URUMQI RIOT A "TERRORIST ACT": FBI DIRECTOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002065

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2034
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PTER CH
SUBJECT: URUMQI RIOT A "TERRORIST ACT": FBI DIRECTOR
MUELLER'S MEETING WITH MPS VICE MINISTER

Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor
Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) The July 5 riot in Urumqi was a "terrorist
act" and the rioters were "professional and well
trained," Vice Minister of Public Security Liu Jing
told visiting FBI Director Robert S. Mueller July

17. The violence in Urumqi was premeditated and
well organized and had nothing to do with religious
freedom or ethnic problems, the Vice Minister said.
Liu Jing urged the United States to "restrict"
Rebiya Kadeer so that she could not "harm people
further." Director Mueller praiseQhina's decision
tQlow unrestricted foreign media coverage of the
violence. If China had evidence of terrorist
involvement in the riot, Director Mueller said, then
it should make this evidence public. Otherwise,
outside observers would likely view the riot as an
example of ethnic conflict. Contrary to China's
claims, the USG had no evidence that Rebiya Kadeer
incited the Urumqi riots. Director Mueller said
that, in light of recent Al Qaeda threats against
Chinese citizens abroad, the United States and China
had a common interest in cooperating to protect
Americans and Chinese from terrorists. Liu said
China hoped to increase counter terrorism
cooperation with the United States, including
intelligence sharing. End Summary.

Rioters Were "Professional and Well-Trained"
--------------


2. (C) Vice Minister of Public Security Liu Jing, in
a July 17 meeting with FBI Director Robert S.
Mueller, said the July 5 riot in Urumqi, Xinjiang
was a "premeditated, well-organized terrorist
activity." Liu said that, publicly, Chinese
authorities were being cautious about characterizing
the riots as a terrorist act, but China's law
enforcement community was already using that term.
The rioters were "professional, well-trained, and
extremely brutal," Liu asserted, and killed many of
their victims with a single blow. Even after the
victims had died, the rioters would continue to
smash their skulls in. The perpetrators made no
distinction between old or young or between Han or
other ethnic groups. The riots were unrelated to
any ethnic problems or freedom of religion. The
United States and China must fight together against
violent terrorism, he added. Liu suggested that
Director Mueller use his influence to urge U.S.
leaders not to use double standards, not to make
statements that run counter to U.S.-China
cooperation, and not to support the "masterminds
overseas" responsible for the unrest.


3. (C) The overall situation in Xinjiang was stable,
Liu said, but authorities could not rule out further
disturbances. Liu reported that, as of July 13, 196
people had died and 1,721 were injured, many of whom
were still "critically ill." (Note: the official
death toll has since risen to 197.) Liu showed
Director Mueller an album containing photos of
several dozen victims. The bodies appeared to be
mainly Han and showed signs of severe trauma. Some
photos showed Minister of Public Security Meng
Jianzhu viewing bodies in a morgue. Liu also gave a
detailed explanation of the July 13 fatal shooting
of two Uighurs by Urumqi Public Security Bureau
officers. Liu's version tracked closely with
published official accounts of the shooting: those
killed were armed with long knives, had attempted to
incite Uighur worshippers at a mosque to engage in
rioting and were only killed after they ignored
warning shots. Liu said the incident was similar to
the terrorist attacks experienced by U.S. forces in
Afghanistan and Iraq.

China Should Publicize Evidence of Terrorism
--------------


4. (C) Director Mueller praised the openness
displayed by the MPS and the Chinese military in

BEIJING 00002065 002 OF 002


allowing unrestricted media coverage of the Urumqi
riots. Certain Islamic extremists, he noted, had
aligned themselves to the Uighur cause, as evidenced
by the recent calls by Al Qaeda Islamic Maghreb
(AQIM) to attack Chinese citizens abroad, especially
in Algeria. However, absent solid proof of
terrorism, Mueller told Liu, most outside observers
would view the Xinjiang unrest as an example of
ethnic violence. To the extent China had evidence
and proof of terrorism, or of terrorists starting
and inflaming ethnic violence, it should make such
evidence public, both via the media and in court
proceedings. Director Mueller urged China to
continue to be transparent. The public would need
to see evidence for itself to be convinced, the
Director stated, adding that the USG had no evidence
that Rebiya Kadeer instigated the riots, as China
has alleged. Kadeer enjoyed rights under the First
Amendment and U.S. law enforcement could not take
action against people for expressing their views,
even though these views may make others
uncomfortable.


5. (C) Referring to the AQIM threat against Chinese
abroad, Director Muller said the United States and
China had a shared interest in protecting their
citizens and should expand information exchange and
cooperation. Due to the nature of China's ties to
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other Muslim countries,
China's intelligence services may have information
that the United States does not. The two sides
should exchange such information in order to
eliminate this common enemy.

USG Should Restrict Kadeer
--------------


6. (C) Liu replied that he supported increased
information and intelligence exchanges, but this
must be a "two-way street" and be in the interests
of both sides. Liu said he agreed with the Director
on the need to share evidence, and China would
provide such evidence to the USG. Rebiya Kadeer and
(Falun Gong founder) Li Hongzhi were in the "same
boat," Liu said, adding that "anti-China" figures
have "such a good life in the United States." If
China provided evidence against Rebiya Kadeer, Liu
said, he hoped the United States would take action.
At the very least, the United States should restrict
her from harming people further, he said.

Shanghai Expo Security
--------------


7. (C) Liu reported that he will be in charge of
overall security for the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai
and invited Director Mueller to visit the Expo site.
Liu said that, following the success of U.S.-China
security cooperation during the 2008 Olympics, China
was eager to work closely with the USG to ensure
security at the World Expo.
GOLDBERG