MFA DEMARCHE ON XINJIANG UNREST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001876 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2034 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM CH SUBJECT: MFA DEMARCHE ON XINJIANG UNREST Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs Americas Department Director General Zheng Zeguang met with Charge d,Affaires Robert Goldberg at 2140 on the evening of July 6 to deliver a briefing and demarche on the July 5 unrest in Urumqi. The demarche was similar in content to July 6 Xinhua press releases on the unrest. Zheng noted that the Ministry would also be delivering the presentation to other missions in Beijing. Zheng noted that China is aware of U.S. interest in the "violent criminal incident" in Urumqi and therefore wished to share information on the events of July 5. According to government investigations, Zheng said, the incidents constituted "premeditated, violent organized crime." The Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) government had taken measures, according to law, to restore social stability and ensure the security of residents and the situation was now under control, Zheng said. ¶2. (C) The events of July 5 had resulted in the deaths of innocent people, Zheng said, including members of the People's Armed Police (PAP). The incident had been triggered and "remote controlled" by overseas separatist forces and carried out by internal separatist forces. Zheng stated that the unrest in Urumqi was related to a June 26 event in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, which involved a conflict between members of the local population and Uighur factory employees. The Shaoguan incident had been dealt with according to law and should be considered an ordinary law enforcement issue. ¶3. (C) However, Zheng continued, "East Turkestan organizations" and the "so-called World Uighur Congress" lead by Rebiya Kadeer used the Shaoguan incident as a pretext to attack the Chinese government and its ethnic and religious policies. These organizations used the internet to disseminate "groundless accusations" against the Chinese government and openly instigated violence in Xinjiang. On the evening of July 4 the World Uighur Congress posted messages on the internet calling on people to assemble in Urumqi's People's Square for a show of "so-called solidarity" with the Guangdong "so-called victims." Zheng claimed the messages also urged people in Urumqi to "be brave" and to "do something big." Zheng also alleged that Rebiya Kadeer had publicly stated that there was going to be a big incident in Urumqi on July 5. ¶4. (C) Zheng proceeded to deliver an account of the events of the evening of July 5. From 1820, approximately 200 people assembled in People's Square in Urumqi to show "so-called solidarity" with the Guangdong victims. At 1940, approximately 300 people tried to block the road along Renmin Lu and the South Gate. At 2018 some of the participants began to destroy shops and "beat people up at random." Road blocks and three buses were destroyed at this stage. By 2030 rioting had spread to Jiefang Nanlu, Longxuan Jie and neighboring areas and included the burning of police vehicles and "chasing and beating of passers by at random." Eventually, 700-800 "violent elements" proceeded to the Daximen and Xiaoximen areas of Urumqi smashing shop windows and "burning whatever they saw" on the way. By that time tensions were very high and violence was occurring in multiple areas of the city. Zheng claimed that most victims of the violence were of Han nationality as were most of the owners of the damaged property and vehicles. The violence led to the XUAR government taking measures to restore order according to law, including arresting over 100 "law breakers." Social order and public transportation had been returned to normal as a result of these measures, Zheng said. To date the total number of victims included 140 killed and 828 injured, but these figures were certain to climb. Rioters burned a total of 200 structures, and had destroyed 203 shops, 14 private residences and 260 vehicles, including 191 public transportation vehicles, 10 taxis and 50 private vehicles, Zheng said. ¶5. (C) Zheng stated that the incident proved that stability was the most important thing for Urumqi and Xinjiang, adding that without stability there could be no development. The Chinese government would continue to oppose splittism and violent terrorist acts. Unity and social harmony in Xinjiang were the paramount interests of people of all ethnic backgrounds in Xinjiang and the Chinese government would do whatever it can to realize these aspirations, Zheng said. ¶6. (C) Zheng added that China hoped the United States would "understand the nature of the East Turkestan forces and their acts." The purpose of these organizations was to disrupt the social and economic development of China and sabotage its BEIJING 00001876 002 OF 002 social harmony. China hoped the United States would refrain from making statements or actions based on such accusations by East Turkestan organizations and other "anti-China forces," Zheng concluded ¶7. (C) In response, Charge Goldberg expressed USG condolences to the families of the victims. He stressed that the USG expects that the Chinese government will ensure the safety of American citizens in Urumqi and Xinjiang. The Charge added that we looked forward to receiving further details on how the unrest unfolded including information on its underlying causes. GOLDBERG