Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING2004
2009-07-15 10:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

TRAFFIC CONTROLS REMAIN IN URUMQI UIGHUR QUARTER

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PROP PTER CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7748
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2004/01 1961053
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 151053Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5191
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 002004 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2029
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PROP PTER CH
SUBJECT: TRAFFIC CONTROLS REMAIN IN URUMQI UIGHUR QUARTER
-- JULY 15 XINJIANG SITREP

REF: BEIJING 1990 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Acting Political Section Chief
Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 002004

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2029
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PROP PTER CH
SUBJECT: TRAFFIC CONTROLS REMAIN IN URUMQI UIGHUR QUARTER
-- JULY 15 XINJIANG SITREP

REF: BEIJING 1990 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Acting Political Section Chief
Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Embassy officers in Urumqi reported continued
high security, including traffic controls, in the
Uighur sections of the city July 15. About 50
percent of businesses in the Uighur quarter were
closed, including large markets and bazaars.
Uighurs remained fearful of being seen speaking at
length to foreigners. In the Han sections of
Urumqi, however, nearly all businesses were open
July 15 and few police were observed. Embassy
observers witnessed residents queuing to purchase
meat at government-subsidized prices. The Internet
and cell phone text messaging services remain down
in Urumqi. The Global Times, a sister publication
of the Communist Party's People's Daily, launched a
new propaganda website devoted to news about the
"true Xinjiang." Chinese newspapers gave heavy
coverage to reported Al Qaeda threats against
Chinese interests abroad. A front-page editorial in
People's Daily warned that "internal and external
hostile forces" were plotting new "disturbances" in
Xinjiang. In Beijing, the Charge was called in
again at the Vice Foreign Minister level for a
demarche on Rebiya Kadeer. He used the occasion to
urge the Chinese government to release Uighur
professor Ilham Tohti, who disappeared July 7. End
Summary.

Main Roads in Uighur District Closed to Cars
--------------


2. (C) The official death toll for the Urumqi riots
remained at 184 July 15. Embassy officers in Urumqi
reported that security remained tight in the Uighur
section following the July 13 shooting of two
Uighurs by police. Main roads through the Uighur
section, including Jiefang Nan Road, remained closed
to vehicle traffic, though pedestrians were allowed
to pass. Four-to-five police and/or Peoples Armed
Police officers were stationed at most major
intersections in Uighur neighborhoods. In small
alleyways off the main roads, however, few, if any,
police or PAP were seen. Approximately 50 percent

of businesses in the Uighur section were closed.
While many street stalls were open, larger covered
markets and bazaars remained closed July 15.
Mosques were quiet, with few, if any, worshippers
seen coming or going. In contrast to Uighur
neighborhoods, Han sections of the city had largely
returned to normal with few police and most
businesses open. Embassy officers found that ethnic
Uighurs remained extremely reluctant to be seen in
an extended conversation with foreigners. Han
residents with whom EmbOffs spoke, however, seemed
unafraid to speak openly and at length about recent
unrest. Internet and cellphone text messaging
remained blocked July 15.

Long Lines for Government Subsidized Meat
--------------


3. (SBU) In Urumqi, Embassy officers witnessed the
sale of subsidized meat to city residents. Long
queues formed at one distribution point near
People's Square. The government was selling meat at
subsidized prices in an effort to counter negative
economic consequences of the riots, according to
local residents. These residents said such sales
had started two days earlier.

Embassy Team Heads to Hotan
--------------


4. (C) The Embassy team departed Urumqi in the
afternoon and will travel to Hotan (Hetian),a
majority Uighur town in the south of Xinjiang.

New Propaganda Website Shows "True Xinjiang"
--------------

BEIJING 00002004 002 OF 003




5. (SBU) The Global Times, a mass-circulation
newspaper published by the Communist Party organ
People's Daily, launched a new website July 13
devoted exclusively to news about Xinjiang. While
the Global Times said the website "will not avoid
sensitive issues, but will present a comprehensive
picture of Xinjiang," the contents stick closely to
official Chinese versions of the July 5-7 riots.

Heavy Press Coverage of Al Qaeda Threats
--------------


6. (U) Reports of alleged threats by a North African
branch of Al Qaeda against Chinese interests abroad
received heavy play in the domestic press July 15,
including front-page stories in both the Chinese and
English editions of Global Times. Other July 15
articles related to Xinjiang:

--The Beijing News' (Xinjing Bao) top story reports
"strong demands" by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
that foreign countries stop support for East
Turkistan organizations. The story states that the
State Department spokesman confirmed July 13 that
the World Uighur Congress "led by Rebiya Kadeer"
receives funding from the U.S. Congress via the
National Endowment for Democracy.

--A front page editorial in the People's Daily
praises the Party, government and "all ethnic
groups" for the restoration of order in Xinjiang,
but warns that "internal and external hostile forces"
were plotting new "disturbances."

--The top story in Cankao Xiaoxi ("Reference News"),
a national-circulation newspaper published by the
Xinhua News Agency, describes how Chinese Internet
users were ridiculing Rebiya Kadeer for allegedly
using mislabeled photos during media interviews and
other "fakery and lies" (zaojia shuohuang). Kadeer
is a "little clown running and jumping all over the
place" (shangcuan xiatiao xiaochou) the headline
reads. This story was reprinted on the Xinhua News
Agency Chinese-language website.

MFA Demands USG Stop Support for Kadeer
--------------


7. (C) The Charge met with Vice Foreign Minister He
Yafei at VFM He's request to receive a demarche,
which was a repeat of China's admonition that the
United States cease support for Rebiya Kadeer. VFM
He urged the United States to:

--not believe East Turkestan rumors and other anti-
China forces; act cautiously; do nothing and say
nothing to interfere in China's internal affairs
or undermine national security;

--stop implicit or explicit support for Rebiya
Kadeer and East Turkestan terrorist organizations,
and take "credible" action to prevent her from using
the United States as a platform for undermining
China and conducting separatist activities. Also
stop using NED to fund Rebiya Kadeer and her
organization;

--not allow Rebiya Kadeer "or other leading figures"
to meet with U.S. leaders;

--persuade the U.S. Congress not to adopt anti-China
bills, not to make irresponsible remarks, not to
hold hearings and not to be a platform for Rebiya
Kadeer's anti-China separatist activities;

--bear in mind the larger picture of
counterterrorism cooperation, take Chinese concerns
seriously and fight against East Turkestan terrorist
activities;

--honor U.S. obligations under international law,
prevent Rebiya Kadeer and her "gang" from taking
violent action against the Chinese Embassy, and
protect the safety and dignity of Chinese diplomatic
facilities.

BEIJING 00002004 003 OF 003




8. (C) The Charge noted that the United States
government was making regular reports to our leaders
and to Congress, and had made only "moderate"
statements. He urged China to release Uighur
professor Ilham Tohti, a Beijing-based economist and
blogger who disappeared on July 7 after being
accused by Xinjiang officials of sharing
responsibility for the riots. (Full readout
septel).
GOLDBERG