of the authorities. ¶23. (U) Buses Equipped with Wireless Video: More than 1,400 buses in Beijing will be equipped "before next year" with a wireless video monitoring system that can interact in real time with the bus group,s dispatch center and the Municipal Public Security Bureau in cases of emergency, according to press reporting. Twenty-five Olympic bus transit stops reportedly already employ such equipment. RANDT