URUMQI DEATH TOLL CLIMBS TO 192 -- JULY 16

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002023

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2034
TAGS: PGOV PREL PROP CH
SUBJECT: URUMQI DEATH TOLL CLIMBS TO 192 -- JULY 16
XINJIANG SITREP

REF: BEIJING 2004 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Political Officer Graham Mayer.
Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).

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


1. (C) Post has received no reports of new violence or unrest
in Urumqi, or other areas of Xinjiang, July 16. The death
toll from the July 5 riot climbed to 192 with 1,721 people
injured. Xinjiang Party Secretary Wang Lequan was quoted in
the local press as saying most of the dead were "innocent."
Embassy officers in the southern Xinjiang city of Hotan
(Hetian) on July 16, reported normal business and street
activity there and a smaller security presence than in
Urumqi. Hotan mosques were open during designated prayer
times, but closed between formal services. Reports about the
Urumqi riots had faded from the top headlines of many Chinese
newspapers July 16 but the People's Daily included front-page
commentary repeating previous language that the July 5 riot
was plotted by "external and internal hostile forces."
Global Times led both its Chinese and English editions with a
story about alleged attempts by the World Uighur Congress to
"join forces with the Dalai Lama." End Summary

DEATH TOLL NOW 192
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2. (U) Post has received no reports of renewed violence in
Urumqi, or other areas of Xinjiang, July 16. State media
announced the evening of July 15 that the death toll from the
July 5 riot had climbed from 184 to 192. Media reports quote
Xinjiang Party Secretary Wang Lequan as saying most of the
dead were "innocent." According to a report in the Beijing
News Xinjiang Bao),108 bodies had been positively identified
using DNA analysis while funerals have been held for 39.
Xinjiang officials announced that 1,721 people were injured
in the riot (up from the previous official figure of 1,680),
of whom 881 remain in the hospital. 179 of those still
hospitalized are suffering from serious injuries and 66 in
"dangerous" (weizhong) condition. Officials also reported
updated damage figures, reporting that 331 shops were
"smashed or burned" and a total of 627 vehicles were
destroyed.

INTERNET STILL DOWN
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3. (C) A Han resident of Urumqi told PolOff July 16 that the
situation in the city continued to improve. Internet and
text messaging, he said, remained down.

HOTAN, LESS SECURITY THAN URUMQI
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4. (C) Embassy officers in Hotan (Hetian),a majority Uighur
city in the south of Xinjiang, reported normal business and
street activity there July 16. The overall security presence
in Hotan was much lower than in Urumqi. The Embassy team
witnessed People's Armed Police (PAP) patrols the evening of
July 15 and PAP units conducting drills in public squares,
though this activity had diminished July 16. Unlike in
Urumqi, few police and PAP officers were stationed at
intersections in Hotan. Also unlike Urumqi, the PAP units in
Hotan were seen patrolling the streets in vehicles rather
than occupying fixed positions. Hotan mosques were open
during designated prayer times, but closed between formal
services. Local Uighurs remarked that normally mosques are
open to worshippers throughout the day. One Hotan Uighur
told the Embassy team that police throughout Xinjiang are
checking identification documents closely and are forcing
Uighur migrants residing temporarily in large cities to
return to their registered hometowns.

PEOPLE'S DAILY CRITICIZES U.S. SUPPORT FOR WUC
-------------- -


5. (U) Reports about the Urumqi riots faded from the top
headlines of many Chinese newspapers July 16. However, the
Global Times, which is published by the CCP's People's Daily,
led both its Chinese and English editions with a story about
alleged attempts by the World Uighur Congress to "join forces
with the Dalai Lama." The Chinese edition further announced
the results of a "survey" conducted on the paper's website
which showed 96 percent of respondents favored "punishing"

BEIJING 00002023 002 OF 002


foreign businesses, firms and individuals who have given
support to "Xinjiang separatists." The People's Daily
printed a front-page commentator article, a format which
traditionally conveys CCP Politburo policy, repeating
previous language that the July 5 riot was plotted by
"external and internal hostile forces." The article noted
that preserving national unity is the "lofty responsibility"
of all citizens. A July 16 People's Daily column accused
"some" Western individuals and organizations of ignoring the
innocent dead and injured and instead expressing "strong
concern" for the "murderers and arsonists." The article also
says that the World Uighur Congress, "which incited the
riots," has "received long-term financial support from the
United States."
GOLDBERG